I Heard His Thoughts While Chasing Him For A Year Chapter 02

I Heard His Thoughts While Chasing Him For A Year Chapter 02

After evening study hall, the other students left one by one.

Zoe clung to my arm.

“Stay with me. I’m scared to go home alone.”

“Everett can take you.”

“He said tutoring me alone would start rumors.”

I almost laughed. Even while hiding his feelings, Everett protected her reputation.

Zoe was still my best friend, so I stayed.

Everett sat across from us and opened his books.

“Your error rate was high on these problems. I found similar ones for practice.

Finish them first, and I’ll explain whatever you miss.”

Free tutoring was still free tutoring. I pushed my feelings aside and began working.

Then his thoughts exploded inside my head.

[She has no idea I made this packet specifically for her. I stayed up two nights.]

[Helping her improve makes me ridiculously happy.]

[Tomorrow is another game. She’ll cheer for me again, so I need to play well.]

[Even her handwriting is cute. How is that possible?]

I slammed down my pen.

“You’re so loud!”

Everett and Zoe stared at me.

“Tessa, is school getting to you?” Zoe asked.

“The only sound outside is an occasional cat.”

I scrambled for an excuse.

“I already understand this. You keep working.

I need some air.”

I grabbed my backpack and left.

My thoughts were a mess. I knew what Everett liked, what he hated, and even what color boxers he usually wore.

I had memorized his game schedule, favorite breakfasts, and study habits as if they were part of my own life.

There was almost nothing about him I had not tried to learn.

Almost every one of his friends knew I liked him. Sometimes they teased us, but Everett never reacted.

He only wore that cold expression and pretended not to care. I had once blamed his personality; now I thought he simply considered me beneath his attention.

That interpretation made every old memory humiliating. I had mistaken tolerance for hidden affection because I wanted the answer badly enough.

I kicked gravel across the walkway until Zoe and Everett appeared.

“Finished already?”

For once, Everett explained himself without being asked.

“The room was hot. Studying doesn’t work when everyone is restless.”

“Okay.”

Zoe hooked her arm through mine while Everett followed behind.

[My carefully made packet was wasted.]

[Why can’t her friend take a hint?]

[Still, without Zoe helping, I wouldn’t have an excuse to get closer.]

I put in my earbuds and turned the music all the way up. His thoughts finally disappeared.

I never looked back and did not notice when he left.

Zoe lived across the hall from me and followed me upstairs.

“What’s wrong? You’ve been carrying something all day.”

I took a breath.

“I suddenly feel jealous of you.”

She touched my forehead.

“No fever. Go sleep.

We have Owen Parker’s basketball game tomorrow.”

My emotions surged again.

Everyone said secret love was bitter. I finally understood.

I had spent a year believing I had a chance, never realizing I was bright enough to illuminate the entire third-wheel position.