Chapter 49: Chapter 49

Chapter 16 The crushing workload of senior year AP classes hit like a freight train.

Sid and I both attacked it with a kind of obsessive focus. We discovered we were intellectual kindred spirits—both genuinely energized by learning rather than exhausted by it.

We devoured new concepts, already thinking ahead to college coursework.

We fell into an easy rhythm of swapping notes, talking through difficult concepts, and challenging each other with extra problems neither teacher had assigned.

Days blurred together in a productive bubble that felt safely distant from my old life.

After midterms, during evening study hall, I heard the chair beside me scrape against the floor.

Without looking up from my calculus proofs, I slid over a container of sliced apples and strawberries.

“My mom’s on a health kick again. She sent enough for both of us, Sid.”

“How much longer are you planning to keep up this bullshit, Phoebe?” My head snapped up.

Zephyr was lounging in Sid’s seat.

He had positioned himself to block me into the corner, one arm stretched across the back of my chair.

“So you ghosted me, switched to AP without saying a word, and now you’re playing house with this preppy little bitch to make me jealous? Who the fuck said you could do that?”

“Listen carefully–if you’re still hoping we end up at the same college, you need to drop this loser immediately. I’m not playing around.”

The classroom went deadly quiet.

Everyone suddenly developed an intense interest in their textbooks while obviously straining to hear every word.

Chapter 16 I let out a laugh that contained zero humor, meeting his eyes directly.

“Move. That’s Sid’s seat.”

Zephyr’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“No. I decide where I sit.”

I tried pushing him away, but he grabbed my wrist, yanking me toward him with familiar roughness.

His grip was bruising, his physical advantage obvious.

That same feeling of powerlessness I’d felt in the bathroom returned like a wave.

The same mix of humiliation and heartbreak.

“Excuse me.”

Two precise knuckle taps on Zephyr’s desk.

“I believe you’re in my assigned seat.”

Sid stood there with perfect posture, head slightly tilted as he regarded Zephyr with what appeared to be genuine confusion.

“I don’t recognize you from our AP Physics section. Are you new?”

He said “AP Physics” with just enough emphasis to make his point without being openly insulting.

Zephyr’s face transformed with rage, launching to his feet to grab Sid’s collar. “Say that to my face again, you fucking nerd.”

Sid didn’t flinch. He calmly pointed to the clock on the back wall.

“Dr. Williams will be here in approximately twenty seconds. He’s very strict about non–enrolled students disrupting his study hall.”

Zephyr’s face darkened as he spat out a string of obscenities, shoving Sid aside as he stormed out.

The moment Sid reclaimed his seat, he turned to me, concern in his eyes.

42 Chapter 16 “Are you alright? Your wrist is red.”

I felt mortified by the whole scene.

“I’m so sorry about that. I apologize for how he acted.”

“Could you... maybe not apologize for him?” Sid was quiet for a moment before adding gently: “You’re not responsible for his behavior. And hearing you take ownership of his actions... it hurts to see,”

I stared at him, completely unprepared for such a direct but tender statement, heat rising unexpectedly to my face...

I excused myself to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my cheeks.

Trying to cool down whatever this new feeling was.

But as I stepped into the dimly lit hallway, someone grabbed me from behind and shoved me into an empty classroom.

Zephyr pinned me against the closed door, his voice a threatening whisper:

“Congratulations, Phoebe. You finally got my attention.”

“What’s your price for ditching Pretty Boy? Just tell me what it’ll take to get you back where you belong.”

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