Chapter 2
"You're a good student. You can just take the exam again next year," my mom said.
I didn't get it at the time.
Then, Noelle walked out of the room, wearing my white shirt and holding my ID card.
Her eyes were red, but she smiled softly.
She said, "Ava, don't blame me.
"Mom and Dad said that Natarhen University only checks the file and the ID card.
"We're about the same age, and if they ask about the photo, we can explain it."
I lunged forward to snatch the ID card.
Javier caught my wrist and slammed me against the dining table.
My knee banged into the corner of the table, and tears sprang to my eyes from the pain.
He looked at me, not a hint of sympathy in his eyes.
Javier said, "Ava, can't you just grow up a little.
"If Noelle doesn't get into college, she won't survive."
That day, I finally realized the truth.
To them, Noelle's life was important.
But if I couldn't make it, I was just being dramatic.
The judge looked at me.
"Defendant, do you plead guilty to the charges brought by the prosecution?" he asked.
I could hear my mom's rapid breathing.
Noelle's wheelchair made a soft noise.
Javier's hands clenched into fists.
I stood up, my voice steady.
"I don't plead guilty," I said.
I looked straight at Noelle, enunciating every word.
"Because I wasn't the one behind the wheel.
"And this isn't the first time someone's stolen my life by pretending to be me."
Four years ago, when I got my acceptance letter from Natarhen University, not a single person in the Foley family celebrated with me.
My dad turned the letter over in his hands, looking at it again and again, and finally asked, "How much is the tuition?"
I told him I could apply for a student loan.
He said, "Why does a girl need to go so far away for college?"
My mom was sitting next to Noelle, serving her food.
"Noelle didn't do well on her exams this time, and she's feeling down. Don't make a fuss at home," she said.
I wasn't making a fuss.
I just put the acceptance letter on the coffee table, hoping they'd at least glance at it.
Noelle suddenly put down her fork.
"Ava, did you do this on purpose?" she asked.
I froze.
Tears were already streaming down her face.
Noelle choked out, "You knew I didn't get in, but you still had to put that acceptance letter right in front of me, didn't you?
"Do you think I'm just useless?"
My mom immediately hugged her tight.
She soothed, "Noelle, don't cry.
"She's always been petty."
I clenched my fork so hard my fingers started to ache.
Javier came home from work, saw Noelle crying, and started yelling at me before he could take off his shoes.
He demanded, "Ava, are you picking on her again?
"She's adopted. You know she's always been sensitive. Why do you have to keep rubbing salt in her wounds?"
I handed him the acceptance letter.
"Javier, I got into Natarhen University," I said.
He barely glanced at it.
"Yeah," he replied.
It was just one word.
He was colder than a stranger saying congratulations.
That night, I lay in my room, clutching the acceptance letter as I fell asleep.
In the middle of the night, I woke up to the sound of hushed voices outside my door.
My mom said, "If Noelle has to repeat another year, her health just won't hold up."
My dad said, "Natarhen University's program is top-notch. Graduating from there means she can get into a big law firm. We can't let that go to waste."
Javier said, "Ava's grades are solid. She can just retake the SAT next year."
I felt my heart turn to ice.
I leaned against the door, listening as Noelle's voice came through, her words trembling with tears.
"But Ava was the one who got in," she said.
She said it like she felt bad, but I could hear the excitement in her voice.
My mom soothed her softly.
She said, "Ava's tough. She can handle anything.
"But you're different. We've always spoiled you."
I covered my mouth, making sure not to let a single sob escape.
The next day, I hid my acceptance letter and my ID card.
I really thought that would be enough to keep me safe.
But I totally underestimated how far the Foley family would go to rob me of everything.
On the third morning, Javier told me he was taking me to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get a new ID card.
As soon as I got in the car, the sugary smell of hot chocolate hit me.
Noelle passed me the cup.
Noelle said, "Ava, I messed up the other day.
"Please don't stay mad at me."
I left the hot chocolate untouched.
Javier glared at me through the rearview mirror.
"Noelle bought that for you. Why the attitude?" he said.
I stuck the straw in and took a sip.
When I woke up again, I was locked in my grandma's house.
The windows were all bound up with wire.
My phone was gone.
My bag was gone, too.
I pounded on the door until my palms were red and swollen, but the only one outside was a distant aunt.
She tried to calm me down from the other side of the door.
"Ava, stop making a fuss," she said.