“Brayden, Pamela. Brice and Jude. Ava and Sophia. Chloe, you’re with Aria.”
Every single name sends my pulse skyrocketing.
Professor Brown meets my gaze. “Claire,” she hesitates, “and Johnny.”
My heart thumps loudly, drowning out everything else she says. I must have heard her wrong, right? No way is she pairing me with him.Anyonebut him. This has to be some kind of mistake.
The room seems to spin, and I have to plant my hands on the cold hard surface of the desk to bring myself closer to reality.
Bodies are up and moving around, most of them funneling out the door with their partners. A few stragglers post up in various corners and start their work together.
“Johnny,” Brown says.
He stands in front of her at her desk.
“I’m not switching things around. Decision is final. Unless you have some incredible excuse, I won’t make an exception.” She lowers her voice, but I still hear her. “Honestly, you should be thanking me. She’s the brightest one in this room.”
“But—” Johnny tries to interject.
“There are no buts. Not after the crap you’ve pulled. This isn’t going to be another repeat of last semester. You’re setting yourself up for failure if you’re going to just show up whenever you please.” She motions to his healing face. “I get it. You have a life. A complicated one, it seems. But your education is important, and you need to take it seriously. If you’re not going to, I’ll do it for you.”
I gather my belongings and walk over toward them. Each step thick and heavy like something’s wrong with gravity.
“Ah, Miss Cooper. Speak of the devil.” Brown waves me over. “I wanted to talk to you—both of you, actually.”
Why does this sound like things are about to get somehow worse than they already are? Why is there a cloud of impending doom lingering over me at the tone of her voice?
“You did?” I cling my notebook to my chest, my fingers digging into the sides.
“Mmhm.” She looks at each of us. “Johnny’s been struggling a bit the last few months, and if he stands any chance of passing this classthe second time around, he’s going to need all hands on deck. That’s where you come in, Claire. Johnny will be your tutoring assignment for the term.”
My entire body seems to float away from me, and it’s everything I can do to not pass out. She can’t be serious. This has to be a dream—a nightmare.
Johnny opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.
“I—uh, Professor, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I finally say.
“Yeah, what she said,” Johnny adds.
She snatches a paper off her desk. “I do. It shows here that you two live in the same area. I don’t think there’s a better match, honestly.”
“But, I…” I don’t know what to say.
“Claire.” Her tone becomes more serious. “Need I remind you why you signed up for the program? If you’re not willing to work within the requirements, you’ll have to reconsider your position. And if I’m not mistaken, your alternatives are slim at this point.” She takes a breath. “I’m not sure what’s going on between you two, but unless there are extenuating circumstances that I’m unaware of, this decision is final.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
Another pair of students approach, ready for their turn to talk to the professor.
“Very well, let me know if you have any other questions.” She turns her attention to the other people, leaving me and Johnny on our own.
I walk out of the room, not bothered with whether or not he follows. I need fresh air if I’m going to remain standing upright.
I spot an open picnic table in a grassy area between buildings and head straight to it, perching on the edge of the seat.
“Claire.” Johnny’s voice breaks through my daze.
“What?” I snap at him.