“That doesn’t even make sense,” Tally said. “There are so many English-speaking countries. How did you end up here?”
Nate shrugged. “I threw a pin at a map of the States, and the next day my mom was moving jobs to the very same town. I knew I was on the right track. Like I said: fate.”
Tally rolled her eyes. “What should our project topic be?”
It was like Nate didn’t hear her. “Go on a date with me.”
“Hmm... I’m not sure if that’s a very good world history topic.”
“Come on.” Nate leaned on his arms, pressing forward into his desk. “You’ll remember then, I know it.”
Tally eyed her blank exercise book. Some of the other pairs around the classroom were scribbling their ideas already.
“Maybe the collapse of the Roman Empire? Is that too focused for a midterm project?”
“I just think if you try to remember, you’ll find all your memories waiting for you.”
“The founding of democracy? How far back should we go?”
“I mean it: just close your eyes and think about me—”
“Nate,” Tally said through gritted teeth, reaching her breaking point, “will youpleasefocus?”
They were going to fall behind. They were going to fall behind andfail. All she had wanted was a peaceful junior year to work on her grades. Was that a lot to ask?
Nate didn’t look remorseful in any shape or form. He tilted his head at her, angelic. “I’ve always loved it when you say my name, even when it changes every lifetime.”
Tally pinched the bridge of her nose, her whole expression furrowing.For the love of—
“How about this?” she said suddenly, snapping back to attention. “If we get a hundred on this project, then I’ll go on that date with you.”
Nate’s eyes lit up. Completely and utterly, like fireworks were going off inside his chest. “Really?”
“Yes, really.” Tally tapped the page of her exercise book. “Now, what should our topic be?”
Nate gave her a sly look. “What about a timeline on China’s dynasties?”
The rain was persistent that week, drumming down on the windows in every class Tally sat through, pen poised as close as possible to her paper so she wouldn’t miss a single line of her notes. It wasn’t until the weekend that the thick clouds cleared for a bout of late-afternoon sunshine, lighting the dorm corridors with a golden haze.
Tally picked her way to the farthest wing of the boys’ dorms, where she was meeting Nate to start their project. When he opened his door for her, she walked in with narrowed eyes, looking around his single room.
“I’m warning you,” she said. “Don’t try any funny business.”
“No funny business,” he promised immediately. “I’m just happy to have you with me again.”
Maybe his boy band was having a bad publicity year and management had put him on a hidden camera game show to create media content. Maybe there was a camera planted in his pressed shirt collar right now to see how many people were willing to buy the most absurd stories if a pretty face was telling them. Not that she had believed the international pop star rumor, but it was surely more logical than the alternative.
“Where should we start?” she asked, perching gingerly on his bed.
“Obviously the Qin dynasty, with the first emperor.” Nate sat at his desk, then slid a finger along his laptop’s touchpad. The screen loaded a PowerPoint.
“I meant research-wise,” Tally corrected. “Should we go to the library? Use Wikipedia? Interview people?”
Nate shot her an appalled look. “We’re reincarnating immortals. What is this ‘research’ you speak of? We have memory.”
“ClearlyIdon’t remember a single thing, so unless you want to carry this project on your back...”
“I wouldn’t mind.” Picking up his laptop, Nate spun the chair around to face her while he typed. “We met in the Qin dynasty, too, for the record. The very first time. That’s also why it should be the start of our project.”