"Just because Louisa likes me, because she's chasing me, you'd treat her like this? Don't you think that's going too far?"
Alden's voice dropped low.
"Go apologize to Louisa. Once you do, all of this will be over."
I said coldly, "Not a chance."
He pinched the bridge of his nose, his tone worn thin.
"Grace, stop making a scene. After the SATs she'll never be able to wedge herself into our lives again. Is it really worth it, pulling something this vicious over something so small? Do you have any idea how depressed she's been these past few days? She won't even step out the door!"
Then he dropped the line, flat and hard.
"If you won't apologize, then I won't be going on the graduation trip with you."
I didn't say another word. I just hung up.
I'd looked forward to that trip for three whole years. It was the plan my family made the day before my parents died, the four of us sitting together.
Back when I still loved Alden, I'd wanted to bring him along.
But now, I didn't need him.
…
The day we were supposed to leave, I got to the airport.
And the staff stopped me at the counter.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Simmons, your ticket has already been cancelled."
My mind went blank, a ringing in my ears.
Not far off, Louisa stood beside Alden in a travel jacket that matched his, her cheeks flushed.
When Alden saw me, an offhand smile slid onto his face.
"I switched all your tickets over to Louisa. She's been in a bad way lately because of you, so I figured this was a way for you to make it up to her."
"If you're willing to apologize to her right now, I'll rebook your ticket on the spot, and the three of us can go have fun together."
I looked at him, the disgust in my chest swelling until it nearly spilled over.
I took several steps back, sick to my stomach, and said each word slowly.
"Alden, stay away from me from now on. I never want to see you again."
He froze for a beat, then let out a laugh, faintly irritated.
"Enough. You always say things like this when you're mad."
"Once school starts and we're both at the university, you think you can hide from me for the rest of your life?"
He turned and walked off, Louisa in tow.
I went south on the trip alone.
Over the next few days, Alden's messages kept popping up.
At first, he was still angry.
"Grace, have you had enough of this yet?"
Later, when I never answered.
His tone softened again.
"My little jealous one, still mad?"
"You can dodge me now, but once school starts at the university you won't get away."
Even later than that.
He'd slipped right back into acting as if nothing had ever happened.
"Grace, saw a little dolphin plushie, looks just like you, bought it for you."
"When school starts, I'll take you to that couples' restaurant near campus."
As if all that damage had been nothing but a spat between sweethearts.
As if all he had to do was bow his head and coax me a little, and I'd forgive him like I always had.
After the trip ended, I came home early to pack my things.
Ready to leave this place for good.
But what I hadn't expected,
was that Alden had come back early too.
I'd just pulled the acceptance letters out of the mailbox.
When he wrapped his arms around me from behind and, in one smooth motion, snatched both envelopes away.
My face changed in an instant. "Give them back!"
But Alden only laughed. "We're both headed to the university anyway."
"You little scatterbrain, what if you lost it? Better to let me hold onto it for you."
As he spoke, he tore one of them right open.
That careless smile still on his face.
"Let me see whether the two of us got into the same college—"
The voice cut off dead.
The smile on Alden's face froze solid.
He stared at that acceptance letter, unable to look away.
The words leapt off the page: 【Stonebrook Vocational Technical College】.
