Chapter 5

"Why does your voice sound so hoarse? Did you not sleep well again last night?" Benjamin paused, as if smiling. "I knew you would always get nervous at critical moments. Come down. I'll go over the presentation with you one more time."

Be there for me. What a joke.

He was busy plotting ways to keep me off the stage, all while acting like the perfect childhood friend.

As I slung my backpack over my shoulder and headed downstairs, he was already waiting under the tree, holding a cup of milk and a sandwich. He was wearing the jacket I'd…