"Felicia, we agreed we'd go to Ashford together—"
I took the acceptance letter back. "I've changed my mind. I don't want to go with you two anymore."
Stewart grabbed my wrist.
"Then retake the year. Even if it takes you another one, you're going to Ashford!"
He caught himself, and softened his tone.
"I'm saying this for your sake. Your research only means something if you publish it at Ashford."
These past few days I'd found out something: Stewart's uncle was a professor at Ashford.
His insistence on Ashford was so his uncle could work it from the inside, quietly swapping the name on the research I submitted for Joanna's.
"Stewart, I think I'm allowed to choose my own school, aren't I?"
Joanna gave Stewart's sleeve a light tug.
"Let it go. As long as Felicia's happy."
"It's just such a shame about her research. If only it could be taken to Ashford."
Joanna leaned on the words taken to.
Stewart understood. He left with Joanna.
At eleven that night, the alarm on my computer went off again.
Now that they knew I wasn't going to Ashford, they were more desperate than ever to steal my research.
The system logged over a hundred intercepted attacks before things finally went quiet.
Then Stewart messaged me.
【I can't find my watch. Did I leave it at your place? I'll come look for it tomorrow.】
The remote attack on my computer had failed, so now he wanted to walk into my home and take the files in person.
I tapped out a single reply: "Sure."
Even a clumsy excuse like that, he'd managed to come up with. Turning him away would only make me look rude.
Early the next morning, Stewart rang my doorbell, dark circles under his eyes.
"Look around yourself. I'm going out for breakfast."
The moment he heard I was leaving, his eyes lit up and he nodded eagerly.
"Take your time. Don't mind me!"
I went down to the restaurant at the foot of my building and ate breakfast, unhurried.
Better to hand them exactly what they wanted myself than to leave a cornered animal to strike where I couldn't guard against it.
Half an hour later, a message came from Stewart.
【I'm heading out.】
I knew. He'd gotten it.
For the rest of the summer, I never reached out to either of them again.
In September, I dragged my suitcase to Brenton alone.
I'd barely walked into the dorm when my phone buzzed.
Joanna.
【Too bad you didn't come to Ashford. You won't get to watch me take the place by storm.】
Take it by storm? With my research, you mean?
I was about to block her when she sent another message: a photo of her and Stewart beside the Ashford crest.
His hand rested on her shoulder, her arm was around his waist. They looked like a couple.
I sent back: 【A hundred years of happiness, growing old together.】 Then I dropped them both into my blocked list.
I brought the research files to my advisor's office.
Professor Whitney read through them, delighted. "This is perfect! With research like this, our department can compete for number one in the country!"
"Do you have any thoughts about the presentation?"
That mysterious voice circled back into my ear.
"Don't go to Ashford! On September 29th, at ten in the morning, Joanna is going to steal your research and present it as her own!"
I said, "I'd like the presentation to be held on September 29th, at ten in the morning."
On the 28th, both Ashford and Brenton posted announcements on their official sites at the same time.
【Tomorrow at ten a.m., we will unveil research produced by one of our incoming students. Stay tuned.】
The whole internet erupted.
【Ashford and Brenton releasing new research on the same day? Both from freshmen? Is this a battle?】
【Brenton's really overreaching, picking the same day as Ashford. They'll probably get crushed to dust in seconds.】
An unknown number called. I answered. It was Stewart.
