Chapter 1

THE DAY OF GRADUATION, 6 MONTHS AGO

Coleen

"This was all a mistake. I swear it." I cried out, pleading with the Principal. Tears stung my eyes. I couldn't believe this was happening to me.

Today was the day I had been waiting for for ages. The day I was going to graduate.

And it was ruined. All because of a prank.

The older man looked at me with a look that made my heart sink lower.

"I've heard you, Coleen. However, there is nothing we can do." He said, "The graduation celebrations have ended and despite you being Valedictorian, you were not present."

"I wasn't there because of this. I'd prepared everything but someone played a prank on me. Look. The date of graduation was changed here, see?" i begged, showing him the phone where the evidence clearly showed.

Please, please understand, I begged ,

After a moment, my phone was pushed aside and I held hope.

"I'm sorry Coleen,' he said and my heart sank instantly,

"No matter what excuses you have, it doesn't change your absence during the graduation ceremony. You were the most important person there as Valedictorian no less, yet you were gone. As a result, we have no choice but to fine you."

My heart dropped lower before he pulled out a card.

"This is an IOU to pay the graduation fee as a consequence for your absence. Sign it quickly if you wish for your certificate." He said harshly,

I felt like I had been dropped underwater as I looked at the numbers laid on the document. This fee...my parents couldn't afford it and I couldn't bear to burden them with it.

I wanted to beg and explain , but the look on the principal's face told me that it wouldn't matter.

Why did this have to happen? What did I do to deserve this?

I forced my tears back as I took the nearest pen to sign the IOU. Taking my certificate, I turned to leave as quickly as possible. Now all I wanted was to get out of here

"You really disappointed me Coleen," the principal said, stopping me in my tracks, "You were also required to give a speech. We were lucky that in your absence Hayden was already prepared and he gave the speech ahead of you."

I stiffened at his words.

Hayden?

Rage boiled inside me.

This was all Hayden's fault.

I knew it from the moment I realized my calendar was changed. There was only one person who could have played such a prank on me. Who hated me and constantly tried to humiliate me in the name of rivalry and it was him.

Hayden freaking Michaels.

Ever since I entered this highschool he suddenly had an enmity with me. What started out as an Academic rivalry stormed to being subject to his bullying and remarks about everything else about me. How poor I was in comparison to me.

And because he was the popular kid, from one of the richest families, nobody batted an eye. He was everything and I was a nobody.

So I learned to match him and bear it. Beating him academically even if I couldn't in anything else.

But this? This was where he'd crossed the line.

I stormed out of the office, leaving the school building while still holding back tears while I stepped out of the school building when I saw him.

Hayden in his graduation gown, still talking to some of his jock friends when he spotted me.

And then he smirked.

That was my last straw. A tear slipped out of my eye before I turned away running before he could see me crying.

I practically ran out of the school, finding my way around the neighborhood to the destination I wanted. Wiping my tears, I moved towards his porch.

Chase. I needed to see him-

My heart stopped the moment I opened the door. They separated but I couldn't unsee it.

Chase, my boyfriend was kissing someone else. He was cheating on me.

"Babe," he whispered wide eyed but I couldn't see anymore.

Turning away, I stormed out of his house, ignoring his calls of my name. As his voice disappeared from earshot, I wiped my tears away, a bitter laugh leaving me.

Before I felt sad, now I just felt empty.

Life must truly have a vendetta against me.

The moment I reached my home I rushed to my room only to freeze at the sight of mail, the name clearly written.

A bittersweet thought pierced my mind. I had applied to my dream college months ago. To see a rejection would truly top off the day.

I tore open the letter,

'Miss Maine, congratulations, you have been offered a full ride Scholarship to...'

My heart could have stopped then and there. I read it over and over again to make sure, but nothing changed.

I...was accepted?

The sound of my phone ringing suddenly alerted me . I quickly answered it, still stuck in disbelief.

"Coleen."

"Mark?" i answered shakily at the sound of my best friends voiced

"Did you get it too?"

A frisson of shock broke through my misery at his words and I gasped, "you also got a scholarship?"

"Full ride to music major baby," he sang through the phone and I gasped,

"It's exactly as we planned Coleen. our dreams are coming true," he said, excitement and I nodded frantically.

"Yeah," i.whispered, tears burning against my eyes.

Ever since we became best friends, we'd made plans together on our dream college and majors, wanting to stay together through it all.

And now they were coming true.

After talking with him more, the call ended and I dropped my phone, looking out the window.

This small town was all I knew. Thinking back to the dual humiliation and heartbreak I suffered today, bitterness filled me. The one day I was looking forward to and it had to end like this.

But now I had a future, one that involved leaving this town behind along with everything that happened here.

And that was something to look forward to.