Chapter 4

At the graduation gala, Margery and I were paired up as co-hosts.

Before it started, she came backstage to find me.

"There's something I need to tell you."

I didn't even look up. "There's nothing to say between us."

She grabbed my wrist and yanked me into the empty classroom beside us.

"Margery, what are you doing?"

The lock clicked behind me.

I wrenched at the door. It didn't budge.

"I'll let you out when the gala's over."

"Graham's wanted to be up on that stage since he was a kid. I promised him I'd help make it happen."

"You're the best at hosting anyway. Missing one chance won't hurt you."

Something in my chest went tight.

"To you, everything's a small thing!"

I pounded on the door.

"The research slot was a small thing, going public was a small thing, and me getting cursed at, getting water thrown on me, that was a small thing too!"

She didn't answer.

Only before she left, she said quietly,

"Stop making a scene."

Her footsteps faded away.

I stood alone in the dark classroom and heard the music start outside.

A few minutes later Graham's clear voice came over the speakers, followed by Margery's low, warm one falling in beside it.

The applause rolled in below the stage.

I slid down against the door and the tears came with no warning at all.

I had been waiting the whole time.

Waiting for Margery to take my hand and lead me out in front of everyone.

Waiting for her to say, "This is my boyfriend, Mike Gilbert."

What came instead was Graham.

From start to finish, everyone knew they were closer than any couple.

When the gala ended, the lock finally turned.

Margery stood outside with flowers in her hand, her eyes catching for a second on my red, swollen ones.

"Don't cry."

I stepped around her and headed out.

She caught my arm, seeming to want to say something, but her phone cut her off.

The caller ID read: Graham Lyons.

She barely hesitated before letting go of me.

"Hello?"

Her face changed at once.

"Don't cry, I'm coming right over."

After she hung up, she looked at me.

"He's not in a good place."

"I've already put in for leave. Your uncle's birthday is in a few days. I'll go back with you and celebrate it together, and then we'll go public."

"Stop sulking, okay?"

My fingertips gave a small tremble.

I had waited four whole years for that line. It only came once I no longer wanted any of it.

And now that I'd heard it, all I felt was how ridiculous it was.

"You still think I went abroad on exchange just to sulk?"

Margery stared at me, a flicker of irritation rising in her eyes.

"What else?"

I said softly,

"Forget it. My dad doesn't need you to celebrate his birthday with him anymore."

That finally set her off. Her voice shot up.

"You went abroad on your own, you disappeared on your own, you pushed me away on your own! And now you put on this victim act for whose benefit?"

"Mike Gilbert, do you even have a heart?"

The phone rang again.

This time she didn't so much as glance at me. She turned and left.

"Graham, I'll be right there."

That easy, familiar way she said his name slid quietly into my heart.

But it didn't hurt anymore.

After my defense, I packed my things and decided to go north.

Waiting at the gate, I opened the campus forum and uploaded the photos of Margery and me, one by one.

From seventeen to twenty-two.

From school uniforms to graduation gowns.

The title was a single line:

【About Margery and me.】

Then I sent the faculty advisor the security footage of Margery locking me in the classroom, along with the evidence that she'd quietly let the online harassment run.

A message came in from Margery:

【Where did you go? I'm outside your place.】

I shut off the phone and boarded the plane.