The Boy Who Tattooed My Name on His Chest novel Chapter 2

My relationship with Ryan began when I won him from his childhood sweetheart, and ended when that same childhood sweetheart won him back.

I transferred to his school in junior year and immediately became the top student. Back then, teachers liked pairing academically strong girls with underperforming boys to help motivate them, so I was assigned to sit next to Ryan.

But Ryan had zero interest in studying. He was, however, very interested in me.

He'd either tug on my hair or take my pen and hold it just out of reach, then look down with a mischievous grin.

"Haley Parker, you're so short."

He'd pass me notes during class. Once I opened one to find a simple sketch of me.

I was about to scold him for being childish when the teacher spotted the note, displayed it to the entire class, and sent us both out to stand in the hallway as punishment.

I was the classic good student and had never been humiliated like this before.

Red-eyed, I shoved him.

"Ryan Thompson, what's wrong with you?!"

He knew he was in the wrong and said nothing. After a while, he folded the paper with the sketch into a star and quietly slipped it into my hand.

Looking at that star, I couldn't help but break into a smile through my tears.

My relationship with Ryan gradually improved. I'd force him to study, check his homework, and forbid him from copying answers.

In return, he'd wait outside my building every day so we could walk to and from school together. We'd browse the accessory store by the school entrance, and on impulse, I bought two star necklaces, giving one to him.

Ryan was popular at school—handsome, rich, good at basketball. Countless girls had crushes on him.

One day, one of them confronted me, asking if I liked Ryan.

Teenage pride and an inexplicable irritation made me reflexively say, "I would never like someone with worse grades than me."

The girl looked past me.