I Heard His Thoughts While Chasing Him For A Year Chapter 01

I Heard His Thoughts While Chasing Him For A Year Chapter 01

I had chased Everett Shaw for a year without ever naming what stood between us.

Then one day, Zoe Bennett and I shared his table in the school cafeteria, and I suddenly heard his thoughts.

[That face is ridiculously cute.]

[Is the little star an accessory? Why does it look so adorable on her?]

[I wish we could share a table every day. It would be even better if it were only the two of us.]

I stared at Everett, then at the star clip in Zoe’s hair. The fried chicken in my mouth instantly lost its flavor.

“You two keep eating. I just remembered something I need to do.”

*******

The moment I left the cafeteria, I struggled to hold back my emotions. We had never dated, but the hollow ache felt exactly like a breakup.

No wonder he had accepted the sports drink whenever Zoe and I brought one to his basketball games.

No wonder he waited at the school entrance when I delivered breakfast.

Everett was cold, but he had accepted every bit of affection I offered. Apparently, he had only wanted to get closer to Zoe.

A heavy feeling settled in my heart.

I skipped lunch and ran laps until the afternoon bell was about to ring. When I finally entered homeroom, Everett looked straight at me.

The exercise never cleared my head.

Each lap only rearranged the same facts: Everett had accepted my breakfasts, my drinks, and my attention without ever promising anything.

[Is she upset? Why are her eyes red?]

[Did her practice-test ranking fall again?]

[If I tutor her, maybe she won’t feel so overwhelmed.]

Zoe woke from her nap looking cranky.

“Tessa, why did you leave lunch to run laps?”

She leaned toward my ear.

“Don’t tell me you’re trying to lose weight for love.”

A weight settled on my chest.

“Both our grades slipped. We’re going to get grounded when our parents find out.”

“Who has time for romance?”

Zoe clicked her tongue.

“Then let’s ask your favorite valedictorian to tutor us after school.”

I looked toward Everett. He was working through a problem, but the tips of his ears had turned red.

[Yes. I can definitely raise her scores.]

[Then I’ll convince her to apply to Eastbridge, and we can be together every day.]

[Just imagining it makes me happy. I like her so much.]

The sweetness in his thoughts only made the bitterness worse. What had my year of effort really meant?

Eastbridge had been my dream partly because Everett wanted it. Hearing him imagine that future with someone else made even the college name hurt.

I refused Zoe’s suggestion.

“Forget it. I can study at home.”

I had no intention of becoming their third wheel.