Chapter 2

And Lily Anderson didn't like strange.

She liked predictable.

Predictable meant knowing exactly how Charles would react whenever she annoyed him.

She would steal his pen.

He would complain.

She would hide his notebook.

He would chase her.

She would call him "Grandpa."

He would glare at her.

It was a beautiful system.

But yesterday, Charles had smiled.

And this morning, he had insulted her.

Something was definitely wrong.

"Lily!"

Mia's voice pulled her back to reality.

"What?"

"You've been staring at Charles for almost a minute."

Lily immediately looked away.

"I was not staring."

"You were."

"I was thinking."

"About Charles?"

"No."

Mia smiled.

"Interesting."

Lily rolled her eyes.

"You're becoming annoying."

"Maybe I'm learning from you."

Before Lily could respond, their lecturer walked into the room.

Everyone quickly took their seats.

Lily dropped into her usual chair near the window.

Then she noticed something.

Charles was sitting beside her.

She frowned.

"Why are you here?"

Charles looked at her.

"Because this is my seat."

"No, it isn't."

"It is."

"You normally sit at the back."

"I changed seats."

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to."

Lily narrowed her eyes.

"You planned this."

Charles opened his notebook.

"Everything isn't about you, Lily."

She stared at him.

That sentence irritated her more than it should have.

She leaned toward him.

"You know, you're becoming very rude."

Charles didn't look at her.

"You've said that already."

"Because you keep being rude."

"Then perhaps stop talking to me."

Lily opened her mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

Mia, sitting on her other side, was struggling not to laugh.

Lily whispered, "He's getting brave."

Mia whispered back, "Maybe you're finally meeting your match."

Lily scoffed.

"Impossible."

The lecturer began the lesson.

For the first ten minutes, Lily behaved.

For another five minutes, she tried.

Then she noticed Charles's pen.

It was sitting perfectly beside his notebook.

A beautiful opportunity.

She slowly reached for it.

Charles caught her wrist without looking away from the board.

Lily froze.

"How did you know?"

"I know you."

His fingers were still around her wrist.

For some reason, Lily suddenly became aware of how close they were.

She pulled her hand away.

"I wasn't taking it."

"You were."

"I was borrowing it."

"Without asking?"

"Yes."

"That's called stealing."

Lily smiled.

"You're learning."

Charles shook his head.

The lecturer suddenly turned around.

"Is there something you'd like to share with the class, Lily?"

Lily sat straight.

"No, sir."

"Then please concentrate."

"Yes, sir."

The class continued.

This time, Lily actually tried to focus.

Until a folded piece of paper landed on her desk.

She looked at Charles.

He was writing.

She opened it.

Stop staring at me.

Lily's eyes widened.

She quickly wrote underneath:

Who's staring?

She pushed it back.

A few seconds later, it returned.

You are.

Lily wrote:

Maybe you're just interesting.

Charles read it.

He looked at her.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then he wrote:

That's the nicest insult you've ever given me.

Lily pressed her lips together to hide a smile.

She hated that he was suddenly funny.

After class, everyone began packing their things.

Lily stood and stretched.

"Charles."

He looked at her.

"What?"

"You're coming to lunch with us."

"No."

"That wasn't a question."

"I'm not coming."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to."

Lily stepped in front of him.

"You can't refuse me."

"I just did."

She stared at him.

Charles walked around her.

Lily followed.

"Charles!"

He kept walking.

"Charles Bennett!"

He finally stopped.

"What?"

Lily pointed at him.

"You're different."

"So you've said."

"Why?"

He shrugged.

"Maybe I got tired."

"Tired of what?"

"Being your favorite victim."

Lily's smile disappeared.

Charles looked at her for a moment.

Then his expression softened.

"I'm not angry with you, Lily."

"Then what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

He walked away.

Lily remained where she was.

For the first time in years, she didn't know what Charles was thinking.

And she didn't like that feeling at all.

She turned to Mia.

"I need to find out what's going on with him."

Mia smiled.

"Why?"

Lily hesitated.

"Because..."

She looked toward the hallway where Charles had disappeared.

"Because nobody gets to change the rules without telling me."

Mia laughed.

"That's your excuse?"

"Yes."

But deep down, Lily knew there was another reason.

She just wasn't ready to admit it yet.