Chapter 3

I sent the texts and turned off my phone, then got ready for the next piece.

Two hours later, when the show finally wrapped, Diana handed me a bottle of water. Her eyes drifted toward the common lounge.

"Dexter's been waiting for you in there this whole time. He's been pretty polite about it, too, and ordered takeout for everyone.

"Yours came in a little heart-shaped box."

I ignored that and headed for the bathroom to take off my makeup.

Brianna was already there, like she'd been waiting for me. The dressing room was full of performers removing their stage makeup.

She slipped behind me to help undo my hair the same way she used to back in school.

"Ivy, the piece you played was incredible. Were you happy to see us out there?"

She was always like that, always gentle, always able to find a graceful way through even the most awkward situations. But I was done playing along.

"Not even a little."

I tried to keep my voice steady, but there was still a dull ache spreading through my chest. "He's my boyfriend, and he showed up to a concert wearing a matching outfit with you. Why would I be happy?"

I hadn't told a single person where the show was, either. They'd come all the way across the city to get here, and it wasn't a short trip.

"Whether you came to see me or just used each other as arm candy for the headliner, you both know the answer to that."

The other performers glanced at each other, and every last one of them found a reason to slip out of the bathroom.

Brianna's face went white. "No, Ivy, let me explain."

She reached for me, but I stepped back. In the middle of the argument, she let out a sharp gasp. The floor was slippery, and her ankle twisted underneath her.

I reached out on instinct, but Dexter burst through the door and shoved me aside without a second thought. "Ivy Vance, how long are you going to keep this up?"

The disappointment on his face was bad enough. What came out of his mouth pinned me where I stood.

"You think just because your parents are dead, the rest of us have to treat you like a princess? I've put up with it, fine. But Brianna is not your punching bag."

Everything went still. I stared at him like I was looking at a stranger.

My parents died because they were heroes. They stepped in to save someone and were killed for it. I didn't even find out until sophomore year, when the man who did it was finally caught.

The day I went to the cemetery, both Dexter and Brianna stood at my mother's grave and swore they'd take care of me, that they'd never let me be hurt.

Now one of them was crying like I was the one who'd wronged her, and the other had his arms locked around her, looking at me like I was the enemy.

Dexter regretted the words almost as soon as they left his mouth. "I didn't mean—"

Brianna pushed out of his arms. "Dexter, what are you even saying?

"Ivy, please listen to me. It really isn't what you think. The tickets were from the organizers. The outfits were from logistics, and they bought them for the whole group. We didn't know the others weren't going to wear theirs.

"Or is this about Dexter helping me with my project for the past month? I'm so sorry, it was my first time leading something that big, and I was completely out of my depth."

Before she could even finish, the guilt in Dexter's eyes had already curdled into contempt. He'd already decided that I couldn't see the bigger picture, that I only knew how to throw tantrums.

"Ivy Vance, are you a child? Everything has to revolve around your feelings. The whole world has to orbit around you.

"Do you have any idea how hard Brianna works? Her research has saved lives. You think playing the violin even compares?"

He scooped Brianna up and walked out without looking back. I stood there alone, the whispers from outside the door cutting through, every one of them landing like a blade.

Diana rushed in. "What happened? I just saw Dexter carrying Brianna out."

My face was drained of color. It took me a long time to manage a smile.

"Diana, can you move my flight up to tomorrow? I really can't stay in Ridgehaven anymore."