But under Mom’s urging, I walked to Ethan’s front door.
She didn’t know that my transfer was because Ethan had forced me to leave.
Ethan had always claimed it was my own decision to transfer.
Though she didn’t approve, after seeing the completed transfer notice, she just sighed and didn’t say more.
Ethan’s mom opened the door.
Seeing me, she brightened. “Lily! Come in!”
“Mom asked me to bring you some cake.”
Just as I finished speaking, I heard laughter from Ethan’s room–Vanessa’s voice.
Sure enough, the door opened, and Vanessa emerged wearing a short skirt.
Ethan’s mom looked embarrassed. “Lily, she’s just…”
I knew what she wanted to say. I shook my head.
“It’s fine. I’ve delivered the cake, so I’ll head out now.”
As I left, I heard his mom scolding him:
“Ethan, aren’t you being too harsh? Didn’t you like Lily before? You’ll hurt her feelings.”
“Lily must be upset.”
Followed by Ethan’s casual response:
“That’s her problem.”
The next morning, my parents and I followed the moving company to our new house.
Due to budget constraints, Dad had chosen a well–maintained second–hand home.
Coincidentally, it was very close to Lincoln High.
On my first day at Lincoln High, I declined my parents‘ offer to accompany me–I knew Dad was busy with his new business startup.
So I headed to Lincoln High alone with my backpack.
Chapter 3
The homeroom teacher was a chubby, balding man who beamed when he saw me.
When we reached the classroom door, chaos erupted inside.
Due to my left ear being deaf, my right ear was extra sensitive. Someone dropped a chair, making me jump.
The teacher smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, wait here a moment.”
Then he barged in with his hands on his hips and bellowed:
“Everyone! Quiet down right now!”
No one paid attention…
His face reddened: “Or I’ll call your parents.”
That finally quieted them down.
“Today, we have a new transfer student.”
I walked in, stood at the podium, and introduced myself briefly:
“Hi everyone, I’m Lily Smith.”
The classroom erupted in cheers:
“The transfer student is gorgeous!”
“Quick, is my hair messed up today?”
From the corner of the classroom, someone impatiently cut through the noise:
“Shut up, already.”
Instant silence fell.
I was surprised. After the homeroom teacher hesitated for a moment, he directed me to sit in front of that person.
I hesitated.
The teacher reassured me: “Don’t worry, that guy doesn’t hit girls.”
Me:
So he hits other people.
How intimidating.
My deskmate was a girl who introduced herself:
“I’m Madison Miller, Everyone calls me Maddie. You can call me Maddie too.”
I nodded.
The teacher came in, and I quickly took out my books.
Lincoln High’s curriculum was indeed different from my previous school’s.
During class, almost everyone did their own thing.
Some slept, others read novels, and a few did their nails.
Paper airplanes with cheat sheets flew over my head.
The teacher seemed accustomed to this. After taking a few sips of tea, he picked up his book again:
“Where was I just now?”
C
I carefully reminded him: “The third major question.”
He nodded: “Right.”
Then he looked at me in shock:
“Someone’s actually listening to my lecture?”
Only after Maddie explained did I realize that if Lincoln High was considered a subpar school, then Class 13, where I now sat, was rock bottom among rock bottoms.
It housed all the lowest–performing seniors in the school.
When I transferred, the homeroom teacher had cried and pleaded with the principal to assign me to his class.
Watching Maddie eat ice cream during class, I felt for the first time that the world was bizarre yet somehow vibrant.
After that, the teacher clearly lectured with more enthusiasm.
Gradually, a few students were inspired to start paying attention.
Until class ended.
Everyone rushed out.
I saw that the boy in the corner was still asleep.
The school was about to close.
I walked over to remind him: “Hey, class is over.”
Chapter 3
He lifted his head, raising his eyelids slightly.
His narrow eyes looked straight at me.
Below his high, straight nose, his thin lips curved upward.
“Thanks, wifey.”
