Chapter 2

I called Ethan.

I wanted to know why they went back on their word.

But he hung up on me, clearly annoyed.

He snapped, "Rachel, are you crazy? You know Emily's been sick and feeling awful lately, and you're just flaunting your success to rub it in her face.

"What's so great about some stupid performance? The world doesn't revolve around you!"

As the cold, robotic dial tone echoed in my ear, it felt like my heart had been ripped open, bleeding out.

So that was what my hard-won honor meant to them. It was just petty, pathetic pride.

This wasn't the first time.

Ever since Emily moved into our house, it felt like my parents' love for me was fading away.

Back then, I didn't understand. I thought if I was good enough, they'd love me more.

So I buried myself in my books, pulling all-nighters just to get a leg up.

But when I came home all excited, clutching a stack of awards, all I got was their cold, biting words.

"Rachel, are you done making a scene? You know Emily is sensitive and struggling to keep up in school. She's feeling awful, and you still have to make her feel worse?" my mom snapped.

"How did we end up with someone so cold and uncaring? We're so disappointed in you," my dad added.

The next day, they took Emily on a trip to cheer her up, not even sparing a thought for me, with my SAT coming up.

When I was hospitalized, they were busy throwing Emily a coming-of-age party.

They even sent me off to boarding school just so they could take better care of Emily, and I barely saw them all year.

All my efforts seem to have been a mistake.

I should've realized it long ago.

Staring at the darkened screen, I blinked furiously, but the tears just wouldn't stop, streaming down my face.

Anyway, it didn't matter to me.

I walked home with the cold wind biting at me the whole way.

Just as I was about to step inside, someone blocked my path.

"Emily finally managed to crack a smile after we worked so hard to cheer her up, and you just had to show up and be an eyesore?" Ryan Brooks said, his voice sharp.

I never thought Ryan could be so mean.

He was my childhood friend, living next door.

After being ignored by my family over and over, I just couldn't hold it in anymore. I ended up pouring my heart out to him.

I said, my voice shaky, "No matter how hard I try, they still love Emily more.

"Is there something wrong with me? Maybe I just don't deserve anyone's love."

Back then, Ryan was furious. "Whoever said that is talking nonsense. I'll knock their teeth out. You're the best, Rachel. At least to me."

He took my hand and looked me in the eye. "I'll always be on your side. Pinky promise, forever and always."

I believed him.

But when I got back from the intensive training camp out of town, I caught sight of Ryan under the trellis.

He was gently brushing a flower petal from Emily's hair, his gaze soft and full of care.

In that instant, it was like ice water poured over me.

I stumbled back, my foot crunching a twig underfoot.

Ryan turned around, and when he saw me, he froze for a second before his face lit up with excitement.

"Rachel, you won't believe it. Emily is actually the pen pal I told you about. What a small world, right? I can't believe we met like this," he blurted out.

I knew Ryan had a pen pal.

They'd never met in person, but they really hit it off whenever they talked.

Looking past Ryan's excited face, I saw Emily standing there, giving me a faint, knowing smile.

My head was buzzing, and everything was going numb.

No.

Please...

Was Ryan going to leave me behind too?

I kept whispering it to myself, hands shaking.

Instead, he just frowned at me, looking disappointed.

He said, frowning, "Emily is just honest and innocent. She's not manipulative like you're making her out to be.

"Why can't you just get along with her?"

I forced a smile, but inside, my heart was ice-cold.

I was the one who had been watching their love slip away, piece by piece.

After that day, I deleted Ryan from all my contacts.

I never imagined our next encounter would end up like this.

When I didn't say anything, Ryan's brows furrowed, his voice going cold.

"Rachel, are you really that clueless? You're not coming in. You're always so reckless, never letting anyone have a moment's peace..." he said.

"Ryan, shut up. Who do you think you are, bossing me around?" I snapped.

I yanked off my high heels and hurled them at him.

I sneered, "You got so much to say. Why don't you go teach a fish to climb a tree?

"I don't need your permission to come home. Stop thinking you're so important."

Ryan was left speechless, completely thrown off by my outburst.

"Rachel, what are you even saying?" he stammered.

I gave a cold, mocking laugh. "I ask you to get lost.

"You're such bad luck. Just seeing you ruins my day."

Ryan's eyes went wide, totally shocked.

I scoffed, hiked up my dress, and was about to step inside when suddenly, someone kicked me hard in the back.

I tumbled straight into the pond beside me.

The freezing water and slimy, stinking seaweed clung to me, leaving me a complete mess.

My pretty dress was completely trashed, and my makeup was smeared all over my face.