Chapter 1

I didn't go straight home.

If I went back now, my parents, Robert and Diane Jameson, would definitely want to know why I'd turned in my paper so early.

And if my dad found out that Camelia Kester had kept my admission ticket outside the exam hall, he'd march straight over to the Kesters' house and demand an explanation.

All that back-and-forth would be way too much trouble.

Besides, I'd secured a guaranteed admission spot at Harween University long ago. For me, today's exam had only ever been a formality.

If Camelia was willing to scheme against eighteen years of friendship for Grayson Ferguson's sake, then today was the day I finally saw her for who she really was.

I turned and walked into the café across from the exam site, planning to sit there for a while.

Once the exam session was over, I'd head home and act as if I'd sat through the whole thing like everyone else.

It wasn't until there were fifteen minutes left in the final exam that two familiar figures walked out through the school gate.

Camelia and Grayson had turned in their papers early.

They walked side by side, Grayson holding Camelia's hand with a relaxed smile on his face.

The reporters staking out the exam site immediately rushed toward them with their microphones raised.

"You two finished early. Looks like you're feeling pretty confident about this exam! Do you have a dream university in mind?"

Camelia turned to look at Grayson, her eyes so tender they practically melted. "The questions weren't hard. We promised each other we'd both get into Mecham University together."

A confident smile tugged at Grayson's lips. He tightened his grip on her hand, looking smug and completely at ease.

I chewed on my straw as I watched the perfect couple on the screen, and a wave of indescribable melancholy washed over me.

Eighteen years. She had been my childhood sweetheart for as long as I could remember.

I'd always believed that even if she'd gotten close to Grayson, the class heartthrob, once we started high school, and even if he'd become her first crush, we would still hold a special place in each other's hearts.

During our junior year, some jealous classmates started spreading rumors behind my back because Camelia and I were so close.

They said I was shamelessly throwing myself at her, that I was the third wheel trying to come between her and Grayson.

When Camelia found out, she slammed her book down on her desk in front of the entire class.

She jabbed a finger right in the faces of the gossips and chewed them out, "Clyde is my childhood friend. We grew up together! If anyone dares to spread rumors about him again, you'll have me to deal with!"

Back then, I was convinced I had a place in her heart.

But now, it looked like that had all just been an act to keep up her image as someone loyal to her friends.

The wind chime above the café door jingled a few times.

I snapped out of my thoughts just in time to meet Camelia's gaze. They were done with the interview.

Camelia paused for a moment, then the corners of her lips curled into a mocking smile.

"I thought you'd have run home crying to your parents to tattle since you didn't get to take the exam. You're actually hiding out here? Scared you'll get yelled at when you go home?"

Grayson stood beside her and said, putting on a show of being the bigger person, "Camelia, don't talk to Clyde like that. I'm sure he feels awful right now."

Watching the two of them play off each other, I suddenly felt a little nauseous.

"Awful?" I leaned back in my chair and looked at her coldly. "Why would I feel awful over people like you?"