Chapter 3

The next week, Ava bought two new suitcases, Yale blue.

She also picked up a Yale sweatshirt and a few books on East Coast history.

Ethan saw the shopping bags in her car when he dropped by.

"Getting ready for UCW, huh?" he asked, a teasing smile on his face. "Big plans for the dorm room?"

Ava just smiled enigmatically. "Something like that."

He looked confused for a second, then shrugged it off. "Cool. Hey, Chloe' s having a bit of a drama with her scholarship housing, some mix-up. She might need to crash with one of us for a few days before we all head to Westwood. My parents are out of town, so..."

He trailed off, clearly expecting Ava to offer her place.

Before Ava could even formulate a polite refusal, Jax, who had walked up, said, "She can stay at my place. My folks won' t care. Plenty of room."

Chloe, who had materialized beside Jax as if summoned, beamed. "Oh, Jax, you' re a lifesaver! Thank you!"

She looked so vulnerable, so grateful.

Ethan nodded, relieved. "Great. Solved."

They were so quick to cater to Chloe, their loyalties shifting seamlessly.

Ava watched them, a wall of ice forming around her heart.

She felt nothing. Just a distant, cold observation.

Her phone rang later that evening. Her mom.

"Ava, honey, are you absolutely sure about Yale? It' s so far."

Her mom' s voice was laced with apprehension, but also a reluctant understanding.

"I' m sure, Mom."

"We' re proud of you, you know. Whatever you decide. We just want you to be happy... and safe."

A pang of guilt hit Ava, but it was quickly overshadowed by the certainty of her decision. "I will be. I promise."

"We sent a little something to your dad' s office for you. A pre-college gift. It should arrive tomorrow."

"Thanks, Mom. I love you."

"We love you too, sweetie."

The package arrived the next day.

Inside, nestled in tissue paper, was a beautiful, brand-new laptop. Top of the line. Perfect for college.

A note from her parents: "For our brilliant Yale-bound daughter. Conquer the world. Love, Mom & Dad."

A wave of warmth spread through her. This was real.

She spent the afternoon setting it up, transferring files, already imagining herself in a Yale library, typing away.

The next evening, Ava was in her room when she heard voices downstairs. Ethan and Jax. And Chloe.

She went down to see Chloe sitting on their living room sofa, Ava' s new laptop open on her lap.

Ava stopped dead.

"Chloe? What are you doing with my laptop?"

Chloe looked up, startled. "Oh, Ava! Hi! My old one totally crashed this afternoon, and I have this super important scholarship essay due tomorrow. Ethan and Jax said you wouldn' t mind if I borrowed yours for a bit. It' s amazing, by the way!"

She smiled, a bright, innocent smile.

Disbelief warred with a rising tide of anger in Ava.

"Can I keep it for the night?" Chloe asked, her eyes wide and pleading. "Just until I finish my essay? I' ll be super careful with it."

Ava' s voice was dangerously calm. "No, Chloe. You can' t."

"Oh." Chloe' s face fell. She looked like a kicked puppy. "But... my essay..."

"That' s my brand-new laptop, Chloe. A gift from my parents for college."

Chloe' s eyes welled up. "I didn't mean any harm, Ava. I just... I really need to finish this. Please?"

She was good. Very good. The picture of distressed innocence.

Ava reached for the laptop. "I need it back, Chloe. Now."

Chloe' s hand tightened on it. "Just let me save my file!"

"Give it to me."

Chloe suddenly stood up, clutching the laptop to her chest. "You' re being so selfish, Ava!"

As Chloe turned, perhaps to appeal to Ethan and Jax who were hovering in the doorway, she stumbled.

The laptop flew from her grasp.

It hit the hardwood floor with a sickening crack.

The screen went black.

Destroyed.

A symbol of her future, her parents' love, shattered on the floor by Chloe' s carelessness and audacity.