SHE ONLY DID HER CLASSMATES’ HOMEWORK FOR MONEY—UNTIL ONE LOVE LETTER CHANGED EVERYTHING
Chapter 6
The rumors started two weeks later.
Someone saw Mia and Jason together.
Then someone else noticed them having lunch.
By Friday, half the class believed they were dating.
Mia hated it.
She avoided the cafeteria.
She stopped sitting beneath the oak tree.
She even refused Jason’s messages.
He eventually found her outside the library.
“Why are you avoiding me?”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Mia looked away.
“People are talking.”
“So?”
“I don’t like it.”
Jason sighed.
“You can’t control what people say.”
“I know.”
“Then why punish me?”
Mia looked at him.
“Because I don’t want things to change.”
Jason’s expression softened.
“They already have.”
Mia didn’t answer.
He stepped closer.
“You’ve changed.”
“I know.”
“You talk to people now.”
“Sometimes.”
“You smile.”
“Sometimes.”
“You let people help you.”
“Rarely.”
He smiled.
“You let me help you.”
Mia looked down.
“That was a mistake.”
Jason became quiet.
“Do you mean that?”
She hesitated.
“No.”
He waited.
Mia took a breath.
“I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“Neither do I.”
“That isn’t comforting.”
He laughed softly.
“It’s honest.”
Mia looked at him.
“I’ve spent my whole life avoiding this.”
“Avoiding what?”
“Feeling.”
Jason nodded.
“Why?”
“Because feelings make you vulnerable.”
“Yes.”
“And vulnerable people get hurt.”
“Yes.”
“So why would anyone choose that?”
Jason looked directly into her eyes.
“Because being protected from pain also protects you from happiness.”
Mia said nothing.
Those words stayed with her.
That night, she wrote them in her journal.
The next morning, she received an unexpected message.
Jason:
Can I see you?
Mia replied:
Where?
Oak tree.
She went.
Jason was sitting beneath it.
He had two coffees.
He handed one to her.
“Peace offering.”
She smiled.
“Accepted.”
They sat quietly.
Then Jason said:
“I like you.”
Mia’s heart stopped.
He continued.
“I’ve liked you for a while.”
She stared at him.
“But you liked Elena.”
“I loved Elena.”
Mia looked confused.
“What happened?”
“We broke up.”
“What?”
“She realized she loved someone else.”
Mia swallowed.
“When?”
“Last week.”
Mia looked down.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t want you to think I was using you.”
She looked at him.
“I would never think that.”
“I know.”
He smiled.
“But I wanted to be sure.”
“Sure of what?”
“That what I feel for you isn’t because of Elena.”
Mia’s hands trembled.
“And?”
Jason took a breath.
“It’s not.”
Mia looked at him.
She wanted to run.
She wanted to stay.
For once, both feelings existed at the same time.
Jason didn’t pressure her.
He simply waited.
Mia whispered:
“I don’t know how to do this.”
Jason smiled.
“Neither do I.”
“I’m scared.”
“Me too.”
She looked at him.
“Then why are you smiling?”
“Because I’m hoping.”
Mia laughed softly.
Then, without thinking, she reached for his hand.
Jason looked down.
Then back at her.
Neither spoke.
Their fingers intertwined.
And for Mia, that tiny gesture felt bigger than every assignment she had ever completed.
