1: 1
While double-checking my college applications, I found that my deskmate had swapped my Ivy-tier picks for the community college farthest from Washington, D.C.
I called her in a panic. She only gave me a light, unbothered little hum.
"My boyfriend got jealous. He can't handle us going to college in the same city."
"His grades are bad, so all he can get into is community college. Having a guy best friend at an Ivy would make him feel really insecure."
"Sis, for a girl's happiness, I'll just have to trouble you."
The call ended.
I looked down at my size-twelve sneakers.
I'm a guy. Who wants to be her girl best friend?
She wanted to trade my future for her happiness?
I let out a cold laugh and changed my application to the exact one she'd picked—Capital University's nuclear physics program.
That program admits one student a year from our whole city.
And my total was thirty points higher than hers.
……
With one minute to spare, I submitted.
Melody Dickerson called too, still as careless as ever.
"Simon, sis, Lester's throwing a fit about breaking up with me. There's nothing I can do."
"The deadline's passed anyway, so there's no changing it back. Just think of it as doing a girl a favor."
"Besides, so what if it's community college? You can transfer up to a four-year, and with your grades it won't set you back."
I cut her off, done with it.
"Melody, I'm a guy. Don't call me sis, and don't call us girlfriends."
"And tell your boyfriend I'm not his girl's best friend. He can stop reading into it."
Melody went quiet for a second, then suddenly laughed.
"Simon, we've been sisters for two years now. Aren't you being a little cold?"
I was so worked up my hands shook, and for a moment I couldn't get a word out.
My surname is Flores. Full name, Simon Flores.
The other kids all call me Si.
Only Melody insisted on hooking her arm through mine and calling us sisters.
Because she was sure I had a thing for her.
To keep her boyfriend from getting jealous, and to make me give up, she'd forced this whole "sister" persona onto me.
I'd explained it more times than I could count—that I wasn't interested in her, that all I wanted through three years of high school was to study.
She'd only laugh in that infuriating way.
"You tutor me through every night study session. If that's not liking me, what is it?"
I breathed out, worn thin.
"The teacher assigned it. So your grades wouldn't slip."
She made a little scoffing sound.
"Then why do you always sit on the sidelines watching me play tennis in gym class?"
"I get tired from reading, so I look off into the distance to rest my eyes. You just happen to be out there playing."
"Liar!" She cupped her face in both hands and tilted her head at me. "You just blinked. That's a guilty conscience."
I knotted my brows.
"No, I—"
She smiled and pressed a finger to her lips at me.
"Simon, you're not allowed to like me. I have a boyfriend."
"And you're not allowed to not like me either, or you'll suffer, watching me every day and holding it all in."
I gave up. I couldn't be bothered to explain anymore.
As long as it didn't get in the way of my studying, I let it all go.
After graduation, she and I would never see each other again anyway.
What I never expected was that she'd sneak a look at my account password and change my Ivy-tier picks to community college, just to soothe her boyfriend.
I couldn't swallow it.
"If you're so afraid of Lester getting jealous, why don't you give up Capital University and go to that community college of his? Same school—wouldn't that make him feel a lot safer?"
"Huh?"
Melody sounded like she'd heard a joke.
"Me? Community college? Capital University nuclear physics is my dream! I'm going to be a defense-industry talent someday and serve my country."
"You know it—I only listed that one program, and I didn't even check the box to accept a reassignment. I'm definitely going to Capital University. It's Capital University or nothing."
So she couldn't go to community college, but I could?
She had a dream, and I didn't?
I laughed, furious.
"You're that confident? You're sure Capital University will take you?"
Melody let out a couple of dry laughs.
"I placed second in the whole city on the SATs. If they don't take me, who would they take?"
I didn't answer.
I had no intention of telling her I'd applied to Capital University too.
Just like she never told me she'd changed my application to community college.
"That's it for now. Lester made a rule—our calls can't go over a minute, or he'll throw a fit at me."
"Oh, right, come on down. I'll buy you a soft-serve cone, call it my apology."
"Two bucks, okay? Generous, right?"
The corner of my mouth twitched.
"A two-dollar cone—I'm not worth it. Let's skip it, so your boyfriend doesn't get jealous."
"Oh~"
Melody drew the sound out long.
"Not coming? Then you've got something to hide."
"Uncomfortable about seeing Lester? Or does it just hurt too much?"
"You'd better come. Otherwise Lester's going to suspect there's something between us."
My face stayed flat.
"Think whatever you want. It's got nothing to do with me."
Just as I was about to hang up, Melody clicked her tongue.
"Lester and I are right downstairs. Are we sisters or not? If we're sisters, come down."
"Or should we come up and find you?"
