Chapter 2
3
I didn’t go to the hospital, just hit up
Walgreens and patched myself up.
Then I went to Barnes & Noble and started
cranking through practice tests.
Messed up seven out of ten problems, got so
pissed I slammed my hand on the table, and
nearly screamed from the pain.
“Still sucks even when you self–harm, huh?
Guess it’s just a matter of IQ.”
I turned around and saw Jason sitting behind
- me.
<
He smirked, all smug. “Well, this is a freakin‘
surprise. Didn’t figure I’d see you here.”
He was a total brainiac, but I never thought
he was anything special.
Until a few days ago, when the teacher
announced, all proud, that he’d aced another
math test.
Me? I got a 30.
Thinking about it, a look of admiration
appeared on my face.
“Hehehe, you’ll be seeing a lot more of me.”
<
He recoiled. “Whoever you are, get away from
Jessica Stone.”
I wasn’t mad at all. I just played it cool,
scooting closer. “Gimme a hand, will ya?”
He glanced over the test. “It’s B.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s gotta be B.”
Me: “”
All afternoon, I forgot all about my hand and
pissed off the class genius.
<
When it started getting dark, I packed up my
stuff to head home.
Jason glared at me, and as we were walking
out of the library, he hissed, “Hope I never
meet anyone as dumb as you ever again.”
“Hehehe.”
He recoiled again, looking worried. “What?
Don’t even think about it.”
My eyes welled up instantly. “You know my
mom just died, right? Her last wish was…”
“Okay, okay, fine!” He threw up his hands. “If
you’re not afraid of me calling you names,
く
then I don’t care.”
“Thank you! Thank you!” I grabbed his hand.
“My mom would be thanking you from
heaven.”
“Tell your mom thanks, but in person is
unecessary.”
The bus came, and I booked it, turning back
one more time to sincerely thank him.
That afternoon, I got insulted more than I had
in my entire life.
Jason was smart, a good student, cute, and
came from a good family.
く
Hardly anyone tried hitting on him because he
was so mean.
But, through all the cussing, I finished a
practice test for the first time.
Turns out, it could be pretty rewarding.
When I got back, Carrie’s birthday party was
over.
As soon as I walked in, Dad rushed over,
shushing me, and pointed to Carrie’s room.
