Chapter 2

Warwick's friend raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You're into her, huh?"

Warwick smirked. "She's kind of interesting."

A voice came from behind them. "What kind of outdated, greasy line was that? Who still calls a girl a little wildcat?"

Warwick turned around. A woman in a suit and black-framed glasses stood there, looking at him as if evaluating something deeply disappointing.

Holly walked over, sat down right next to him, and looked at him seriously. "How old are you?"

Warwick frowned. "Seventeen. Why?"

Holly nodded. "When I was seventeen, my deskmate chased girls by bringing them breakfast and helping them with homework. So what happened? Why did everyone suddenly get worse at this?"

Warwick was speechless.

Holly continued, completely sincere, "I feel embarrassed for you just listening to that. You really don't hear it?"

His friend was shaking, trying not to laugh.

Warwick's face darkened. "Who are you?"

Holly stood up and brushed off her pants. "Dean of Students."

"Old—" Warwick stopped halfway, realizing too late what he was about to say. He quickly covered his mouth.

Holly smiled. "Old maid, right? That's the best you've got, huh? That insult is older than you are."

She adjusted her glasses. "Oh, and I recorded everything you just said. I'll play it at the next assembly. We can call it 'An Analysis of a School Bully's Terrible Pick-Up Lines.'"

Warwick shot to his feet. "You—"

Holly had already turned and walked away. "This male lead is really something," she muttered. "No wonder the reviews were terrible."

Knowing the plot would try to snap back into place, Holly had the system keep a close watch. The second anything drifted toward the original storyline, she wanted to know.

It did not take long. Warwick's interest in Tasha had already been triggered. If anything, Holly's interference had made it worse. He decided to make a move.

He slipped a note into Tasha's textbook. [Meet me in the woods tonight. I have something to tell you. —Kirk.]

Tasha read it and frowned. Her first thought was simple. This had to be a mistake.

That night, Warwick waited in the small woods for two hours. Mosquitoes feasted on him.

The next day, another note appeared. [Why didn't you come yesterday? Are you shy? I waited three hours. —Kirk.]

Tasha stared at it, confused. She had no idea who "Kirk" was.

That night, Warwick waited again. Another hour. More mosquito bites.

On the third day, a third note showed up. [Tasha. Small woods tonight. I won't leave until you come. —Kirk.]

Tasha turned to her deskmate. "Do you know who this is? What does he want?"

Her deskmate studied the note from every angle and shook her head. "No idea. Maybe give it to a teacher?"

Tasha nodded and set it aside. She did not think about it again.

At lunch, she ran into Emily Watts from her old class. They sat down together.

Halfway through the meal, Emily said casually, "Warwick's been acting weird lately. He just sits there staring out the window like he's heartbroken or something."

"Warwick?" Tasha asked. "That school bully?"

Something clicked. She pulled out the note. "Wait. Is this from him?"

Emily took one look and snorted. "It is. I collect homework every day. I'd recognize that ugly handwriting anywhere."

Tasha blinked. "Why would he write to me? Does he want help with math?"

Her deskmate stared at her. "You cannot be serious."

Tasha frowned. "Then what else could it be? We've never even talked."

Her deskmate and Emily exchanged a look, but neither of them said anything.

*****

That night, Tasha went to the woods anyway. She did not go because she was curious. She just wanted him to stop so she could focus on studying again.

Warwick was already there. He had changed out of his uniform into a white shirt and blue jeans. His hair was styled, and the smell of hair gel hit before he even spoke. It was so strong that Tasha sneezed twice.

When he saw her, he smiled. "You came."

Tasha nodded. "Yes. What did you want?"

Warwick took a step closer. "I just want to know. Why are you avoiding me?"

Tasha looked genuinely confused. "I'm not avoiding you. We don't even know each other."

"Then why didn't you come yesterday?" he asked.

"You didn't even write your full name," she said. "How was I supposed to know who you were?"

Warwick froze. Just as he was about to respond, a bright light cut through the darkness.

"Don't move." Holly's voice came from behind the beam of a flashlight.