Page 77 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“And you pass?”

“I test well.”

He studies me for a second like he's trying to decide whether I'm full of shit. “That's annoying.”

“My mom says it's a gift.”

Ryan shakes his head. “I can already tell you're gonna piss me off.”

I smile. “Probably.”

When Mr. Benson writes another problem on the board, I finish it before he does and slide my paper over so Ryan can compare his answer.

He looks from my work to me “You missed one step.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

“I don't need it.”

He rolls his eyes.

By the end of class, he's thrown half a dozen little digs my way, and every one of them somehow ends with him more bothered than I am.

“You are always this annoying,” Brooks states.

“Mostly.”

“You ever shut up?”

“Not even in my sleep.”

Alex snickers, and Ryan points at him. “Don't encourage him either.”

“I'm trying not to,” Alex admits, still biting back a smile.

The bell finally rings, and everyone starts throwing books into backpacks.

Ryan heads toward the door, mumbling, “You're way too much. Maybe —”

“I get that a lot,” I call after him.

“No doubt,” he says without turning around. “I've only known you two days.”

I laugh as I sling my bag over my shoulder.

Alex waits until the room empties before standing. “You know Ryan's just looking out for us.”

“I figured.”

“For Jade.”

“I figured that too.”

He studies me for a second, like he's trying to decide if I'm about to feed him a line. “I don't play games off the field, Alex.”

He doesn't say anything.