Chapter 3

Daisy froze, startled by my outburst, her shoulders shaking, crying so hard she gasped for air between sobs. It made me look like I'd just publicly bullied her.

The other students couldn't help but start whispering.

"Isn't the new student a bit sensitive? She cried just because no one offered her an eraser?"

"Chloe can be hot-headed, sure... but what does that have to do with her name?"

"And Chloe's always worn that bracelet. I never even noticed if it was diamonds..."

Daisy's crying grew louder. The class monitor, seeing she couldn't handle it, ran to the office to get the teacher.

The homeroom teacher rushed in, looking at Daisy, who was on the verge of collapsing from crying, then at me, sitting there defiantly. She slapped the desk, pointing at me and yelling: "Chloe Hayes! Can't you just be quiet for one day?"

I was fuming, about to open my mouth to explain: "Teacher, it was her..."

"Shut up!" The teacher completely ignored me. "Everyone in this grade knows your temper! You're always causing trouble at school!" "Apologize to Daisy Mitchell right now!"

I didn't move. Why should I apologize to her?

The teacher snapped: "You won't apologize, huh?" "I can't deal with you. I'm calling your parents right now!"

Before, I wouldn't have cared about calling my parents. Ethan was a regular at school; he was used to it, and so was I. But not now. I looked at Daisy's face, so similar to Eleanor's, and felt a surge of unease. What if Ethan saw her and remembered Eleanor again?

I took a deep breath, swallowing my anger. I lowered my head and gritted out: "I'm sorry."

...

Seething with anger, the moment the dismissal bell rang, I bolted out of the classroom. I sprinted out the school gates and dove into the passenger seat of Ethan's car.

Ethan jumped, nearly dropping his cigarette: "Chloe Hayes, is there a ghost chasing you?"

"Drive! Drive now!" I urged frantically.

Ethan looked bewildered: "What happened? Did you beat up another kid? Or did a dog chase you?"

I was desperate: "Just drive, don't ask so many questions!"

Ethan frowned, still wanting to ask: "Chloe Hayes, tell me honestly..."

But I didn't answer, pretending to grab the steering wheel. Ethan, exasperated by my urging, stomped on the gas and started the car.

Only after the car pulled away did I see Daisy just stepping out of the school gate. That was close. Ethan almost saw her.

Ethan steered with one hand: "Alright, tell me. What kind of trouble did you get into at school today?"

I guiltily looked out the window: "Can't I just want to go home early and do my homework?"

"You? Do homework? You'd rather the sky fall than do your homework." Ethan ruffled my hair, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Chloe Hayes, when are you going to give me a break?"

Back home, I was uncharacteristically quiet, neither teasing the cat nor messing up the house. Ethan was playing games on the sofa, and I pretended to reach for the remote, craning my neck to peek at his screen.

Ethan noticed, flipped his phone face down, and raised an eyebrow at me: "What is it? If you need money, just say so."

I acted nonchalant: "Just checking what you're up to."

"Busy saving up for your bail." He retorted dryly.

I walked behind the sofa, continuing my probing: "Ethan, do you have anyone you like right now?" Of course, I didn't dare ask him directly if he still remembered Eleanor. What if he'd almost forgotten, and my question just made him think of her again?

Ethan paused, then lightly flicked my head. "I'm too busy bailing you out; where would I find the time for anyone else?"

I breathed a sigh of relief. As long as I kept them strictly apart, Ethan wouldn't revert to his old self, right?