Not Your Replacement, Not Your Spare のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 10

"Garrett, why are you so determined to pay for it yourself?"My sister, Cheryl Whitaker, reached over and stopped me just as I was about to pay with my card. "There's nothing wrong with Reuben's old bedding. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?" she questioned.I calmly moved her hand aside and said, "If there's nothing wrong with it, then Reuben can take it to school. I'll pay for this charcoal-gray set myself. I won't use the family's money."A beep sounded as the payment went through.Cheryl froze for a moment, while Mom's expression immediately hardened."Why do you have to be so ungrateful? Reuben was only trying to save you money by giving his old bedding to you. And instead of appreciating it, you're standing here acting like everyone's treating you unfairly."My younger brother, Reuben Whitaker, tugged on Mom's sleeve, his eyes already beginning to redden."Mom, don't be mad at Garrett. It's my fault. I shouldn't have had such a hard time letting him have th

That evening, everyone started packing for college.Three enormous pieces of custom designer luggage lay open across the living room floor while Mom filled them with stacks of brand-new clothes."Reuben, make sure you bring this winter coat. Norwell gets cold. And take these snacks with you. If you get hungry at night, you can share them with your roommates," she said.Cheryl was crouched on the floor, carefully applying a screen protector to the new tablet she'd bought him."Reuben, I already loaded it with games and movies. You'll have something to do whenever orientation gets boring."Reuben sat on the couch swinging his legs, beaming. "Thanks, guys."I stepped around his three oversized suitcases and returned to my tiny room.From under the bed, I pulled out an old gray suitcase I'd used back when I lived in the dorms during high school. The wheels had started sticking with age and squeaked every time I dragged it across the floor.I opened my closet and folded a few faded

Jeston University's freshman check-in area had been set up at Southridge Square, where long welcome banners stretched across the plaza and student volunteers in different colored vests moved through the crowds.I pulled my worn old suitcase behind me and made my way to the School of Finance's registration counter.The student handling check-in wore rimless glasses and a simple white shirt.Her expression was cool and composed, and even as she looked down at the roster in front of her, her clenched jaw made it apparent that she wasn't interested in small talk."Acceptance letter and ID, please."Her voice matched her expression. It was polite but strictly business.I handed my documents over to her.She glanced at the name on my acceptance letter, then looked at her computer screen. Her fingers paused over the keyboard for a moment before she lifted her head and studied me through her glasses."Garrett Whitaker? The top scorer in Jarrow?"Several upperclassmen who had been help

Life at Jeston University moved so quickly that I barely had time to dwell on old wounds.During the first week of classes, I took the freshman placement exam and ranked first in the entire school. Not long afterward, Willow came to find me with my results and placed a research packet written entirely in Iugrean on my desk."The professor was impressed by the way you analyze problems. He wants to know if you'd be interested in joining his research team as an assistant."She adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses, her tone as cool and matter-of-fact as ever."Just keep in mind that the workload is intense. You won't have weekends," Willow added.I took the packet without the slightest hesitation. "Hard work has never bothered me," I assured her.…Two weeks later, Jeston University held a freshman academic showcase, and I was selected to represent the incoming class in the final presentation of the program. The entire report had to be delivered in Iugrean.The auditorium was pack

After that, Mom and Dad never came looking for me again.I heard that Mom became seriously ill after returning home, while Cheryl made so many mistakes at work that she was eventually suspended.None of that had anything to do with me anymore.I devoted all my time and energy to the research project.Phoebe, however, started showing up at Jeston University more and more often.She no longer carried herself with the same superiority as before, lecturing me and acting as though she always knew what was best for me. Instead, she became cautious around me and almost painfully humble.She would wait along the route I normally took after class, holding an expensive gift. Sometimes it was a pair of limited-edition sneakers; other times, the newest laptop; and once, she even brought me the keys to a luxury condo in Jeston.Apparently, she thought those belated gestures could somehow make up for everything I'd gone without for the past 18 years.I never accepted a single thing from