Page 17

As the rest of the class buzzes around us, I watch Maison, not caring at all if he notices me looking. Eventually, I get a small side glance before his head turns away. As the teacher walks in and settles everyone down, I notice those side glances become more frequent until he rests his eyes on me. His eyes are contemplative, and a tiny smile hints at his lips.

I don’t return it.

Instead, I cast him a look of ice, and he chuckles as he looks away.

He’s toying with me, and I hate it. Either that or he is embarrassed to talk to me. He waved at me during the game the other day and gave me a flirty smile in the lunchroom; he told me he was excited to see me in Alaska, then elongated my name, which made me die a little inside. So why couldn’t he acknowledge me when he saw me just now? Serena walked in after Naomi, and he had no problems smiling at her.

I still have his sweater, which I fully intend on returning to him in Alaska. Maybe I’ll try to get it to him sooner? Either that, or maybe I will play my game and interview every single player on the team but them.

That will get their attention.

My skin prickles when Maison side glances me. This time, when our eyes meet, I keep my eyes planted on him. I swear, at this moment, I can’t tell the two apart. Their similarities are uncanny, and if Naomi wasn’t straddling Micah right now at his desk, I’d have guessed they were the other way around. Naomi sees him looking at me, and her eyes narrow as she sees me.

Micah notices her looking and gives me a sharp glare while tensing his jaw, pulling Naomi’s hips deeper into his.

I smile despite myself. It’s the most emotion Micah’s shown me in the two weeks I’ve been here—maybe there is some humanity within him after all. It also helps me identify who’s who.

Mrs. Johnson clears her throat. She has a tight bun like the secretary and is very different from my previous English teacher. I can focus on this class and get the grade I need for my college applications. She immediately takes notice of Naomi on Micah’s lap. “Find your seat, Miss. Wilson,” she snaps. Naomi slides off him and heads to the empty desk across the room, giving me another dirty look as she struts by, looking like she feels mighty proud of herself.

The teacher walks to her desk and grabs a box, then taking a few books out, she begins passing them out to the entire class.

She waves her hand in a motion of silence. “As a group, we are going to read and analyze The Great Gatsby.”

Groans erupt around me, but a small smile tugs at my lips. I read it last year and adored it. This book made me realize I could have a future outside of dance. Well, Chris helped with that, too, but he liked my dancing. If the students in this school actually read it and pay attention to its themes, it might do them some good.

The hollowness of the upper class.

Careless actions with unintended consequences and are immune to the rules of the rest of society.

Wealth does not equal happiness.

When the book hits Micah’s desk, he refuses it and instead, passes a copy to Thomas, who is sitting at the desk behind him, taking up most of it due to his size. Micah then leans back in his chair with arrogance and places his arms around his head, his fingers lacing together and his biceps rippling in his shirt. Those same hands bloodied another kid’s face last night and bruised the skin of an innocent girl he shouldn’t have been touching.

The teacher raises her eyebrows. “You don’t plan on completing the assignment, Mr. Matei?”

Thomas smirks from behind him.

Micah merely shrugs in a look of utter defiance. “I’ve already read it.” She frowns at him as if she doesn’t believe his clear lie. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Johnson,” he says with a deep voice, “I’ll write your paper.”

A ripple of laughter hints from the class and she taps her pencil, contemplating. “Well, that’s a relief, Mr. Matei. That’s why you came back, isn’t it? To finish your education and not just play hockey? Do you mind telling the rest of the class one key theme or takeaway from the book?”

I wish I had my journal out so I can document his response. It ought to be good.

He slides his hands from his neck to his front and crosses his arms across his chest. This is the first time I’ve heard him speak, so I lean forward, intent on capturing every word.

“That women are weak. Daisy had an opportunity for love and happiness, but she rejected it for a more attractive purse. She had a man who worshiped her, and she turned her back on him the first chance she could. She deserved to live in misery for treating him like that. My takeaway is… girls should stick to the kitchen, or better yet, the bedroom.”

Maison and Thomas crack up beside him, and the rest of the room chuckles.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter out.

The teacher shoots me a look. “You disagree, London?”

“Vehemently.”

Heat creeps into my face as the entire class turns their attention to me. Micah narrows his eyes, and Maison’s eyes glint with amusement.

“Have you read the book?” she asks me.