Chapter 2

The coordinator wrote back almost immediately.

Understood. Come by the school tomorrow before your graduation party to finalize the paperwork.

The next morning, I covered the swelling around my eyes with concealer and went in.

On the way, Lily's socials kept refreshing with a flood of new photos.

They'd rented out a private karaoke suite, then driven down to the river.

Lily's caption read: The five of us. Forever together.

The comments were rolling in.

Jealous—I want four hot knights of my own.

Lily really did take Clary's spot. Girl's got charisma!

I let out a bitter laugh and liked every single post.

The six-person group chat—dead silent for months—lit up in seconds.

Lily just wrote whatever came to mind. You weren't there. Whose fault is that?

Don't get worked up. Nobody left you out on purpose.

Lily just wants company tonight. Don't take it out on her.

I turned my phone off.

At school, I finished my paperwork in no time.

The college counselor clapped a hand on my shoulder.

"I have to say—I never saw this coming. Your family spoils you rotten, and yet you're the only one turning down the East Coast schools to go early to New Mexico."

"Me neither."

Of the five of us, I would be the first to leave.

By evening, Adrian and the others had made it to the graduation party.

Wherever they went, girls gathered.

That was when I noticed, for the first time, just how popular Lily had become.

I stepped a little closer and heard one of the girls laughing.

"There's a trust fund princess in our class. Guess who?"

"Clara, obviously. Four guys have circled her since forever. She actually thinks she's the queen of the estate."

"She only helped Lily get into our school so she'd look like a saint. Fake as hell. Who is she to look down on the rest of us?"

I'd never looked down on any of them.

For years, Adrian and the boys had told me I didn't need anyone else. They were enough.

Then Lily came along. Every time I tried to make a new friend, she'd tug at me, wounded-eyed.

"Clara, you're the only friend I have. Just ignore them."

I used to think that meant she cared.

Lily was standing in the middle of them now, smiling softly. "That's just how Clara is. Try to be patient with her."

"Why should we?"

The girls scoffed.

"She's been spoiled her whole life. She actually thinks everyone should bend over backwards for her."

"Well, at least she's off to the New Mexico desert. Let's see her strut around throwing herself at Adrian out there."

I looked up. Adrian and Mason were on the couch right next to them.

They were staring at their phones. Like they hadn't heard a word.

I took a few deep breaths and walked over.

"Princess complex? Throwing myself at people? When did I ever do any of that? Lily. Adrian. Say something."

The girls' faces flickered awkwardly the second they saw me.

Lily grabbed my hand.

"Clara, we just graduated. Everyone's finally letting loose. Don't make a thing of it."

"Let go of me." I shook her off. "I treated you like a friend. And you're spreading lies about me?"

Lily stumbled back a few steps and dropped onto the crate of drinks behind her.

All four boys rushed over.

Mason snapped, "Clara, are you seriously still this impulsive?"

Adrian shot me a look of pure disappointment, bent down, and lifted Lily into his arms.

Owen's voice came low and cold. "Enough. If Lily's hurt, don't blame us for forgetting old times and putting you in your place."

Owen had been the brother I trusted most. He'd once promised he'd never let anyone hurt me. Now his bias ran so deep he couldn't even see her act for what it was.

Four boys who'd spent their whole lives circling me. Now they all circled her.

I turned and walked out.

The girls came after me and grabbed a fistful of my hair.

"Push someone down and think you're just gonna walk away?"

"Lily's sweet. Why should she put up with you? We're settling this for her!"

I struggled, but they pinned me down.

Across the room, Adrian glanced over.