Chapter 2

"You'd really do that to me, Miles?"

"Remember when I twisted my ankle running? You cried harder than I did. And now you're going to have me arrested over a piece of paper?"

She was certain that years of loving her couldn't possibly disappear over something she considered so trivial.

I looked straight at her.

"That was then."

I took out my phone.

Before I could dial, Claire seized my wrist from behind.

"Wait! Miles, don't call the police!" Panic finally cracked her composure. "I was wrong, okay? I'll give it back!"

I shook off her hand.

"Then hand it over."

She pointed at her front door, her voice suddenly gentle.

"It's in my bedroom. Come inside and I'll get it for you."

I watched her warily and didn't move.

"You can bring it out here."

"Miles." She glanced back toward the apartment. "My parents are home. I don't want them finding out about this. Just come in, let me get the letter, and you can leave. It's not like I'm going to bite."

I hesitated.

That acceptance packet represented thousands of hours spent studying when everyone else was asleep. I couldn't afford to lose it.

I followed her inside.

Claire's apartment had the same floor plan as ours.

She led me to her bedroom and opened the door.

"Wait in here. I think I slipped it onto the bookshelf. Let me look."

I stepped in.

The door slammed behind me.

Then came the sharp click of a key turning in the lock.

I spun around, grabbed the handle, and pulled. It wouldn't budge.

She'd locked me inside.

"Claire!" My voice shook with rage. "Open this door! What the hell are you doing?"

Through the door, her reply was chillingly calm.

"Miles, you need to cool off. When you're ready to take a year off and keep Dylan company while he reapplies, I'll let you out."

I pounded on the door like a madman until my palms were red and numb.

"This is unlawful imprisonment! Do you have any idea what you're doing?"

She sounded almost pitying.

"Unlawful imprisonment? Don't be dramatic, Miles. I just want you to think clearly. Destroying your life over someone who doesn't love you isn't worth it."

She said it with such righteous certainty that I laughed in disbelief, my voice shaking.

"My life is none of your business! Open the door!"

"No. I'll open it when you've come to your senses."

Then her footsteps faded.

I called her name. I cursed her. She never answered.

I tried to call my parents. No signal. Something in that room was blocking reception.

The window was covered by fixed security bars. They'd been welded firmly into place.

I was trapped.

Minutes crawled past. Then hours.

Eventually, I slid down the door and sat on the floor, drowning in helplessness.

Then I heard the front door open.

Had Claire's parents come home?

Hope surged through me. I hammered on the bedroom door with everything I had.

"Mr. and Mrs. Vale! Help! I'm locked in here!"

Footsteps approached.

They stopped directly outside.

I drew breath to shout again.