Chapter 27

Elysia woke with a jolt in the middle of her exam. The room buzzed with the sound of pencils scribbling frantically. She stretched, wincing as her stiff neck protested, and her feet tingled from their awkward position. Desk naps were the worst—her comfy bed at home beckoned.

With a shrug, she decided to hand in her paper and get some real sleep.

Noticing her getting up, Justin did the same. He dropped his paper on the teacher’s desk and walked out. The other students were too engrossed in the Language and Composition exam to notice. Time was ticking, and everyone was focused.

Justin, being the top student, handing in his paper early was unremarkable. But Elysia was a special case. No one knew how she’d gotten into Class 1. Rumors swirled that she hadn’t even finished elementary school, making her the ultimate underdog. Perhaps that's why she handed in her paper early—she hadn't a clue about the answers.

Elysia was about to leave, but a teacher stopped her. Students couldn't leave until the exam was over; they had to wait in a designated area.

Elysia was speechless. She should have known better. The classroom desk, though uncomfortable, was preferable to the waiting area. She couldn't recall if her old school had the same rule; it had been ages, and memories faded.

Elysia had barely sat down when Justin joined her. She glanced at him and quickly looked away. The air turned awkward. Justin, usually cool and aloof, seemed uneasy. "Did you finish your paper?" he asked, breaking the silence.

Elysia shrugged. "I skipped the essay."

Justin's brow furrowed. The essay was a major part of the exam. Without it, her grade was doomed.

Seeing his expression, Elysia chuckled. "Are you already crunching numbers in your head?"

"No!" Justin denied it too quickly, looking guilty.

Elysia didn't push it. She smiled and stayed quiet.

"Class 1 has a cutthroat rule," Justin warned. "The lowest scorer gets dismissed."

Elysia nodded. "Got it."

"I'm giving you a heads-up," Justin added, looking her in the eye.

"I know. Don't sweat it. No one can kick me out of Class 1," Elysia said confidently, making Justin pause.

Then the bell rang, signaling the end of the exam. Elysia yawned, stretched, and sauntered out of the waiting area. Justin watched her go, a bit stunned. He knew what she meant, but hearing her say it so casually, he believed her.

Thanks to Justin's warning, Elysia, who had planned to phone in the exam, decided to give it her all. It was a chance to show the gossipers that she wasn't there because of connections.

The final exam bell rang, and Elysia strolled out of the school gates. There was no sign of the Rosewood family's car. She was about to hail a taxi when a voice called out.

"Elysia!" a girl shouted.

Elysia spun around and saw Alice bouncing out of a sleek black Maybach, grinning. In no time, Alice was there, saying brightly, "Elysia, surprise! I didn't expect you to be here. I'm stuck in the junior section; you're probably a senior, huh?"

Elysia nodded. "Yup, Class 1, Grade 12."

"You're such a brainiac," Alice said, glancing around. "No one here to drive you home?"

"I'll catch a cab," Elysia said, pulling out her phone.

"Hold up. I'll give you a lift. My uncle's here," Alice said, pointing to the Maybach. "Thanks, but I don't want to be a hassle," Elysia insisted.

"It's no hassle! My uncle even mentioned you might be stranded and told me to offer you a ride," Alice said. She leaned closer and whispered, "Just between us, my uncle's usually all about himself. You're the first!"

Elysia glanced at the Maybach, feeling watched. "Come on, let me give you a ride," Alice pressed.

For some reason, Elysia nodded. Alice, delighted, grabbed her hand and half-dragged her toward the Maybach.

As soon as they slid inside, Elysia was hit with a wave of a grown-up, masculine scent.

"Zane, meet the kind soul I told you about," Alice said.

The man turned, smiling. "Thanks for looking out for Alice. I'm Zane Hartley. Nice to meet you," he said, offering his hand.

Elysia froze. Zane was the man who'd helped her in the principal's office. She couldn't believe they were meeting again.

Noticing her daze, Alice nudged her. "Zane's talking to you."

Elysia snapped back, looking at Zane's hand. She slowly reached out and took it, feeling a jolt. She didn't want to let go.

Zane held on tight, his larger hand covering hers. They held hands for what felt like forever, but it was probably only half a minute before Zane reluctantly let go.

Elysia felt embarrassed, her cheeks warming. She crossed her arms, tracing the lingering warmth. What's going on with me? I must be losing it, she thought.

Clueless about the vibe, Alice looked at Elysia's red face. "Elysia, why are your cheeks so red?"

Elysia wished she could disappear. She covered her face, felt the heat, and remembered Zane's hand. Her face got even redder. She quickly removed her hands, fanning her face. "It's just hot in here."

Watching her in the rearview mirror, Zane smiled. "Buckle up." He started the engine.

About half an hour later, they pulled up to the Rosewood residence. Elysia got out, her face still flushed. She walked over to Zane's side and tapped on the window.

Zane rolled it down. Their heartbeats seemed to skip a beat. Elysia was nervous, looking at his face. "Um, thanks for the ride home."