Avery Turner, a perfectionist with a double life, and Kyran Drake, a charismatic boy with secrets, find their fates intertwined when their secrets threaten to unravel their dreams-will they overcome their differences to protect their futures, or wil...
Trusting people is a horrible paradox. Humans are hardwired to think about our own interests, not the interests of others. Therefore, the most logical explanation as to why somebody is being nice to you, it's probably because they have ulterior motives. For example, Kyran was nice to me, because otherwise, he wasn't going to end up at his dream school, which I presumed to be Notre Dame. Yashna was nice to me because she was part of a miniature fan club that idolized me for being a great student.
This is ultimately just proof that people don't actually like you for who you are, but because they need something from you. You may immediately be thinking that I have serious trust issues, but that's very true.
I don't trust anyone. Because people are assholes.
"Yes, Ms. Walton. Everything's filed," I said, rummaging through the pile of grade files for sophomores. "They're done alphabetically."
"That's great. Thank you, Avery," she clicked her pen. "How is Kyran getting on?"
I smiled. "Yes, he's doing great. He's gotten As in Biology and Bs in Calculus so far so he's doing pretty well."
"Thank you Avery," she replied, grabbing her coffee mug on the desk. She seemed much more tolerable than she did last semester, and my hypothesis was that she had a lot less work to do.
"Avery. I want you to drop a subject," she said nonchalantly, and I gaped at her in confusion. Turning around, I knocked my knee off the desk and winced ever so slightly.
"Ms. Walton. I'm doing well in everything. I can handle it," I said, disappointment filling my voice because she knew very well that I could handle the work. Immersing myself in work is one of the most rewarding parts of my life. It is also a great excuse to not deal with family matters.
"I know that, Avery. You need to be more socially active. You don't socialize with others," she explained, furrowing eyebrows in thought, "Although I'd never tell any student go out and party-"
I nodded. "Of course, because parties are useless."
She shook her head. "I'm telling you to go to a party. Avery, not everything you do in life has to have a meaning. Sometimes, doing something that means nothing can be good for you!"
I hesitated. "Ms. Walton. I'm not exactly someone people would invite to a...social gathering", my circumstances never allowed me to trust or believe in someone other than myself. Ms. Walton doesn't need to know that. "I'm not sure how parties will improve my life. If anything, they seem like a colossal waste of time," I replied, crossing my arms defensively.
