I Was Sick Of Second Place So I Took Everything Chapter 10

I Was Sick Of Second Place So I Took Everything Chapter 10

Time finally started to feel tight.

Naturally, I had to make every second count.

After the first monthly exam, I looked at the name at the very top of the rankings–and felt completely

satisfied. That spot was no longer out of reach.

One evening during study hall, I went to the office to hand in the materials I had collected for the class.

When I got to the door, I noticed most of the teachers were out.

Then I heard a familiar voice.

It was my English teacher, who also happened to be the homeroom teacher of the class next door.

“Caleb, are you and Olivia dating?”

I stopped in my tracks, unsure whether I should go in.

Before senior year, Caleb had been the undisputed number one in the grade.

His girlfriend was also near the top, so even though they didn’t exactly hide it, the teachers had mostly

turned a blind eye.

But now he’d dropped to second place more than once.

The teachers were clearly starting to worry. Maybe the relationship was messing with his grades.

Caleb’s voice came from inside. “I get your concern.”

“Olivia and I are together because we admire each other. I was the one who initiated it.”

“I also know we’re still high school students, and our priority should be academics.”

“Since we started dating, we haven’t crossed any boundaries. Olivia has improved a lot during senior year…”

“My grades haven’t dropped-I’m sure of it.”

“As for the rankings, I think it’s unfair to overlook Estelle’s effort. She’s the one who stepped up.’

“That’s why she passed me for first. It’s not that I slipped.”

At least he had some backbone, I thought.

Definitely not because he acknowledged my improvement.

I picked a moment that seemed appropriate, stepped in, dropped off the materials, and quickly turned to

leave.

Behind me, Caleb continued, “If possible, I’d prefer you not bring this up with Olivia.”

“This is a critical time. Please don’t do anything that might shake her focus.”

This was not how I imagined getting caught dating would go.

Wasn’t he supposed to stay silent and wait for the parents to be called?

He didn’t just admit it. He even asked the teacher not to bring the other person into it. Talk about bold.

Too bad I didn’t have anyone to date.

If I could tutor my partner from the teens into the top ranks, I would absolutely make a show of it.

That was how shallow we show-offs were.

I didn’t mention this little episode to anyone.

At this stage, nothing mattered more than my exam.

On the day of the pre-exam rally, we were once again fed a full dose of motivational speeches.

The seasons shifted from cold winter to warm spring and then into the heat of summer in what felt like the blink of an eye.

During the major exams in the second semester of senior year, I held onto first place almost every time.

The voices claiming I’d just gotten lucky gradually died down.

And people started calling me something new-Estelle the Ace.

Before entering the SAT testing center, quite a few classmates even ran over to shake my hand, hoping to

borrow some of my luck.

But when it was finally over, a strange emptiness settled over me.

For these years, I had never let myself slack off.

Now that it was all done, I just felt… hollow.

Letayed home and slept for a few days, then took the travel fund my mom gave me and went on a trip with

smates.

sure to bring the camera Silas had given me.

on, my social media was full of posts from the trip. Along with likes from friends and family, there were

also likes from Silas.

He even left a thumbs-up emoji in the comments, like someone’s sixty-year-old grandma.

After the trip, it was almost time for the results to come out.

My heart grew restless again.