Chapter 9. Don’t Pick Me Up

Ava

I walked home quietly, sneakers scuffing the cracked sidewalk, backpack slung loose over one shoulder, straps digging into my collarbone.

The campus faded behind me, lecture halls and student chatter giving way to tree lined streets, cars zipping by now and then.

My phone buzzed in my skirt pocket, I pulled it out, thumbed open the school portal app with a quick swipe. The screen loaded slow, bars dropping to one, but there it was, my Calculus grade updated.

F flipped to an A, Harlan’s red pen magic worked fast, posted not ten minutes after I left his trashed office, cum still sticky on my back under the shirt.

I sighed happily, shoulders dropping, a weight gone. No retake, no summer school, scholarships safe. I smirked to myself, tucked the phone away, and kept walking, skirt swishing short against my thighs, crop top tight and riding up with each step.

I sidewalk curved toward the main road, I heard quick steps behind me, familiar sne