Chapter 2

The roses ended up in Marcella's hands.

I turned back, dazed.

My sister bent her head and breathed them in.

Then she let out a delighted little cry.

"Oh my God! How did Norman know I love pale lavender?"

She finished, and shot me a small arch of her brow.

A curl of triumph at the corner of her mouth.

"After all, we're about to be classmates. He'd have to learn what I like, wouldn't he?"

My mother beamed.

"Exactly. It's not every day the two of you get into the same college, and both mid-tier at that. From here on, you'll have to look out for each other."

"Norman."

I couldn't stop myself from stepping forward. "Didn't you see the messages I sent you?"

Norman blinked. "Oh. Winters up north are cold, sure, but you're not the one studying there. Why worry about it?"

My shoulders sagged.

I knew.

He hadn't read them.

The day I got my acceptance to the top university, I'd fired off more than twenty messages to him, thrilled.

The very last line was the one about winters up north being cold.

That I might not adjust well.

He'd only seen that last line.

No.

He hadn't even opened the chat.

He'd just glimpsed the last line where it auto-previewed in the message list.

"Norman, we may be at the same college now, but don't you dare forget my sister!"

Marcella came forward, laughing, and hooked her arm around his. "You two were in the same class, walking to and from school together all those years.

"So what if she didn't make it into a place like ours. You can't look down on her for that! I'll be watching you!"

Norman laughed.

That I had feelings for him.

There was no way Norman didn't know.

No one sits in front of a fire and fails to feel its heat.

"What does she have to do with me?"

Norman gave me a careless glance.

Then turned and walked off.

Marcella froze for a second.

Her smile slowly turned smug.

She glanced at me too.

And she turned and left as well.

Marcella and Norman drifted off together, murmuring about something.

My brother was busy telling his buddies how impressive his little sister was.

Only I stayed in the corner.

Staring blankly at the orange juice in front of me.

I went to the restroom and came back out.

My parents were saying something to a guest, their faces all deference.

"Professor Dickerson.

"This is our younger daughter. Her name is Marcella.

"We've focused on developing her mind for science and engineering since she was little.

"She won a silver medal in the physics competition back in high school. She's very passionate about physics.

"Professor Dickerson, you said you're looking for one final protégé. We promise, Marcy won't let you down!"

My father nodded gravely. "That's right, Professor Dickerson. I'd stake my twenty years of business reputation on it."

I stood not far off, gripping my cup.

Watching my parents' faces turn devout.

The two of them, who out in the world always kept their chins lifted.

Right now, facing this Professor Dickerson, their smiles were close to fawning.

All to push my sister forward.

The head of a publicly traded company.

A well-known designer in her field.

Both of them willing to bend at the waist in front of Professor Dickerson.

Professor Dickerson smiled. "Of course I trust the two of you. And I trust the girl's ability even more.

"But if I hadn't met that physics prodigy, I'd have taken her on."