The Girl I Hated Became My Everything

Adrian Blake hated three things. First, unnecessary attention. Second, people who asked questions they could answer themselves. Third, Mondays. Unfortunately, every Monday at Westbridge Academy began the same way. With everyone staring at him. "Adrian, can you help me solve this?" "Adrian, the science department wants your opinion." "Adrian, the principal wants to see you." "Adrian, can you explain how you finished the advanced physics assignment in ten minutes?" Adrian looked up from his desk and sighed. This was exactly why he hated being smart. Not because intelligence was a bad thing. It wasn't. Being intelligent was useful. Very useful. It allowed him to understand things faster than most people. He could read a textbook once and remember almost everything inside it. He could solve complicated mathematical equations before his classmates even understood the question. He could look at a machine and immediately notice the smallest design flaws. Teachers called him a genius. Students called him a human calculator. Some even called him a future scientist. Adrian called it a headache. "Can everyone please stop acting like I discovered a new planet?" he said. The student standing beside his desk looked confused. "But Adrian, you did solve a problem that our university-level guest lecturer couldn't solve." Adrian shrugged. "It was just a pattern." The student stared at him. "Just a pattern?" "Yes." "It took the professor three hours." "Maybe he needed better coffee." The student didn't know whether to laugh or feel insulted. That was Adrian's problem. He never knew when he was being impressive. To him, things that seemed impossible to others were usually just things that required patience. But patience was something he rarely had for people. Machines made sense. Numbers made sense. Science made sense. People? People were complicated. They changed their minds. They hid their feelings. They said one thing and meant another. Adrian hated things he couldn't understand. Especially emotions. "Still acting like you don't care?" A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. Adrian looked up. Mia Carter stood beside his desk. His oldest friend. The only person in school who wasn't intimidated by him. "Care about what?" Adrian asked. "Being the smartest person in the school." "I'm not." Mia raised an eyebrow. "Adrian." "What?" "You literally corrected the mathematics teacher last week." "He made a mistake." "You corrected a teacher." "He thanked me." "He looked like he wanted to disappear." Adrian smiled. "That was unfortunate." Mia sat beside him. "You know, most people would be proud if everyone knew they were a genius." "Most people enjoy attention." "And you don't?" "No." "Why?" Adrian looked out the window. For a moment, his expression changed. Only slightly. But Mia noticed. "Because being noticed means people expect things from you." She became quiet. That was something only Mia understood about him. Everyone saw the genius. Almost nobody saw Adrian. Before she could say anything, the classroom door opened. The principal entered. The entire class immediately became silent. "Adrian Blake." Adrian already knew. "No." The principal blinked. "I haven't said anything yet." "You came here looking for me. It's either another competition, another award, or another request that I fix something." The principal smiled. "Actually, all three." Adrian closed his eyes. "Of course." The class laughed. The principal placed a folder on his desk. "Your achievements have earned you a position in the student council." Adrian opened the folder. His expression immediately changed. "No." "You haven't even read it." "I saw enough." "You will be the student council vice president." The classroom exploded with excitement. Adrian looked like someone had just given him a punishment. "I don't have time for this." "You have the highest grades in the school." "I also have a life." "Do you?" The class laughed again. Even Adrian smiled. A little. The principal continued. "Your intelligence can help the school." Adrian wanted to refuse. But before he could answer, something unexpected happened. The classroom door opened. A girl walked in. Everyone turned. She had just arrived, but somehow she looked completely calm. Not nervous. Not impressed. Not interested. The teacher cleared his throat. "Everyone, this is Luna Whitmore. She transferred here today." Luna looked around the classroom. Then her eyes stopped on Adrian. Not because she recognized him. Because everyone else was staring at him. She walked closer. "Why is everyone looking at him?" A student whispered. "That's Adrian Blake." Luna looked at him. "And?" The room became silent. Adrian looked up. Most people reacted one of two ways when they met him. They either tried to impress him. Or they were intimidated. Luna did neither. "And?" Adrian repeated. "Yes. And?" "You don't know who I am?" She shrugged. "Should I?" A few students looked shocked. Mia covered a smile. Adrian was speechless. That almost never happened. "You do realize I'm the top student here?" Luna looked at the papers on his desk. "Congratulations." "That's it?" "What else do you want? A parade?" The class tried not to laugh. Adrian stared at her. Interesting. Very interesting. Someone who wasn't impressed. "I solved a university-level problem at sixteen." "Good for you." "I created an artificial intelligence program." "Nice." "I have won three national competitions." "Do you want me to clap?" For the first time in years... Adrian Blake didn't know what to say. Luna walked to her seat. And somehow, that bothered him. Not because she insulted him. Because she was the first person who didn't care about his genius. Later that day, Adrian entered the student council room. He expected paperwork. He expected boredom. He expected regret. He did not expect Luna Whitmore sitting across from him. The student council president smiled. "Adrian, Luna will be your partner for all major projects." Adrian looked at Luna. Luna looked at Adrian. "This is a joke." Luna crossed her arms. "I was thinking the same thing." The president smiled. "Perfect. You already communicate well." Both of them immediately replied: "No, we don't." The president ignored them. "Your first assignment begins tomorrow." Adrian leaned back. "This year was supposed to be peaceful." Luna smiled slightly. "Looks like your genius brain didn't predict this."