Chapter 4
Terry didn’t say anything. He just casually took the bag Rachel handed him. His eyes, however, kept flicking in my direction.
He was waiting for me to back down.
He was in for a surprise.
I turned and sat down next to Ethan, the campus heartthrob, far away from them.
“Everyone, double-check your applications,” our adviser announced. “The portal closes for good tonight. No regrets, no do-overs.”
Suddenly, Ethan glanced at my application form.
“That’s a coincidence,” he said. “I’m going to Paris too.”
Before I could reply, a hand tapped my shoulder.
“Ava, don’t you have something to say?”
I ignored Terry and turned back to Ethan.
But Terry grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the room.
“Ava, what is your problem?” he hissed. “Throwing a little tantrum is one thing, but blocking me? Seriously? I’m warning you. Unblock me right now. If you don’t, you’ll never get the chance to add me back again.”
I stared at him for a few seconds.
“Okay.”
I shrugged. “Wasn’t planning on it anyway.”
The color drained from Terry’s face.
“Fine,” he snapped. “Don’t come crying to me later.”
I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm again, his eyes tense.
“The deadline is close. Check your application again carefully. Make sure you didn’t make any mistakes.”
He was about to say more, but Rachel appeared at his side and cut him off.
“Terry, I don’t really get this part. Can you help me look it over?”
“Sure,” he said immediately. “Let me see.”
He bent over Rachel’s form without a second thought.
I let out a bitter laugh and walked away.
By the time he looked up to say something else, I was already back in the classroom.
“Ava, remember to check it again,” he called after me. “Check it carefully.”
As if his words were gospel.
He probably thought I’d do exactly what he said, see that he’d switched his application, and immediately switch mine to follow him.
What a joke.
He wouldn’t tell me the truth, so I just pretended I didn’t know.
He thought dealing with me was a hassle.
Well, I thought explaining myself to him was an even bigger one.
Thank God I finally saw things clearly.
Back in the classroom, Ethan noticed my foul mood and insisted on dragging me out to a campus concert to cheer me up. As we were leaving, we ran into a stone-faced Terry. He glared at Ethan, his expression thunderous.
I knew what he was thinking, but I didn’t feel like explaining.
I treated him like he was thin air.
Later that night, I heard him outside my house.
“Ava, stop being angry. Okay? Please just change the application. The UK is great. I’ll take you to see Big Ben.”
I stared down at Terry, his figure swaying slightly under the dim streetlight.
The smell of alcohol drifted up to my window, sharp and bitter.