The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights by Brick Moving Ant

Chapter 15

Transferring to AP classes senior year was basically asking for side eye from the other students.

On my first day, Mrs. Bennett went out of her way to introduce me properly: “Phoebe Johnson is a member of our state academic decathlon team who brought home national gold last year. Kind of a big deal.”

“She wasn’t in AP before due to scheduling conflicts, but her test scores are off the charts. Don’t let the new kid status fool you–she’ll probably end up tutoring half of you before midterms.”

The AP class had no academic deadweight, and I watched their initial skepticism transform into grudging respect

“Sid Loxley also just transferred in. There’s an empty seat next to him. You’re both decathlon nerds, so maybe you can keep each other sharp.”

My eyes widened in surprise.

Sid sat in the back row by the window, looking effortlessly put–together, offering me a genuine smile. “Saved you a seat,” he said quietly.

Having my former underclassman suddenly become my peer felt unexpectedly disorienting.

“We’re in the same grade now… you don’t have to be so formal with me.”

Sid looked at me thoughtfully, something unreadable in his expression.

as he smiled–a moment so

it is, then.”

stutter that caught me completely off

quickly turned away, suddenly fascinated by my schedule.

Calculus and Stanford

41.0%

hapter is

just

surprise, no one at school was giving me the whispers and stares treatment.

have evaporated from the

our school’s Discord server. I quickly

had openly identified himself:

happened with Phoebe Johnson. She came to school with a 103° fever to drop

collapsed alone in a stall,

the hospital with severe

harassment and defamation have actual legal consequences. The administration has been provided

redacted hospital

blurred out, showing only the diagnosis of severe influenza

dehydration.