Chapter 2

As I wheeled my bike out of the bike shed, I saw Cole Miller with his arm around Vanessa's waist. He was with a couple of his buddies, bouncing his leg as he spoke to me. "Alex Reed, from now on, Vanessa's my girl. You spineless loser, stay away from her. Otherwise, I'll beat you up every time I see you."

I scoffed internally. Let's see if Cole Miller even makes it back from that South Street alley tonight. Then we can talk about "from now on."

In my past life, at eighteen, I was just a hot-headed kid, full of reckless youth.

I didn't understand anything.

It wasn't until I accidentally killed Brandon Hayes, the rich kid, that I learned Vanessa had been deeply entangled with him from Westridge High. She'd spent tens of thousands of his money, all on eating out and having fun.

For a high school student, that was a hefty sum.

Brandon wanted to take things further, but she actually told him she had a boyfriend.

And I was that unlucky "boyfriend" she mentioned.

She played both of us, infuriating Brandon and making me mad too. So, in my past life, in that South Street alley, I accidentally killed Brandon.

This life, let her take Cole Miller there.

"Cole, don't worry, I'll stay far, far away from her from now on," I said with a smile.

"And please, keep a close eye on her. Don't let her bother me.

"Also, maybe ask her if she has any *other* boyfriends?"

As expected, the moment I said that, Vanessa completely blew up. She pointed at my face and yelled, "Alex Reed, what is that supposed to mean?!

"It's bad enough you're a coward, but now you're slandering me?

"I only hung out with you because we grew up together.

"And you? Cole Miller tries to ask me out, and you throw a tantrum, even threatening to take back our house?!

"Are you trying to make it obvious that my family's broke and we're renting your place?

"Are you serious with this?"

With that, she squatted on the ground, sobbing pitifully.

Right. I had indeed once said I'd tell my mom to take back the house we rented to Vanessa's family.

After all, they'd lived there for five years without paying a dime of rent.

And they'd privately torn down a wall, a load-bearing wall, without my family's permission.

The HOA had complained to my mom multiple times.

Given all that, I'd once suggested to my mom, "Maybe we should take the house back.

"We don't need to rent it out anymore. Anyway, the Thornes never paid rent."

Now, in Vanessa's mouth, this had become my excuse to manipulate her?

Cole saw her crying and immediately looked pained. He rushed to help her up, loudly announcing, "My sweet Vanessa, I'll rent you another place myself…"

I couldn't care less about what happened next. I pushed my bike and left.