Page 96 of To Love or to Lose
He squeezes my hand a bit, the small amount of pain grabbing my attention. “No way,” he says. “When we get back to Fairwood, you and I have a speech to write.”
We smile. “I could still beat you, you know.”
He pushes me back on the bed. “We both know that won’t happen.”
“Are we still writing our speech on the issues surrounding Fairwood?” I ask, adjusting as he wraps my knees.
“Yes,” he replies. “But it will also be about you, and why you deserve the position. Really, think of me as your co-Valedictorian.”
“Imagine how much sooner we could have gotten along if you would have started with that.”
“Well, maybe if you would have let me get a word out before today, we could have discussed positions further.”
I laugh, shocked that Jameson doesn’t take the opportunity to make some kind of inappropriate joke.
“So, you’re basically saying you’re my bitch,” I chuckle, making Jameson shove me again.
“I can’t be your bitch when I’m just as smart as you,” he retorts.
“We’ll see about that.” I grin, getting off the bed and grabbing my pajamas from my suitcase.
“I’m not opposed to being a woman’s right-hand man. In fact it’s what I’m endorsing at this point, but I’m no one’s bitch, Genova.” “Good to know,” I snide, heading into the bathroom. “I’m taking a shower.”
“Genevieve,” Jameson calls before I shut the door.
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad we’re on good terms.” He smiles, beginning to unfold his cot.
I think about everything that has happened between us since the beginning of the school year. From the first meeting in Headmaster Whiting’s office to me stabbing him in the chest with the pin of a boutonniere during homecoming to our fight in the Callaghan’s sitting room on Thanksgiving.Every hateful remark, every competition, every interaction between the two of us has led us where we are now.
I sigh, the relief of it all flooding my body. “Me too.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
133 days until graduation
“Remember to subtract one from the degree.” I point toward Briar’s worksheet. “Calculus is all about derivatives, so if you can’t find those, then it’s something we need to work on now.”
Briar erases the work she’s already done while I hop down from my barstool to grab a water bottle.
Gwen is over at the Callaghan house to study with Mae, leaving me an empty house most days after school. Which in turn, has made this my routine every day after school for the past few weeks: Briar comes over to work on AP Calc homework and I supervise after getting my own done in half the time.
“Do you want water?” I ask her as I open the fridge.
“Sure,” she says. Without looking at her, I can tell she’s trying to focus.
I turn, seeing her attempt to peek at my worksheet sitting next to her. “You’re never going to learn that way,” I advise.
She flips my paper back over, leaving the answers facing the counter. “I was checking to see if I was right.”
“I’ll tell you.” I pull her paper across the island. “Your derivatives are better, but you have to use chain rule here, not power rule.”
She drops her pencil, grabbing the water bottle off the counter. “If I’m hopeless, you can tell me now.”
“You’re not hopeless.” I pick her pencil up, holding it back out to her. “You’re just not where you want to be yet, and that’s okay.”
“This is so frustrating.” She sighs, putting her head in her hands as she stares down at the homework.
