Chapter 1Five minutes before the application deadline, Katie called. The girl on full financial aid.
"Hailey, oops—I accidentally changed your college application,"
she said. Voice all shaky.
"My bad! It's like... some community college now? I didn't mean to!"
On her end, Austin was with her at a bar. I could hear him laughing with everyone else.
He got on the phone.
"She didn't mean it. Got confused with the system. Repeat senior year—problem solved."
Just like that. He hung up.
One minute left on the portal. I called him back. Three times.
He finally picked up, pissed.
"Jesus, Hailey. Katie's family is BROKE. Her scores sucked. She just wanted you to go with her. Can't you be UNDERSTANDING for once?"
Someone shouted in the background, laughing.
"Right? Rich girl can slum it for a year. Stop being so UPTIGHT."
"Your parents are loaded—worst case, they'll just donate a building somewhere."
The system closed.
That trash application locked in forever.
I set my phone down. Ice cold.
Austin forgot what Katie said on the call.
That she swiped the account info from my backpack.
Thing is—I never kept MY login there.
Only thing in there was a slip of paper Austin gave me. Asked me to help register alumni contacts. His exam ID. His password.
HIS information.
Let's see how generous you feel when it's YOUR acceptance letter, Austin.
...
Half an hour later, the class group chat EXPLODED.
Katie posted some long-ass essay. Three screens worth.
"Hailey, I'm so sorry. I really didn't mean it. Blame me for being stupid."
She said it was her first time on the application system and she panicked.
Her hand slipped. That's how she changed my first choice from MIT to Riverside Community College.
At the end, she attached a selfie. Eyes all red.
"My family's so poor I barely know how to use a computer. I just wanted to help Hailey check if the system was working right."
"If Hailey hates me for this and wants me dead, I get it."
"Who am I kidding? Someone like me—from the poor side of town—doesn't deserve to touch you rich kids' stuff anyway."
The group went INSANE.
"Katie, don't cry! It was an accident—not your fault!"
"Poor people matter too, Hailey. You can't just BULLY her like this. You trying to drive her to suicide?"
Before I could type anything, Austin's name popped up.
"Hailey, stop playing dead in the chat."
"It already happened. Katie apologized. What more do you WANT? Want her to get on her knees?"
Katie immediately replied. "Austin, don't go off on her. It's my fault."
Austin completely lost it.
"You're too NICE, Katie! That's why she treats you like DIRT!"
"Hailey! Your family has MONEY—repeating one year is NOTHING!"
"Katie's different! Her family can barely afford her brother's shoes! She can't handle this kind of pressure!"
I stared at my phone screen.
My nails dug into my palm. I felt nothing.
This was the childhood friend who'd protected me for eighteen years.
When I broke my arm as a kid, he carried me on his back for two blocks. Running and crying. Said he'd fight anyone who hurt me.
Now, for Katie—a transfer student who'd been here less than six months—
He just threw away everything I worked for in high school.
Someone tagged me in the group.
"Princess, say something."
Katie sent a voice message. Voice all soft and sweet.
"Everyone, stop blaming Hailey. She has every right to hate me. Austin's been helping me with math tutoring lately. She probably got the wrong idea."
The group went silent for two seconds. Then the gossip emojis flooded in.
"Ohhh, she's JEALOUS."
"No wonder she won't let the application thing go."
I opened Austin's private chat.
"Austin, you sure you want me to let this slide?"
He replied instantly. Tone all self-righteous.
"What else? You gonna call the COPS on her? Hailey, when did you become so VICIOUS?"
I bit my lip and typed my final message.
"If YOUR application had been changed today, could you be this generous?"
Chapter 2
He didn't reply for like ten seconds.
Then Austin sent a voice message straight to the group chat.
His voice was pure contempt.
"I'm putting this out there RIGHT NOW!"
"If MY application had been changed today, I wouldn't say ONE harsh word to Katie!"
"She has it so hard. I'm not like you—thinking only about yourself!"
"Hailey, you need to learn how to be HUMAN!"
The group EXPLODED.
"Austin's mindset is on another LEVEL!"
"That's what real character looks like!"
I scoffed and left the group without another word.
...
Next day.
I came downstairs to find Austin and his mom sitting on our living room couch.
My mom sat across from them, face like thunder. Several blurry photos spread across the coffee table.
Austin's mom saw me and immediately put on this pained expression.
"Hailey, honey, what were you THINKING?"
"I know you've been spoiled your whole life, but you can't just throw away your future like this!"
I walked over and gave Austin a cold look.
"Mrs. Hayes. What brings you here?"
My mom SLAMMED her hand on the table and jabbed her finger at the photos.
"You have the NERVE to ask? Look at this MESS!"
"Austin told me EVERYTHING. You changed your own application for some DELINQUENT!"
"And now you're trying to frame that poor scholarship student. Do you have NO shame?"
I froze for a second, then looked at the photos.
They showed a guy with bleached hair, back to the camera, standing next to a girl whose build sort of resembled mine.
They looked close. Maybe holding hands.
But this wasn't me. AT ALL.
I turned to Austin. He sat there with his coffee, putting on this whole disappointed act.
"Mrs. Morgan, don't blame Hailey."
"That guy tricked her. She changed her application on impulse."
"To cover it up, Hailey's been threatening Katie—trying to make her confess to stealing the account."
"Katie's terrified. She got so scared she admitted to something she didn't do. I couldn't just stand by and watch anymore. That's why I told you."
Austin's mom nodded along beside him, sighing.
"Exactly, Claire. Austin doesn't lie. You know that."
"I've seen that Katie girl—sweet as can be. Why would she steal from Hailey?"
"Hailey's been so spoiled she's learned to lie and dodge responsibility."
Watching this mother-son performance made my stomach turn.
For Katie's sake, Austin could fabricate such disgusting lies.
I picked up the photos and laughed bitterly.
"Austin, you dug up these TRASH photos and dare come to my house spreading lies?"
"These don't even show a FACE. What makes you think it's me?"
Austin set down his cup, meeting my eyes with total confidence.
"Hailey, still trying to deny it?"
"My friend took these with his own eyes. That girl's wearing clothes IDENTICAL to ones in your closet!"
"You gonna tell me you haven't been running to that side of town constantly?"
I laughed.
"I go there because I volunteer at the STRAY DOG SHELTER!"
"You're not just accusing me of hooking up with some guy—you're saying I sabotaged MYSELF to frame Katie."
"Austin, did a dog eat your BRAIN?"
Mrs. Hayes jumped up and pointed right at my face.
"How DARE you!"
"Austin came here out of KINDNESS to warn your parents, and you twist it around!"
"YOU'RE the one sneaking around with sketchy people. Can't even get into college now. And you have the NERVE?"
My mom was completely brainwashed, shaking with rage.
"Hailey! Apologize to Austin and Mrs. Hayes RIGHT NOW!"
"How did I raise such a shameless daughter!"
"Starting today, all your cards are FROZEN. You're staying home to think about what you've done and prepare to repeat senior year!"
I looked at my mom's furious face, feeling this wave of emptiness wash over me.
This was my own mother. Willing to believe an outsider's pack of lies over one word from me.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm.
"Mom, I'm not lying. I haven't been with any guy."
"Katie changed the application."
"If you don't believe me, I can call the police RIGHT NOW and have them trace the system login."
Hearing "police," Austin's eyes flickered with panic for a split second before he forced himself to look calm.
"Go AHEAD! CALL them!"
"Go check the IP and see what they find!"
"You didn't even come to the graduation party yesterday. You were probably home secretly changing your application!"
"Don't think calling the cops will scare me. When they show up, they'll just arrest YOU for filing a false report!"
Mrs. Hayes grabbed my mom's hand with full concern.
"Claire, absolutely DON'T call the police."
"If this gets out, Hailey's reputation will be destroyed."
"Who would want a girl who runs around with delinquents AND files false police reports?"
My mom was thoroughly scared and immediately dropped the idea of calling the police.
She turned and glared at me, delivering her final word.
"This ends RIGHT NOW!"
"If you're not embarrassed, I AM!"
"Get to your room. You're not stepping foot outside without my permission!"
I threw the photos back on the coffee table, walked straight to my room, and slammed the door.
Chapter 3
For the next few days, I was under house arrest.
Phone confiscated. Internet cut. Completely isolated.
It wasn't until the school called about picking up graduation files that my mom finally let me leave.
The second I walked into the classroom, the noise died.
Every single person turned to stare. Eyes full of contempt and mockery.
"Well, well. If it isn't the girl who threw away college for some guy."
"Heard she changed her application to Riverside Community for that bleached dropout. True love!"
"What 'threw away college'? Her scores could barely get her into a state school anyway."
"Poor Katie's been through hell, and she tried to pin it all on her. Absolutely disgusting."
The comments buzzed around me like wasps.
I walked to my seat, face blank.
Someone had stuck notes all over my desk. LIAR. SLUT. FAKE.
My books were scattered on the floor, covered in footprints.
Katie sat next to Austin, holding this cream-colored certificate. Whispering something to him.
She saw me and immediately looked scared, tucking the certificate behind her back.
Austin patted her hand and stood up, walking toward me.
"You've got some NERVE showing up here."
He looked down at me, eyes full of contempt.
"I warned you. Don't mess with Katie."
"I put those notes on your desk. What, got a problem?"
I bent down, picking up my books one by one. Dusting off the dirt.
"Austin, besides these middle school tactics, what else you got?"
"You think some sticky notes change the FACT that Katie's a thief?"
Austin's face darkened. He SLAMMED his palm on my desk.
"You DARE bring up thief!"
"Hailey, you really won't learn until it's too late, will you?"
Just then, Mr. Peterson walked in carrying his files.
Seeing Austin and me facing off, he frowned and rapped on the board.
"Everyone SIT DOWN!"
Mr. Peterson cleared his throat, giving me this complicated look.
"Besides distributing files today, there's an announcement."
"About this year's Outstanding Senior Award. The school's re-evaluated. We're pulling Hailey's qualification."
"The award's going to Katie Morgan instead. She's shown real character overcoming hardship to achieve her results."
The room EXPLODED in applause.
My head SNAPPED up.
"Mr. Peterson, on what GROUNDS?"
"I've been top 5 in my class for four years. Perfect GPA. My extracurriculars are stacked."
"Katie's not even top 50. What gives her the right to Outstanding Senior?"
Mr. Peterson's face hardened.
"What gives her the right? Hailey, you know what you DID!"
"Austin already told us everything."
"You're not just hooking up with dropouts and hanging with the wrong crowd—you sabotaged your own application, then tried to FRAME your classmate!"
"The school NOT expelling you is generous enough!"
"You DARE ask what gives her the right?"
I felt like all the air got sucked out of the room.
Austin had actually gone to the school and reported me.
To push Katie into the spotlight, he fabricated these disgusting lies and erased four years of my work.
Katie walked toward me, holding the certificate that should've been mine.
Her eyes were red, like she was about to cry.
"Hailey, I'm so sorry."
"I never wanted to steal this from you. It was the teacher's decision."
"If you really want it, I can give it back."
She tried to push the certificate into my hands.
Watching her little act made me physically sick.
I knocked her hand away.
"Get your filthy hands OFF me!"
The certificate hit the floor with a thud.
Katie deliberately stumbled backward and fell, screaming.
"Ah! My ankle!"
Austin rushed over, furious.
He scooped Katie up and whirled around to glare at me.
"Hailey! Are you OUT OF YOUR MIND!"
"Katie tried to give you back the certificate and you SHOVED her!"
He suddenly lunged forward and shoved my shoulder HARD.
I stumbled back several steps. My lower back slammed into a desk corner. Pain shot through me.
Mr. Peterson exploded.
"Hailey! You're completely OUT OF CONTROL!"
"GET OUT! Call your parents!"
I steadied myself against the desk, coldly surveying these people who couldn't tell right from wrong.
"No need to call my parents."
I grabbed my file and walked toward the exit without looking back.
Austin bellowed behind me.
"Hailey, you touch Katie ONE more time, I'll make sure you can't find a single school to take you!"
