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Second to No One

Second to No One

Short Story · Emotional Realism
By:  NamelessCompleted
Language: English
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11Chapters
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Synopsis

Campus

Lovesick Fool

Face Slapping

Plot Twists

Feel-Good Story

Bias

My twin brother, Ben Galland, beat me into the world by exactly one minute. That one minute made him the older brother and me the younger sister. At least we've always been about evenly matched when it comes to grades. Ever since we were kids, one of us has always ranked first and the other second. Once we get to high school, though, I come in second every single time for three years straight. When I find out Ben is secretly dating Kate Seager, one of the biggest troublemakers at school, I agree to keep it from Mom and Dad without making a fuss. Then our school gets two guaranteed admission spots at the country's top universities. Mr. Clayton calls both of us into his office. "There are two spots this year, and based on your grades, you two qualify. Fill these out." I nod and quickly fill out the form. I'm about to hand it back when Ben, who's been quiet this whole time, suddenly snatches it out of my hand. He rips it to pieces and tosses the scraps into the air. "If you want me to take the spot, fine. But Kate gets one too," he says flatly. I almost laugh. What an idiot. He's so dead when Mom and Dad find out.

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11 Chapters
Chapter 1
For a few seconds, my homeroom teacher, Mr. Clayton, was too stunned to say anything.Then he pushed his thick glasses up his nose and pointed at the scraps scattered across the floor, his hand shaking."Ben Galland! Are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea what you just ripped up?"My twin brother didn't look the least bit sorry. If anything, Ben looked like he thought he was making some grand sacrifice for love.He met Mr. Clayton's furious glare and spoke slowly and deliberately. "I know exactly what I'm doing. It's simple. Either Kate gets a guaranteed spot too, or I'm giving up mine."Then he turne to me, apologetic but somehow still bossy."Judy, your grades are good enough that you can get in on your own. Kate's different. She needs this chance."I just looked at him.This was the guy who had been at the top of our class for years. Apparently, the second he fell in love, all common sense went out the window.He probably thought he was starring in some cheesy teen
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Chapter 2
Honestly, I didn't feel like I'd lost anything. I just thought Ben was being an idiot.He thought threatening to throw away his future would get Kate a spot she'd never qualify for on her own. What he didn't get was that the only spot he'd actually given up was his.And me? I hadn't done a thing, and somehow I was the one who came out on top.I had barely sat down when Kate Seager's perfume hit me.She planted both hands on my desk and leaned in, looking down at me with a smug smile she could barely hide."So I heard Ben tore up your admission form."I didn't even look up. I opened my test-prep book and did a couple of problems to clear my head.When I still didn't respond, she raised her voice. "What's the point of working so hard? You stay up late studying every night, come in second year after year, and still end up with nothing."Sometimes hard work just isn't enough. Some things come down to luck."She tossed back her freshly curled brown hair and laughed, looking ridicul
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Chapter 3
When I still didn't react, Ben apparently lost interest.He took Kate's hand and headed back to his seat, tossing one last comment over his shoulder. "Fine. It's settled. Just focus on studying and don't worry about it."The classroom went quiet again, but I could still feel everyone staring at me. Some watched with sympathy. Others were clearly enjoying the whole thing.I didn't care.That evening at dinner, Mom and Dad casually asked about the admission form.I pushed the mashed potatoes around on my plate. "Oh, Ben tore it up."The table went dead silent.Dad's hand froze in midair, and Mom's fork dropped onto the table with a clatter.Dad's voice went low and cold. "What did you say?"I explained, "He said if he takes the guaranteed spot, Kate has to get one too. Otherwise, nobody's going."Dad slammed a hand down on the table so hard the dishes rattled. He shot to his feet and glared at Ben, who had just stepped out of his room."Get over here. Now!"Mom stood up too,
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Chapter 4
The countdown to the college entrance exam sat in the top-right corner of the board. Every day, the number went down by one.To Ben and Kate, it was just a number.To me, it meant this whole ridiculous mess was finally coming to an end.I was even starting to look forward to seeing the looks on their faces when it was all over. That was when they'd finally realize how badly they'd screwed up.On the day of the college entrance exam, I wasn't in uniform. I stood by the taped-off line outside the testing center, waiting for a friend to go in.Parents crowded around in custom T-shirts wishing the students good luck, looking nervous and hopeful.In the middle of all that tension, Ben and Kate looked completely out of place. They showed up in brand-new matching outfits, iced coffees in hand. They looked like they didn't have a care in the world.Kate noticed me first. She covered her mouth in exaggerated surprise and tugged on Ben's sleeve. "Ben, look. Isn't that Judy?"Ben followed
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Chapter 5
To Ben, that thin red envelope might as well have weighed a ton. The color drained from his face. His lips moved, but nothing came out.Kate suddenly let go of his arm and shrieked, "No way! Judy, you're lying! That has to be fake!"She reached for the envelope, but I pulled it out of reach and tucked it back into my bag."If you think it's fake, go ask Mr. Clayton."I nodded toward Mr. Clayton, who was talking to a few parents nearby."Oh, and while you're at it, ask him what happened to that guaranteed spot of yours."That was when it finally hit Ben.He shoved his way through the crowd and rushed straight toward Mr. Clayton. "Mr. Clayton! What's going on with the guaranteed spots?"His voice shook slightly, though he didn't seem to realize it. That got everyone nearby looking over.Ben grabbed Mr. Clayton by the arm. Mr. Clayton blinked in surprise, then pushed his glasses up his nose as his expression hardened."Ben, what are you yelling about? You already gave up your gu
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Chapter 6
Dad looked furious. Mom stood beside him with one hand pressed to her forehead, shaking with anger.They looked right past Ben and Kate, who were still making fools of themselves, and straight at me.I walked over and said quietly, "Mom, Dad, let's go."Neither of them spared Ben another glance.Dad gave a grim nod and put an arm around Mom's shoulders. The three of us turned and walked away.Behind us, Ben and Kate were still yelling and shoving each other while the parents around them whispered and pointed.Ben had started this whole mess himself and dragged me into it. Now it was finally over, and in the end, he was the one who had ruined his own future.…Seven years later, I stood onstage at an international academic conference, giving a presentation in another language to some of the world's top scholars.The stage lights shone down on me, warm and bright. The audience listened closely, occasionally breaking into applause.Mom called as soon as the conference ended, and
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Chapter 7
Mom spoke up too, her voice cold. "Ben, if you'd done anything with your life, you wouldn't be asking Judy for help now. We told you back then that you'd have to live with the choices you made."And after all these years, you still haven't changed."Mom and Dad didn't hold back. Every word seemed to hit exactly where it hurt.Ben kept his head down, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white.It was hard to believe this was the same Ben who used to be so cocky and always ranked first in our grade. Now he sat there with the whole family watching, looking completely defeated.I kept eating, barely paying any attention to what was happening around me.By then, the dinner had become all about my accomplishments and everything Ben had done wrong. It didn't exactly end well.I was on my way to the parking lot when Ben followed me out."Judy."I stopped and turned to face him.Ben's eyes were bloodshot. Whatever resentment he'd been carrying for the past seven years finally s
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Chapter 8
Two days later, I was in the lab sorting through some data when Professor Lockwood called. There was something odd about his tone."Judy, could you come to my office?"When I walked in, he was sitting behind his desk with a deep frown, looking like he wasn't quite sure how to start.He motioned to the chair across from him. "Sit down."I did, wondering what this was about.After a moment, he said, "A man came to see me today. He introduced himself as your brother, Ben Galland."My stomach sank."He…"Professor Lockwood paused, clearly choosing his words."He told me that years ago, he gave up a guaranteed admission spot for a girl he loved, which he said gave you the chance to go to college."He said he'd sacrificed a lot for you, but his own life hadn't turned out well. So he was hoping I could help him find a better job as a favor to you."He paused and studied me, looking a little sympathetic."He was practically in tears by the time he finished. I honestly thought he wa
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Chapter 9
Professor Lockwood frowned, and all the color drained from Mom's and Dad's faces."Ben! Have you lost your mind?"Mom hurried over and tried to pull him away, but he shook her off."I haven't lost my mind!"He stared at me with bloodshot eyes. "I just want to ask my wonderful sister something. Now you've got your PhD and everyone thinks you're some rising star. You must feel pretty damn good about yourself, right?"His voice was loud and rough from drinking, cutting through the silence in the ballroom."But what exactly are you so proud of? Who do you think you owe all of this to?"He pointed straight at me and started taking credit for my entire life in front of everyone."Me! I'm the one who gave you that chance! That guaranteed spot at one of the country's top universities was supposed to be mine. I gave it up for love. I gave up my chance so my sister could have hers! I gave her that chance!"The more he talked, the more worked up he got. He was practically spitting by the
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Chapter 10
Ben immediately tried to deny it, but his voice came out weak. "That's a lie!"I smiled. "A lie? Second, let's talk about what you did. You stormed into Mr. Clayton's office and tore up the guaranteed admission form I'd already filled out right in front of him."You said you'd only accept your spot if your girlfriend, Kate Seager, got one too."I glanced around the room. Judging by everyone's expressions, they were starting to see where this was going."Everyone in this room is successful in their own field, so tell me this. Is a guaranteed spot at one of the country's top universities something you can bargain over? Does a high school student get to decide who gets one?"No one answered, but the contempt on their faces said it all."So what happened?"I stepped closer to Ben and lowered my voice, though everyone around us could still hear me."The school refused your ridiculous demand. You gave up your spot, and after trying to interfere with the admissions process, you lost y
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