Chapter 2
Joycelyn’s POV
From day one of freshman year, I knew all my skill points were allocated to academics.
Research papers that sent other students into panic attacks? I could outline them during homeroom. Calculus problems that made our teacher stutter? They just clicked for me.
My SAT practice tests had been perfect since sophomore year, and I’d already written draft application essays for seven Ivy League schools.
But I understood that in a place like Boulder High, being too smart wasn’t always the fastest route to social capital.
So even though I needed those first–place scholarship dollars, I kept my GPA just ahead of Raven Green–never more than a 0.2 difference between us.
There was only one exception.
The day before junior year finals, I was cutting through the senior parking lot when I spotted Nathan’s black Jeep Wrangler parked in the far corner.
Through the windshield, I could see him and Raven locked in an embrace, her fingers tangled in his
dark hair.
The late afternoon sun hit them just right–golden quarterback and his picture–perfect girlfriend–straight out of a CW drama and enough to make my stomach knot with envy.
During the calculus exam the next day, I deliberately solved every extension question that I normally would have half–answered to maintain my strategic academic profile.
During physics, I systematically destroyed every question, including the bonus problems our teacher had added “just to challenge Joycelyn.”
That finals week, I outscored Raven by a full 35 points, publicly claiming my rightful place at the top.
Afterward, I regretted my emotional lapse for days.
5.3%
LLina
Chapter 2
Three years of image management blown because I couldn’t handle seeing Nathan with another girl. What was wrong with me?
Until the following Friday.
I was leading the varsity cheer squad through pyramid drills on the practice field beside the football
stadium.
The squad was struggling with the new routine I’d designed for the homecoming game, and my patience was wearing thin.
“Higher extensions, Brianna! Madison, point those toes! We’re not performing for a middle school
talent show!”
I called out, clipboard in hand, sunglasses hiding my frustration as the formation wobbled again.
That’s when the football came flying from nowhere, hitting me squarely between the shoulder
blades.
My clipboard clattered to the turf as I spun around, ready to unleash hell on whoever had interrupted my practice.
Nathan Darwin was jogging across the field toward me, his gold #23 jersey bright against the green turf, aviator sunglasses pushed up into his hair.
His usual entourage of football players was watching from the sidelines, nudging each other and poorly hiding their smirks.
“My bad, Quinn!” he called, slowing as he reached me.
Up close, I could see the light sheen of sweat on his face from afternoon practice. “Total accident. Arm slipped during a pass.”
He flashed that signature smile that had landed him on the cover of last year’s yearbook. “You okay? Need some ice or something?”
The cheerleaders behind me had frozen in place, all openly staring at this unprecedented
interaction.
Nathan Darwin didn’t talk to people like me.
7.0%
chack King
Chapter 2
We existed in completely different orbits–him in the center of Boulder High’s social solar system, me in some distant academic galaxy where I ruled with cold precision.
I knew with absolute certainty that the football that had hit me wasn’t remotely an accident.
Just like I knew with equal certainty that Nathan Darwin crossing the border between our worlds had everything to do with Raven Green.
Maybe it was revenge for outscoring her. Maybe it was some bet they had going.
But honestly? I didn’t care about their reasons. This was my only chance to get close to Nathan
Darwin.
Yes.
I wanted Nathan Darwin.
From the very first moment I saw him freshman year, walking down the hall like he owned it.
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8.8%
