The Mafia Boy In My Class

CHAPTER 2 THE NEW STUDENT

"He didn't say one word in history," Lily said, slamming her locker shut. "Dawson asked him a direct question and he answered in four words and stopped."

"Maybe he doesn't like talking."

"Or he thinks he's too good for the rest of us."

"You don't even know him."

"Neither do you."

They walked into class together. Damon was already in his seat, notebook open, pen doing nothing.

Mrs. Halden clapped her hands. "Pair up with the person next to you for a short exercise."

"Guess that's us," Damon said.

"Guess so."

Ariana slid the worksheet between them. "Did you actually do the reading?"

"Yes."

"All of it?"

"Yes."

She read the first question aloud. Before she'd finished the sentence, he'd already written the answer , clean, exact.

"Okay," she said. "That was fast."

"It's not complicated."

"For you, maybe."

He moved to the next question without looking up. "Where did you transfer from?" she asked.

"Somewhere else."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the one I've got."

"You're not going to tell me anything about yourself, are you."

"There's not much to tell."

"I doubt that."

"Believe what you want."

She laughed , short, surprised. "You're kind of impossible."

"I've heard."

They finished the sheet in silence. Twice she caught his eyes flick from the paper to her hands, her face, back to the paper, like he was reading something she hadn't said out loud.

At lunch, Lily was mid-story about her chemistry partner nearly setting the lab on fire when she stopped and waved a hand in front of Ariana's face. "Hello? Are you even listening?"

"I am."

"You're not. You're staring at Blackwood again."

"I'm not staring."

"You're staring."

Ariana stood up, tray in hand, before Lily could say anything else, and crossed the cafeteria to where Damon sat alone.

"Are you lost?" he said as she sat down without asking.

"No. Sitting alone every day just seems like a lot of effort."

"I don't know anyone."

"You know me now."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Sit if you want."

"I'm already sitting."

The corner of his mouth moved. Not a smile. Close.

"What's your plan?" Ariana asked. "After graduation."

"Haven't decided."

"Everyone says that. You clearly have one."

"What's yours, then?"

"There's a scholarship. Full ride. If I get it, my mom stops having to figure out how to pay for university."

"And if you don't?"

"I will."

"That's not what I asked."

She paused. "If I don't, I figure something else out. I always do."

He watched her for a second too long before he said, "You'll get it."

"You don't know that."

"No. But you clearly want it enough to make it happen."

"That's actually kind of nice of you to say."

"Don't get used to it."

She laughed, and this time he smiled , quick, gone fast, but real.

The bell rang. She stood, gathering her tray. "See you in class."

He nodded and watched her walk off, still sitting there a second after she'd gone.

That afternoon, in the back of the car waiting outside school, Noah dropped into the seat beside him.

"So. First impressions?"

"Fine."

"Just fine? You've been quiet, and that's saying something for you."

Damon was looking out the window, at Ariana walking off with Lily, laughing at something.

"There's a girl," he said. "Ariana Bennett."

Noah's eyebrows went up. "Already?"

"It's not like that."

"Sure." Noah pulled out his phone. "Bennett. Never heard the name. What's her deal?"

"I don't know yet."

"Want me to find out?"

The car pulled away from the curb, the school shrinking behind them.

"Find out why sh

e's always worried about money," Damon said. "Quietly. She can't, I asked."

Noah looked at him. "Are you sure about that?"

Damon didn't answer.