Chapter 3
Josie shot Aiden a quick glance before shoving the medal into Natalie’s hands. “Heard it was Aiden’s big idea to make you apologize in front of everyone."
"He’s clearly got a soft spot for you. It’s just a medal—he won’t care if it cheers you up."
“Right, Aiden?” Josie shot him a sly grin.
That grin stung like a jab. Aiden knew she was salty about the whole apology deal.
‘She’s the one who screwed up!’ he thought, steaming. ‘How's she gonna be so petty?’
That medal wasn’t just some cheap token—it was his first, handed over with so much pride. Back then, he’d been over the moon to give it to her. Now? Total regret.
‘She doesn’t get it,’ he fumed. ‘I treated her like my little sis, always had her back, helped her out. And what do I get? All that care tossed in the trash.’
“Nice one, Josie,” Aiden growled, snatching the medal back.
Josie didn’t flinch. She raised an eyebrow. “What, not cool with cheering up your little star? Thought you’d love it.”
“You don’t just regift something someone gave you,” Natalie snapped, pouting. “Come on, Josie, that’s basic.”
“But you’re not just anyone,” Josie said, all innocent with a blink. “You’re the team’s darling. Aiden’s fine with it, right?”
“Over the moon,” Aiden said, his calm mask cracking with a scowl. He shoved the medal at Natalie. “Here, kid. Keep it safe. Don’t be like some people who flunk Gift 101.”
He stormed off.
The second he was gone, Natalie’s face darkened. She’d always wanted that medal, but like this? It felt wrong.
‘Josie was bolder than she thought, humiliating Aiden in front of everyone. Is she trying to get booted from the team?’ she wondered.
“Josie, what’s your deal?” Vincent groaned, glaring. “Why tick off Aiden? You still wanna do research or not?”
Josie sighed. “I thought he’d be stoked since he’s so into Natalie. How was I supposed to know he’d flip?" She glanced at Natalie. “My bad, Natalie. Didn’t think he’d care. But he’s fine now, so it’s yours.”
She sauntered off without a glance back.
The others swapped looks, thrown. Josie, the quiet research geek, was acting off. Something was definitely up.
The next day, Josie slipped into the library. No way was she here to play good student and sort files like in her past life. Her mission was picking a new major.
Med school was a five-year slog, and she was deep into her senior year. Switching now was a long shot. But sticking with her current major? Made her want to puke.
It wasn’t the program’s fault, it was the fact she’d burned bridges with the team’s big shots. Staying meant signing up for hell.
She wasn’t here to get crushed, not with a second chance. She knew the team was headed for a dumpster fire, so there was no need to stick around.
Plus, leaving was the only way to see Natalie’s true game and unravel the mysteries from her old life.
The catch? She had zero clue what major to pick, and that was a problem.
She’d spent all afternoon tearing through every book on majors in the library, desperate for one she could pick up fast and graduate with in a year. No dice.
Ready to call it quits and try again tomorrow, she spun around too fast and kicked a table leg.
A guy napping at the table jolted awake, his book hitting the floor with a thud.
Josie winced, snatching it up. “Oh, shoot, I’m so sorry! I didn’t—”
Her eyes caught the title, and her apology stalled. “Acupuncture?”
“Who said you could touch that?!” The guy yanked the book from her and stormed out.
“Why’d you go and mess with him?” Kyle strolled in, pulling Josie aside. “You okay? He didn’t get in your face, did he?”
Josie shook her head. “I’m good. I just knocked his book off. Guy’s got a right to be ticked. What’re you doing here, Kyle?”
“Vincent and Jaden got held up, so I came instead.” Kyle handed her a lunchbox. “No way I’m letting you sort this mess alone.”
Josie took it with a grin. Things were different this time. In her old life, they’d iced her out. But now, after apologizing to Natalie, they were actually being nice.
She wasn’t fooled, though—it was all about Natalie, not because they trusted her.
Back then, she hadn’t apologized. No matter how much she explained, nobody bought it. Once, while stuck in the library, she’d seen Kyle pass by with a lunchbox. Starving, she’d asked if she could have some to save time.
Kyle had scoffed, saying the food was for Natalie and that a “nobody” like her didn’t deserve it, just because she hadn’t kissed up to Natalie.
Josie popped the lunchbox open, shaking off the memory. “Thanks, man. I’m starving.”
She settled in a corner to eat, her mind drifting to that book.
Acupuncture? That could work, she thought.
If she remembered right, it was the least popular major at med school. Jobs in Traditional Medicine were rare, and acupuncturists? Basically nonexistent. Nobody picked it.
But that was the perk: it was easier to get into, and with so few students, the professors had time to actually teach. She could get plenty of one-on-one help.
She’d have to check it out.
“Yo, you zoning out?” Kyle wandered over. “I called you, like, twice.”
Josie flashed a sheepish grin. “Just thinking about earlier. You know that guy I bumped into?”
“What, Sean Reedshaw?” Kyle’s face twisted like he’d bitten a lemon.
Josie blinked. “That’s Sean Reedshaw?”
Rumor had it their department had two hotshots: Aiden, the golden boy who lit up the room, and Sean, the dark, mysterious type, like a storm cloud one couldn’t pin down.
“He’s got major beef with Aiden and some seriously bad vibes. Steer clear,” Kyle warned, giving her a look.