Chapter 2Rebirth: Dropping the Bad Boy for the Valedictorian

Once I stopped revolving my life around Hunter, I realized how much free time I actually had.

I could chat with the girls about the latest Netflix shows and share my favorite strawberry milkshakes.

I could dig out the moldy worksheets shoved in the back of my desk and fill them out one by one.

During breaks, I could even go behind the bleachers to feed the stray cats.

Youth without constant anxiety and obsession was actually beautiful.

A few days later, the school's basketball tournament kicked off.

The homeroom teacher asked the whole class to go to the gym to cheer.

I remembered my past life. I had organized a cheer squad for Hunter and practiced a high-difficulty routine.

Because of a botched stunt, I fell from the top of the pyramid, scraping up my arms and bloodying my knees.

But when Hunter won the game, his eyes were only on his bros and the trophy. He didn't even spare a glance for me lying in the nurse's office.

So this time, I faked severe cramps, got a pass, and stayed in the empty classroom to memorize SAT vocabulary.

I would never do something so absurdly stupid ever again.

Maya came back at halftime, out of breath. "Avery, Hunter is totally off his game today. His eyes keep drifting to the bleachers like he's looking for someone."

She gave me a sly look. "Do you think he's looking for you?"

"No."

I calmly wrote down another vocabulary word.

During this phase, Hunter practically had 'I hate Avery' tattooed on his forehead.

Me not being there was giving him peace and quiet.

While we were talking, the classroom door was violently pushed open.

Brody practically dragged Hunter inside, yelling at me, "Avery! Don't you keep that imported athletic pain relief spray in your locker? Get it out! Hunter twisted his ankle!"

I used to keep a fully stocked first-aid kit specifically for Hunter, filled with expensive topical treatments.

I subconsciously glanced at Hunter's swollen ankle.

In my past life, he won this game flawlessly and never got hurt.

It seemed my absence had already altered the trajectory of events.

"Avery, what are you spacing out for?!" Brody shouted anxiously.

I snapped back to reality, my tone ice-cold. "It expired. I threw it away."

With that, I grabbed my water bottle and walked out to the water fountain, not giving him a single extra glance.

Why should I care?

The pain of dying on the street in my past life was ten thousand times worse than his little sprain.

Why on earth should my heart ache for him?

Behind me, Brody gasped in shock, while Hunter's gaze felt like a dagger, staring so intensely at my back it could have burned a hole through it.