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He began to take roll. Walters was at the end of the list. He stopped though after saying Olivia’s name.

“Is Chloe sick today?” He asked her, not looking up from his folder.

“I think so, Mr. Clark. I haven’t seen her or she could just be running late or something,” she said lightly, stopping the conversation she was having with Scott.

Well, I guess I should speak up, right? But I heard Xavier call the next name and I didn’t want to interrupt him. That would demand attention and that was what I didn’t want. I would just wait.

“So, class, today we are going to be looking at anatomy. Open up your textbook to page 567,” Xavier said to the class. I raised my hand, taking a deep breath.

Xavier glanced in my direction. He looked as if he were thinking of something else. “Umm yes, Miss—” He frowned slightly, looking more intently in my direction, like he didn’t know who I was.

I brushed the hoodie off the top of my head. It had been hiding my face. “Um, it’s Chloe. I am here. Sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt you before, Mr. Clark.”

Xavier stared blankly in my direction and the class all turned in their seats to face me.

“Chloe, what are you doing over there?” Scott asked, both eyebrows frowning at me.

Shrugging my shoulders, I turned by attention back to the textbook and opened it up to the page he’d asked.

“Hey, when did you get a textbook?” Olivia asked me. I snapped my head up and looked in her direction, ignoring Xavier.

“I’ve always had one,” I answered lightly, looking back down at it. I flicked through the pages looking for the page. Tapping my pen on the table, I waited for the next set of instructions.

“You look like shit,” Scott stated. Letting out a heavy sigh, I glanced in his direction. If I were still playing games with Xavier and wanted to make him jealous, I would have thrown a comment in Scott’s direction like, “Well, you kept me up all night” or “Dan and I had a late night.”

But I wasn’t playing with Xavier anymore. I didn’t want to make him jealous. So I shrugged my shoulders in response to Scott’s statement. I glanced at Xavier quickly, keeping my eyes neutral and my face clear of any expression.

“Do we read the chapter?” I asked him. He was shocked and I could see it clearly on his face and his posture.

“What?” he asked me frowning.

I bit my bottom lip. This was turning awkward. I waved my hand at the textbook. “Do we read the chapter?” I asked again.

Xavier shook his head, like he had just heard my words clearly. “Um, yeah. Read the, um, chapter and then, umm, questions on the last page, yeah. Answer them.” He was stuttering over his own words.

Not paying him attention like I normally would or sending him a seductive smile, I just nodded my head and rolled my selves up and began to read. I was well aware everyone was staring wide-eyed at me, but I ignored them. Just like I was ignoring Xavier’s intense eyes, which were burning into me.

Flipping the page over, I continued to read. I glanced up at Xavier, “Um, Mr. Clark?” I didn’t really need to ask for his attention. It was clear I had it.

“Um yep, Chloe?” he cleared his voice, still eyeing me with concern and curiosity.

“Are these questions related to the upcoming test? Is this revision? Or is just an activity?” I asked softly, my voice clear of any emotions. Chad would be proud of me right now.

The whole class’s face dropped and stared at me as if I were an alien. I frowned slightly. Was it that hard to believe that I actually paid some attention in class? I used to be a flawless student, after all.

“Chloe, are you feeling alright?” Olivia asked with real worry as she stared at me.

Sighing a little, I glanced at Xavier, waiting for his answer. He was gobsmacked. This was drawing more attention than I wanted. If I were still playing games with him to get his attention, this would be a new way to get it. But I wasn’t, so it had to stop.

I arched an eyebrow at him. He seemed to still be dazed. “I am just asking because I wasn’t sure if I should take notes while I read or not?” I added, trying to snap him out.

Which didn’t work. What did snap him out was the knocking on the classroom door. In fact, everyone’s eyes snapped to the door as it opened.

And the principal walked in. Automatically everyone’s eyes snapped back to me, and then darted between us. Sighing, I twirled the pen in my hand.

“Excuse me, Mr. Clark. I just need to pass something on to Miss Walters.” The principal walked with authority to my desk, placing a letter on top of my open textbook. He shot me a small smile, as if he were proud of me.

Shifting my weight on my chair, I picked it up and ripped it open. A small smile cracked on my lips. “Thank you.”

He nodded his head at me before walking away. “Sorry again, Mr. Clark. I didn’t mean to interrupt your class.” The principal turned and looked over the class. “Though it seems Chloe is the only one with her book open.” He gave Xavier a pointed look before placing a hand on the door.

He turned his head back in my direction before walking out. “Tomorrow morning, Chloe. And we are happy to have you back.”

I nodded my head and let my eyes drift back to my textbook. Tomorrow morning I would start my fitness training again, so that one day soon I could get back on to the school teams. It was Chad’s idea. He reckons if I throw myself back into school and sports, it will help me deal with the separation from Xavier.

“It relates to the test, Chloe. Notes are encouraged.” Xavier cleared his voice. “Enough interruptions, class. Get to it.”

Xavier walked around his desk and sat back in his chair. I nodded my head in his direction. And for the first time in his class I was actually going to do what I was meant to do, school work.