I shook my head. “No, Ms. Zhou. I’ve been
focused on studying.”
“I doubt he’ll be back,” another teacher said.
“I saw him at the hospital the other day.
Brittany’s pregnant, apparently. Three months
along. Seems that little sleepover had
consequences…”
The room fell silent.
Ms. Zhou shook her head. “Guess I’ll have to
have a word with the Summers family.”
I slipped out. If Ashton found out I’d spoken
to Ms. Zhou, I’d be public enemy number one
again.
く
A week before the SATS, Ashton and Brittany
were back.
Ashton cornered me immediately.
“Olivia. Was it you?” His face was
thunderous, fists clenched. Ready to brawl.
Maya stepped between us, bristling. “What
are you talking about? Leave Liv alone!”
Brittany materialized, clinging to Ashton’s
arm, her eyes red–rimmed but her voice
steady.
“Ashton, don’t be ridiculous. Olivia wouldn’t
do something like that. I mean, just because
she likes you…”
<
“It would be a pretty low blow.”
The class turned to stare. Whispers rippled
through the room.
“Didn’t Olivia totally have a thing for Ashton?
We all thought they’d end up together.”
“Brittany’s way hotter, though. Liv never
stood a chance.”
“Ashton and Brittany – what a story. Talk
about high school drama.”
“Maybe Olivia did do it out of spite…”
Ashton’s face twisted. He kicked my desk
over, sending my books scattering. “Olivia,
get over yourself. I’m not interested in you,
not now, not ever. I love Brittany.”
<
I picked up my pen, my voice cold. “You’re
delusional. I don’t have a crush on you.
You’re projecting.”
“You-” He spluttered, caught off guard.
“I’m not interested in your melodrama.” |
gestured to the mess on the floor. “I need to
study. Pick up my desk. Or I will report you to
Ms. Zhou.”
Speak of the devil. Ms. Zhou appeared in the
doorway.
She took in the scene, me standing amidst
my scattered belongings, Ashton looming over
me, and her face hardened. “Ashton
Summers! What is the meaning of this?”
L
“Your grades are tanking, you’re disrupting
class, and now you’re bullying other
students?”
“If I hadn’t heard about you and Brittany from
Mr. Davis, you’d still be playing hooky,
wouldn’t you?!”
The truth was out.
Ashton flushed crimson, backing down.
I shrugged. “Ashton. Your life is not my
concern. Just stay out of mine.”
Brittany rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Liv?
Wasting your life studying? What a loser.”
The SATS were finally over.
く
As I put down my pencil, I knew I’d nailed it.
Past life’s knowledge, plus this life’s hard
work – I was golden. Any college I wanted.
Ashton, well… I heard later.
Brittany had a fall, a complication with the pregnancy. Ashton missed the science
section, his strongest subject, to take her to
the hospital.
When my scores came back, my parents
threw a party. Balloons, streamers, the whole
shebang.
As the last confetti settled, we had a visitor.
Mrs. Summers, weeping.
<
“It’s all ruined! My poor boy…”
“I gave up everything for him, my whole
career, and for what? To see him throw it all
away on that… that girl?”
“He promised me he could get into Harvard or
Yale, no problem! And now… he might not
even get into a decent state school!” She
clutched her chest, gasping for breath. “Your
Liv, she’s such a good girl. Look at her, top
of the class, twenty points ahead of everyone
else! What an honor!”
I watched her, a knot in my stomach. That
honor, those scores last time, they were
Ashton’s.
One wrong step, and it all unravels.
く
“He wants to defer college,” Mrs. Summers
wailed. “To ‘follow his heart‘! He’s going to
follow that girl wherever she goes! He says ‘true talent always shines through,‘ even at
community college! He can still be
successful!”
I stayed silent.
Ashton, so naive. He had no idea that his
“talent,” his golden sheen, came from the
opportunities he was given, the doors that
were opened for him.
“A girl who gets knocked up at seventeen –
what kind of future does she have? And him,
following her…” The rest of Mrs. Summers‘
rant was a litany of insults aimed at Brittany.
く
At the graduation masquerade ball, Ashton
and Brittany made a grand entrance,
fashionably late.
They strutted in like they’d conquered the
world.
Under the spotlight, Ashton proposed. Him,
the fallen prince, and her, the scandalous
beauty. The room buzzed with whispers.
Some were romantic, envious of their “epic
love story.”
Others were horrified. Ashton, throwing away
his future, settling for community college
because of a girl.
I stayed on the sidelines, trying to avoid the
<
drama. But Brittany, champagne flute in hand,
sought me out.
“Olivia, darling. Congratulations on your
scores. Very impressive.”
I raised my glass. “Thanks.”
“Of course,” she continued, taking a sip, “it’s
not like good grades really matter for a girl, is
it? Let’s be honest, a good husband is more
important than a good college. What good is
a fancy degree if you end up alone?”
She gazed at Ashton, her eyes full of possessive triumph. “I’ve relived this so many
times. Finally, I have him. And I’m not letting
go.”
The word “relived” snagged my attention. I
<
opened my mouth to question her, but Ashton
appeared, possessive arm around Brittany’s
waist. Protecting his precious prize.
“Congratulations, Olivia.” He clinked his glass
against mine. “Glad you got what you wanted.
State champion.”
His eyes said, If I’d taken the science section,
it would’ve been me.
But I know what I’m capable of.
This time, my score was eight points higher
than his best from my previous life.
“Congratulations on the engagement,” I said
flatly.
Ashton’s face glowed, all youthful dreams of
<
a perfect future. Brittany, nestled against him,
already envisioning the lavish life she’d soon
be living.
“And to you both,” I said, a slow smile
spreading across my face, “I wish you exactly
what you deserve.”
Years passed. I didn’t see Ashton. Even Mrs.
Summers faded from my life.
I didn’t ask my mom what happened to them.
I just knew they’d moved out of their fancy
house, vanished without a trace.
The next I heard of him was at our seven-
year reunion.
I was working on my doctorate, finally
fulfilling the dream I’d abandoned in my
く
The reunion was a sea of suits and cocktail
dresses, polite conversation about business
deals and mortgages. No trace of youthful
rebellion left.
My arrival caused a stir.
Maya rushed over, grabbing my arm. “Liv!
You made it! It’s been ages!”
“We text, like, every other day,” I said, rolling
my eyes. “Sorry I’m late, everyone. Work stuff.
I’ll take a triple shot of tequila as penance.”
The crowd surged forward.
“No worries, Liv! You’re a busy woman now!”
“Liv’s a legend! Award–winning research,
<
Livs a leyenu: Award–winy researull,
successful investments, the whole package!
We wouldn’t expect anything less than
fashionably late.”
“Just glad you could grace us with your
presence, honestly.”
The flattery washed over me. I was used to it.
This life was different. I’d poured myself into
my research, and with the advantage of
hindsight, I’d made some smart investments,
building a comfortable fortune.
“So, where’s our resident Romeo?” someone
asked. “Ashton not gracing us with his
presence tonight?”
“Liv, we all thought you and Ashton would be
a thing after graduation.”
<
“Yeah, childhood sweethearts, both smart…
We figured you were just waiting till college.”
“I always thought they were secretly dating
already.”
A woman giggled. “Remember that graduation
party? Ashton declaring his undying love for
Brittany? We were all so jealous!”
“He was so cute, rich family, even if he
messed up the SATS, he could’ve retaken
them. But no…” She sighed. “Heard he went
to some community college. What a waste.”
“Wasn’t Brittany pregnant, too? Pretty bold
move…”
Just then, the door burst open.
く
Ashton.
But not the Ashton I remembered.
The Ashton in my memory was arrogant,
polished, untouchable. Always impeccably
dressed, sporting a new limited–edition tie I’d
picked out for him every day.
Even after his rebirth, he’d carried that same
swagger, determined to conquer the world.
This Ashton was… rumpled. III–fitting suit, no
tie, his eyes dull with exhaustion and
something that looked suspiciously like
defeat. Dark circles shadowed his face.
But seeing me, a flicker of something
–
hope? lit his eyes.
