It was the picture of Ethan kissing me in the
bar. I wasn’t surprised Vanessa had it. It had
circulated widely before I transferred.
But her next question caught me off guard.
“From the angle of this photo… were you a
willing participant?”
Vanessa zoomed in on the picture, focusing on
where Ethan’s hands gripped mine against the
wall.
She said, “He was out of line, wasn’t he?”
- 27.
Back in the classroom, Luke leaned in. “Ethan
broke up with Vanessa.”
Vanessa had just sat down. Her back was
ramrod straight, showing no sign of heartbreak.
I asked him, “Are you sure Ethan broke up with
her?”
く
Because just before we came back to class,
Vanessa had asked me, “Sarah, want to get
back at him?”
- 28.
I was slowly packing my bag after school. Luke
suddenly said, “Sarah, back door.”
Ethan. He leaned against the doorframe, his
uniform jacket slung casually over one shoulder,
one hand in his pocket, his eyes fixed on me.
I instinctively tightened my grip on my backpack
straps. Ethan walked straight toward me.
He slammed a can of soda on my desk. “My
mom said I have to walk you home now… to
avoid… complications.” He shot a look at Luke.
Luke pushed the soda can back toward Ethan.
“She doesn’t need it.”
- 29.
111^/hatin it to VOLO Ithan’a
and at
く
“What’s it to you?” Ethan’s eyes narrowed at
Luke. “Luke, stay out of this.”
“Then let me tell you to stay out of this,” Luke
retorted, his voice firm. “We’re friends, I don’t
interfere with your personal life, but don’t mess
with Sarah.”
“You really have a thing for her, don’t you?”
“Enough!” I splashed a cup of water in Ethan’s
face. I set the cup down, feeling a sudden surge
of resolve. “Ethan, do you understand? I don’t
need this. You want to complain, you want to
mess with me? Fine. But right now, get out.”
- 30.
Luke pressed a cold can of soda to my cheek
while I was still in shock. “Hey, you okay? Or
did that feel really good?”
I frowned, taking the soda. “Like you got off
easy.”
く
Water dripped from Luke’s hair. Ethan, reacting quickly, had grabbed a nearby cup and thrown the water at Luke, who’d shielded me. Luke just
wiped his face, silent. Ethan slammed the cup down and spat out a threat before he left:
“Sarah, you better not come home!”
I opened the soda and took a sip. “Aren’t you
going to dry your hair?”
Luke sighed dramatically. “Heartless. Not even
a tissue for me?”
I set the soda down and patted my pockets.
“Let me see.”
The school grounds were mostly deserted after.
school, except for a few kids still playing
basketball. We sat side by side on a bench.
“Here, found one…” I looked up, and froze.
Luke had picked up the soda can and taken a
sip, from exactly the same spot I had.
く
He blushed, quickly setting it down. “Couldn’t find a tissue. Can’t a guy have a sip of soda?”
- 31.
Luke and I stayed out late. As we left the movie
theater, I ignored the third call from home.
He glanced at me. “You’re not going to
answer?”
“It’s this late already. They’ve probably already heard Ethan’s version and are ready to lecture
- me. What’s the point of answering? Just to get yelled at?”
Luke chuckled. “Never realized you had such a
rebellious streak.”
We found a BBQ place and decided to have a
late–night snack. I didn’t have any money, so
Luke, the generous goofball, paid.
“Whoa, good girl drinking beer?” Two bottles of
I shook my head. “The owner gave them to us.”
“Gave them? We don’t look like high school
students?”
“You look like a rich kid skipping class to
impress a girl.”
Luke laughed again. I couldn’t help but smile.
He opened a bottle and poured two glasses.
“Well, this rich kid’s gonna do what rich kids
do.”
The beer tasted awful. I coughed, and amidst
the smoky aroma and the chatter of the crowd,
I heard Luke set down his glass.
“I can’t stand him anymore, either.”
