Chapter 7
It sounded childish, but the meaning was clear enough. I smiled politely. “Can’t help it–self–preservation. Nobody wants a ticking time bomb around, constantly getting falsely accused.”
Bessie’s face went pale. “Isabella, I never… I never said anything…”
Alexander’s expression darkened. “You’re really going to throw away all these years of friendship just like that?”
Before I could respond, Frederick scoffed. “Funny thing is, Isabella and I go way back too.” He suddenly took my hand. “You’re not happy here–let me take you home.”
Almost casually, he added, “Unlike some people, my feelings have always been exclusive. One person only, from
hildhood to now.”
As he led me out, a loud crash echoed behind us–someone had apparently kicked over a wooden chair, followed by nuffled sobbing that sounded delicate and pitiful.
It’s all my fault… I shouldn’t have envied Isabella…”
n the elevator going down, hurried footsteps clattered from the stairwell. Keith ran up to us, breathing hard.
I’ll drive you home.”
Don’t trouble yourself,” I said, stepping back coolly.
But Frederick smiled and tilted his head toward me. “Actually, let’s go with him–let him drive us both.”
paused, then changed my mind with a polite fake smile. “That would be great, thanks.”
Keith pressed his lips together, his dark eyes fixed on Frederick. Nobody spoke, but you could feel the tension rackling between them.
After a long moment, Keith looked down. “Let’s go.”
got in the back seat, and Frederick immediately slid in beside me. The car fell silent except for the visible veins bulging on Keith’s hands gripping the steering wheel.
‘You used to sit in my passenger seat,” he said quietly.
True. Keith had been the first of us old enough to drive legally–I’d ride shotgun while the other two sat in back. But now I just smiled. “I’m not feeling well–can’t handle the AC.”
Keith turned off the air conditioning and rolled down all the windows. His phone kept buzzing with notifications, and he’d glance at it before looking back at me. “Isabella, none of us ever wanted to make you unhappy.”
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Now I’m Dating Their Nival
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Chapter 7
Frederick smiled. “Isabella, I only want to make you happy.”
Keith’s words cut off abruptly, his usually rational eyes flashing with rare irritation. He didn’t say another word for the rest of the drive.
Frederick, on the other hand, kept emphasizing how painting teacups required more than just chrome green–depending on light refraction, you needed to mix in gray–green and ultramarine blue. ;
Then he added, “Personally, I hate fake people the most.”
I’d read somewhere that you only hate manipulative people when they’re not manipulating you. If someone asked whether I hated manipulative people, I’d definitely say: “Depends.”
I’d fallen three months behind in academics during boot camp and had to catch up fast. While cramming through practice tests, the classroom suddenly buzzed with whispers. Looking up, I saw a new student on the platform giving
à confident self–introduction.
When he stepped down, he smiled at me. “Hi Isabella, mind if I sit here?”
Transfers were rare this late in senior year, and Frederick calling me by name immediately had everyone peculating about our relationship.
During a break, I asked him, “Didn’t your family move out of Manhattan years ago?”
He propped his chin on his hand, studying me. “Moving back isn’t impossible.”
Light. I looked back down at my work, but he suddenly tapped my test paper.
This one’s wrong. If sets can’t share common elements, recalculate the range of values for real number a.”
was surprised. “You know all this stuff?”
The basics.”
Then tutor me.”
Sure…” Frederick’s voice dropped to barely a whisper as he looked up at me. “Do you understand now, Isabella?”
Afternoon sunlight filtered through the windows, casting soft shadows across his profile. I suddenly realized that he kid I used to call “faker” wasn’t little anymore–he was growing up too.
The back door of the classroom suddenly burst open with a loud bang, making some girls scream. Alexander and Henry stormed in, grabbing Frederick by the collar.
Taking advantage while she’s vulnerable–Frederick, you’re fucking dead!”
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