Chapter 5
One of the lights in the hallway was broken.
The flickering light fell across Ryan's face, his hand still clamped around my wrist.
Our homeroom teacher stood a few feet away, his voice low. "Ryan, let go."
Ryan didn't move.
"Sir, this is between me and Sophia," he said.
The teacher gave an incredulous laugh. "Her college choices are your business too?"
Ryan's lips tightened.
Emily came out of the private room, wrapped in his jacket, her shoulders trembling.
"Sir, it's all just a misunderstanding. Ryan's only worried Sophie will be all alone if she goes out of town, with no one to look after her. She's always been stubborn and never really opens up about anything," Emily said.
Her voice was soft, every word trying to defend Ryan.
The teacher turned to me. "Sophia, what do you have to say?"
Ryan's grip tightened.
Pain shot through my wrist, leaving it numb.
He stared at me, that unshakeable confidence in his eyes.
He figured I'd do what I always did, bite back my feelings and smooth things over for him.
The private room door was half open, and all the students inside were craning their necks to see what was happening.
Some were just curious, some were there for the drama, and a few looked like they didn't approve.
I unzipped my backpack and pulled out the college application form.
I spread it out in front of the teacher.
First choice: Northbridge University, English literature.
The teacher's eyes lit up when he saw it. "This is what you should've picked."
Ryan snatched it from me.
The paper crumpled in his grip.
He stared at me, disbelief in his voice. "Sophia, are you serious?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
"What about Emily if you leave?" he asked.
His question was so out of line that the whole hallway went silent.
I looked up at him. "She's got you."
Ryan was left speechless.
Emily's eyes went red. "Sophie, are you still mad at me? I never meant to take your choice of school away from you. I was just scared of staying here all by myself."
The teacher's voice was icy. "Emily, don't you know which schools your grades actually qualify you for?"
Emily's face went pale.
Ryan immediately stepped in front of her. "Sir, you don't have to be so harsh."
The teacher took the form from Ryan and handed it to me. "The system opens tomorrow. Submit this and do not let anyone sway you again."
Ryan let out a laugh, but there was no warmth in his eyes.
Ryan said, "Sophia, if you take this step today, don't regret it later."
Emily whispered, "Ryan, don't be like this. Daniel's just led Sophie astray."
No one noticed when Daniel showed up at the end of the hallway.
Daniel was holding my jacket, speaking in a cool, even voice. "She scored 1550 on the SATs. Northbridge University is a lock for her. I'm not the one messing with her choices."
The last shred of Ryan's composure shattered.
He lunged forward and grabbed Daniel by the collar.
"Say that again?" he snarled.
The teacher barked, "Stop it!"
The guys from the private room rushed out to break them up.
Amid the commotion, Emily suddenly shrieked, "My hand!"
Ryan instantly let go of Daniel and rushed over to her.
The back of her hand was scraped and reddened where it had hit the corner of the wall.
Ryan cradled her hand, his anger now aimed straight at me. "Sophia, are you happy now? Did you really have to push Emily to this point?"
At the end of the hallway, a waiter pushed a cart past, the wheels rolling away into the distance.
I looked at his face, pale with tension, and suddenly, nothing hurt anymore.
"Ryan," I said.
He looked up.
"Let's break up," I said.
He just stared at me, like the words didn't even register.
A few seconds later, he stood up, his eyes so red it was almost scary.
Ryan growled, "Say that again."
I reached into his pocket, pulled out the dolphin bracelet, and set it on the trash can lid.
"Let's break up," I said.