All Chapters of She Only Got In Because of Me: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The smile on Claudia's face froze.Just then, Mike jumped in front of her. He looked at me and put on a show of earnest concern. "Tim, stop being so stubborn. All through high school, Claudia's grades were always better than yours. And as soon as the scores came out, the Kingsbridge admissions office accepted her right away."Why would you curse her and say she won't get into Kingsbridge? All she wants is for you to wait a year. With her notes, you might even do better next year."With that, he leaned in close and lowered his voice. "Tim, Claudia has been mine since way back. While you were out there studying, she and I were in here 'studying' too. For the rest of your life, you'll only ever get my leftovers!"I couldn't take it anymore and slammed my fist into his face.Mike went down like this was exactly what he'd been waiting for.Frowning, my eyes blazing, I grabbed him by the collar, ready to demand answers.Instead, Claudia slapped me hard across the face. "Tim! You're

The next day, the McCarthy house was bustling from first thing in the morning.Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy cheerfully greeted guests as they came and went.Plenty of neighbors had already gathered there.As the guest of honor, Claudia stood right in the middle of it all, beaming.There was even an engagement party banner hanging off to one side, with a photo of Claudia and Mike beside it.Mrs. McCarthy kept explaining to people, "The Greenwood boy was the one who called off the engagement. He said he wasn't good enough for our daughter. "And he's right. He can't get into university and has to repeat a year. He and Claudia just won't have anything in common anymore."I found the whole thing ridiculous.When Claudia and I got engaged, our families had only exchanged tokens. There had never been an engagement party.This time, Claudia was not only throwing one, she was combining it with her university send-off party. And on top of that, Mrs. McCarthy was pinning all the blame on me.

Just then, my mom finally came out of our house. When she saw what was going on, she hurried over to stop it."Claudia! What do you think you're doing? Let go of my son!"You couldn't get in on your own. Tim was kind enough to give you a chance, and you threw it away yourself. Who are you going to blame now?"Every neighbor there heard it loud and clear.The relatives the McCarthys had invited started exchanging glances, too.The admissions officer and the reporters behind him would never lie about something like this.That meant the liars had to be Claudia and the McCarthys.With that realization, everyone began looking at the McCarthys differently.Judy was so short of breath she nearly collapsed. With the last of her strength, she grabbed Claudia's sleeve."Claudia, didn't you say Kingsbridge had definitely accepted you? I worked myself to the bone raising you all these years, and in the end, you're going to some diploma mill?"Tell me right now! What on earth is going on?

At that, Claudia stared at me in disbelief. "Tim? How could you do this to me?"I found the question absurd. Why couldn't I treat her this way?Barely an hour had passed. Had Claudia already forgotten what she'd done to me?I wasn't the only one who thought she was ridiculous. Every neighbor and guest there felt the same way.Once word got out that I'd gotten into Kingsbridge, the neighbors had suddenly turned warm and friendly again. Now, they all looked at Claudia with nothing but contempt."Tsk, tsk. How does the McCarthy girl still have the nerve to say that? If I remember right, when she thought she'd gotten into Kingsbridge, she dumped young Tim without a second thought.""Exactly. I always said the McCarthys went too far. Young Tim's father went to prison because he saved Claudia. Back then, the McCarthys even said they'd have their daughter get engaged to him to repay the favor."And before they'd even made it big, they couldn't wait to dump him. It's disgraceful."The

Claudia choked out, "Tim, you weren't like this before. I know I broke your heart, but I really can't repeat a year. My mom won't pay for my schooling anymore."Claudia said it all over again, as if she couldn't understand a word I'd said.I'd run out of patience. I cut her off again and didn't bother being polite. "Claudia, didn't I make myself clear enough at your party? Whatever reason you and Mike got together, it has nothing to do with me, because we're not connected anymore."The look in my eyes was frighteningly cold.Claudia stumbled back a few steps, but she still refused to give up. "Tim, I know you still love me. All this time, you haven't been with anyone new. Besides, you've loved me for so many years. How could you not love me anymore?"I know you're still mad at me over what happened. It's fine if I don't get the Kingsbridge spot. But could you lend me the twenty thousand dollars the Barretts want first? Please?"I know you have money. The Barretts are really pushi