Chapter 001

Janessa's POV

"Trevor… I got in."

"Got in… where?" He asked, his attention buried in whatever game he was playing on his phone.

"Berkeley. I just got the email."

I stood there, holding my phone so tightly my knuckles were turning white. My heart was pounding against my ribs, and I could feel this huge smile spreading across my face.

Berkeley was my dream school, the place I had been obsessing over forever. I actually did it.

Trevor finally looked up from his screen and blinked like he was trying to figure out what I said. Then his eyes went wide, and he tossed his phone onto the couch.

"Wait, seriously? Babe, that's insane!" He stood up and pulled me into a huge hug. He even lifted me off my feet a little and spun me around.

"I knew you could do it," he said. "I told you you were worrying for nothing."

"I can't believe it," I breathed, burying my face in his shoulder. For a second, everything felt perfect, like nothing could touch me now that my hard work paid off.

But then, the bank account problem flashed in my mind, and the smile disappeared fast. I pulled back, chewing my bottom lip.

"Hey, what's that face for?" Trevor asked, tilting his head. "You just got into one of the best schools ever, so you should be celebrating."

"I am, it's just…" I sighed, looking down at the email on my phone screen. "I read the whole thing, and the scholarship covers my tuition, which is amazing, obviously. But Trevor, it doesn't include housing; it's just the classes."

"Okay? So you just get a dorm or something," he said, waving his hand like it was no big deal.

"With what money?" I laughed, but it sounded hollow. "Housing out there is super expensive, and I am literally broke. I have barely enough saved up for textbooks and food, let alone rent in California."

I pointed out that I don't have family out there who can just take me in, adding that I'm completely on my own with this.

I slumped down onto the edge of the bed and buried my face in my hands. The panic was already settling into my chest, and it felt like a cruel joke: Here is your dream, Janessa, but you can't actually afford to live it.

Trevor walked over and sat down right next to me. He rubbed my back for a second, totally quiet, and I thought he was helping me figure out a budget. But when he spoke, his voice was super casual.

"Don't worry about it," he said.

I looked up, frowning. "What do you mean don't worry about it? Trevor, I literally just told you I can't afford a place to sleep."

"Yeah, I heard you, and I'm telling you, it's fine. My brother is at Berkeley, remember? He has his own apartment near the campus, and he'll take care of you."

I froze, staring at him like he had just grown a second head. "Are you insane? Your brother? Caleb?"

"Yeah. Who else?"

"No way," I said, shaking my head hard. "Trevor, your brother hates me. He can't stand being in the same room as me, and honestly, I hate him back. He's rude and acts like I'm some annoying fly, so he'll never let me move into his apartment."

"Babe, you're exaggerating," Trevor said, rolling his eyes. "He doesn't hate you."

"He literally told me my laugh makes his ears bleed the last time he visited for Thanksgiving," I pointed out, deadpan.

"He was just being a jerk," Trevor insisted. "He's my brother, so if I ask him to do this for me, he'll do it."

He explained that Caleb has a spare room and is barely ever there anyway, making it the perfect solution. "You get to go to your dream school, and you don't have to pay rent, so just let me handle him."

I looked at Trevor, feeling strange. He was being a saint right now, casually solving my biggest life problem without even hesitating.

"Are you sure?" I asked softly, my voice trembling a little. "I don't want to cause trouble between you guys."

"I'm positive," he smiled, leaning in.

I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him as tightly as I could. "Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me, and thank you for giving me this chance to actually go."

He pulled back just enough to kiss my forehead, his hands resting on my waist. "I'd do whatever for you, Janessa, you know that. Now stop stressing; you're going to Berkeley."

Three weeks later, I was staring at a door in a crowded apartment hallway, wondering why I made these choices.

The flight to California was exhausting, my bags were heavy, and the closer I got to the address Trevor gave me, the more my stomach churned. Trevor assured me everything was set up, but I hadn't heard a single word from Caleb and felt sick walking up to this building.

I felt sick mainly because I could hear the bass vibrating through the walls from all the way down the hall.

When I finally found the apartment number, the door was cracked open. Music was blasting so loud it made my teeth rattle.

I pushed the door open with my foot, dragging my massive suitcase behind me, and immediately stepped into total chaos. The place was packed, and it smelled like cheap beer and weed, a full-blown party.

I squeezed past a couple of guys arguing about football, feeling completely out of place in my oversized hoodie and sweatpants.

"Caleb?" I called out, but it was useless because no one could hear me over the speakers.

I decided to look for his room, hoping he was hiding away from the madness. I walked down a short hallway, pushed past another group of people, and saw a door at the end that was halfway open. The light was off inside, but the hall light cut right across the room.

I knocked quickly and pushed it open all the way. "Hey, Caleb? Trevor said I could—"

The words died in my throat.

My suitcase handle slipped out of my hand and hit the floor with a loud thud.

Caleb was against the wall, balls-deep in some random blonde girl who had her legs wrapped tightly around his waist. Her shirt was half off, and they both looked a mess.

I froze, my jaw dropping, and I wanted to run out of the apartment, jump on a plane, and fly right back home. My face was burning so hot I thought it might melt off.

Caleb didn't even flinch or look embarrassed; he didn't grab a blanket or jump back. He just slowed down a little, turning his head to look at me through the dim light. His dark eyes were cold, bored, and irritated.

He didn't stop what he was doing, not even for a second.

"Find a corner and shut up," he snapped, his voice cutting right through the background noise of the party.

Then he just turned his attention right back to the girl, completely ignoring me like I was just annoying.

Welcome to Berkeley, I guess.