Chapter 3The Valedictorian’s "Reformed" Bad Girl

The next day.

I dyed my hot-pink hair back to black.

I had altered my uniform skirt so much it couldn't be fixed, and I had no idea where I threw my school blazer.

I'd have to wait until Monday to buy a new set from the administration office.

On my way to school, I ran into Tyler, who lived in the same neighborhood. I called out to him.

Tyler looked around wildly before his eyes finally locked onto me.

His jaw dropped like he could swallow an egg, followed by a purely instinctive curse.

"Holy sh*t! Maya? Why did you dye your hair black?"

I walked up to him. "Does it look weird?"

Tyler blushed, scratching the back of his head. "Not weird. Just... you look... innocent."

"Ah, no, no, just not used to it."

I ignored his babbling and yanked the school blazer right off his back. "Let me borrow this for a couple of days. I'll give it back soon."

I threw the oversized jacket over my shoulders.

Tyler's face turned even redder. "Maya... when you wear it like that, it looks like you aren't wearing anything underneath."

Tyler was tall. His jacket completely covered my mini-skirt.

If I buttoned it up, all you could see were two pale, bare legs sticking out from beneath a massive blazer.

I took the jacket off and tied the sleeves around my waist instead.

"How about this?"

"That's much better."

Tyler and I walked side-by-side to school.

He asked, "Julian scheduled a fight with the guys from the vocational school tonight. What time are you going?"

"I'm not."

The fight was because a guy from the vocational school had catcalled Chloe. Julian got furious and issued a "challenge."

In my past life, I was worried Julian would get outnumbered, so I skipped study hall to go back him up.

Who knew that to protect Chloe and help her escape, he would completely abandon me there.

If Noah hadn't shown up later, I don't even want to know what horrific things might have happened to me.

Only an idiot would do something so thankless twice.

"Huh? Then what are you doing?" Tyler asked, curious.

"Homework."

"Hahaha, homework? Did I hear that right? Maya stopped clinging to Julian and is trying to be a good girl doing homework now?"

A mocking laugh came from behind us.

Tyler and I both turned around.

Julian and his sidekick, Chad, pulled up on a motorcycle and stopped behind us.

Chad kept sneering, "Julian, look! Maya even dyed her hair black. Trying to copy Chloe, huh?"

Julian had dark circles under his eyes, looking like he hadn't slept well.

His gaze locked onto me, displeasure radiating from him. "Where were you last night? Do you know I waited for you all night?"

"What I did last night is none of your fcking business. And you waiting all night is none of my fcking business either."

Ugh. Early mornings are already annoying enough.

I rolled my eyes and turned to walk away.

"Maya!"

Julian shouted my name angrily.

Chad patted Julian's shoulder.

"Julian, can't you see? Maya's doing this on purpose. She knows you like Chloe, so she's trying to get your attention by copying her!"

"Look, Chloe has black hair, so she dyed her hair black. Chloe always ignores you, so she's ignoring you. Chloe likes that nerd Noah, so she's hanging out with Tyler."

"She probably thinks that if she acts like Chloe, you'll like her."

Chad shook his head like an expert. "Women, man. You can't give them too much attention. Ignore her for a few days, I guarantee she'll come running back, begging you to talk to her."

Julian's expression improved significantly. "So many little tricks."

He scoffed coldly. "She wants to be Chloe? What a cheap imitation."

He revved the engine. With a roar, the motorcycle sped away.