LOGINA figure suddenly burst out from the corner of the fence.Chloe had been hiding there the whole time. She lunged forward, her hair disheveled, her makeup completely ruined.She clawed at the fence and screamed at me, her voice cracking:"Vivian Moretti! Why won't you let us go?! You changed it back! You didn't lose anything! You went to Harvard! You have everything!""Why do you still have to destroy us?!"I stood on my side of the fence and looked at her."Why?""You changed my application. You humiliated me in front of everyone at the party. You posted videos to slander me.""Every step was your own choice."The crazed look in her eyes deepened. "It's all your fault! Why are you always number one in the grade?! Why do my parents always tell me to be more like you?! Why does Damian have to be suppressed by you even when he's this good?!""Because I worked harder than you."I looked at her, word by word."It's that simple."Then I looked up at Damian."Eighteen years of friendship. You
I was crouched in front of a shelf, picking strawberries. A woman stared at me for a few seconds, then suddenly spat at my feet and hissed the word "bitch."I stood up with the strawberries. My nails dug into the plastic bag.My mother's face went red. She shoved the shopping cart and was about to charge.I grabbed her arm with all my strength. "Mom, let's go."She let me drag her out of the supermarket without a word. Her arm was taut as iron.When we reached the parking lot, she finally shook off my hand. Her voice was shaking."Why won't you let me fight back?!""Because I was afraid you'd get more and more upset."She looked at me, her eyes red. She turned her head and wiped them with her sleeve.She didn't cry. But the tip of her nose was completely red.That night, the light in my father's study stayed on until midnight.I got up to get water and saw him sitting on the couch. His tablet was open to screenshots of the cyberbullying, and he was scrolling through them, one by one, v
My father set down his coffee cup. The sound was very soft.But the room was so quiet you could hear water running.My mother shot to her feet. The chair legs scraped the floor with an ear-piercing screech."He changed your application? He tried to send you to a community college?!"I nodded.She turned to grab her coat. "I'm going to go give him a piece of my mind right now—""Sit down."My father's voice wasn't loud.My mother sat. Her hands were still shaking.My father looked at the evidence I'd organized. He nodded approvingly."Vivian, you did the right thing. Gather evidence first, then strike. A Moretti never fights a battle unprepared."My mother gritted her teeth. "Should I have someone go have a 'chat' with the Cross family?""No need." My father took a sip of coffee. "Let Vivian handle it. She's grown up."My mother took my hand."Vivian, whatever happens, you just need to know we're standing behind you."I nodded and sent Attorney Harris a single message: "Begin."That aft
Dead silence.It lasted about three seconds.Then the entire banquet hall exploded."Vivian got into Harvard?""Wasn't she supposed to have applied to a community college? How did it become Harvard?"Damian pushed through the crowd to me and grabbed my wrist. His voice was tight."How is that possible?""Viv, how did you get into Harvard? Your application—I clearly—""Clearly what?"I looked at him. I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me."Clearly you logged into my account and changed my first-choice school to Oak Ridge Community College?"I didn't say it loudly. But everyone nearby had their ears pricked up. They all heard it."Luckily, I found out in time.""I changed my application to Harvard."I turned to leave.Damian panicked. He chased after me and grabbed my wrist again."Viv! I told you, it was a prank! It was a punishment from losing truth or dare at the party...""If you found out in advance, why didn't you change it back to Southern State?!"His voice cracked with despe
In the days that followed, I ignored Damian and Chloe entirely.I changed the front door code. I threw out everything connected to Damian. I packed for Harvard.Then came mid-April. Lakeview High's annual honors banquet.An old school tradition: the entire graduating class attends in formal wear, and the principal announces each person's destination.When your name is called, you go up and accept a flower.By the time I arrived, the chandeliers in the banquet hall were fully lit.Nicole took my arm and lowered her voice. "I saw the list. You're not on it.""I know.""You're not nervous?""About what?"The announcements began."Jack Coleman, Colorado School of Mines!""Emily Sanchez, California Institute of the Arts!"Applause rolled in waves."Chloe Bennett, Southern State University!"Chloe went up crying, clutching her flowers. The first thing she did after stepping down was hug Damian. "Thank you for helping me fix my application..."Damian patted her back, smiling gently."Damian C
Two days later, at Jack Coleman's party, the whole class showed up.The music was cranked. The basement was packed.I held a glass of sparkling apple juice and sat quietly in the corner.After a few songs, Chloe suddenly stood up.She clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention."Since we're all here, let's share where we're going! Maybe some of us will be in the same city and can look out for each other."The basement got lively."Jack, Colorado School of Mines!""Emily, California Institute of the Arts!"Students called out schools and cities.I stayed on the couch and said nothing.When most of the class had gone, Jack suddenly shouted."And our grade's number one hasn't said anything yet!"He looked at us with a grin."Vivian and Damian, you two must be going to the same school, right?"Before I could speak, Chloe jumped in.In front of the whole class, she naturally looped her arm through Damian's."Damian promised me he'd go to Southern State with me."At that, the basement w







