Chapter 20
The past two and a half weeks have been a whirlwind of stress and chaos, largely due to Andy’s constant panic attacks.
Our exams have been in full swing for the past week or so. While I’m breezing through mine, thanks to my natural aptitude and genetic predisposition, Andy is a different story. She’s the type of girl who procrastinates until the eleventh hour.
I feel like I’m practically enrolled in her course. I spend so much time teaching her the material from her own syllabus.
Learning has always come easily to me. When I was younger, I used to get frustrated because I couldn’t understand why others couldn’t keep up with my pace of thinking.
So, I would often get bored in class, which inevitably landed me in trouble. That’s how they realized I was different from the other kids.
When I was nine, I was moved up to Kyle’s class because of my intelligence. Kyle despised it because he was always compared to me.
The school suggested that my mom let me skip a few more grades, but she refused. Truth be told, I didn’t study much when I was in school, because I had a knack for remembering everything I read the first time I read it.
Word for word. It was a handy skill. I’ve never failed a test in my life, even when I didn’t study for it. But being smart didn’t just land me in trouble at school—it also caused problems at home.
I used to hold study groups with Kyle and his friends because I was tasked with tutoring half of them. But I never really understood why I had to, considering their best friend was the second-best academically in the school?
Yes, Knox was second best, I was first. He was never going to claim that title. Plus, Knox was always part of the study group. I don’t know why he didn’t tutor them?
He used to get annoyed over the fact he wasn’t first because he was the big hotshot quarterback and felt he had to be the best in school too, so he would get super competitive with me.
It was amusing, though, no matter how hard he tried, he could at best match my grades, but never surpass them. I usually scored full marks every time.
We used to bicker and tease each other over this. Our moms liked to call it flirting and bonding, but we just enjoyed riling each other up over it. It was like a verbal food fight.
I know what you’re thinking. Was he the typical high school jock? My answer is yes, but he was friends with everyone, and I mean everyone. That was the one thing I was never good at.
Talking to people, where he nailed it on the head. When I first became friends with him, all the girls would only befriend me to get closer to him, my brother, and the rest of the pack.
So, I stopped trying to make friends, stopped caring to talk to them, and stopped caring what they thought of me.
I always resented the fact that he could converse with people so effortlessly and kindly, while I would respond with sass or awkwardness. A few years down the line, I embraced both of those traits my mother so kindly passed down to me.
All the girls would flock to him when he played football for our high school team. I, however, wouldn’t go near the field unless I was playing on it.
I used to detest being around him, boasting about himself, portraying himself as this divine god that all the girls would fall to their knees for, literally.
I played soccer when I was in high school. He used to come to my games, to try to throw me off and check out the other girls on my team. Actually, all of Kyle’s friends did that.
Kyle played on the same team as Knox and used to nag at me for not going to a game. My excuse was always something like, ‘I have to wash my hair’ or ‘I’m seeing Hannah tonight.’
Kyle was really good until he blew out his knee at the end of senior year. It was a tough time for him.
I won’t lie, I used to have a crush on Knox when I first met him. Then he opened his mouth, and that’s when I realized, he’s such an ass.
I even told him so. See, he used to treat me differently from everyone else, especially after the kiss. Ever since that happened, he was an even bigger ass.
Then we kissed again, and it just made things worse. So we stayed clear of each other, but at the same time, he was always around. Always.
How did I become friends with Hannah? We bonded over the fact that our brothers and their friends were the objects of every girl’s affection in our school.
She has an older brother, James, who was in my older brother Max’s year. They are best friends. Don’t get me wrong, James is hot!
Sandy blonde hair, well-built like he was in the army, always wore a tight top to show off his muscles without taking it off, and his light tan made all the girls swoon when he walked by.
Hannah is a year older than me, so we were in the same year, but she was the youngest until I joined. We had some classes together, but not many.
She never saw me as a stepping stone to get closer to my brother, and the same went for her. Although James was hot, he wasn’t someone I pursued, but she encouraged me to sometimes.
You know those guys that you can appreciate from afar but never make a move on? Yeah, he was that for me! Although he did try a few times and flirted with me like crazy.
Hannah used to hate it, but now she ignores it and enjoys it when I tease him back because I’m not like the other girls who talk to him. I’m a little more feisty.
But all my brothers and their friends do it to her too. She’s always had a thing for Wes and Tyler, but was always too shy to do anything about it.
Enough of the childhood memory rant.
Andy and I had just finished our last exam before Christmas break, two different ones. Although I could’ve easily aced Andy’s exam.
Walking out of the hall, we grabbed our bags and ran to each other for our traditional final exam hug.
“Thank fuck it’s over! I couldn’t mentally take it anymore!” she cries out on my shoulder as we hug each other.
“Honestly, you’re a nightmare during finals week! It’s like you’re PMSing times ten!” I laugh, my voice muffled by her shirt.
We pull apart, scanning the room for our next move. Spotting Wes in the corner, Andy tugs us in his direction. “Wes!” she calls, waving enthusiastically.
“Hey, Alex!” Selena greets me, her arms cradling a stack of folders. I groan inwardly, already knowing why she’s approaching me. Knox.
Ever since the airport incident, it’s been all about Knox. Every girl on campus has:
Asked me if we’re dating, to which I’ve always replied no. Inquired about his availability, to which I’ve always said yes.
Requested that I pass along their number, to which I’ve always refused.
There’s no way I’m playing matchmaker for him.
“I was wondering if you could give this to Knox?” Selena asks, extending an envelope toward me.
My phone rings in my pocket, the familiar tune of ‘Sexual Healing’ filling the air. I fish it out and decline the call, earning a laugh from Andy.
She’s known who it’s been since everything went south two weeks ago. He’s called me every day and night to check up on me. It’s sweet, but unnecessary. I’ve mostly ignored it.
I won’t lie, I broke down on the phone once when I was grocery shopping with Andy. Seeing all the magazine covers featuring the two of us was overwhelming.
Some articles were kind, but most labeled me a gold digger and a whore. He tried to comfort me, assuring me it would all blow over with time.
But the paparazzi were relentless, bombarding me with inappropriate questions wherever I went. I’d hide my face and Andy would stick by my side, sometimes Wes too. I was so grateful for them.
“Um, no, I don’t know him—” I start to reply, but Marvin Gaye interrupts me again. Damn it, Knox! Your timing is the worst!
“What? You know your timing is terrible, right?” I growl into the phone, earning a glare from Selena as if her request was more important than my call. Little does she know who’s on the other end.
“Baby doll! Why haven’t you called me back? How was your exam? Are you coming to New York like you said? When’s your flight? Is Andy coming with you? Is—”
“Oh my god! Stop, you’re so clingy! I’ve been busy helping Andy with her exams and mine went fine, as usual. You should know that.
Yes, I’m coming to New York, but it’s none of your business when. And no, you’re not booking me a first-class ticket like last time. Andy’s not coming, and stop asking me twenty-one questions, Jesus!” I answer in one breath, struggling to catch it by the end.
By this time, Wes has joined us and Selena is batting her false eyelashes at him. “Hi, who’s that?” he asks, not looking at her but keeping his eyes on me. That’s not like him to ignore a flirting girl right in front of him.
“Who do you think?” I retort.
“Knox?” He huffs and snatches the phone from me. What the hell is—
“Knox? As in Knox Carter? Holy fuck! Can I talk to him?!” A group of girls standing nearby start bouncing up and down, their breasts on full display.
Typical. I ignore her. She’ll get the hint eventually.
“She’s good, man! She’s with me now... yes, I’m flying back with her tonight... fuck off, man!... Kn—what!... shut it!... no, I didn’t... fuck off, Knox! I’m not playing anymore!... HAH!
Please! I could kick your ass too!... no... NO!!!... Bring it! Asshole!... Yeah, yeah, whatever... Here! Talk to the idiot!” Wes hands me back my phone, which Selena tries to snatch from me.
“Leave me alone!” I scream at her.
“Why, what did I do?” Knox asks through the phone.
“Not you! This—ugh, ouch! No, you can’t talk to him! Fucking hell, Knox, do you see what you’re doing to me! I’m—OW! Stop it! Don’t touch me!”
“Baby doll? Are you alright? What’s going on? Is it Wes? I will come there and beat him—” He sounds genuinely worried over the phone. Haha! Why? Ow! This bitch has long nails! Jesus!
“No, it’s... not... Wes! Jesus, he wouldn’t touch me... Get off me!”
“Get the fuck off her! NOW!” Wes roars at her. She releases my arm, shoots me a glare, and stomps off. Thank god! I’m going to have cuts and bruises from this! They’ll be small but visible.