Chapter 3

The next morning, I was at my mom' s diner before it opened.

She was wiping down the counter, humming.

"Mom," I started, my hands surprisingly steady. "I need to focus on my scholarship applications. The deadline for the early pre-med program at State University is next week."

She stopped humming and looked at me, a warm smile spreading across her face.

"Oh, honey, that' s wonderful! I know you can do it. You' re so smart."

Her unconditional support was a balm to my bruised soul. In my first life, her encouragement had been drowned out by Jake' s needs and the town' s expectations.

"I' m serious about this, Mom. More serious than I' ve ever been about anything."

"I know you are," she said, squeezing my shoulder. "Your father and I will help any way we can."

For the next week, I buried myself in applications, essays, gathering transcripts.

Every time the phone rang, I tensed, expecting it to be Jake.

He tried a few times. I didn't answer.

He even showed up at the diner once, during the lunch rush.

"Sarah, can we talk?" he asked, all fake concern.

"I' m busy, Jake," I said, not looking up from the order I was taking.

"It' s important."

"So is my future," I replied, handing the ticket to my mom.

He left, fuming. The townsfolk watched, whispering. I could feel their eyes on me.

A week later, a thick envelope arrived. State University.

My hands trembled as I tore it open.

"Dear Ms. Miller, we are pleased to offer you admission to the Pre-Medical Scholars Program..."

I screamed. A real, joyous scream.

Mom came running from the kitchen, apron flying.

"What is it? What' s wrong?"

I just waved the letter at her, tears streaming down my face.

She read it, and her own eyes welled up. "Oh, Sarah! I knew it! I' m so proud of you!"

We hugged, laughing and crying. It was the purest moment of happiness I' d felt in... well, in two lifetimes.

The next day, I was walking past the town square when I saw Jake. He was with Tiffany Evans.

She was hanging on his arm, looking up at him with adoring eyes.

My stomach twisted.

Jake saw me. He excused himself from Tiffany and strode over.

"Heard you got into State," he said, his voice tight.

"Yes, I did."

"That' s... good for you." He didn't sound like he meant it.

"It is."

"You know," he began, that manipulative tone creeping back in, "Tiffany was also looking at State. She' s really smart, but her family... they don' t have much."

I stared at him. "And?"

"Well, that pre-med scholarship you got... it' s a big one. Full ride, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Tiffany would make really good use of it. She wants to be a doctor, help people. Just like you." His eyes bored into mine. "Maybe you could defer for a year. Let her have a shot. You' re smart, you' ll get in again."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

The sheer audacity.

"You want me to give up my scholarship? For Tiffany?"

He shrugged, a casual gesture that made my blood boil. "It would be the noble thing to do, Sarah. Think about it. She deserves a chance."

"And I don' t?" My voice was dangerously quiet.

"You always land on your feet," he said, a dismissive wave of his hand. "Besides, what about us? What about this town? You leaving... it doesn' t feel right."

The anger that had been simmering inside me for years, for a whole lifetime, threatened to erupt.

"The only thing that doesn' t feel right, Jake," I said, my voice like ice, "is you standing here, asking me to sacrifice my future for your girlfriend. Again."

His eyes widened slightly at the "again."

"I' m going to State," I continued. "I' m taking that scholarship. And you and Tiffany can figure out your own damn lives."

I turned and walked away, leaving him standing there, his face a mask of fury.

I knew this wasn' t over. He wouldn' t let it go that easily.