But Samantha didn't look satisfied. If anything, her brow furrowed deeper as she watched me.
The moment I moved to leave, her hand shot out and locked around my wrist.
"No. You're coming with us."
The room went silent. Everyone stared at me in confusion.
"Why would he come? He'll just kill the vibe and bring everyone down."
Roger's expression shifted to concern—the practiced kind.
"What if Daryl comes tonight and bombs his exam tomorrow? He'll blame me for ruining his score. I can't deal with that kind of guilt."
His eyes were wary, guarded—like he was terrified I might actually take Samantha up on her offer.
And why wouldn't he be? If I tagged along, how was he supposed to get her tipsy and make his move?
Samantha let out a sharp laugh.
"Daryl's too clever for his own good. Don't you remember what happened during the Dragon Boat Festival break? The English teacher forgot to assign homework, and this one"—she jerked her chin at me—"actually called her to ask for worksheets. Then he texted every single one of you to make sure you knew. Ruined the entire holiday."
The classroom went dead quiet. The looks people gave me shifted—harder now, resentful.
I smiled, bitter and self-mocking.