I Ditched My Childhood Sweethearts for a Brighter Future Chapter 08

I Ditched My Childhood Sweethearts for a Brighter Future Chapter 08

I blinked, handing the exam over to him. “Finished.”

Waylon took the papers but didn’t even look at them, gripping my arm gently to pull me toward the exit. “Did you study yourself into a stupor? Your eyes look completely unfocused.”

I stared at his pale wrist and the faint outline of his veins, and the bitterness that hadn’t caught up to me this morning suddenly flared to life. “Where are you taking me?”

My voice sounded muffled.

A second later, his reply came exactly as expected. “The festival.”

An overwhelming wave of grievance washed over me, making my feet feel like they were rooted to the ground. “I’m not going. If you want to see it, go by yourself.”

He turned to look at me in surprise. “Since when did your dedication to studying get this intense, Paisley?”

I kept my eyes glued to the tips of my shoes. “You should just leave. If they catch an outsider sneaking into the school, the consequences are serious.”

I had almost forgotten that Waylon was also Alanna’s tutor.

Coming here tonight meant he was definitely here for her.

The thought felt like a tight squeeze on my heart, bringing a bitter sting to my eyes.

The evening breeze rustled through the campus trees. Under the streetlight, he leaned down slightly toward me. “But I’m an invited guest. If you kick me out right now, what are you going to tell the principal when he asks?”

I looked up. Waylon’s usually expressionless face seemed softened by the warm glow of the lamplight.

It wasn’t until I followed him backstage that I saw the two guys crowding around Alanna in the distance.

Logan, who had been leaning against the wall with a faint smile, froze the moment he saw me, his expression turning even grimmer when his eyes fell on the man behind me.

Charles frowned deeply at Waylon, while Alanna stared at us with wide eyes.

“Thanks, Alanna. The tutor you recommended is incredible. My scores are up, and it really did wonders for my confidence.”

The second the words left my mouth, Alanna looked completely bewildered.

After a few seconds, something clicked, and she hurriedly pulled out her phone to check.

“Holy crap. I meant to send you my Pilates instructor. How did I end up sending you my brother?”

Her sudden shout caught me off guard.

“You two…” Alanna’s eyes darted between me and Waylon, a knowing glint in them. “Since when are you nice enough to tutor people, Waylon?”

Waylon frowned at her. “What are you doing here?”

The last trace of bitterness in my chest vanished, completely replaced by sheer shock.

As I tried to process the information, someone suddenly yanked me to the side.

Waylon frowned and tried to pull me back, but Alanna immediately cornered him, throwing out a barrage of questions.

“How did you even get onto campus, Waylon?”

“Why didn’t you tell me I sent the wrong contact? And actually tutoring her. Since when are you this nice?”

“No wonder you’ve been staying at home all week. So this is what’s been going on.”

Charles’s chest rose and fell heavily, his eyes practically spitting fire.

“You refused to come to the festival when we asked, but now you show up with some random guy? Who the hell is he?”

“Paisley, I think you owe us an explanation.”

Logan’s face looked even darker than Charles’s.