Chapter 4
In the original story, Yvette's grades were decent at best—nothing impressive.
But I was not her. I was here, with all her memories, down to the smallest detail, and my own mind.
It was just a senior-year placement test.
Even with the allergy reaction, passing was easy for me.
Sabrina never worried about these things. She just left everything to Lucas and Ethan.
When she heard I was taking the exam, she didn't even bat an eye.
*****
After finishing early, I made a beeline for Galewood University, Lucas and Ethan's school.
With half my test paper still blank, I knocked on the door to Lucas' personal study.
He turned his head, his brows furrowed, but didn't immediately kick me out.
I whispered, "Lucas, could you please not tell Ethan I turned in my test early?"
"Mom and Dad are so accomplished. If they hear I messed up the exam, they'll think I'm a total disgrace," I added, my voice barely above a whisper.
Lucas and Ethan were natural rivals, always trying to outdo each other.
Well, except when it came to me. Then they worked together against me.
Ethan, the older one, acted like Mark and Sylvia's informant. He watched everything and reported it all back.
Lucas, who couldn't stand Ethan, looked almost smug as he pulled me into the study, raising an eyebrow.
Lucas said, his voice cool and calculating, "Fine, I'll keep it from Ethan."
"But what's in it for me?" he asked, his eyes glinting with interest.
I knew what he really wanted.
If I moved out, Sabrina would finally come home.
But there was another option—one he hadn't thought of.
Why let them team up against me? Better to change tactics and turn them against each other.
I said, keeping my voice low and earnest, "Lucas, I know you and Ethan are both into Sabrina.
"If you agree to tutor me, I can help you... keep Ethan distracted."
Lucas' expression shifted from shock to suspicion, then to a spark of sharp interest. He looked like someone who'd just seen an opening.
He snatched the pen from my hand and dashed out the solutions on the scratch paper, fast and careless.
Everyone at Galewood University had real talent. No one was just for show.
He broke down the toughest problems in just a few words, making it all look effortless.
His approach was a little unconventional, but there were some real flashes of brilliance in his solutions.
I played dumb, chewing on my pen cap and faking deep concentration as Lucas grabbed his bag to leave.
"I still don't get a few of these questions. I'll go ask Ethan for help," I said, putting on my sweetest clueless act.
Lucas gave a satisfied nod and hurried off, looking like he'd just scored a win.
*****
Ethan was always the quiet type, usually found wandering by the lake at Galewood University.
When he spotted me, there was a quick flash of guilt in his eyes.
"Done with the test? How'd it go?" he asked, acting like he didn't care much.
I scratched my head, trying to look clueless. "Just so-so. I'm really not that smart, and a few problems stumped me."
Maybe because my allergy meltdown was still fresh in his mind, Ethan was actually being nice for once.
He closed his laptop, picked up my test paper, and started going over the questions with me.
But the more he explained, the harder it was for me to keep up the act.
By the end, even he started to notice something was off.
He grabbed the scratch paper I'd been keeping covered with my hand.
"Is this Lucas' handwriting?" His voice was sharp as he asked.
I fumbled for words. "Yeah, I did ask him first. But you know Lucas. He got annoyed and didn't really want to help."
Ethan, ever the skeptic, snapped, "Didn't want to? Then why'd he fill a whole page with three different solutions?"
"Yvette, do you seriously think I'm that easy to trick?" He narrowed his eyes at me.
Panic hit me, and I blinked hard, fighting back tears.
Ethan fixed me with a glare, his tone ice-cold. "Yvette, quit playing games. Why did you really come to me?"
Words failed me for a second.
When I finally looked up, my voice was rough, on the edge of breaking down.
I rasped, "Ethan, can't you see?
"I sent him away... for you."
Ethan just stood there, speechless.