Chapter 2 The air in David's office was thick with tension as the whole team sat crammed insid When Josie walked in , the vibe turned frosty , faces souring like they'd bitten into a lemon . Except for Natalie . She jumped up , flashing a grin bright enough to blind . " Josie ! You showed ! " " I'm here to say sorry , " Josie said , sidestepping Natalie's grabby hands . She didn't have Natalie's gift for playing nice with people she couldn't stand . Natalie faltered , like she'd been caught off guard . " Wait , you still think I'm shady , don't you ? " ** Her voice quivered , eyes glistening like she was about to bawl . " I didn't copy your paper , Josie . Take it to the dean if you don't believe me . Let them figure it out . " Josie dropped her gaze , looking more pathetic than Natalie's theatrics , " I'm apologizing , okay ? The papers looking so similar threw me , but I wasn't gonna snitch . I didn't breathe a word to anyone else ." The team , who'd been glaring at Josie like she'd kicked a puppy , started to rethink things . Josie wasn't a gossip - she barely had friends outside the lab . This drama ? She'd only mentioned it to them . Aiden's frown eased , his eyes settling on Josie . I buy that you didn't mean to stir the pot , but Natalie got burned . " If you hadn't gone all detective , people wouldn't be whispering about her stealing your work . " " An apology's not 100 much to ask , " he added , arms crossed . Aiden was the team's golden boy - brains , looks, the whole package . Josie had picked this major partly because it was the med school's hot ticket , but let's be real : Aiden was a big reason too . He'd been her hero once . Once . Not anymore . " Fair point ," Kyle Langton , another senior , chimed in . Josie , Im with Aiden . You didn't mean to cause a mess . " Natalie's a softie , so just smooth it over , and we're all cool " Josie nearly laughed . Natalie , a softie ! Yeah , right . But she zipped it . " Got it , Kyle . I'll fix this . " Turning to Natalie , she said , " I'm sorry , Natalie . I messed up , and it hurt you . Honest - can we move past this ? " Then it hit her . Josie had been tight with this crew for years before Natalie rolled in Breaking thar bond ? Tougher than she thought Natalie flashed a sugary smile . "Josie , I was never mad! Forgive ? Psh , nothing to forgive ! " She spun to David , plopping down beside him with a flirty grin , voice all sweet . " Told ya , Professor Lawson Josie wouldn't try to screw me over . Cut her some slack , yeah ? " Lawson wasn't biting . His face was hard as granite , shooting Josie a look that could freeze lava . " On purpose or not , she screwed up . And screw - ups have consequences . So , Josie , how should I deal with you ? " David's face was like stone as he shot Josie a hard stare . He'd always thought she was the good girl - unan , driven , a total overachiever . Now ! He wasn't so sure . To him , grades were one thing , but a shady character was a dealbreaker . ' She's gotta learn her lesson , he decided . " No more badmouthing her classmates . Josie had puzzled over why everyone bought Natalie's act . After some soul - searching , it clicked : Natalie was gorgeous and a master at playing the damsel . Josie couldn't compete . So she swallowed her pride . " Whatever you say , Professor Lawson . " Chapter 2 " We're kicking off research soon , " David said , voice sharp . " Your punishment ! Sort every scrap of data . Make it so we can grab what we need , no fuss , no muss . " He waved them off . As they headed out , Josie , stuck in the middle , flashed back to her old life . She'd been slapped with a disciplinary note and kicked off the team . To make things right , she'd buried herself in the archives , sorting documents like a machine . It took a brutal month - one meal a day , late nights , the works . She ended up with a messed - up stomach and flunked classes . And the thanks ? Nada . They just griped her work wasn't good enough . " What a load of crap , she thought . Bust your tail , and they still dump on you ! Now , here she was again , stuck with the same lousy job . " Hey , Josie , I'll help you out Natalie said , catching up and linking arms with her . " If I keep my mouth shut , the prof won't know . " " She's got this coming , " Jaden cut in , pulling Natalie back . " Why cover for her ? " Vincent glanced at Natalie . " Chill about Professor Lawson . Sorting files is nothing compared to a r punishment ." " Got it , thanks , Vince , " Josie said with a quick smile , hurrying after Natalie . " Hey , Nat , I was so caught up saying sorry earlier , I forgot - I got you a little something ." She pulled a sleek box from her bag . The group stopped cold , crowding around . " That Aiden's medal ? " Tianna blurted . Vincent nodded . " Yeah , his first big win in that med competition . He loved that thing - till he gave it to you to cheer you up . " " Spot on ," Josie said , eyeing the group . " I was new , totally bombed an experiment , and Professor Lawson chewed me out . Aiden gave me this medal , said it was lucky . " And you know what ? After that , I was golden - no more screw - ups She held the box out to Natalie . " Natalie , I heard this mess really got you down - depression and all . Take this . It's like a good - luck charm . " You'll be set from now on . Aiden swore by it " Natalie's eyes lit up . She wanted that medal . Not just for its shine , but because it was Aiden's - his first victory , something special . In her eyes , Josie didn't deserve it . But snagging it right in front of him ? That was ballsy . " Josie , that's sweet , but it's Aiden's gift to you ," Natalie said , pushing the box back . " I can't take it E 田 AD Comment Send gift