She Hired the Poor Scholarship Student to Save Her Grades — Then She Fell for the One Guy She Was Afraid to Love
Chapter 5
Her grades improved dramatically.
But Madison’s feelings became impossible to ignore.
She began inventing reasons to see Ethan.
She brought him coffee.
She asked questions she already knew the answers to.
She sent messages late at night.
One evening, they studied at the library until nearly closing.
Madison rested her head on the desk.
“I’m tired.”
“Then sleep.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because if I sleep, you’ll leave.”
Ethan looked at her.
She immediately sat up.
“I mean, the library will close.”
He smiled.
“Sure.”
She looked away.
“You know you can tell me when you’re lying.”
“That’s rude.”
“It’s accurate.”
Silence settled between them.
Then Ethan asked:
“Why do you act differently around your friends?”
Madison froze.
“What do you mean?”
“You become someone else.”
She looked at him.
“What someone?”
“Someone who cares more about what people think than what she wants.”
That hurt.
Because it was true.
“Maybe that’s easier.”
“For who?”
“For everyone.”
Ethan closed his notebook.
“Not for you.”
He stood.
Madison watched him walk away.
She knew then.
She was in love with him.
And she was terrified.
