Page 44 of Shy Girls Can't Date Rockstars
Behind me, Miranda’s voice drops lower, saying something to Ryder I can’t quite make out. He responds with something sharp and bitter.
But I don’t wait to hear more. I just want to get this over with.
After about ten minutes of waiting, the library door opens and Ryder walks in. He doesn’t say anything. Just throws himself into the chair across from me, slaps his notebook onto the table, and pulls out his phone.
We sit in silence for a full minute. Two minutes. Three.
“So,” I finally say. “Should we start?”
“With what?” He doesn’t look up from his phone.
“The essay for Ms. Patterson’s class.”
“Right. The essay.” He sets his phone down but doesn’t reach for any of the materials. “What do you want me to do?”
The question reminds me of the last time we were in this room. When he sat at this table, arms crossed, making it clear he wouldn't lift a finger.
“You need to analyze Sophia’s choice,” I say, pressing my fingers to my temple where the pain is worst. “Whether saving the church represents growth or just giving in to obligation.”
“Okay.”
“So... have you thought about it? About what side you want to argue?”
“Not really.”
“Did you read any of the book?”
“Some of it.”
“Which parts?”
“The parts I needed to.”
We’re going in circles. Circles that tell me he doesn’t want to do the work. And I’m so tired, and my head hurts so much, and I just can’t do this anymore.
“Fine,” I hear myself say. “Just... give me your thesis. What do you think the answer is? Growth or obligation?”
“Obligation,” he mutters.
“Why?”
“Because she’s only doing it for her grandfather.”
“Okay.” I pull his notebook toward me, opening to a blank page. “And what’s your evidence?”
“I don’t know. You’re the one who read the book.”
The casual words are so dismissive. Like my time means nothing to him.
“Fine,” I whisper, picking up the pen.
“Fine, what?”
“I’ll just... I’ll write it for you.”
Ryder leans back in his chair. “Seriously?”
“You don’t want to do the work, but clearly this matters to my aunt. So I’ll just write the essay, you can turn it in, and we can both stop wasting each other’s time.”
