Chapter 5

"Are you really sure about going to that Arca conservation project?"

Oliver's voice was full of concern.

I sat silently across his massive desk and gave a small nod.

After leaving the school that night, I locked myself in my room for two days.

I didn't go to school, and I barely ate anything.

Oliver wiped a hand down his face and leaned back heavily against his leather chair.

"The Arca savanna is a long way from here," he said quietly. "If you really intend to do this, you have to withdraw from school tonight, before we submit the application."

"Whatever you want to take with you, go get it."

I forced a faint smile.

"There is nothing left that I want to take with me, Oliver."

On the night before submitting the application, I went alone to my private practice room.

It was built specifically for me. Brooks didn't want me to share the crowded school gym. He had his dad pay to build it just for me.

"The school's practice facilities are always packed. Every time Ivy practices there, the guys on the sports teams stare at her. It makes me want to punch them."

At the time, his face was full of jealousy.

But now, I went into the storage room and packed every single thing the three of them had ever given me into a box.

Meanwhile, the news that I had gone to see my brother had already spread through the school before the bell rang.

Consequently, they came knocking on my door, aggressive and furious.

Carter was the first to shove open the door, his face red with rage.

"Ivy! What did you tell your brother this time?"

Harrison followed closely behind.

His gaze swept quickly across the room; he saw the duffel bag at my feet, the emptied locker, and the box full of gifts.

Brooks was the last to walk in. Without a word, he stood quietly by the doorframe, staring at me with unreadable eyes.

If this had been a month ago, and they had come barging in to accuse me like this, I would have felt incredibly hurt.

I would have cried and called Oliver to stand up for me. I would have demanded that they apologize immediately.

But today, I only felt entirely exhausted and completely numb.

I offered no explanation and pushed the box under the lockers.

These gifts were all incredibly expensive, but I didn't plan to take any of them with me.

"Say something!" Carter urged. "Without your brother backing you up, what can you even do? If you use your brother's influence to rig the vote for the next cheer captain, I swear I will..."

"You will what?" I finally looked up. "Strangle me?"

The practice room went deathly silent. Carter froze.

Harrison immediately frowned. He took a step forward, his tone softer.

"Ivy, don't be like this. Stop acting out. Just tell us exactly what you made Oliver do, okay?"

My gaze swept over the three of them.

"Then answer one question for me first. Who did you vote for as the next cheer captain? "

I paused.

"Me, or her?"

The moment the words left my mouth, all three of them avoided my gaze.

Then, I smiled.

"That's right. You guessed it. I was trying to rig the cheer captain election."

"I even wanted to force Nova to get the hell out of this school."

All three of them instantly froze.

I clutched my sleeves tightly.

"I was jealous of her. I hated her because she took all of you away from me."

"So I begged my brother to use his influence as the school's biggest donor to make sure she lost. She couldn't use the cheer captain title to prove herself to her family."

"Now, are you satisfied?"

I tried desperately to keep my tears from falling and kept my voice as calm as possible.

"Ivy..." Harrison started to speak.

I cut him off.

"As long as Nova is at this school, I will make sure no one has a moment of peace."

Carter's face instantly darkened.

"Don't you dare!"

"Just watch me."

A lump rose in my throat.

"Oliver always gives me everything I ask for, remember?" I laughed softly. "He has been like that since we were little. All I have to do is cry a little."

Brooks finally spoke up.

"Oliver would never destroy an honor student's future just because of your jealousy."

I stared at him for a long time.

Then, I abruptly yanked the box out from under the locker and smashed it onto the floor.

The gifts shattered everywhere.

They were stunned.

My chest hurt terribly, as if it would split open at any second.

"Don't worry. Tomorrow morning, you'll find out everything anyway."

Seeing that I refused to say another word, the three of them finally slammed the door and left.

I stood perfectly still until the sound of their footsteps in the hallway completely disappeared.

Then, I picked up my bag.

Oliver was already waiting by his car in the school parking lot.

When he saw me walk out, his eyes instantly grew red.

Without a word, he opened the car door for me. The backseat was already stocked with all the medical supplies, vaccines, and survival gear needed for Arca.

"Meds. Bug spray. Sunscreen. Clothes." His voice was hoarse. "Arca is rough. You have to take care of yourself."

I nodded and got into the passenger seat.

I turned my head for one last look, watching the school bathe in the dim lights.

The football field, the student council room, and that cheer practice room I would never set foot in again.

The car door slowly closed.

I smiled at my brother, whose eyes were still red.

"Don't worry, Oliver. I will."