Chapter 2

I didn't sleep well that night. The video from my future self kept replaying in my head.

I didn't fall asleep until the sun came up.

The Turner family was expecting me the following week.

As soon as I woke up, I booked my flight.

When I came downstairs, Charles and Susie were sitting in my living room.

They were talking and laughing.

Susie casually helped herself to some cookies from the pantry.

When they saw I was up, neither of them batted an eye. Susie even frowned at the cookies. "These don't taste good."

Charles grinned. "If you don't want them, give them here."

They acted like it was their own house, like I wasn't even there.

Once they were done debating the cookies, I went to the dining room, poured myself a glass of water, and sat down on the couch.

Out of nowhere, Susie asked, "When did you get up?"

Charles glanced at his watch. "You got up later than usual today. What are we going to do with you if you keep being this lazy?"

Susie laughed out loud.

I just watched them, my expression blank.

When I didn't laugh, Susie's smile slowly faded. "Selena, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm just a little tired," I said coolly.

And I really was tired. Trying to keep this friendship going had worn me out.

They didn't ask anything else.

Charles said, "We'll skip the pool hall, then."

I didn't say anything. I just turned and went back upstairs.

They didn't come after me. Their attention had already drifted back to the cookies. Not ready to give up, Susie went digging through the pantry for other snacks.

Back in my room, I started packing.

I didn't come back down until dinner.

Of course, they stayed for dinner that night too.

At the table, Susie and Charles talked about their plans. Their parents had already sold their houses on Staten Island and were moving straight to Boston.

Mom said, "Once the transfers are confirmed and Selena's assigned to the Boston arms route, we'll move there too."

"That's perfect. The three of us will always be together," Susie said.

She smiled, but the food in her hand never made it to her mouth.

Even after dinner, neither of them showed any sign of leaving.

They sat in the living room chatting with my parents while I sat off to the side without saying a word.

They talked about everything they'd accomplished and everything they planned to do.

Partway through, Susie glanced at me and abruptly changed the subject.

"Did you guys hear what happened in one of the other families? Their little princess thought growing up with another family's heir gave her some kind of claim on him. But he loved someone else. They were the ones who belonged together.

"When the princess took over her family's business, the heir sabotaged her work so he could be with his true love. Because of him, she botched a shipment and fell out of favor with her family. No one had her back anymore, and the heir got to be with his true love.

"Selena, have you heard that one?"

Suddenly Susie was looking right at me.

My breathing slowed. I slowly met her eyes.

After a long moment, I said, "I think the heir and his true love are a couple of scumbags. They screwed that princess over."

The second I finished, Susie's expression froze.

I gave a slow smile. "Scumbags like that should stay together forever, so they can't screw anyone else over.

"The princess should just find the proof and have her father shoot those two pieces of trash dead."

I looked at Charles. "Don't you think?"

Charles didn't look much better than Susie did.

He stood up, breathing hard, and forced a smile at my mother. "We should get going. It's getting late."

I didn't look at either of them again. They hurried out of my house, one practically dragging the other along.

The living room finally felt less stifling once they were gone.

That night, Charles texted me.

"Did you submit your transfer request?"

"Did you confirm your request, Selena?"

I didn't answer. After I showered and got into bed, he sent two more.

"Selena?"

"Did you confirm it or not?"

I texted back, "Is there a problem?"

Charles replied, "Just asking."

I didn't answer him again. I turned off my phone and went to sleep.