Excerpt--
Take a breath, Lana.
Everything will be okay.
My stomach churned when I noticed his perfectly combed chestnut hair walking through the corridor by himself, just like any other day. I basically jumped out of the bush, nearly tripping in the...
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Every day was another new beginning to outdo Declan's schedule. For the first couple of days, the task was a pain, but that didn't stop me from completing them. Every free moment I had was traded for workbooks, flashcards, or internet surfing. Instead of eating lunch with my friends, I was at the library, answering all the questions Declan had planned for me.
Catalina and Meadow were both taken back at my seriousness but instantly encouraged my random behavior. Sometimes they would even bring rice pudding or a brownie from the cafeteria. A few times from my peripheral vision, I caught Ambrose worriedly staring at me, probably wondering what came over me.
My favorite part about finishing a day of Declan's schedule was placing my dinosaur-shaped stickers on it, declaring it accomplished. Slowly, my practice exams became easier, and I didn't struggle as much. One con, though — was my wrist aching every night after spending the entire day answering over a hundred questions.
For once in my short span of life, I felt like the smartest person in the room. It was a weird but uplifting feeling to finally be able to complete the test without getting out of it. Hopefully, my mother was happily dancing on the cotton candy clouds because I sure imagined she was.
But the best part was spending countless hours late at night with Declan. Sure, he barely spoke anything unrelated to school, but being alone with him completed my night. He even acknowledged my presence during our walks to school; so what if it was school-related again at least I got him to break one of his rules.
Finally, today was the last day of cramming before our big exam, which could change everything for me. Surprisingly, the library was packed today, making it harder than usual to find a spot to study. Once finding a desk in the far back, I checked my planned agenda for today.
Chinese.
My plan was to write down all the translations from memory four times each and then move over to my flashcards. Thankfully, after today I could go back to lunch, I really missed stuffing my face with my two besties by my side.
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"Yay! I'm done!" I excitedly yelled a little too loud, earning a few annoyed stares.
Stretching my hands over my head, I hoisted from the chair and walked towards the countless black wooden bookshelves. Going to the letter 'P' section, I searched for the author Declan quoted during our conversation when I blackmailed him. The quote deeply intrigued my newly found knowledge, and it also wasn't hurt to keep a smart conversation with Declan.
