She Came to Conquer

tion bouncing off the walls. Stephanie and I sat at our usual table in the co

emistry test tomorrow?" I asked,

dramatically. "Don't remind me. I'

" I said, shaking my head. "One da

ng. "Then you'll just have to help m

napologetic. She was everything I wasn't, and for reasons I s

tirely, but I knew our friendship wasn't exactly balanced. She didn't stick around because she lik

ly pushing her tray toward me, "fini

argue, picking at

•

ning and pens scratching on paper filling the space. Stephanie and I s

day," Stephanie said, watching me

er, surprised by

ded with a grin. "I still need you to

ng. She'd learned long ago that I wouldn't say no to

in front of me, Stephanie sudd

. Perfect," she wh

o look up to kn

e walked like he owned the place, his steps slow and deliberate, his head held high. A group of

obvious?" Stephanie mut

yes fixed on the wor

ay from us. Stephanie wasted no time making her presenc

el!" she c

expression lighting

eping my head down and focusi

Stephanie said, patting

king his way over. My heart sped up as he pulled out

ing," he said, flashing

zzie and I were just going over some notes. S

d by the sudden atten

g me with her elbow. "She's practically a genius

genuinely interested. "Really? I c

Stephanie said, answerin

y, too nervous

ing at me. "Maybe we could

mered, feeling m

rying most of it. I stayed quiet, listening as they ban

ker toward me, and I couldn't help but wonder-wa

left, my nerves w

hanie said smugly, lea

" I asked,

mirking. "You're too shy to talk to h

here was something about the way Stephanie smiled, the

g myself I was just overthinking thing

n't

library conversation in my head. Daniel had spo

a long time, I felt li

ed in my mind, a faint war

oo shy,"

she wa

hispered something else. Maybe she wasn't