Trapped in a Room with the Top Student for Better Scores Chapter 11

Trapped in a Room with the Top Student for Better Scores Chapter 11

My friend got Gavin’s number over summer break.

Apparently they texted through the entire Fourth of July fireworks show.

Over break, Nolan came by for dinner once.

He kept starting to say something, only to stop. In the end, he said nothing.

It was the first time I’d ever seen anything close to insecurity in his eyes when he looked at me.

He didn’t say a word to me the entire night.

But right at the door, as he was leaving, he caught the door before I could close it.

“You don’t like me anymore?”

“No. I don’t.”

I didn’t understand the look on his face: hurt, confused, like he hadn’t expected this.

I heard he and Blair broke up.

I didn’t care.

I sat on the couch, texting my friend and working through practice problems.

Then Declan’s message popped up.

[Wanna come study?]

I changed outfits four times and somehow ended up back in my favorite jeans and a T-shirt.

He came by my building to pick me up.

I stood in the hallway, psyching myself up before I opened the door.

Declan was leaning against his bike, all sharp jaw and long limbs, looking like he’d been carved out of a magazine.

Behind him stood a whole crew: my friend, Gavin, and a few others.

The group headed toward Burger Haven, loud and chaotic.

Declan fell into step beside me.

I didn’t say hello.

He caught my eye and flashed that punchable smile.

“What, you thought it’d just be the two of us? Disappointed?”

I decided I wasn’t going to acknowledge him for the rest of the day.

But he was in a genuinely good mood.

He saved the seat next to his for me, pushed all my favorites my way, and every time I reached for

something, he was already handing it over.

He walked me home afterward, alone.

He claimed his place was in the same direction.

I knew that once break ended, I wouldn’t see him again.

All through summer break, Declan helped me catch up with the AP track.

He didn’t just teach me content. He taught me how to teach myself.

Slowly, I started figuring things out on my own.

I wasn’t the same Avery who’d spent entire nights stuck on a single problem.

Break ended.

Senior year hit fast. The pace was relentless.

But I kept up.

I moved into a small apartment near school after my mom got a promotion that took her out of

town.

The days blurred together.

Senior year was equal parts studying and loneliness.

I’d catch his name sometimes, in passing conversations I wasn’t part of.

On nights when I was scared I wouldn’t do well enough, I thought about him.

I wanted to reach out. But I was afraid I’d start needing him too much.

So I never texted.

Gavin mentioned once that Declan lived in Northridge. My place was in Southbrook, the opposite

direction.

New Year’s Eve, senior year. I didn’t go home. I spent it alone in my apartment.

I texted Declan [Happy New Year]. He didn’t reply.

Different time zone.

It snowed hard that night. I woke up the next morning with a headache from the cold air.

I sat curled up in the apartment, working through problems.

My phone buzzed.

[Come down.]

I grabbed a jacket and took the stairs two at a time. Neighbors said hi on the way down. I didn’t hear

a single one.

He was standing under a tree in a long coat, hoodie underneath, snow in his hair.

Iran.

“You…”

I was out of breath, trying to find the right words, but he cut me off.

“Don’t overthink it. I was just worried you’d stop studying.”

Oh.

Right. A ten-hour flight just to check on my homework. Totally on the way.

My scarf covered half my face.

“I’ve been studying,” I mumbled.

“I know.”

“Then why’d you come?”

He didn’t answer. He reached out and brushed the snow off my hair, wearing that same arrogant, impossible expression.

“I just wanted to.”

“Aren’t you freezing?”

“Dying. Not doing this again.”

He pressed a gift into my hands, leaned close, and said it right by my ear. “Avery. Happy New Year

The rest of senior year flew.

Final exams came and went.

I got in. To the same Ivy League Declan had locked down years ago.

They posted my photo on the senior Wall of Fame, in the same row as his.

Summer stretched out, slow and lazy. I spent the days curled up at home, gaming, doing nothing.

My phone buzzed.

Declan.

He was back.

[Wanna hang out?]

One minute later, another text.

[Just you and me.]

[Okay.]

I looked up at the midsummer afternoon pouring through my window.

I had a feeling this was going to be a really good summer.