Chapter 1
The day our practice test scores came out, I moved up from fifth so third in our grade.
Meanwhile, Vanessa dropped from twentieth to somewhere in the thirties
Someone comitented: “What happened to Vanessa? She’s fallen so far behind-
“And Lily’s moved up t
two more spots.]
She immediately teed up and glared at me.
“Happy now, Lily?–||
ou study st
You study so hard just to make everyone think Ethan made a poor choice picking me, don’t you?
Then she stormed out[]
The bell rang for class, but she never came back
Our dueless teacher asked me, as class president to find her
Half an hour Imer, I spotted Vanessa sitting on a plaster near the basketball court
Ethan was bent over, speaking softly to console her.
Whatever he said made her smile through her tears. ||
Sunlight Eltered through the trees to the pair, creating a scene straight out of a teen drama.
When than noticed me approaching his eyes narrowed. As if to appease Vanessa, he tossed his basketball toward me
- y. It hit my bearing aid.]]
Accidently.
After a buzzing sound, my left ear went completely silent
Ethan dearly hadn’t expected this–surprise flashed across his face for a split second.
Then he walked toward me
“Lily, you should transfer schools”
essa has a temper. She keeps fighting with me because of you.
just a month ago, he had asked me]
“Lily, will you be my girlfriend
after SAT?
I hesitated to refuse with SAT so close]
than continued. “Don’t make this difficult for me.”
Every day you’re here is another day Vanessa will be upset.]
I wouldart was
vand to make things hard for your dad would you?”
My father worked at thans family company
was threatening my dad’s job]
rked at their company for years–from age twenty two to forty five. I couldn’t let him lose his job in middle age becacur of me.[]
Dhas serised retired. “Once the cats down, 11) bring you back |]
Vanessa apparendy overtinand and strutted over, pourssively tugging at Ethan a hand
7than | Chick Linrsin High would be perfect (
Lincoln was ranked dead last song high (Chunds in our city.
Tthan knew this perfectly well.
But he just smiled larily “Alright whatever you
Idenched the broken pieces of my hearing aid in my palm until they dug into my skin
The pain helped me hold back tears.]
After a long moment. I tossed the broken hearing aid into the trash and walked away
Than quickly arranged my transfer.
News that I was leaving spread throughout the school
As I packed my things, people whispered around me
“Seriously? Ithan’s really kicking Lily out for Vanessa? Didn’t they grow up together? ||
“Hey, thats why they say childhood sweethearts can’t beat love at first sight. Ethan used to be so good to Lily, but since Vanessa showed up, he hasn’t walked home with Lily once.”
“What a shame, Lily’s grades are so good–she had a shot a Harvard or Yale. Transferring now will definitely hart her chances.
“And Lincoln High? That place is known for troublemakers. All her hard work could be wasted-“]
Under everyone’s paying stares. I carried my things toward the r
When I reached the stairwell. I overheard Ethan’s friend trying to reason with him:[]
ment, man, Won’t she get bullied at another school?-||
She has a hearing impairment, man
You grew up together. You used to be crazy about her. Are you really okay with sending her way?
Ithan leaned against the wall and chuckled ||
“Whare there to feel bad about? The past is the past Childhood sweethearts can’t compete with love at first sight, havent you heard?“]
besides, in three months, bring her back-
After saying this, he sensed something and looked up
He sun mur standing in the top of the stairs.
His eyes fell on my slightly swollen ear, and he frowned.
Instindavey, he came forward and grabbed my hand
Come on, let me buy you a new hearing aid first. “||
“Consider it my replacement for the broken one.
my head]
chend. That hearing aid was originally a gift from you anyway. ||
