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But I can’t kick the feeling that I have no idea what justhappened.
Actually, I know what happened, but I refuse to believeit.
Ten minutes ago, Tyler Adams was myfriend.
Now, he’s Oakwood’s newobsession.
4
Annie
“Ihopeyour first couple of days haven’t been too difficult an adjustment,” Haley says to Tyler over dinner Tuesdaynight.
“Nope,” I say, reaching for my drink. “Tyler’s the biggest thing sincevaping.”
“Annie’s exaggerating.” Tyler throws a crumb atme.
I try to look offended, but the mischievous glint in his eyes makes it impossible. I nod toward the bassinet sitting next to the table. “You’re setting a bad example for the nextgeneration.”
“Don’t throw things.” Tyler’s solemn gaze lands on Sophie’s sleeping form, his voice a gentle caress. “And don’t dodrugs.”
I swallow thelaugh.
But the truth is, in two days, Tyler’s taken over the school in a coup so subtle and stunning it's as if no one but me noticed ithappen.
Yesterday at lunch, I looked for him in the dining hall to see him already sitting with Brandon and his crew, one of the most popular tables even more crowded thanusual.
Since then, I’ve been watching from the sidelines. I see Tyler in the halls, and he asks me the occasional question about class or how things work at Oakwood when we cross paths in the hall or in the kitchen at home. When I’m getting out of the pool and he’s stalking across the patio from the garage, his leather jacket hugging every inch of hisbody.
Between those moments, I hardly see him. He’s surrounded by new fans who are happy to get him whatever he needs. Food, praise,information.
Oakwood hasn’t taken Tyler away from me. I know intellectually that he’s the same person he was two daysago.
But it feels wrong, especially since we haven’t had time totalk.
“Glad you’re fitting in.” My dad’s voice brings meback.
“I appreciate you covering my tuition.” Tyler shifts in his seat, appearing uncomfortable for the first time since he started school. “I’ll pay you back when Ican.”
“You will not. Consider it a cost of being associated withme.”
I dig into dinner even though I’m not hungryanymore.
“Tyler, I’m the last person to advocate for private education. But they do have great teachers,” Haley adds. “And they’re empathetic to other priorities, like yourmusic.
“Oh, and the rest of your bags arrived today. I figured your clothes would need ironing, so most of them are in the laundry room. And your guitar’s in the poolhouse.”
Tyler’s expression lights up at the wordguitar. “That’s great. I’m supposed to play with some guys from school. They’re playing a frat party tomorrow night and another party on theweekend.”
“I don’t know if I want you playing in some band from school.” My dad reaches for his waterglass.
“They’re harmless,” I interject before Tyler can. “Future doctors and lawyers and congressmen playing at beingmusicians.”
“I won’t let it get in the way of our work,” Tylerpromises.
“If it does, you dropit.”
I roll my eyes. Apparently even the new prince of Oakwood has to defer to mydad.
