I Ditched My Childhood Sweethearts for a Brighter Future Chapter 11

I Ditched My Childhood Sweethearts for a Brighter Future Chapter 11

“Your progress is solid. At this rate, you should be fine.” Waylon packed up the exam.

Before the proud smile could even form on my face, he pulled out yet another practice test from somewhere. “However, I prepared a bonus section for you. Don’t slack off during this final stretch, Paisley. And definitely don’t get into a relationship yet.”

I took the test, entirely deflated. “Fine.”

In my dreams tonight, Waylon would definitely be chasing me down with test papers again.

“But… we can talk about it once exams are over.”

I looked up at him. Waylon kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, the tips of his ears completely crimson.

The campus path stretched our shadows out long behind us.

“What if I don’t get into Harvard? Can we still talk then?”

A sudden warmth enveloped my palm. A tingling current raced from my fingertips straight to my chest as his amused voice echoed beside me. “If you don’t make it to Harvard, you can just date someone from Harvard.”

My face was still burning by the time we reached my front door. Waylon handed over my backpack. “It’s the weekend tomorrow. Be at the library by one for an extra practice packet.”

Every trace of romance instantly vanished. I glared at him, gritting my teeth.

I waited until he completely disappeared from view before turning to head inside.

The moment I stepped into the living room, I jumped in shock. Logan was sitting there like a literal statue.

“We need to talk, Paisley.”

He looked like he had been waiting for ages.

Pretending I hadn’t heard him, I turned toward my room, but he covered the distance in a few quick strides and grabbed my arm. “Don’t wake up your parents. Let’s talk in Charles’s place.”

Charles’s bedroom was the largest out of the three of us. His parents were incredibly sweet, setting up three separate desks in there and always buying three sets of any school supplies or toys since we were kids.

Stepping inside, I immediately noticed Charles drinking. A few empty cans were rolled over on the massive desk.

I turned to leave on the spot.

“He’s not drunk.” Logan blocked my path, his brow furrowed deeply. “Paisley, we just want to have a proper talk with you.”

I looked at him coldly. “I don’t talk to drunks.”

Slouched over the desk, Charles’s frame stiffened slightly. He stood up, quietly cleared away the empty cans, and went into the bathroom to splash water on his face.

Watching his retreating back, Logan’s voice went rough. “Paisley, Charles is only acting out because he’s hurting. When you called us just neighbors today and then abandoned us for some guy you barely know… it tore both of us apart.”

I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I laughed out loud.

The room fell dead silent.

Logan frowned at me. “What’s so funny?”

I stared directly into his eyes. “Logan, I honestly think you and Charles would make a pretty good pair. He gets you, you care about him, and you both see each other at your most vulnerable.”

Logan’s gaze darkened, as if he were looking at a complete stranger.

“Everything you just said… is exactly what I went through not long ago.”

The sound of running water in the bathroom abruptly stopped.

I stood by the door, scanning the posters of the three of us plastering Charles’s walls, a heavy wave of emotion washing over me.