I didn’t even bother to look at him. “Then keep.
it and die alone, jerk.”
- 36.
A few days later, it was the school sports day.
Ethan had been unusually quiet. City–wide
exams were scheduled right after, plus the
<
Thinking about the exams, I remembered
Vanessa’s words: Ethan plans to cheat on the
exams. He bought the answers. But I got his
transaction records.
Being his girlfriend gave her access to his
phone, and therefore, everything on it. The USB
drive with the records was tucked safely in my
bag.
I sat in the bleachers, lost in thought. Suddenly,
a cold can of soda pressed against my cheek.
Familiar.
I took the soda, without looking up. “Luke, boys
shouldn’t drink so much soda.”
“Hey, look who’s talking,” Luke said, pinching
my cheek.
I swatted his hand away. “Hands off.”
He chuckled and sat down next to me. “You’re
I opened the soda. “Too tiring, too lazy, not
athletic.”
Luke laughed. “Totally uncoordinated.”
“And you are? Mr. Athletic?” He was still
grinning, oblivious to my sarcasm.
“I’m in the basketball finals this afternoon.
Come watch?”
- 37.
I agreed. But when I got to the court, I couldn’t find Luke. A new player was in his position.
Then I saw Ethan, on the sidelines. He wore a white jersey with a prominent number 6. And I immediately noticed the small star sticker on the lower left corner of the jersey. Luke’s jersey. A wave of unease washed over me.
“Sarah.” The sound of a basketball hitting the
ground was loud and clear. Ethan grabbed my
<
wrist. “Where do you think you’re going? Aren’t
you going to watch me play?”
Every eye in the stadium was on us. He leaned
in, his voice low, just for me to hear. “Why don’t you guess where Luke is?”
- 38.
Slap!
It was a sharp, resounding slap. I slapped Ethan
across the face, in front of the entire school.
He didn’t even react, didn’t retaliate. Everyone
was stunned, staring at us.
I took a breath. “Ethan, that’s for every ball
you’ve ever thrown at me.”
The basketball bounced on the court. Ethan,
finally reacting, grabbed my wrist. His face
flushed, his eyes dangerous. “Sarah, do you
have any idea what you’re doing?”
“V” My wrint was trannad in hin arin
<
“Yes.” My wrist was trapped in his grip. I
stopped struggling. “I told my parents about
you kissing me. You got me ostracized, forced
me to transfer schools, made me a pariah.
Ethan, you weren’t like this before. Do you even
recognize yourself anymore?”
Ethan’s grip loosened slightly. I pulled free,
wrenching my hand away. “Tell me where Luke
is.”
He laughed, a humorless sound. “Where is he?
Why don’t you find him yourself, Sarah?“
The school was huge. I ran from building to
