Playing for Keeps: Finding Love Beyond the Lies - Chapter 110: Chapter 110
You are reading Playing for Keeps: Finding Love Beyond the Lies, Chapter 110: Chapter 110. Read more chapters of Playing for Keeps: Finding Love Beyond the Lies.
Monday morning meant one thing—collecting homework.
Lucas was always a troublemaker. And true to form, he looked the teacher's assistant dead in the eye and said, "Didn't do it."
Back then, Lucas would always listen to me.
Everyone knew that—so whenever he acted up, they'd always come tattling to me.
Today was no different, except they couldn't even find Lucas.
Because the moment class ended, he'd rushed off to find Lila.
"Hey, Sophie... Lucas didn't turn in his homework again, and we can't find him anywhere. Could you—"
"Just hand it to the teacher," I said with a forced smile. "And if he skips again, don't come to me."
They exchanged a glance, then nodded. After all, the rumors that he was dating Lila seemed to be true.
And with my attitude, they became even more convinced.
I kept my head down and went back to my test paper.
Before Lila appeared, I used to imagine Lucas and I applying to Oxford together.
Now... I'm going to get there on my own. For me.
Lucas didn't show up for the entire study session. The teacher sitting at the front of the room frowned. "Where's Lucas Brooks?"
Every head in the room turned toward me, but I never once lifted my head.
During the second period, Lucas finally returned.
He sat at his desk in silence, until someone told him the teacher wanted him in the office.
Only then did he snap out of it. As he passed by me, he paused for a second.
I didn't look up because I was working on the hardest math problem—the kind where I always got stuck on the final question.
Eventually, I solved it.
My best friend Verla Hart leaned over cautiously and whispered, "Hey... what's going on with you and Lucas?"
"Nothing," I replied calmly.
"Seriously? But you used to freak out more than anyone whenever he skipped class or blew off homework."
Verla looked utterly unconvinced. I paused for a moment, then told her, "That was before. I'm not looking after him anymore."
"Oh!" She covered her mouth in surprise. "So the rumor's true? He's really with Lila?"
I kept my eyes down and said nothing.
After the second period bell rang, Lucas strolled lazily back into the classroom.
A little while later, I received a note: "Leave without me after school."
Reading this, I put it away with a neutral expression and went back to my test.
The classroom was packed and noisy by the end of the day. I was still stuffing papers into my bag when everything suddenly fell silent.
Following Verla's startled gasp, I looked toward the door.
Lila stood there, tilting her head slightly and crooking her finger at Lucas before walking away.
I couldn't help but look in Lucas's direction. He smiled indulgently, then followed her out.
And just like that, the classroom erupted with chatter and gossip.
"Holy shit, so it's true!"
"I always thought Lucas and Sophie made a perfect pair—the bad boy and the smart good girl. But now, bad boy and dancer seems even better."
"Don't be such a clingy weed, dude. Honestly, I just feel bad for Sophie."
"They grew up together, didn't they?"
"See? Childhood bonds really can't compete with new love at first sight."
Verla pressed her lips together, trying to comfort me. I slung my bag over my shoulder, even though my chest felt like it had been split open. But I forced myself to smile. I couldn't cry.
I couldn't let anyone see how devastated I was, or I'd become the laughingstock of the entire school by tomorrow.
"I'm fine. Lucas and I were only ever friends. I'm heading out now. See you tomorrow."
Concern still lingered in her eyes as she waved goodbye. "Yeah... see you. Be careful, okay?"
Once I left the noisy campus, I gripped my backpack straps tightly and clenched my jaw.
But the tears fell anyway, my chest tight with pain.
How did he just... fall for someone else?
My vision blurred, yet I could still hear his confident, arrogant voice echoing in my ears:
"Lucas Brooks can handle anything. And Sophie Turner's mine to protect forever."
Lucas was always a troublemaker. And true to form, he looked the teacher's assistant dead in the eye and said, "Didn't do it."
Back then, Lucas would always listen to me.
Everyone knew that—so whenever he acted up, they'd always come tattling to me.
Today was no different, except they couldn't even find Lucas.
Because the moment class ended, he'd rushed off to find Lila.
"Hey, Sophie... Lucas didn't turn in his homework again, and we can't find him anywhere. Could you—"
"Just hand it to the teacher," I said with a forced smile. "And if he skips again, don't come to me."
They exchanged a glance, then nodded. After all, the rumors that he was dating Lila seemed to be true.
And with my attitude, they became even more convinced.
I kept my head down and went back to my test paper.
Before Lila appeared, I used to imagine Lucas and I applying to Oxford together.
Now... I'm going to get there on my own. For me.
Lucas didn't show up for the entire study session. The teacher sitting at the front of the room frowned. "Where's Lucas Brooks?"
Every head in the room turned toward me, but I never once lifted my head.
During the second period, Lucas finally returned.
He sat at his desk in silence, until someone told him the teacher wanted him in the office.
Only then did he snap out of it. As he passed by me, he paused for a second.
I didn't look up because I was working on the hardest math problem—the kind where I always got stuck on the final question.
Eventually, I solved it.
My best friend Verla Hart leaned over cautiously and whispered, "Hey... what's going on with you and Lucas?"
"Nothing," I replied calmly.
"Seriously? But you used to freak out more than anyone whenever he skipped class or blew off homework."
Verla looked utterly unconvinced. I paused for a moment, then told her, "That was before. I'm not looking after him anymore."
"Oh!" She covered her mouth in surprise. "So the rumor's true? He's really with Lila?"
I kept my eyes down and said nothing.
After the second period bell rang, Lucas strolled lazily back into the classroom.
A little while later, I received a note: "Leave without me after school."
Reading this, I put it away with a neutral expression and went back to my test.
The classroom was packed and noisy by the end of the day. I was still stuffing papers into my bag when everything suddenly fell silent.
Following Verla's startled gasp, I looked toward the door.
Lila stood there, tilting her head slightly and crooking her finger at Lucas before walking away.
I couldn't help but look in Lucas's direction. He smiled indulgently, then followed her out.
And just like that, the classroom erupted with chatter and gossip.
"Holy shit, so it's true!"
"I always thought Lucas and Sophie made a perfect pair—the bad boy and the smart good girl. But now, bad boy and dancer seems even better."
"Don't be such a clingy weed, dude. Honestly, I just feel bad for Sophie."
"They grew up together, didn't they?"
"See? Childhood bonds really can't compete with new love at first sight."
Verla pressed her lips together, trying to comfort me. I slung my bag over my shoulder, even though my chest felt like it had been split open. But I forced myself to smile. I couldn't cry.
I couldn't let anyone see how devastated I was, or I'd become the laughingstock of the entire school by tomorrow.
"I'm fine. Lucas and I were only ever friends. I'm heading out now. See you tomorrow."
Concern still lingered in her eyes as she waved goodbye. "Yeah... see you. Be careful, okay?"
Once I left the noisy campus, I gripped my backpack straps tightly and clenched my jaw.
But the tears fell anyway, my chest tight with pain.
How did he just... fall for someone else?
My vision blurred, yet I could still hear his confident, arrogant voice echoing in my ears:
"Lucas Brooks can handle anything. And Sophie Turner's mine to protect forever."
End of Playing for Keeps: Finding Love Beyond the Lies Chapter 110. Continue reading Chapter 111 or return to Playing for Keeps: Finding Love Beyond the Lies book page.