Chapter 3

That evening, everyone started packing for college.

Three enormous pieces of custom designer luggage lay open across the living room floor while Mom filled them with stacks of brand-new clothes.

"Reuben, make sure you bring this winter coat. Norwell gets cold. And take these snacks with you. If you get hungry at night, you can share them with your roommates," she said.

Cheryl was crouched on the floor, carefully applying a screen protector to the new tablet she'd bought him.

"Reuben, I already loaded it with games and movies. You'll have something to do whenever orientation gets boring."

Reuben sat on the couch swinging his legs, beaming. "Thanks, guys."

I stepped around his three oversized suitcases and returned to my tiny room.

From under the bed, I pulled out an old gray suitcase I'd used back when I lived in the dorms during high school. The wheels had started sticking with age and squeaked every time I dragged it across the floor.

I opened my closet and folded a few faded T-shirts and pairs of jeans before placing them inside. The new charcoal-gray bedding I'd bought the day before went at the bottom.

Finally, I pulled out my Jeston University acceptance letter. I carefully tucked it inside my journal and placed both in the backpack I would keep with me.

There wasn't much else to pack. Even after I finished, the suitcase wasn't half full.

I had just zipped it shut when Phoebe pushed open the door and walked in.

Her gaze immediately fell on my half-empty and worn-out suitcase.

"Is that all you're taking?" she asked.

"Yeah."

I didn't look up.

She walked toward me and spoke as though everything had already been settled.

"I'm driving Reuben to Norwell at eight tomorrow morning. He gets carsick, so we can't crowd the car. With your mom and dad coming, there won't be any room left."

She paused for a moment, apparently trying to soften what came next. "Since you're barely bringing anything, just take an intercity bus to school. You've always been independent, so getting there alone won't be a problem, right?"

My hand stilled on the zipper as I lifted my head and quietly looked at her.

Phoebe and I had met when we were eight.

That year, Cheryl bought the last limited-edition Transformer at the toy store and gave it to Reuben. I'd gone outside afterward and sat alone in a corner of the yard, staring into space.

Phoebe found me there and handed me a piece of candy. Then, with all the seriousness an eight-year-old could muster, she said, "If no one else takes your side, I will."

For ten years, I'd held on to that childish promise as the one bright spot in an otherwise lonely childhood.

Now, it felt like nothing more than a joke.

Norwell University was only a two-hour drive from home. Going by bus meant taking a long detour and making three separate transfers, which would turn a short trip into one that took most of the day.

Even so, Phoebe had no problem sending me through all of that alone just so Reuben could have a more comfortable ride.

In the past, I would've been hurt. I would've asked how she could so easily forget the promise she'd made all those years ago.

Now, all I felt was relief.

At least she wasn't insisting that I ride with them.

"Okay," I said.

Phoebe froze at my response.

She had prepared an entire speech to placate me, only to find that there was nothing left for her to say.

After studying my calm expression for a moment, she added, "Reuben's never been this far from home before. He's always needed a little more looking after, so he really can't manage without someone there."

I finished zipping my backpack and slung it on the back of the chair.

"No need to explain. I understand," I told her.

"Good. I'm glad."

Phoebe studied me for another moment before finally relaxing and leaving the room.

"Reuben, I already put your travel pillow in the car!"

Her voice echoed from the living room, warm and gentle once again.

I closed the door behind her, shutting out the laughter and chatter from the rest of the house.

Then, I reached for my phone and opened the train app.

I'd booked a seat on the 7:00 am train to Jeston the next morning.

Once the confirmation appeared on my screen, I turned off my phone and lay down on the hard bed, closing my eyes.

It was my last night in that house.