I had vowed to transfer schools with my childhood friend, Caleb Vaughn, after he told me he was being bullied by the lacrosse team.

We had everything planned for our transfer to an arts high school in Oregon.

But the day before we were set to submit our applications, I overheard a conversation between Caleb and his teammates outside the gym. He wasn't being bullied at all—it was an elaborate lie he'd concocted just to get rid of me.

I froze, then silently turned and walked away.

That night, I opened our joint application email, deleted the file for the arts high school, and attached my acceptance letter to the London Design Institute instead.

Everyone, it seemed, had forgotten a crucial fact: Caleb and I were never equals.

————————

1

The moment I overheard the truth, my heart hammered against my ribs.

For the past month, my childhood friend, Caleb Vaughn, had been feeding me stories about being ostracized by his teammates and having his locker vandalized.

I was constantly stepping in to defend him, but I couldn't shield him from everything. When things became unbearable, I suggested he transfer schools and start over.

That day, he showed up soaked to the bone, claiming someone had pushed him into the lake, his sharp cheekbones deathly pale. He grabbed my hand, his whole body trembling. "I can't face a new environment alone."

We had grown up together, inseparable for over a decade. And deep down, I had been secretly in love with him.

So, feeling a rush of fierce loyalty, I promised, "Don't worry, Caleb. Wherever you go, I'll go with you."

But standing outside that locker room door, I realized it was all just a cruel ploy to push me out of his life.

Inside, his teammate was still talking. "Ava is crazy about you. What if she falls for someone else in Oregon?"

"Her?" Caleb scoffed, the idea clearly absurd to him. "She's so loyal she'd take a bullet for me. You really think a little distance is going to make her stop loving me?"

"I don't know, man," his teammate muttered. "She doesn't seem like the kind of girl you can just screw over."

"No way," Caleb said lazily. "Our school is full of rich kids. Has she ever given any of them the time of day?"

His tone dripped with disdain as he continued, "She's always hanging around me. It's so damn annoying."

A burst of harsh, mocking laughter erupted from the room. I wanted to run, but my feet felt bolted to the floor, forcing me to endure the humiliation.

One of the guys clicked his tongue. "First time I've seen a guy push away a girl who's head over heels for him. I'm impressed, man. But if she annoys you, why not just tell her? She doesn't seem like the type to cling."

Caleb frowned. "She's too damn stubborn. You can't just be direct with her."

He paused, then dropped the real bombshell. "Besides, Chloe gets sad whenever she sees Ava. She only feels better when I'm holding her hand. I'm doing this for Chloe. Ava will just have to put up with it for now."

Suddenly, everything clicked. Caleb had started faking the bullying right after Chloe Miller, from the cheerleading squad, began getting close to him.

"You sly dog! A few cheerleaders show up and you're totally whipped?" someone laughed. "But Chloe does have that soft, helpless, damsel-in-distress vibe. Guys eat that up. Not like Ava. She's sharp, and she's always got this icy glare that keeps people at a distance. No matter how gorgeous she is, it's hard to get close."

The others chimed in, tearing me apart like a pack of wolves. Caleb didn't stop them. He didn't defend me. He even chuckled, adding his silent agreement to their jabs.

My heart sank, plunging into a dark abyss. For a moment, I wanted to kick down that door and confront him.

Why lie? Did he feel no guilt watching me get hurt for his sake? Did our years of friendship mean nothing?

But my mother's words echoed in my mind. "Don't waste your emotions on people who aren't worth it."

In the end, I turned and walked away.

The betrayal stung even more because of what had happened just two days earlier.

The day we decided to transfer, Caleb had dragged me to a bonfire party by the lake to celebrate our "escape." The flickering flames cast a warm glow on his face, and I couldn't tear my eyes from the boy I had secretly loved for years. My pulse raced.

The summer air was thick with the scent of pine as he leaned in to kiss me. I didn't push him away. Years of suppressed feelings flooded my senses. His lips were hot and urgent, with a hint of possession.

I couldn't help but ask, "Caleb, what are we now?"

He placed a soft kiss on my forehead, his breath brushing my skin. "What do you think, silly?"

Cheers erupted from our friends around us, echoing the hope sparking in my own heart. But just two days later, his words shattered that fragile dream.

I laughed through my tears, the sound bitter and hollow. It seemed that vague, flippant answer was just another trick to push me away and make room for Chloe.

The amethyst music box on my dresser sat silent, and the breeze from the open window did nothing to dry my tears. But as the initial pain subsided, something else began to form in its place: resolve.

Caleb had gotten our dynamic completely wrong. He was merely the illegitimate son of the Vaughn family; I was the sole heiress to the Prescott family.

We were never meant to be intertwined. We belonged to different worlds.

The application email draft was still open on my screen, a relic of a now-dead plan. I didn't care.

I would write a new one. The Prescotts always had a backup plan.

I drafted a new email, pausing at the recipient line. Then I called my mother, Catherine Prescott. "Mom, that design institute in London you mentioned… Yes, I'm going. Alone."

My mind drifted to another boy, one who bore a passing resemblance to Caleb, but sharper, more striking. A memory from two years ago surfaced: his wicked, knowing grin as he'd told me, "Mark my words, Ava. One day, you'll dump Caleb for me."

Back then, I'd thought he was joking. Now, Caleb and I were well and truly over.

I sent the email and let out a long breath. For the first time in weeks, my heart felt calm.

Just then, the doorbell rang, startling me. I was the only one living in this house, and besides me, only one other person knew the security code.

I opened the door to find Caleb standing there, his voice as warm as ever. "You didn't come say goodbye to our friends. I was a little worried."

I kept my tone even. "I had an upset stomach. Decided to stay home."

I was about to close the door when I caught sight of someone behind him.

Chloe, looking small and delicate, flinched when our eyes met. Caleb noticed her reaction and immediately pulled her closer, shielding her with his arm. "Ava, you're scaring her."

There she went again, playing the timid victim, as if I were some monster when I hadn't even moved.

My expression turned to ice. "I told you I don't want strangers in my house."

Caleb's brow furrowed. "Chloe's not a stranger. She came because she was worried about you."

Before I could reply, Chloe's eyes welled with tears. "Ava, I'm sorry. I know you look down on me, but I promise I'm not... dirty."

She let out a sob, looking utterly pathetic. "I promise I won't get your house dirty."

Caleb glared at me. "Her family isn't wealthy, but that doesn't make her dirty. God, Ava, you're being a real disappointment."

Chloe tugged on his sleeve, playing the peacemaker. "It's okay, Caleb. Don't fight with her because of me."

She forced a teary smile. "You two have known each other for so long. How could I ever compare?"

"Don't say that," Caleb whispered, gently cupping her face. "You're one of a kind."

Then he turned back to me, his expression frigid. "Chloe's upset. I'm taking her home. You need to grow up. And don't forget to file your school withdrawal papers."

He was right about one thing. I did have some reflecting to do—on just how blind I'd been.

Without a second thought, I changed the security code to my house. The knot in my chest loosened, as if I had finally exhaled a breath I'd been holding for years.

The next morning, I went to school with my withdrawal papers in hand.

As the secretary stamped the documents, a wave of emptiness washed over me. I stared blankly at the ink until a figure stepped in front of me.

Caleb's brow was furrowed. "You changed your security code? I came back to check on you after dropping Chloe off, but I couldn't get in."

I cut him off. "Yes, I did."

He suppressed his annoyance, his voice shifting back to that familiar, warm tone. "What's the new code? So I can come over and take care of you."

"There's no need," I said flatly. "I'm moving once I transfer."

He glanced at the confirmation email on my phone and slapped his forehead. "Oh, right, I forgot. Don't worry, I'll get my papers done tomorrow."

Walking and talking with him felt like a faint echo of old times. Moments like these had all but vanished since Chloe's arrival.

As nostalgia tugged at my heart one last time, I decided to test the waters. "After everything that's happened, you really don't have to worry about me anymore."

He was silent for a moment. "Actually, I…"

Chloe suddenly appeared behind him, clutching a stack of notes. Her voice was cloying, a high-pitched whine. "Caleb, you promised you'd help me study. Where did you run off to?"

She shoved the notes at him, batting her eyelashes. "I saw your whole schedule is packed for the next two months, so I prepared some study materials for us. You won't get mad that I peeked at your calendar, will you?"

"Of course not," Caleb managed, forcing a stiff smile and darting a quick, guilty glance at me.

When I showed no reaction, his eyes dimmed slightly.

I knew exactly what was happening. While he was pushing me away, he had been planning a future with Chloe—one that didn't include me.

I kept my face a mask of indifference, but inside, bitterness spread like a slow burn of whiskey. I dug my nails into my palm, grounding myself. "I'll get going, then. Don't want to disturb you two."

Chloe gasped, pretending she had only just noticed me. "Ava? Are you upset because I'm studying with Caleb? I don't have your money or connections, so…"

Her voice broke, and she started to sob.

Unmoved, I said, "Get out of my way."

My blunt words shattered Caleb's guilt. He grabbed my wrist, his voice hot with anger. "What the hell is your problem?"

He yanked me in front of Chloe and commanded, "Apologize to her. Now."

The last lingering shred of affection I had for him crumbled to dust. My hand flew up, slapping him hard across the face. "You're the one who should be apologizing. Not to Chloe. To me."