Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 82

Darren rocked up at the driving school half an hour later.

He caught a cab over.

As he got closer, I could clearly see a blush spread across his fair cheeks, a hint of booze on his breath wafting over to Tina and me.

“Got tied up in a last–minute thing,” he whispered, his concern apparent as he checked in on us. “You guys haven’t been waiting long, have you?”

Thad already filled Darren in over the phone about why I was missing in action, same spiel 1 gave Tina, but Darren seemed genuinely worried, insisted on coming down in person.

Straight from the booze–up.

“I’m the one who should be saying sorry.” I admitted, feeling sheepish. “Did I mess up your party vibe?”

Before Darren could reply. Tina chimed in with, “Xaviera, don’t be a stranger! Darren’s our beloved class rep, the kindest of the bunch. He’d be thrilled to have you hitting him up every day.”

“Knock it off.”

Tina shrugged it off. “Ah well, my dad’s calling me home for dinner. Since our dear class rep is here, he can take over and show you the ropes with driving.”

She dashed off, disappearing from view in a flash.

“Tina’s dad’s the

it all clicked.

score such a primo practice spot. “Let’s talk about you,” Darren steered the conversation back to me. “Xaviera, at tomorrow night’s shindig. Tack’s

doused inside me suddenly sparked

Darren.

a huge fan of his? Don’t

was taken aback,

“That’s not

for words, I heard Darren add earnestly, “Xaviera, everyone’s seen what you’re capable of. Go meet Tack. You can’t let one rejection from back in the day keep you

Chapter 62

totally at

for Software Engineering at Elysium

words “study abroad application” detonated in

secret known by very few.

back, and I couldn’t help but think of the Elysium University acceptance letter I had secretly

in

I was turned

was a mix of

“Darren, is there still

admit it, I was