They're Watching You by Chelsea Ichaso

Author:Chelsea Ichaso
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2022-09-20T00:00:00+00:00

Seventeen

In the morning, my eyes open, drinking in the sunlight seconds before panic hits me like a lacrosse ball to the face.

What time is it? I scramble for my phone on the floor, dread wrenching me out of bed. 9:30 a.m.. I slept through not only breakfast, but through half of chemistry. Which means I’m missing a test.

I vaguely remember thinking about setting my phone alarm last night—or early this morning, whenever I stumbled into bed, half-conscious—but I must’ve fallen asleep before getting to it. I throw on a sweatshirt, grab my backpack, and start for the door, almost making it into the hallway in my pajama pants. But some stubborn part of me can’t give Gavin the satisfaction, so I waste precious seconds wiggling out of them and tugging on sweatpants.

Then I race across campus to the Lowell Math and Science Building.

By the time I arrive, the bell rings for the end of class. I peer through the glass cutout in the door to watch my classmates pack up, turning in their tests to Dr. Yamashiro on their way out. My head tips back, and I shut my eyes against the coming tears. I cannot believe I did this. After my dad told me I couldn’t afford to mess up. After he told me my financial situation was dangling on a nonexistent limb. What’s he going to think of me now?

I didn’t need Gavin and his explosions to screw up my chemistry grade. I did it all on my own. Even if the best possible outcome magically occurred and I walked up to Dr. Yamashiro and got him to give me a makeup test, I would probably fail. I’ve spent so much time playing these Gamemaster’s Society games, I let my studies fall completely through the cracks.

“Hey, Maren.” There’s a tap on my shoulder, and I open my eyes to see Gavin looking at me strangely. “Are you okay?”

I take a slow breath. I don’t want to cry in front of him. “I guess all these late nights finally caught up with me. I fell asleep without setting my alarm.”

Gavin winces, glancing back through the open door. When he turns to me, he’s staring at the floor. With a stab, I remember the way we left things only hours ago. I returned his phone and thanked him for throwing his duel. He walked me back to my dorm, broody the whole way; I’d refused to share the reason I needed Remington to win so badly. “Maybe Dr. Yamashiro will let you make it up.”

“There’s no way. He hates athletes. And what excuse could I possibly give? Sorry, I overslept because I was up late breaking countless school rules, not the least of which are breaking curfew, breaking and entering, and underage alcohol consumption.”

“Sounds like a winning case to me.” I slap him on the wrist, and he grins. “You have to try.”

“Yeah,” I say as the final stragglers pass through the door. Minutes remain before Dr. Yamashiro’s next class will start filing in.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.