Chapter 3

The next morning, the day of the scholarship exam, dawned bright and clear.

I got ready, a strange calmness settling over me.

My parents wished me luck, their faces full of love and hope.

This time, their hope wouldn't be shattered. I wouldn't let it.

As I was about to leave, my backpack on, Ethan appeared at my doorstep.

He looked rumpled, like he'd slept in his clothes, but surprisingly not hungover.

Maybe Jessi' s party hadn' t been as "epic" in its execution as she' d planned, or maybe he' d rallied.

His friends, Mark and Dave, were with him, smirking.

"Morning, Sarah," Ethan said, his tone casual, but his eyes sharp, suspicious.

"Ready for the big day?"

"As I'll ever be," I replied, trying to keep my voice light.

He stepped closer. "You didn't, uh, happen to mention my party to my parents, did you?"

His friends snickered.

"Why would I do that, Ethan?" I asked, feigning innocence.

"Just wondering," he said, but he didn't look convinced. "You've been acting weird. Too quiet."

He suddenly lunged for my backpack.

"Hey!" I yelped, trying to pull it away, but he was stronger.

He unzipped it and rummaged inside, pulling out my phone and then... my printed National Innovators Scholarship Exam Admission Pass.

The official paper, my entry ticket.

"What are you doing?" I demanded, my heart starting to pound. This wasn't part of my memory of the first life. This was new. This was a deviation.

"Just making sure you're not planning any last-minute sabotage," he sneered. "Like calling my mom and telling her I'm unfit to take the exam."

Mark and Dave were laughing openly now.

"Give that back, Ethan!" I said, my voice rising despite myself. "I need that to get in. It's important!"

My desperation seemed to fuel his petty anger.

"Important, huh?" he said, a cruel glint in his eyes. He held the pass up.

"Ethan, don't you dare!"

His friends egged him on. "Show her who's boss, E!"

With a deliberate, theatrical rip, Ethan tore my admission pass in half.

Then, for good measure, he tore the halves into quarters.

The pieces fluttered to the ground like mocking confetti.

"Oops," he said, not sounding sorry at all. "Guess you're not so important now."

Mark and Dave cheered.

I stared at the torn pieces of paper, my future, my carefully laid plans for this new life, seemingly shredded before my eyes.

For a moment, the despair of my first life threatened to overwhelm me.

This wasn't supposed to happen. He was supposed to ruin his own chances, not mine.

He saw the shock on my face.

"See you at Caltech," he said with a smirk, then turned and walked away with his laughing friends, leaving me standing there with the remnants of my admission.

Publicly, I looked devastated. I let a few tears fall.

Inwardly, a cold fury was building. He had no idea what he'd just done.

Or perhaps, he did. Perhaps this was his preemptive strike, born of paranoia.

I carefully picked up the torn pieces of my pass.

My mind raced.

I didn't go home. I didn't cry to my parents.

Instead, I walked straight to Northwood High, to Ms. Davison, my guidance counselor.

She was surprised to see me, looking so distressed.

"Sarah? What's wrong? You should be heading to the exam center."

I showed her the torn pass. "Ethan Hayes did this."

Her eyes widened in shock. "But why?"

"He thought I was going to tell his parents he was out partying last night."

I took a deep breath. "Ms. Davison, remember that full scholarship offer to the State University Engineering Program? The one I put on hold because I wanted to go to Caltech with Ethan?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes, of course. A very generous offer."

"Is it still available?" I asked, my voice steady. "I'd like to formally accept it."

Ms. Davison looked at me, a mixture of sympathy and understanding in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry this happened, Sarah. But yes, I believe we can still secure that for you. State University would be lucky to have you."

She made a few calls. Within an hour, it was done.

I had a full ride to a highly-regarded engineering program. Not Caltech, but a good one. A safe one.

When I told my parents, they were shocked by Ethan's actions, but their relief that I had a secure future was palpable.

"Oh, Sarah," my mom said, hugging me tight. "Maybe this is for the best. State is a wonderful school, and you'll be brilliant there."

My dad squeezed my shoulder. "We're proud of you, honey. You handled this with incredible maturity."

They didn't know the half of it.

The torn pass. Jessi's recorded confession. Ethan's escalating cruelty.

It was all evidence. Evidence I would use.

This time, I wouldn't just survive. I would make sure justice was served.