NO LONGER HIS PLAYTHING：I'm the Heroine of My Own Story novel Chapter 15

Transferring to AP classes senior year was basically asking for side-eye from the other students.

On my first day, Mrs. Bennett went out of her way to introduce me properly: "Phoebe Johnson is a member of our state academic decathlon team who brought home national gold last year. Kind of a big deal."

"She wasn't in AP before due to scheduling conflicts, but her test scores are off the charts. Don't let the new-kid status fool you—she'll probably end up tutoring half of you before midterms."

The AP class had no academic deadweight, and I watched their initial skepticism transform into grudging respect.

"Sid Loxley also just transferred in. There's an empty seat next to him. You're both decathlon nerds, so maybe you can keep each other sharp."

My eyes widened in surprise.

Sid sat in the back row by the window, looking effortlessly put-together, offering me a genuine smile. "Saved you a seat," he said quietly.

Having my former underclassman suddenly become my peer felt unexpectedly disorienting.

"We're in the same grade now... you don't have to be so formal with me."

Sid looked at me thoughtfully, something unreadable in his expression.

The morning light caught his profile as he smiled—a moment so perfectly teenage movie that I almost laughed.

"Cool. Phoebe it is, then."

My heart did this weird little stutter that caught me completely off guard.

I quickly turned away, suddenly fascinated by my schedule.

Get it together, Johnson. AP Calculus and Stanford essays are what matter now.

Everything else is just background noise.

The comment section had completely transformed.

People who actually knew me were calling out the original posters:

[Phoebe tutored half our class through chemistry last year. She volunteers at the animal shelter every weekend. You guys are trash for believing this.]

[I've known her since elementary school. Anyone who knows her knows this was all BS.]

[This whole thing was just bitter losers making stuff up. Classic.]

Only one aggressively negative comment stood out:

ZephFire: [@SidLoxley who the absolute fuck do you think you are, you pathetic little white knight? Stay out of shit that doesn't concern you.]