Chapter 3

The next few days were a blur of polite smiles and carefully worded conversations. I went through the motions of preparing for Atheria, ordering supplies online, and talking to my parents about dorm arrangements. I told them I was thrilled, and I was, but a shadow hung over everything.

The news that Jake and Noah had turned down Atheria for a community college spread through our small, affluent circle like a virus. It was the main topic of gossip at the country club, in the hushed tones of parents who had watched the three of us grow up together.

"Can you believe it? After all the Millers did for those boys."

"I heard it was over some girl. A townie."

"Chloe must be devastated."

I tried to tune it out. I kept my head down and focused on my own preparations. But it was impossible to avoid completely. Especially when Jake and Noah made their devotion to Emily a public spectacle.

One afternoon, I was leaving a cafe downtown when I saw them. The three of them were sitting at an outdoor table, laughing. Jake had his arm slung casually around Emily' s chair, and Noah was leaning in, hanging on her every word. Emily, for her part, was playing the role of the adored damsel perfectly, her hand resting on Jake' s arm, her eyes sparkling as she looked from one to the other.

They looked like the perfect, happy trio. A knife of betrayal twisted in my gut, sharp and painful. I quickly turned my head, ducking into a nearby bookstore before they could see me. My hands were shaking. Seeing it, so blatant and public, made it all so much more real.

Later that day, my best friend, Sarah Chen, came over. She found me in my studio, staring blankly at a half-finished canvas.

"I saw them," she said, skipping any greeting. "The three stooges holding court at The Daily Grind. It was disgusting."

She slumped onto a stool next to me, her expression a mixture of anger and sympathy. "Are you okay, Chloe? For real?"

I finally let out the breath I felt like I' d been holding for days. "I don' t know what I am. Angry. Hurt. Numb."

"You have every right to be," she said fiercely. "Those guys are the definition of parasites. Your family gave them everything, and they toss it all aside for what? Little Miss Innocent who bats her eyelashes and suddenly they' re knights in shining armor?"

"They think they' re being noble," I said, the words tasting like ash.

"They' re being idiots," Sarah corrected. "And you know it. Remember when you spent your entire summer-job savings to buy Noah that specific set of German oil paints he wanted for his Atheria application? Because he said he couldn't afford them?"

I remembered. He' d been so grateful, he' d hugged me and promised he' d never forget it. Apparently, "never" had an expiration date.

"Or when your dad pulled strings to get Jake that internship with David LaChapelle' s studio?" Sarah continued, her voice rising. "An internship that actual professional artists would kill for? And he' s throwing it away to go to... Northwood?" She said the name like it was a dirty word.

The memories just made the present sting more. The worst part was their complete lack of remorse. They caught up with me a few days later as I was leaving the house.

"Chloe, hey!" Jake called out, jogging to catch up. Noah and Emily were trailing a few feet behind. "We were just coming to see you."

"I' m busy," I said, not slowing down.

"This will only take a second," he insisted, stepping in front of me. "We just wanted to clear the air. We know you' re upset, but this isn' t about you. It' s about doing the right thing for someone who' s never had anyone in her corner."

He glanced back at Emily, who gave a small, sad smile. The performance was flawless.

I looked at his earnest face, spewing self-serving lies, and I didn' t feel anger anymore. I just felt... tired. A deep, bone-weary exhaustion. It was like watching a bad movie for the second time. You already know the lines, you know the ending, and it' s not even remotely entertaining.

The air in front of me didn' t even shimmer this time. There was no need for a warning. I was already playing my part.

"Okay, Jake," I said, my voice flat.

He blinked, thrown off by my lack of reaction. "Okay? That' s all?"

"Yes. I have to go."

I stepped around him and kept walking. I could feel their eyes on my back, confused and maybe a little annoyed that I wasn' t giving them the dramatic scene they were clearly expecting.

I got into my car and pulled on my sunglasses, a symbolic shield against their world. I didn' t want to see them, hear them, or think about them. I was cutting them out, like excising a rot from a painting.

They could have their community college and their new leading lady.

They would soon find out what their lives looked like without their benefactor.