This time, I did nothing.
And Brittany and Ashton were still found.
Coach Davis, setting up for gym class,
discovered the smoke and found them – but
–
too late. They were barely alive, clinging to
life in the ICU.
L
Ashton missed the PSATS.
I, on the other hand, killed the test. Thirty
extra points for college applications. Not bad.
Last time, with Brittany gone, Ashton
channeled all his grief into academics.
Perfect SAT score, Harvard, then a Masters,
PhD, a multi–million dollar job straight out of
school. He single–handedly boosted his family
into the stratosphere. He was the success
story.
And I was his shadow.
Second in the state, I stopped at my Masters.
Worse, I put my own career on hold to
support him through his doctorate. Years
wasted, devoted to him.
<
Stupid.
This time, I was living for me.
When I went to the hospital, Ashton was
screaming at his mother.
Seeing me, Mrs. Summers grabbed my arm,
desperate. “Liv, honey, you always had a
good influence on him. Tell him to get his
head on straight!”
“With the SATs just around the corner, he’s
here playing nursemaid to his girlfriend!”
“Girlfriend? This isn’t the time for games!”
“That girl’s trouble. No decent girl spends the
night alone with a boy!” She squeezed my
L
I gently disengaged. “Mrs. Summers, Ashton’s
old enough to make his own decisions.”
Ashton shot me a look, suspicious.
Mrs. Summers blinked, surprised. I’d always
been her ally before.
“Mom, don’t worry,” Ashton said, all strained
patience. “I can ace the SATS in my sleep.”
He turned to me, his voice dripping with.
annoyance. “What do you want, Olivia?”
I held out the flowers, my voice neutral. “My
parents sent me to see if you needed
anything.”
“Nothing. You can go.” He snatched the
<
flowers, his gaze hostile. “And Olivia, don’t
get any ideas.”
“We’re just childhood friends. Stay out of
this.”
It hit me like a lightning bolt.
Ashton remembered too.
He had to. He wouldn’t say that otherwise.
Brittany lay pale and still, swallowed by the
white sheets. She looked like a porcelain doll,
fragile and untouchable.
No wonder she was Ashton’s obsession.
I left the get–well card my parents sent and
turned to go when Brittany’s eyes flickered
く
Ashton rushed to her, his voice thick with
emotion. “Brittany! You’re okay.”
“I’ll never let anything happen to you again.”
He clasped her hand.
But Brittany, seeing me, pulled her hand away
and coughed, a delicate flush rising on her
cheeks.
She looked at me, a strange expression in her
eyes.
“Ashton,” she said softly, “you shouldn’t do
that. It’s not right, with your fiancée
watching.”
Everyone thought we were a couple. It started
with our parents joking about it, and it just…
<
stuck.
Neither of us corrected it.
I hadn’t, because, well… I had liked him.
As for Ashton, I never knew why he played
along.
But now, with Brittany’s words hanging in the
air, he said, clear and cold, “Brittany, there’s
no misunderstanding. Olivia and I are just old
friends, nothing more.”
He shot me a warning glance.
As if daring me to contradict him. As if
reminding me of the fire.
My nails dug into my palms, but I forced a
<
smile. “Brittany, you don’t have to worry
about me. Ashton and I aren’t even friends
anymore.”
“Just acquaintances.”
Ashton looked genuinely surprised. I guess he
remembered the other me, the one who
practically worshipped him, the one who gave
up everything to support his ambitions.
I turned to leave.
“Olivia,” he called after me.
I glanced back. “Something else?”
“Boyfriend.” Brittany’s voice was a soft purr.
She twined her fingers around Ashton’s. “I’m
hungry. Will you make me something?
<
“Anything.”
Any doubt vanished from his eyes. He had his
second chance. Why would he bother with
me?
I walked away.
Three months. I didn’t see Ashton.
I buried myself in my studies, shedding weight
and sleep. I dragged Maya, my academically
average best friend, along for the ride. After
the final practice SATS, Ms. Zhou, our
guidance counselor, called me in.
“Liv, fantastic work! Number one in the state!
Keep this up, and you can write your own
ticket to any college you want.”
L
“And Maya, your scores have jumped too!
You’re in the top 300 now! I’m so proud of
you both.”
The other teachers crowded around. “Looks
like Ms. Zhou’s got the golden ticket this
year! Congratulations!”
“Such a shame about Ashton Summers,
though.”
Someone chimed in, “If he’d stayed on track,
Ms. Zhou could’ve had the top two students
in the state.
Ms. Zhou’s face fell. “Such a bright kid,
completely derailed. That Brittany girl – she’s
trouble. Parties, skipping class, and those
grades…” She sighed. “Liv, you and Ashton
<
were close. Any idea when he’s coming
back?”
