Chapter 1
When it came time to choose our college majors, my boyfriend, William Carter, and my best friend, Emily Hart, both picked the same major.
When we started college, they ended up in the same department and even the same class.
Will helped Emily with her luggage when she moved in.
He grabbed meals for her, picked up her books, and even looked up her class schedule for her.
Meanwhile, I had to do all of that by myself.
Feeling a bit worn out, I asked them, "Why didn't you tell me you both picked the same major?"
Will just looked at me helplessly. "Hey, it's not my fault you're not smart enough to get into our major."
It was always like this.
I felt like all the strength had drained out of me.
All that determination I used to have, always pushing myself to keep up with them, just faded away in an instant.
Maybe we were never really on the same path to begin with.
*****
On the day of orientation, I stood at the school gate.
I sent a message to our little group chat.
Liv: [Will, Emy, where are you guys?
[The campus is huge, and I'm totally lost. Can you come pick me up?]
There was a quick reply in the group chat.
Will: [Liv, ask in the freshmen group chat, okay? Emily and I are in the same major, and I'm helping her with her luggage right now.]
Seeing that message, I glanced at the pile of bags at my feet.
I had hauled them here all on my own.
But my boyfriend was busy helping someone else with their luggage.
It was early September, and the summer heat still lingered in the air.
Under the blazing sun, sweat started to bead on my forehead.
I felt hot, tired, and honestly, a little left out.
Why am I always the one who gets overlooked?
I tried to comfort myself. 'It's not like it's some random person. It's Emily, our best friend.
Turns out, they ended up in the same major.
It was only natural for them to look out for each other.
Luckily, there were welcoming seniors at the school gate ready to help out the freshmen.
I scanned the crowd until I spotted a few seniors in the corner, holding up a sign for the archaeology major.
The seniors' eyes lit up when they spotted a new student.
They eagerly took my bags and helped me with my luggage.
Emily was actively sharing updates in the group chat.
Emily: [Seriously, just my luck. I ended up in the same class as Will again. Is there no escaping him, even in college?]
Emily sent a picture of her and Will in their new class.
Emily: [Liv, we've finished all the registration stuff. We're grabbing lunch at the East Cafeteria now.]
She sent a photo of William carrying two lunch trays in the cafeteria.
Emily: [He's annoying, but at least he's useful. He can help me move my stuff later.]
Emily kept chattering in the group chat.
Sometimes William grabbed her phone and texted me himself.
William: [Liv, how's it going on your end?]
William: [Don't tell me you're lost again and can't find your classroom?]
They started bantering in the group chat, tossing comments back and forth.
By the time I finally checked the group chat, there were over 99 messages.
I had already dragged my suitcase up to the fifth floor all by myself.
There was no elevator, and I was so exhausted I could barely stand.
So I finally asked, "Why didn't you guys tell me you both chose the same major?"
I was just really confused. Why would they keep something so trivial from me for a whole month or two?
The group chat went quiet for a few seconds.
Then Emily sent a voice message: "Babe, we wanted the best for you. Our major is really popular, and you need top grades to even get in.
"Honestly, I was afraid if I told you, you'd want to go for the same major as us."
William, looking like he was afraid I'd get mad, grabbed Emily's phone.
William said: "Liv, if you tried to go for our major, you'd miss the cut for sure. You wouldn't even get into a less popular major like archaeology.
"I really don't want to see the little Liv we basically brought up ourselves not even making it into college."
I was getting frustrated.
I might not be super talented, but I'm definitely not stupid.
I shot back, "I'm not dumb, and I'm not stupid."
William sent a voice message, his tone playful and teasing. "Not dumb, huh? Then how come you couldn't even make the cut for the major Emily and I picked?"