Chapter 3

The school nurse's office smelled of antiseptic and stale coffee. Sabrina sat on an examination cot, her arm in a temporary sling. Her mother, a prominent member of the school board, hovered over her, dabbing at her daughter's tear-streaked face. Matthew Clark stood by the door, looking annoyed that his parade had been interrupted.

When I walked in with the coach, Sabrina' s eyes locked onto me.

"Ethan," she said, her voice trembling, but not with pain. It was a calculated performance. "You were right there. I thought... I thought you would help me."

Her mother shot me a disapproving look. "Ethan Lester, I heard you were right beside the float. Why didn't you do anything?"

"I warned people to get back," I said, my voice flat and cold. "It was too loud."

Sabrina' s lower lip quivered. "But you were always there for me. You always protected me." She was trying to re-establish the old dynamic, to paint me as her loyal protector, to entangle me in front of everyone.

"Things change," I said.

She ignored my tone, pushing forward with her plan. "My arm is broken. The doctor said I'll need surgery. Matthew has his big scholarship interview next week, and I need to be there for him. But I can't even drive now. Ethan, you have to help me. You have to be there for me, drive me around, help me get things."

It was a demand disguised as a plea. She wanted to tie me to her, to make me her errand boy, to keep me under her thumb just like before. She was recreating the trap.

I looked from her fake, teary eyes to Matthew' s arrogant smirk. He thought this was a done deal. He thought I was the same pathetic dog who followed Sabrina around.

"No," I said.

The room went silent. Sabrina' s face froze. "What did you say?"

"I said no," I repeated, making sure my voice was clear and public. "I have my own things to worry about. You have a boyfriend. Ask him."

I turned my gaze to Matthew, who looked genuinely shocked that I'd even spoken to him. Humiliation washed over Sabrina's face. She had tried to manipulate me in front of an audience, and I had refused to play my part. It was a public rejection, a slap in the face to the town's golden girl.

Without another word, I turned and walked out of the nurse' s office, leaving her sputtering in disbelief. I didn't go to the locker room. I walked straight to the school counselor's office.

"Mrs. Davis," I said, my voice calm. "I just wanted to confirm that all my application materials for the Miller State Scholarship have been received and are in good order."

She smiled warmly. "Of course, Ethan. You're our top candidate. In fact, the board just sent their final approval. The official letter should be here any day now. Congratulations."

A wave of relief washed over me, but it was quickly followed by a cold dread. The approval was already sent. That meant Sabrina's plan was already in motion.