“You know we’re going to lose now, don’t you?” He frowns.
“Timothy, I was an asshole for no good reason. I deserve to be punished.”
“You’re punishing the rest of us!” He protests. “None of us shared that stupid picture, so why are you taking us down with you?”
“I’m not,” I tell him. “I’m giving you the chance to be the star of the team,” I smile. I slap him lightly on the shoulder. “You’ve got this, man. I believe in you.” I look to Jared. “Both of you. You can do this. You don’t need me.”
Then I go into my class.
I make my way to Mr. Wilson’s desk where he’s standing, and I pull him aside.
“I spoke to the principal,” I whisper to him.
“Is that right?” He raises an eyebrow.
“He’s going to be contacting you about Emilia, so please hold back on giving her the grade from the test.”
Mr. Wilson says nothing, but he raises his eyebrows. He’s not used to me being like this. Generally, I slump down in the back corner and do the bare minimum required to be considered part of the class, but today is different.
Today I have someone to live for.
Someone to be better for.
“And I’m going to be assisting your freshmen students with their homework for the rest of the year,” I tell him.
I don’t know how he reacts to that news because I turn to my seat. I pass Emilia on the way and she looks up and smiles at me. I reach down, cupping her cheek, and in a brazen move, I kiss her right there in front of the whole class. A few people gasp and whisper, but I don’t care.
I love her, and I’m not afraid who knows it.
I would do anything for this girl, and starting right now, I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing her just that.
“I love you,” I whisper.
Then I go to my seat, and Mr. Wilson clears his throat.
“Well,” he says. “If you’ll all turn to page 231 in your books...”
I smile to myself. I really am the luckiest guy alive because I have the honor and the privilege of loving the sweetest girl at Crescent Academy, and I hope that never changes. She deserves someone so much better than me, but I’m ready to spend the rest of my life making this all up to her.
I’ll be better for her.
I’ll do whatever it takes.
Starting today.
Epilogue
Emilia
MAYBE THE SCHOOL YEA
R started out rocky, but it sure ended on a high note.
Who would have thought I’d be graduating with Gavin and going off to the same college with him just because we were brave enough to give it a go?
Not me.
That’s for damn sure.