[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322C9288E-190":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},190,3,"Chapter 3: \"Are You Actually Trying To Get Me In Trouble?\"","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I’ll step down as class president. Don’t cry, okay?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Shortly after the semester began, our homeroom teacher decided to hold a re-election for the entire student council.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Since transferring in, Lucas Powell had been an instant hit. The guys gravitated toward him, and the girls couldn't get enough of his charm. It felt natural for everyone to want someone like him leading the class. Eden Anderson, on the other hand, was too stiff. Her icy demeanor made her hard to approach, and when she handled discipline, she was iron-fisted, never giving anyone a chance to slack off.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Unsurprisingly, the class voted Lucas in as the new president, forcing Eden to accept the only role left: the head of the clean-up committee.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A few troublemakers in class immediately seized the opportunity to mock her, claiming that if she couldn't handle the big stuff, she shouldn't even be in charge of the trash.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">When twelve-year-old Eden stood on the podium, straining her voice to command a room full of chaos, she finally understood what the adults meant by \"powerless.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">No one listened to a word she said. No one cared about her cleaning schedule.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">On the day of the big deep clean, led by those same troublemakers, the class scattered the moment they finished their first task. As Eden stood alone, wringing the dirty water out of a mop, she saw Lucas swagger through the door, a basketball tucked under his arm.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Why are you so annoying?\" she snapped at him. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and even though her voice was sharp, the tears betrayed her, rolling down her cheeks.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He looked stunned, completely caught off guard by the sight of her crying. He scrambled over, fumbling for words. \"What's wrong? Hey, don’t cry.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I'm sorry, okay? I'm the worst. Please, just don't cry.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Seeing him panic made her frustration vanish as quickly as it had arrived, and a breathless, watery laugh escaped her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After hearing what had happened, Lucas used his authority as class president to call a quick meeting during the next break.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Listen up,\" he said, his voice steady. \"From now on, whatever assignments Eden gives out, you do them. Understood?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Why should we listen to her?\" one of the ringleaders shouted from the back.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yeah, why?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Because I'm the class president,\" Lucas replied, his eyes narrowing, \"and even I take orders from her. If I listen to her, what makes you think you don't have to?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Ooh—\" the boys jeered, teasing him. \"Even the president takes orders from her—\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden felt her face flush, the heat creeping up her neck as she grew increasingly mortified.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You're not going to cry again, are you?\" Lucas noticed her expression and leaned in, worried. \"Seriously, are you?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">How could someone be this infuriating? Eden felt the sting in her nose, her tears threatening to spill over again.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I’ll tell the teacher I don’t want to be president anymore,\" he whispered, looking at her with a helpless, pouty expression. \"I’ll quit. Just don't cry, okay?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Once again, his ridiculous theatrics forced the tears back, and she broke into a laugh.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After that day, the boys in the class never gave her trouble again.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A week later, our P.E. teacher, Trevor Campbell, announced that for the rest of the term, P.E. would be dedicated to ballroom dancing. It was a new pilot program for the school's morning activities, and apparently, district officials were coming to evaluate the performance before midterms.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The school required students to pair up boy-girl. The moment the instruction was given, the field erupted into a frenzy.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Want to be my partner?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Get lost, didn't you hear him? Boy-girl pairs!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Do you want to ask the sports rep? You should go ask him.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I'm too scared...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Students whispered in little cliques. Before long, only Eden and Lucas were left standing alone in the middle of the field.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Are you all done grouping up? Or is this going to take the whole class?\" Trevor blew his whistle, looking impatient. \"Starting with the guys, one by one. Who is your partner?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The teacher turned to Lucas, the tallest in the line. \"Who are you with?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden felt the eyes of every girl in the class shift to Lucas. She looked away, staring intensely at her own shoelaces.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Eden!\" a boy beside Lucas suddenly shouted.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The rest of the guys joined in, chanting, \"Eden! Eden! Eden!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She turned, her face burning with embarrassment. She caught Lucas mid-laugh, shoving his friends away, looking over at her with a warm, open expression, clearly waiting for her to say yes.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden didn't want to admit it, but at that moment, the rest of the world felt like it had faded into a blurred background. It was just the two of them.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Alright, you two—front and center,\" the teacher commanded.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden walked out, avoiding Lucas’s gaze, and headed to the open patch of grass. He followed her and stood by her side.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"So glad to be paired with you,\" Lucas murmured. \"I'm counting on you for P.E. class. I'm honestly hopeless at dancing.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">So, that was why he picked her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A sudden, sharp disappointment pricked at her chest, quickly giving way to a ball of anger. She wanted to throw that fire right at him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Once the rest of the class had paired up, the teacher played the music and signaled for everyone to watch the demonstration.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Watch twice, then I’ll pick a pair to demonstrate,\" the teacher said.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden’s nerves tightened. She was a leader, but she didn't pick up choreography quickly. She only excelled because she spent hours practicing in private. If she were called up and messed up, what then?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Others could fail. But Eden Anderson couldn't.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hey, don't you think this dance is a little...\" Lucas leaned in to whisper, but she cut him off immediately.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Stop talking and pay attention!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He went quiet instantly.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">When the demonstration ended, the teacher asked, \"Any volunteers to go first?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Silence swept through the group.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Who do you want to see?\" the teacher asked the class.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Eden and Lucas!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Lucas and Eden!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The field erupted.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"They are so annoying,\" Eden grumbled, her voice barely audible.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Who? The teacher or the class?\" Lucas asked with a grin.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She glared at him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Don't look at me like that. I agree—they're all incredibly annoying,\" he defended.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Come on, you two. Up you go,\" the teacher said.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They walked to the front. As the music started, Lucas bowed with a flourish and held out his hand. Eden placed her hand in his. But during the dance, he stumbled repeatedly, nearly tripping her or stomping on her toes.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Nobody cared if Eden missed a step; all eyes were on Lucas’s spectacular failure.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"He’s hilarious. Did he even watch the demo?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I feel like Eden is about to snap.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"My goddess is so unlucky...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What is wrong with you?\" Eden hissed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I told you, I'm hopeless at this.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You can solve advanced calculus problems, but you can't remember a few dance steps?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What does one have to do with the other?\" Lucas looked genuinely puzzled. \"Is there some rule that says being good at math makes you a dancer?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Aren't you… embarrassed?\" Before she could finish, he shushed her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Let’s stop. If we keep going, you’re going to end up exposing yourself.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden looked at him, surprised.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I know you haven't memorized the steps yet, either,\" he teased.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Who said I didn't?\" she argued, frowning.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Lucas beamed at her. \"Let me take the fall for being embarrassed. That's my job.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Teacher!\" he called out, stopping mid-move. \"I’m sorry, I really can't do it!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The teacher sighed, frustrated, and turned to Eden. \"You teach him properly after school! We'll try again next time!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You got it!\" Lucas said, clearly delighted.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After school, Lucas sat on the edge of the track, hands propped behind him, watching as Eden practiced the routine over and over.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I’ve noticed you’re a real perfectionist,\" he observed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You can go home if you're tired.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I'll stay,\" Lucas said. \"I’ll keep you company for as long as you practice.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Why?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I don't want to go home and do homework yet,\" he said, stretching his arms toward the sun with a lazy, content smile. \"It's pretty nice out here.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Eden glared at him, but she didn't say another word—she just went back to her practice.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272926038]