Aaron frowned, tapping his pencil against his arm. Keeley directly challenged him with her impressively fast sonnet about cheesecake. He didn't even have a topic. It had to be something that interested her; perhaps she would soften if it was about something she liked. He could have sworn she was momentarily excited when he recognized her Star Wars reference.

Pop culture had been a foreign concept for most of his life. Raised to be businesslike, he’d spent his childhood learning to fence with a real sword while other boys played with plastic lightsabers. His father had told him common things were beneath him, and for a long time, he'd believed it. He'd never preferred pop culture to business articles, but Keeley loved such things.

He’d ignored her preferences in their previous relationship. In trying to help her navigate his world, he’d forgotten to explore hers.

Aaron lived twenty-seven years alone with his regrets before dying of a heart attack caused by overwork. Waking up as a seventeen-year-old with a second chance was the best thing that could have happened to him. One of the first things he did was watch all the Star Wars movies, hoping to find common ground with Keeley.

He never imagined she would be so difficult to talk to about anything unrelated to class assignments. It was incredibly frustrating, but he had to control his temper; otherwise, she would withdraw further. If he could combine their interests… that gave him an idea. He couldn't write as fast as she did, but the result should be worthwhile.

"A ship zooms through the endless stars above, It dodges meteors and space debris. A rusty piece of junk that I so love, Though some do not always its value see. The hyperdrive is broken yet again, And yet the ship does not fail to retreat. A perfect hideaway for Rebel men, There are no goals that this ship cannot meet. I won it in a game against a friend, He was reluctant for the ship to part. Eventually he flew the ship again, The ship that had still lived on in his heart. The galaxy is saved because of it, Amidst those happy days in its cockpit."

Keeley laughed hysterically from the floor, and Aaron wasn't sure whether to feel gratified or annoyed. "You—just wrote—a sonnet—about—the—Millennium—Falcon," she gasped, barely able to speak through her laughter. Her face was red, and she clutched her sides.

Aaron hadn't expected such a strong reaction. Was this good or bad?

"That should be to your satisfaction."

"No one will believe you came up with that. Everyone's going to think it was me. Who are you, and what have you done with Aaron Hale?" She sat up, instantly sobering.

That hesitance again. He couldn't understand it. She kept pulling away, seeming almost afraid of him. What could he have done to make her this way when they'd hardly interacted in this life? She seemed afraid even before the kiss.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Right," she muttered. "I must be crazy. Let's get back to work."

They worked mostly in silence, pausing only to ask for rhyme suggestions. The other three sonnets took about an hour. Aaron watched her concentrate, enjoying her intense focus. It reminded him of happier days, the early days of their relationship when everything seemed possible.

Instinctively, he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. She flinched violently. Aaron recoiled, annoyed. She was definitely afraid of him.

Keeley was supposed to be the one person who didn't fear him or his family's power. His chest constricted painfully. How had this happened?

"Why are you so afraid of me? What did I do?" he asked.

Panic flickered in her eyes for a second before she gave him a blank look. "Everyone is afraid of you. Don't tell me you haven't noticed."

"I have. But I want to know why you are afraid of me."

"The same reasons as everyone else. You could wipe out any of our families in an instant," Keeley said, avoiding his gaze. "And you're cold as ice. Nobody can get close to you."

He wanted to protest. That wasn't true. Keeley had gotten close to him before… she'd pushed until she'd wormed her way into his heart. She had loved him so much! It killed him that she was speaking to him with such detachment. Not only did she not love him, she seemed to hate him. He couldn't bear her indifference. Karma was a cruel mistress.

"Only because nobody bothers to try," he said finally.

Keeley had tried. She had tried so hard.

Ignoring him, she stood. "I need to go home now. Since I wrote one more sonnet than you, you should type it up and submit it."

"Alright," he said dully, calling for Carlton to take her home. Clearly, she didn't want him to come with her.

Keeley had changed, and Aaron didn't understand why. She had been the only person in his life who hadn't cared about his family's power, who hadn't trembled at the sight of him. This would be easier if she wanted something from him, but it seemed she only wanted to be left alone. That was one thing he couldn't do.