Chapter 3

The next few weeks were a blur of graduation rehearsals and hollow goodbyes.

Brittany, armed with my SAT notes, miraculously started acing practice tests. Kevin and Jack paraded her scores around like personal victories.

"See, Emily?" Kevin said one afternoon when he and Jack cornered me in the library. "All Brittany needed was a little help. You were being selfish, hoarding those notes."

"I wasn't hoarding them," I said, my voice tired. "I just didn't realize she was in such dire need."

"Well, she was," Jack said, his tone accusatory. "She almost had a breakdown over her math scores. You should apologize to her for not offering sooner."

Apologize? To Brittany? For their delusion?

"Fine," I said, pushing my chair back. "Where is she?"

They led me to the student lounge, where Brittany was dramatically sighing over a textbook, a group of sympathetic onlookers cooing around her.

"Brittany," I began, the words feeling like ash in my mouth. "I'm sorry if my not sharing my notes earlier caused you any stress."

She looked up, her eyes wide and innocent. "Oh, Emily. It's okay. I know you didn't mean it. And Kevin and Jack have been such angels." She beamed at them.

They puffed up, preening under her praise.

"Now that's settled," Kevin said, clapping his hands. "State University orientation is next week. We can all drive down together."

"Yeah," Jack chimed in. "It'll be like old times, but, you know, with Brittany too."

They genuinely believed I was going to State with them. That my talk of Berkeley was just a childish tantrum.

The day before orientation, my aunt from California called.

"Everything's set, sweetie. Your dorm room at Berkeley is confirmed. I'll pick you up from SFO tomorrow afternoon."

Relief washed over me, so potent it almost buckled my knees.

That evening, Kevin and Jack showed up at my doorstep.

"Ready for the road trip, Em?" Kevin asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"We even made a playlist," Jack added, holding up his phone. "All our old favorites."

I stepped aside, letting them into the living room. My suitcases were by the door.

"Actually, guys," I said, picking up my largest bag. "I'm not going to State."

Their smiles faltered.

"What are you talking about?" Kevin demanded.

I held up a one-way plane ticket to San Francisco and my Berkeley acceptance letter.

"I'm going to California. My flight leaves in the morning."

Their faces were a study in disbelief.

"You're bluffing," Kevin said, a sneer forming. "You're just trying to make us feel guilty."

Jack looked genuinely hurt. "Emily, this isn't funny. We thought... we thought you understood about Brittany."

"Oh, I understand perfectly," I said, my voice devoid of emotion. "I understand that you've made your choice. And I've made mine."

I walked past them, towards the door.

"You'll regret this, Emily!" Kevin called after me. "You'll be back in a month, crying, when you realize how hard it is on your own!"

I didn't look back.