Chapter 3

The day SAT scores were released, my entire family gathered around the computer to check Mitchell's results.

When they saw he'd scored just high enough to have a shot at college, they burst into cheers and immediately started planning a celebratory dinner.

They then ushered Mitchell out without so much as asking how I'd done.

Later, when I didn't ask them for much advice about where to apply, they simply assumed I'd be settling for community college.

I sat behind the counter, my face giving nothing away. I didn't bother explaining myself.

The doorbell rang again, and Lavinia walked in with her arms full of shopping bags.

She headed straight for Mitchell's table and began laying out the gifts she'd brought, including a phone, a tablet, and a laptop. The logos on the boxes seemed to get bigger with every item.

I carried the drinks I'd just made over to their table.

Lavinia was ruffling Mitchell's hair when she looked up, spotted me, and froze. "Maxwell? What are you doing here?"

I pushed down the bitterness rising in my chest before speaking calmly, "I'm working here for the summer."

I'd barely set the drinks down when one of Mitchell's classmates, sitting beside him, leaned over and whispered, "Is Lavinia the girl next door who brought you that good luck medal before the exams? She's gorgeous!"

My head snapped up.

"What medal?"

He answered, "Before the practice exams, Mitchell posted that he could use a little extra luck. The very next day, she showed up with a medal. She'd made the trip all the way up Mount Grace just for him!"

In the next instant, Mitchell slowly reached into his backpack. He pulled out the pale yellow medal and dangled it between his fingers.

"You don't have one, Maxwell? I thought Lavinia got one for both of us."

I saw the familiar image of Mount Grace's chapel engraved on the medal, and my chest tightened painfully.

My birthday happened to fall on the weekend before the practice exams.

Mitchell was in Pravia auditioning for a performing arts program. So, Mom and Meredith got a cake and went to celebrate with him.

I was left home alone. After hesitating for a long time, I finally messaged Lavinia and asked if she'd spend the day with me.

She agreed but chose Mount Grace as the place to celebrate.

When we were kids, Mitchell had once pushed me down the stairs, badly injuring my knee. Ever since, hiking had been torture for me.

The trail stretched for more than a mile, and every step was a struggle. By the time we reached the top, my legs were shaking so badly I could barely stand.

But when I saw Lavinia in the chapel, her head bowed in prayer, I felt that every step had been worth it. She was praying for success and for everything to go right.

I'd foolishly assumed that if I was the one who'd made that whole journey with her, I'd be the one she prayed for. It never crossed my mind that she'd been thinking of someone else all along.

I turned to Lavinia.

She looked away, unable to meet my eyes. "The priest said he could only bless one medal that day. The exam was very important for Mitchell. If he didn't score well, all those auditions would've been for nothing."

But I was taking the SAT that year, too.

Initially, I'd planned to tell Lavinia that I'd gotten into University of Pravia. But now, the words caught in my throat.

I took a deep breath and turned to leave, but Lavinia quickly called after me.

She rummaged through one of her shopping bags before pulling out a flat cardboard box and holding it out to me. "Maxwell, here's your present."

I took it. A strip of clear tape was still stuck to the edge, as if the box had simply been torn from some other package.

Inside was a language-learning device, still bearing a sticker that read "Free Gift".

Lavinia explained, "I happened to walk past a bookstore the other day and saw this device included in a language-learning kit. Thought I'd get one for you.

"Even if community college is your only option, you shouldn't give up on yourself. Put in a couple of years of hard work, and you can still transfer to a major institution."

At those words, someone snickered. A moment later, the entire table erupted in laughter.

"That's ridiculous. My little brother's in sixth grade, and even he doesn't need one of those anymore."

Another added, "Maybe he's not even at a sixth-grade level. A little practice couldn't hurt."

"Come on, that's enough. Leave him alone."

As he spoke, Mitchell slid his new phone toward me. "Max, if you don't like that device, we can switch. You can have everything I got."

Lavinia immediately stopped him.

"I bought all that for you. Maxwell didn't do well in his exams, so this device is exactly what he needs."

I pushed the device toward Mitchell and shot back, "Is that so? Didn't he fail the language section of his exams, too? Seems like he'd get more use out of it."

Mitchell's expression faltered, and he looked visibly flustered.

Lavinia frowned. "Maxwell, if you thought my gift wasn't expensive enough, you could've just said so. There was no need to take it out on Mitchell."

"Oh, so it wasn't expensive enough."

I turned and tossed the box into the trash. "I don't want your gift. Don't insult me with some freebie."

Lavinia was momentarily stunned. She clearly hadn't expected me to react that way.

I used to accept every gift she gave me with delight. Even when it was obvious that Mitchell got so much more, I'd allow myself a moment of disappointment, then remind myself to be grateful for what I had.

"Maxwell?" Lavinia called out, sounding uncertain.

Without so much as a backward glance, I walked back to the counter. Then, I reached into my pocket, pulled out a little love charm, and tossed it into the trash.

It hit the bottom with a soft clink. And somehow, it felt as though a knot inside me had finally come undone.