In Love with the School Heartthrob

1

For two years, I secretly loved Colby Russell. I was too humbled to ever speak to him.

I expressed my feelings in my diary.

But the next day, my diary was passed around the class.

I was anxious and burst into tears. Colby, however, stood up bravely and got my diary back.

"Sorry. But I wrote this diary.

I've been secretly in love with her all along."

That evening during the self-study class, he held my hand and asked,

"So, Miss Leanna Marsh, will you allow my secret love to become real?"

I was overjoyed and nodded with a flushed face.

Colby and I started dating.

But a week later, my mom suddenly introduced a man as my new dad.

I felt a chill run down my spine

because that man was Colby's father.

Colby suggested we break up.

"Leanna, you know what?

Whenever I think you are my sister, I feel sick."

He hated my mom. And he hated me.

After we broke up, he began brazenly dating my friends. He flaunted his new romances to provoke me.

2

During the midday break.

"Switch seats

with me."

Colby turned around, tapping his long fingers on my desk.

"Oh,

okay."

I picked up my test paper and obediently moved to the seat in front of him.

Lately, he had taken a liking to my deskmate, Ryann Andrews. He would ask me to switch seats with him every midday break.

"Time for Colby's

daily flirtation ritual."

"He flirts with a girl while his ex-girlfriend stands guard for him.

It is so impressive."

"Why do all the girls seem to fall for

his charm?"

Other classmates began to tease us.

But I had gotten used to it.

Half a minute later, I heard Colby and Ryann giggling behind me. My back stiffened.

"Don't

kiss..."

"Just kiss

once..."

At that moment, someone poked my back. But I didn't have the courage to turn around.

"Keep an eye out

for the teacher."

His tone was cold. He was giving me a command.

My heart plummeted instantly.

When he and I were dating, he said so sweetly,

"Leanna, I gave you my first kiss. You can't kiss anyone else."

Now he was kissing other girls.

Thinking about it, I was deflated.

I finally managed to say,

"Okay."

During the hour-and-a-half midday break, I couldn't solve even a simple math problem.

3

The moment the teacher appeared at the window, my nerves tensed up.

"Colby." I reached back to nudge him, whispering,

"The head teacher."

I pushed him once. But he had no response. They were still flirting behind me.

I grew anxious.

So I pushed him again and said,

"The teacher's coming."

The next second,

a boy with messy hair lifted his head from a pile of books beside me.

His dark eyes were filled with irritation.

"Shut

up!"

His voice was low and hoarse. He seemed to have morning grumpiness. I was scared to keep silent.

His name was Nathan Sullivan, Colby's deskmate. He was a new transfer student.

When he arrived, he had bandages on his head and feet.

It was said that he was forced to transfer to our school after he injured someone.

He glared at me and seemed to be killing me.

"I'm...

sorry..."

I stammered, with my teeth chattering. I carefully draped my school jacket over his head and let him continue sleeping.

The next second...

the head teacher walked in.

She was heading in my direction. I was afraid to be discovered to have changed my seat. I was so anxious and wanted to dodge.

In my fluster, I impulsively ducked under Nathan's jacket, pretending to sleep.

Feeling my movement, Nathan suddenly turned his head.

Under the jacket, we were face-to-face.

In the darkness, his eyelashes brushed against my nose...

I saw his bright eyes. My heart began to race wildly.

"What are you doing?"

His voice was light. He seemed to be teasing me.

Being so close, his breath was all over my face.

"Shh..."

I pleaded softly.

The teacher's footsteps were heard.

My heart was in my throat as the teacher was getting closer.

He didn't speak anymore.

After about a minute, the teacher's footsteps faded away from the classroom door.

I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as I was about to lift the jacket and leave, he grabbed my hand.

My heart jolted.

"Let go of me. You're hurting me,"

I said, almost in tears.

He suddenly laughed mischievously and said,

"Oh, how would you not hurt?

4

"You!"

I was both embarrassed and angry. I impulsively bit him.

He cursed, letting go of me with pain. He stared at the bite mark on his wrist and said,

"Why did you bite me like a dog?"

"You got me hurt

first."

On his fairy wrist, my bite mark was glaringly obvious. I was a bit guilty.

"Ha," he chuckled coldly. "And why did you get into my jacket?

Did you try to take advantage of me?"

I dared respond, feeling guilty.

Frustrated and aggrieved, I stood up and switched back seats with Colby.

I didn't speak for the rest of the day.

After school, Colby stopped me.

He looked at me coldly and said, "Leanna, are you so desperate for a guy?

Why did you get into another guy's jacket?

He's just a thug.

Why did you provoke him?"

He scolded me arrogantly, pointing accusingly at my nose.

"It's none of your business." I retorted.

At the same time, I shook him off and walked away with my schoolbag.

At the corner, I saw Nathan leaning on a crutch. He was smoking with a group of school delinquents.

His gaze suddenly met mine. I was scared and quickened my pace.

"Nathan,

is she that girl?"

"Isn't she Colby's obedient

ex?"

"Such a short girl.

How could she bite you badly?"

"With that height difference,

how did she even bite your hand?"

I heard

laughter behind me.

I was both embarrassed and mortified.

"Watch your mouth.

Or I'll make sure you can't speak again."

A familiar voice was heard.

It was Nathan.

I was startled.

A miserable scream was then heard. Some people began to fight behind me.

I dared not look back and ran faster.

5

The next day, Colby's deskmate didn't show up.

On the third day, he was still absent.

I overheard other classmates in the bathroom.

"Nathan got into a fight as soon as he joined our school. So he was taken home by his parents."

"Why?

What happened?"

"Nothing else.

Two tigers can't share one mountain.

He would definitely fight against the school bully."

...

I was scared.

Standing nearby, I remembered what I heard that day, thinking that Nathan fought because of me. I was guilty.

After hesitating for a few seconds, I couldn't help asking,

"Was he badly hurt?"

The others noticed me and then turned to look at me.

Just then, a voice was heard from above.

"Are you concerned about me?

Why not ask me directly?"

I turned around and saw Nathan.

"I..."

I didn't know what to say at that moment.

My first thought was that he was alive.

I heaved a sigh of relief.

"Did you feel sorry for me?

Were you afraid that I would die?"

He seemed to see through my mind. He played with a metal lighter with a smile.

"Don't involve my name in your fights from now on," I said.

I finally voiced my thoughts.

I didn't want to be involved or have anyone fight because of me.

He was stunned. He said expressionless, "I don't even know your name.

How could I involve your name,

girl?"

"That's best. I don't want to be associated with you bad students."

I bit my lip, embarrassed by his words.

"Sure. Light me a cigarette.

The bad student won't bother the good student again."

His words infuriated me.

"You..."

I hesitated. My mom always warned me since I was a little girl not to mess with street thugs.

I just wanted everything to be over at that moment.

"Really?"

"Why

would I lie to you?"

He looked at me, amused.

I reluctantly took his lighter, pressed it a few times,

then handed it to him.

He looked relaxed, leaned down, and took a deep drag.

The blue flame reflected in his eyes as he looked at me. His Adam's apple bobbed, making my heart skip a beat.

After a couple of seconds, he turned away. I didn't know what he was thinking about.

"I'm leaving,"

I said.

He leaned against the railing, impatiently grunting.

I returned him the lighter and quickly headed back to the classroom.

"Nathan,

what are you doing?"

I heard the head teacher's voice behind me.

I was startled and ran even faster.

6

In the next class, Nathan's seat was empty again.

I heard others say that Nathan got caught smoking. The head teacher was furious.

I stared at his empty seat, lost in thought.

I...

seemed to have indirectly caused him trouble again.

At noon, Colby turned around again.

"Do you want to switch seats with me, right?"

I picked up my books and moved to his side without hesitation.

"That's

right."

His smug demeanor was a little stiffened.

He might not expect me to be so quick that day.

I sat in his seat, hearing nothing from behind for a while. Then someone poked my back again.

"I want some

noodles."

I turned around to look at Colby. I did not understand what he meant.

"I didn't

have lunch."

He gave a faint smile. He seemed to be sure that I would go and buy it for him.

I sighed deeply in my mind but still stood up.

"Wait a moment."

With that, I grabbed some notes and walked out of the classroom.

Colby suffered from low blood sugar. I was afraid he might faint.

I knew actually that he just wanted to torment me.

I liked him for two years. Everyone said I was being cheap.

But I knew well that he liked me too. He just couldn't accept the fact that I was about to become his stepsister.

And how could I accept it? But what could I do?

I couldn't find a way out myself.

"No scallions. No garlic. Just chili oil, please,"

I said to the vendor.

"You're quite picky, aren't you?"

the vendor remarked.

I just smiled.

I ran back as fast as I could, only to find him and my deskmate asleep at the desk.

They were holding hands, covered with my school uniform.

I placed the noodles in the drawer.

Just as I started on some problems, there was a sudden commotion from behind.

Was he not asleep?

I turned around and was about to give him the noodles.

"She just threw herself at me.

Honestly, she's pretty average.

She's short.

It made my neck sore when I kissed her.

I like kissing you better.

You smell so nice..."

My heart

was broken.

I stood there, cold sweat breaking out all over me.

Even when Colby and Ryann got out under the uniform and stared at me, I didn't react.

"Leanna,"

Ryann looked at me with some sympathy.

I quickly turned around and handed the noodles to the back desk.

"Your noodles."

As the smell wafted over, I suddenly burst into tears.

When I kissed him for the first time happily, I hoped he would value our relationship.

I remembered all his preferences. I was worried that the noodles would get cold on the way back and that he might have a stomach ache.

When I feared he hurt himself as he tormented me...

Colby was holding another girl, speaking ill of me.

At that moment, I couldn't find any words to describe myself.

I was utterly cheap.

7

I wiped away my tears and started on my homework.

But the words were blurred. In frustration, I threw down my pen, not knowing what to do.

In the afternoon, I sat in a daze during class.

Nathan hobbled back on crutches, standing at the teacher's table.

The head teacher followed him.

Then, in front of the whole class, he nonchalantly began reading his self-criticism letter.

"In short, please don't smoke. Don't learn from me to fight.

But if you insist on fighting against me, as long as you can go through it, it's fine."

His fearless tone made everyone burst into laughter.

The head teacher was extremely angry. He wished Nathan would just shut up.

Nathan angered the teacher and was moved to the back of the classroom.

"After deep reflection, Nathan has decided to mend his ways and study hard.

Who's willing to sit with Nathan and help him out?"

All the boys buried their heads low.

The girls were eager. But Nathan's gaze scared them off.

I stared at Colby's back, my heart still aching.

If my deskmate was a girl, he would flirt with her. It made me desperate.

Then, I raised my hand on impulse.

Everyone looked at me with astonished eyes.

Colby frowned at me.

"I disagree."

Nathan glanced at me and directly refused me.

I was so embarrassed, I didn't know whether to keep raising my hand or put it down.

"You don't get a say here."

The teacher glared at him.

"Sir..."

Nathan dragged out the word.

"I'm not a criminal."

"You are in my class."

The teacher was furious. He threw chalk at Nathan and said,

"You smoked, skipped class, fought with others. What reason do you have to refuse her to sit next to you?"

Nathan said nothing. He glanced at me and casually said,

"She disturbs my sleep."

The whole class burst into laughter.

The teacher's face turned beet red.

"Shut up. It's settled. If you dare object again, you'll write the school rules ten times."

The teacher decisively concluded, giving him no chance to resist.

So I moved my desk to the last row, sitting next to Nathan.

After a few minutes, the more I thought about it, the more aggrieved I was. I started crying again.

"Don't worry.

I won't disturb your sleep."

Seeing me cry, he showed some emotion on his face. "Do you want to sit next to me so badly?

Are you so excited and even crying?"

I was speechless.

"Stop crying. I'm not buying it,"

he said, seemingly indifferent.

"Are you even a guy?"

I asked him, my eyes red.

He was really not as broad-minded as other boys.

He paused for a moment, then suddenly smirked. "Am I a guy? So?

Do you want to check out the men's room with me?"

"You!"

I was furious at his words and my face turned red.

"Nathan, come on. A short girl can be cute too.

Don't you have to..."

Some boys who hung out with Nathan teased him.

Nathan calmly replied,

"You are so short and have no right to say that."

The boys were left speechless.

"You're tall,

but you're not even 1.8 meters."

"Do you think I've stopped

growing?"

The boys fell silent.

8

Nathan was really not a guy to be trifled with.

I vaguely regretted it and was more determined not to provoke him.

Later, he slept while I attended the class. We had no further interaction.

When I got home that day, Colby came into my room.

"Are you going to give up?

What's the benefit of sitting with a troublemaker like him?

Do you think you're some kind of saint to save him?

When your grades drop and you can't get into college,

you'll regret

it."

He criticized me arrogantly.

"If I don't sit with him,

do I have to sit behind you and watch you flirt every day?

Colby, I'm human too. I'm not your

servant."

He was stunned.

It was the first time we had such a heated quarrel.

Both of us were angry, standing there trying to calm down.

After a long time, he sighed, lowering his voice, "Leanna, I told you not to like me anymore. It's over.

I don't like you anymore."

"If you have stopped liking me, why were you with me before?"

I cried, questioning him.

He casually replied,

"It was just a game to me."

Then he left.

I cried.

My mom heard the noise and came up. When she saw me crying hard, she hugged me and asked what was wrong.

"Did he bully

you?"

"Why did you marry Colby's dad?"

I asked her with tears in my eyes.

She was stunned. Then she comforted me, holding me in her arms. "Didn't you always want a dad?

Now you have one."

"But I don't want it

to be him."

I had imagined countless times that if I hadn't become Colby's stepsister, we would be encouraging each other at school, working towards a common goal.

But now he tormented me every day.

I was almost suffocating.

"Mr. Russell is a good guy.

You'll see that after you get along with him for some time..."

My mom kept repeating those words, but I couldn't hear her.

Mr. Russell was indeed nice. But I was breaking down.

9

I continued attending classes as usual every day.

After changing seats, I was indeed a bit more relaxed.

Nathan looked fierce. But as long as I didn't provoke him, we stayed out of each other's way.

To make the boundary clearer, I marked a clear boundary on the desk.

"Keep your things on your side. If they cross the line,

they belong to me."

"Okay."

Nathan agreed readily.

The next second, he tossed his physics workbook over and said with a grin, "It's yours

now."

"Help me finish it,

will you?"

"You..."

I didn't know what to say.

"I am not allowed to touch your desk or chair today. Tomorrow, you'll draw a line between us and nothing can cross it. Do you think I'm following rules?"

Nathan challenged me.

"So what do you

want?"

"I'll follow your rules if you help me with my homework," he said with a smile.

"You can't always take advantage of me,

right?"

"Of course, I'm broad-minded. If you insist on doing so,

I don't mind you taking advantage of me in another way."

"I'll help you with your homework!"

I grabbed his workbook and shut him up.

I realized I couldn't win him by words.

As I sweated over his homework, he stayed awake, watching me with satisfaction. He seemed to like seeing me work for him.

"Your

handwriting."

"What

do you mean?"

"It's too neat.

It doesn't look like mine."

"Ah...

So?"

"You need to make it look like this..."

He leaned over, holding my hand with the pen, scribbling on the paper.

"Chicken scratch, got it?"

He was close to me. I could feel his warm chest. My heart beat faster.

"You...

you're crossing the line."

I reminded him, holding my breath.

"And then?"

He glanced at the line and said,

"Does that mean I belong to you now?"

I was startled. I buried my head in the homework, too scared to speak.

He leaned back, lazily resting against the wall.

The atmosphere was quite subtle.

10

Suddenly-

"Excuse me,

Miss."

A girl with makeup and in a short plaid skirt stood in front of me.

"Who are you...?"

I was a bit confused.

"I'm his girlfriend," the girl said arrogantly,

placing a bunch of flowers on my desk.

I turned to look at Nathan. His face was darkened.

What was going on?

I stood up, thinking it might be better to leave my seat.

"Sit down,"

Nathan said slowly.

I looked at the girl, then at him.

"I, I'd better leave..." I didn't want to be involved in something troublesome.

But Nathan also scared me.

"Did I allow you to leave?

He asked me directly, which startled me and made me caught between a rock and a hard place.

"Nathan, you're so heartless. You transferred to another school without telling me where you went," the girl said,

trying to throw herself over the desk at Nathan.

Nathan simply leaned to the side, avoiding her.

"Who are you?"

"I'm your girlfriend.

Did you forget me?"

"We went to karaoke together.

You gave me a necklace, perfume, and a phone..."

Nathan remained silent. He was indifferent to the extreme.

"You gave me gifts because you liked me and considered me your girlfriend, didn't you?

What was that, then?"

The girl was on the verge of tears.

Nathan paused for a moment and then said,

"I give gifts to anyone, including some stray dogs."

The girl burst into tears. Every classmate looked in our direction.

I was awkward. I tugged at his uniform and said, "Hey, maybe you...

coax her?"

He shot me a glance, annoyed.

"You're quite the Good Samaritan.

If you like helping others so much, why not help me?"

With that, he extended his hand, indicating for me to support him.

I said,

"What are you doing?"

"Go to

the restroom."

My face went crimson instantly.

"Nathan, don't go too far."

I was about to cry. How could he say that?

"My leg hurts. I can't exactly pee here,

can I?"

At that moment, the girl stopped crying.

"You and she...?"

She looked at Nathan, then at me.

"Is she your new girlfriend?"

She concluded loudly.

Could she be any louder?

Now everyone around us had heard her.

"No."

I quickly denied it.

"Nathan never shares a desk with a girl.

If you are not his girlfriend, who are you?"

I turned to Nathan for help.

He just looked at me without saying a word.

Come on, boy. It's just a word. Why won't he explain it? I shouted in my mind.

I was pissed off.

Then the girl ran off, crying.

"Why didn't you explain it?"

"No

need."

"What do you mean?

It's very necessary."

"If you keep talking, I might just pee here.

Don't

cry."

I was completely flustered.

I didn't have time to think. I feared he might actually pee there. So I helped him out of the classroom, avoiding everyone's gaze in a panic.

But he looked completely at ease. She didn't show any signs of urgency.

I had a headache.

11

Rumors about Nathan and me started spreading in the class.

I ignored them.

After all, they were baseless.

That day, as I returned to my seat with some homework from the teacher, I saw a group of girls gathered together.

"Leanna Mash is such a flirt. She acts innocent

but seduces everyone."

"That's right. I don't get it. She's not even very pretty, and she's short.

Are those guys blind?"

"You don't get it.

With the lights off, the face doesn't matter."

They discussed heatedly.

I was suddenly numb all over.

I was furious and was about to throw my homework at them.

But before I could do it,

Nathan, who had woken up without being noticed, kicked the desk of the girl who was talking the loudest.

"What are you

doing?"

The girls were startled. They turned to see Nathan's darkened face. They immediately shut up.

I was taken aback as well.

After about ten seconds, he returned to his usual nonchalant self and casually said,

"Sorry. I had a leg cramp in my dream."

"It's...

doesn't

matter."

"Leanna?"

The girls saw me return,

and dispersed guiltily, pretending nothing had happened.

I didn't say a word, tossed the homework in front of that girl, and returned to my seat.

Nathan noticed my displeased expression and quieted down.

"Can you help me

with my homework?"

I ignored him, grabbed the homework, finished it quickly, and tossed it back to him.

"You pencil,

please."

I threw my pencil at him.

"I need to go to the

restroom."

I stood up, quickly making way for him.

He glanced at me and said,

"I don't feel like going anymore."

I quietly sat back down, continuing with my work.

"Leanna, what's your attitude?"

Nathan finally snapped.

"So you knew it was a misunderstanding.

Why did you let them think I was your girlfriend?"

I turned to him, staring intently at him, my lips trembling.

He stared back, silent.

The next moment, he got up and walked over to the girl in front of me.

"What's your name?"

he asked.

"I...

I'm Samantha Reed,"

the girl stammered, a bit frightened.

"Alright. I'll remember you."

He suddenly placed both hands on her desk, forcing her to meet his gaze. "You love gossiping about my private life.

Do you like me?"

"I..." The girl's face turned bright red instantly.

She asked shyly,

"Is that possible?"

"Sorry.

Your name doesn't go with me."

He stood up straight and then said coldly, "Be good. Don't let me hear any more rumors about me and my deskmate.

Got it?"

"You..."

The girl felt humiliated.

She shot me a fierce look and ran out, crying.

Honestly, I felt a bit sorry for her at that moment. But mostly, I felt happy with my anger vented.

After dealing with it, Nathan leisurely returned to his seat.

"Sit if you want. Or you can change seats if you don't.

I don't bend for anyone."

With that, he lay down to sleep with a little anger.

I dared provoke him further as I could see that he was angry.

We didn't speak for the rest of the evening.

After the class, he got up abruptly and left without looking back.

He must hate me too.

I slowly packed my stuff and headed out of the classroom.