Chapter 2

After returning from the restroom, I overheard people chatting and mentioning my name.

"Ethan, did your little childhood friend run off to cry because her secret was exposed? By the way, have you actually seen her scar?"

Ethan had a look of pure disgust on his face.

"Yeah, I've seen it. Trust me, it's the kind of scar you only want to see once in your life."

Chloe leaned close to Ethan's side.

"How about you purposely lose the next round? Choose 'Dare' and pull her pants up so we can all get a look."

Ethan carelessly wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Why waste a game on that? I don't even need to ask twice. One word from me, and she'll take them off and show me herself."

Chloe's eyes lit up with excitement. "I want to take a picture!"

"Me too!" another classmate yelled.

Ethan stood up, clapping his hands.

"Anyone else want to see? Let me know, and I'll make sure she shows you for a little longer!"

I gripped the door handle, my knuckles turning white.

When I was ten, Ethan and I went to the grocery store. A sudden gust of wind blew a heavy metal billboard down, heading straight for him.

I pushed him out of the way. The sharp metal sheet sliced deep into my thigh. Blood wouldn't stop gushing, and I almost lost my leg.

I cried for two days and nights in the hospital. Ethan stayed by my side, carefully helping me apply my ointment.

The boy who swore he would never find it ugly, the boy who promised never to tell a soul, was now using my pain to entertain the crowd.

Seeing me walk back in, Chloe gave Ethan a look.

Ethan looked at my thighs with a playful smirk.

"Sera, this might be the last time we all hang out. Since we're classmates, why don't you let everyone see your scar?"

I tightly shielded my legs.

"No."

Ethan's face hardened, and his brows furrowed.

"It's just a scar, what's the big deal? Stop being so dramatic."

Chloe stepped in to play the peacemaker.

"Sera, are you mad because I took your turn during the game earlier?"

"You really don't know how to take a joke."

She playfully tapped Ethan's back and turned to me. "Sera, see? I hit him for you. Are you happy now?"

"I said no."

Ethan pulled Chloe back.

"Don't waste your breath on her."

Two minutes later, everyone's phone buzzed.

Except mine.

Everyone stared at their screens for a few seconds, then looked at me, stifling their laughter.

Chloe patted my shoulder. "Sera, the scar isn't even that bad. Why are you hiding it? Girls need to be confident."

She shoved her phone in front of my face. Ethan had posted a photo of my freshly stitched thigh from years ago into the Snapchat group.

The photo was so high up it even showed my underwear.

A wave of anger and humiliation washed over me.

"Ethan, you spoil Chloe too much. But her SAT scores aren't as good as yours. When she gets bullied in college, are you going to fly over to save her?"

"It's just a matter of skipping a few math questions on purpose so we end up at the same place," Ethan said casually.

Chloe spoke in a sweet, whiny voice. "Did you change your college application without telling Sera? She's going to cry herself to death if she doesn't go to the same school as you."

"I know her," Ethan sneered. "She'll follow me no matter what."

"A genius girl going to a local community college for love? That's going to be front-page news."

Three years ago, he told me, "If you tutor me so we can go to the same college, we never have to be apart."

Because of those words, I chased after him for three years.

Every single weekend, rain or shine, I went to his house to tutor him.

The dark circles under my eyes were the result of staying up late for three years, preparing study guides, organizing his mock exams, and making study plans.

But my three years of hard work had turned into a joke in his mouth.

My phone alarm went off, reminding me to finalize my college enrollment.

I opened the portal and changed my choice to Harvard University, thousands of miles away.

To each their own.

This time, I was done chasing him.