“Dangerous?” I question. “How so? All I need is for the administration to get off my back.”
Ash shakes his head. “Ashworth Academy doesn’t want to set a lazy academic standard. Sorry, you gotta put in the work.”
“Says you,” I protest. “You barely turn up to classes.”
He smirks. “But my grades don’t suck.”
I groan and flop back in my seat.
Across from me, Christie frowns and mouths, “Sorry.”
I shrug a response.
The conversation falls back to Milo and Ash’s homework assignment. Christie leans into Ash, curling her arm around his bicep. When she dreamily rests her head on his shoulder, listening to the boys’ conversation, it almost feels like steam will come out of my ears.
I didn’t sign-up to sit across from a real life rom-com couple. They are super adorable together, especially when Ash runs his fingers across Christie’s hand as he continues to talk with Milo. But I don’t need to see any more cuteness when it comes to couples.
I excuse myself from the table, saying I need to check in with my aunt.
When I leave the table, I find Aunt Maddy talking with Coach at his table. He cups a mug of black coffee, listening intently to Maddy.
“Hawaii?” Coach says with surprise as he sits back. “Wow, what an escape.”
“I didn’t even know she needed an escape from life,” I butt in.
Coach turns to me, greeting me with a small smile. “I know it’s rough, kid. First time you two will be apart.”
My shoulders slump and I step closer to Maddy. “It’s gonna be totally weird.”
“You know, if you need anything, you can always knock on my door at school,” Coach says.
I bat my eyelashes and put on my sweetest smile. “I need to get back on the team.”
Coach frowns. “That’s not exactly what I meant.”
I lift my hands innocently. “You saidanything.”
Aunt Maddy nudges me. “Stop being a troublemaker.”
“You want me to stop being me?” I joke.
“Hey, I gotta go,” Milo says, sidling up to us. “I know we haven’t done any studying yet, but I have to get home before my grandparents arrive. If you need help with anything before classes tomorrow, we could always meet up before school?”
I shake my head. “I can’t tomorrow. I have soccer practice.”
Coach leans forward. “Maddy told me Milo is tutoring you, but it looked like a lot of socializing. Why didn’t you study today?”
I shrug, guilt rising inside me as Coach stares me down. “I dunno. Christie and Ash wanted to hang out?”
“And how is that a valid excuse?” he presses. “I thought we agreed you’d prioritize your studies.”
I huff. “Yeah, and I have…”
He cuts me off. “Doesn’t look like it, kid. I think you’d better skip practice to catch up on homework.”
“What?” I gasp. “That’s not fair. You’ve already kicked me out of games. You can’t take training away, too.”
“You promised me you’d work harder when it came to your classes,” he rebuts. “And I’m already seeing you slack off.”
