Page 47 of I Don't Need Your Romance

For some reason, I don’t like the way he said it. He might be joking around or teasing me, but there’s just something about it…

“Or is it that teachers’ pets worship their teachers?” he says with another laugh.

Wanting to change the subject, I say, “Addie thanks you for saving her pen, by the way.”

His brows furrow. “What?”

“That time she dropped her pen and it rolled under your desk? You picked it up for her because you didn’t want her to fall behind in class.”

He looks even more puzzled. “Sorry, I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

“Addie Hayes? The girl who was almost kidnapped in November?”

“Oh, her. I saved her pen?” He shrugs. “Okay.”

Well, this is disappointing. He might seem okay, but I sense something about him that I really don’t like. Raven said to trust my instincts. My instincts are sounding the alarm bells.

At that moment, Damian walks into the classroom and heads to his table in the back. He once again notices me with another guy, and his face fills with surprise. But then he makes a face at Carter, like he also doesn’t like the guy.

“Well, I guess I have a partner after all,” I say as I get up and grab my backpack. “See you.”

I march to Damian’s table and plant myself in the empty seat. “We’re having a pop quiz. Please tell me you reviewed the notes I sent you.”

“How do you know we’re having a pop quiz? Isn’t the point of a pop quiz that we’re not supposed to expect it?”

“I know Mrs. Sullivan. She can be really predictable if you’re paying attention. Did you review the notes?”

“I decided to boycott them because I specifically instructed you not to do it.”

“Then you’re a real idiot,” I mutter. “Because I did them anyway, and now you’re going to fail the pop quiz.”

“Iama real idiot,” he agrees. “But I won’t fail the quiz.”

I narrow my eyes. “You did review them.”

He just shrugs.

“You’re so annoying! Why can’t you just admit that you studied?”

He chuckles. “It’s fun pushing your buttons.”

“Oh, I’ll show you how to push my buttons—”

My words are cut off as Mrs. Sullivan walks in. She instructs us to clear our desks for a pop quiz.

“What did I tell you?” I say as I slide my notebook and textbook off my side of the table, leaving only my pen.

“What can I say?” he says with a wry smile. “I do have the best tutor in the world.”

I turn my head so he won’t notice my intense blush.

Chapter Sixteen

Damian

I can’t believe she’s making me go to this thing.

It’s Wednesday night and Mom walked into my room as soon as I got back from my tutoring lesson. She told me we’re attending a charity event tonight. I gave her a what-the-heck face because I never go to those kinds of events. Mom doesn’t invite me because she’s embarrassed of me. But she told me I didn’t really have a choice, and honestly? I kind of don’t. This event is commemorating a new elementary school that’s being opened in my grandmother’s name. Mom’s mom was the only person, other than Dad, who was good to me. She died when I was seven, so I don’t have many memories of her. But she was there for me when my mother wasn’t. She’d take me out for ice cream and tell me stories. She was like any other grandma. And her life revolved around charity and helping others. So of course I want to go to an event honoring the amazing things she accomplished.