Chapter 2

Over the phone, Mark was still listing every moment he shared with Adele.

I found out that on New Year’s Eve, Mark had left me alone in the freezing snow because of a bet with Adele about whether I’d catch a fever.

Also, that handcrafted necklace I gave Mark for Valentine’s Day wasn’t lost like he said. He had given it to Adele to use as a hair tie instead.

…

By the time he got to the end, Mark’s tone softened.

"Adele, you said if I skipped the exam for you, you’d be my girlfriend.

"Sadie already gave up her early admission spot for me anyway. Tomorrow, I’m gonna stand outside the testing center with a massive bouquet waiting for you! I want to prove to you that my feelings are real!

"Adele, are you happy?" Mark asked, his voice full of careful anticipation.

I squeezed my phone, my vision blurring as I finally managed to choke out, "Mark, I’m not—"

"Mark! You actually confessed to Adele! You’re insane!"

A chorus of laughter cut me off as someone snatched the phone out of Mark’s hand.

"Years of studying flushed down the drain for the hottest girl in school. Mark, you’re insane! Once you two get together, you better throw a party!"

Mark laughed and cursed playfully back at them. "Hey, knock it off, guys.

"Adele, they’re trying to grab my phone. I gotta hang up. See you tomorrow."

The line went dead.

I sat at my desk, clutching the phone, engulfed in silence for a long time.

Then, I did only one thing.

I immediately called my guidance counselor, Mr. Simpson, who had been begging me not to forfeit my early admission.

"Mr. Simpson, I’m taking your advice this time. I'm not giving up that early admission spot."

…

"Sadie, you finally came to your senses!" Mr. Simpson shouted excitedly over the phone.

"When you gave up your early admission to Mark, I wanted to tell you that even with your grades making any school a sure thing, anything can happen during standard testing. You never truly know until the final scores are in.

"College admissions are a huge deal. You can't play around with your future like this.

Now that you've changed your mind, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Don't worry, I'll submit your paperwork tonight. It'll be processed before testing starts tomorrow!"

Mr. Simpson spoke in a rush, terrified that I might back out if he hesitated for even a second.

I nodded, my voice thick with emotion. "Thank you, Mr. Simpson."

After hanging up, I closed my prep books and got ready for bed.

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the front door downstairs. Looking down from the balcony, I saw Mark standing there.

"Sadie, I bought you a frappuccino! Come downstairs!"

He shouted so loudly that I had to open the door, afraid he’d wake my parents.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him, the redness around my eyes still lingering.

Mark couldn't tell, or rather, he hadn't actually looked at me closely in a long time.

He waved the drink in his hand, smiling at me as if waiting for a reward.

"I figured you were exhausted from studying, so I brought you a frappuccino. Get to sleep early tonight, and good luck on the college entrance exam tomorrow!"

I looked down at his outstretched hand. Suddenly, it struck a familiar chord.

I'd seen Adele wearing the designer couple's bracelet that morning, and it matched the one on Mark's wrist.

We had been together for three years, yet he never wore a single thing I gave him. But when it came from someone else, he treated it like gold.

I stared at his hand, unmoving.

Mark’s arm froze mid-air.

After a long pause, he finally dropped his stiffened arm, his face darkening with annoyance as he confronted me.