Their split was well publicized and then Jude and his son moved here. It was major news in our middle school world. Anyway, Vaughn’s dad became the high school head soccer coach, and Vaughn became my classmate.
I didn’t really know him that well back then, not until I met Claire. He’s the ex-boyfriend—the one who makes Austin look like the perfect boyfriend by comparison. Although, from all outward appearances Austinisthe perfect boyfriend.
So Vaughn and I have spent a lot of time around each other. My friends are his friends, butwearen’t exactly friends.
He spends his days with the soccer team, following in his dad’s footsteps. He’s already broken a bunch of records and helped the team win State twice. It’s impressive and commendable. But Vaughn is too serious and broody about it all. Sometimes it feels like he thinks high school is an inconvenient stop on his way to better things.
It’s not like I think high school is the be-all, end-all. I have dreams of leaving Frost Lake and doing big things, just like he does, but I’m also a fan of enjoying the moment. We’re only young once; we should do our best to live every day to the fullest.
“I…” Vaughn’s brows pinch together as he closes his mouth. Could he look grumpier? He would be handsome if he smiled once in a while. Okay, fine, he is handsome, objectively speaking. He has a wholesquare jaw, blond hair,intense blue eyesthing going on that really works for him. Most of the girls at this school don’t seem to mind the wholebroody, too cool for high schoolthing either.
Vaughn has only ever dated Claire since he moved to Frost Lake, and since they broke up several months ago, he has had plenty of girls vying for his attention. But he hasn’t spared any of them so much as a second’s consideration.
“I’m going to be late for class,” I say, breaking the tense silence. Something about having his undivided attention makes my skin feel too tight for my body. He’s so intense, and I can’t read him as easily as I can other people.
“I need you to tutor me.”
I feel my brows rise at the statement. “Was that supposed to be a question?”
Heaven forbid he ask me like a normal, civil person.
“If I don’t maintain a C in Algebra II, I’ll be ineligible to play soccer. The team needs me.” He shifts uneasily in front of me, but it’s the only indication that he’s at all uncomfortable. He has his US History binder at his side and his phone in the other hand and this wholeI don’t give a fuckattitude about him that’s at odds with his situation.
The thing is, I already knew Vaughn needed help in Algebra II. Despite their having broken up, Claire and Vaughn are friends—or at least friendly. I was the obvious solution, at least in Claire’s eyes. One of her friends needs help and her other friend just happens to be an amazing student. Voilà! I told her I would consider helping, even though I don’t tutor people as a general rule. Usually when people ask for help in a class, what they really want is to copy the answers.
I feel for him and part of me wants to say yes, if only for Claire and the soccer team, but the other part of mesays this will never work. We can’t even have a conversation without it feeling awkward, as evidenced by our current situation.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I don’t tutor people.”
“I can pay you,” he says, not budging out of my way. The tardy bell is going to ring any minute now.
“You should ask Caleb,” I say. Caleb Foster and I have been fighting for the top spot in our grade since freshman year.
“Who?”
“I guess it makes sense you wouldn’t know him.” Caleb is like Vaughn in a lot of ways: scowling, broody, zero interest in all the fun things high school has to offer. But unlike Vaughn, Caleb walks around Frost Lake High School like he has an invisibility superpower.
Vaughn couldn’t disappear into the walls if he tried. He’s too tall. Too muscular. Too…everything. He’s the kind of guy who makes other high school guys look like they haven’t hit their growth spurt yet.
“Please, Lacey?” The plea in his tone catches me off guard. I can’t seem to look away from his dark blue eyes. They have little silver flecks I never noticed before.
The tardy bell rings, snapping me out of it. I sidestep around him and, as I go, say, “Sorry. I can’t.”
Chapter Two
Vaughn
She said no.
My mind spins, as it’s done all day, on Algebra II and Lacey and what the hell I’m going to do about my grade.
It’s the most I’ve thought about school all year, which is likely why I’m in this situation.
I can’t believe she said no. I mean, I expected her to say no, especially after I put my foot in my mouth almost immediately when I approached her, but I hoped she’d say yes. Now I don’t know what I’m going to do. It isn’t like I want a tutor.
I’ve always been self-sufficient. Work hard, and if that isn’t enough, work harder. Only my life philosophy seems to be failing me because I studied my ass off for the last test and still didn’t pass.
Asking Lacey was the last thing I wanted to do. I hate needing help, and I hate asking for it even more. It’s embarrassing. I’m used to people looking up to me: my teammates, my peers. Admitting I’m failing at something feels like I’m letting myself, and everyone else, down. LikeI’m no longer who they expect me to be. People look to me to lead the soccer team to another State Championship, not fail math. If I can’t pass it though…my throat tightens and I swallow thickly. I can’t even think about it.
