Chapter 2

"I..." Natalie's whole body trembled.

"Oh, not talking? Fine." Julia pulled out her phone. "I'll call my dad. If I don't get into my program, you're not going to college either."

"No!" Natalie lunged forward, but Julia's little entourage held her down.

Just as Julia connected the call, a shout cut through the room. "Hold on!"

My arm jerked upward as Jackson grabbed my wrist.

One hand in his pocket, the other wrapped tight around me, he said, "She was there at that time too. I saw her."

Julia's eyes shot wide.

I froze. "Wait, I didn't—"

I stepped forward to explain, but Jackson pulled me closer. "She messed up. Let me talk to her."

He dragged me to a corner where no one could hear and looked down at me. "Are you really going to let your best friend take the fall?"

I shook my head. "But I didn't do anything."

"Evelyn." He frowned, disappointment flickering in his eyes. "She can't afford to fail her exams. She actually has academic goals. Don't be selfish."

My fists trembled.

And then, I noticed the bracelet on his wrist loosening, just a little.

The beggar's words echoed in my mind.

My breath caught.

I closed my eyes. "Fine. I understand. I'll take the blame."

*****

At the grade assembly, I stood onstage while Julia's dad read a long speech, using me as the perfect cautionary tale.

Whispers filled the auditorium.

"Her? Wasn't she top of the grade before? How does someone like that sink so low?"

"Probably jealous. Her grades have been tanking lately, and now Julia's getting early admission. Must've snapped."

"Who knows how she got first place before? Maybe she's always cheated like this."

"Natalie's the real deal. Getting first now actually means something."

Jackson was the only one in the audience who wasn't whispering.

He just frowned at me, his expression dark and unreadable.

"Given the seriousness of Evelyn York's misconduct," Julia's father announced, "the school has decided to revoke all of Evelyn's scholarships and campus positions."

"Scholarships?" I snapped my head up. "But—"

"Evelyn." Julia's father narrowed his eyes at me. "Do you really think you're in any position to negotiate?"

My fingers tightened around the hem of my shirt.

More snickering rippled through the students.

I bit down hard, my eyes burning.

Mom was still waiting for that scholarship money to pay for her treatment.

I rushed off the stage, and someone caught my wrist for a moment.

Jackson's gaze met mine—worried, conflicted.

I pulled my arm away and hurried back to my seat.

After school, he kept following me.

He said, "I already paid for your mom's medical bills."

"Thank you," I said, my voice hoarse.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know they would drag you up there like that or take away your scholarship."

I didn't answer. I just kept walking.

"You don't have to worry. I'll support you."

I still didn't look back.

He finally grabbed my shoulder, turning me toward him. "I swear I won't let anything like this happen again. Evelyn, please don't shut me out."

His eyes pulled up a memory so sharp it hurt.

He said almost the exact same words after my dad died. He said he'd protect me for the rest of my life.

But everything changed the day I introduced him to Natalie.

I could still see the spark in his eyes when he first looked at her.

From then on, everything he gave me, he brought her one too.

And every time he forgot my favorite things but remembered hers, I convinced myself they were just closer friends.

Until the day he told me to "let Natalie have it".

But now, I'd seen him clearly.

I took a slow breath and forced a smile. "I'm not mad at you. I did it because I wanted to help you."

His arm went still.

At the same time, the bracelet on his wrist tightened again.

A few shady-looking figures loitering on the corner caught my eye.

My pulse jumped.

I grabbed his hand. "If you walk me home, I'll forgive you. Deal?"