Chapter 1SAT scores came out. I got 1580. My twin sister barely scraped 950.
But when the acceptance letter from NYU showed up at our house, Mom handed it straight to my sister.
"You two look identical anyway. Your sister's going to NYU in your place."
I stared at her. "WHY?!"
Dad slammed his fist on the table.
"Why? Because when your mom was pregnant, YOU stole all the nutrients from your sister! That's why she's been sick her whole life!"
My brother jumped in with this nasty smirk.
"You owe her. It's just switching colleges. Stop being so dramatic."
Something inside me went cold.
I walked away, found a quiet corner, and called Harvard admissions.
"Hi... Yeah, I'm accepting that early admission spot you've been holding for me."
...
The guy paused, then practically yelled into the phone.
"Wait, seriously? Oh my god, Riley—okay, okay."
"So just to confirm, we're covering everything!"
"Full ride for four years, you pick whatever major you want, free apartment, and we'll help you find a job after you graduate."
I said thanks and hung up.
And just like that, I was alone in the house again.
Then my phone started blowing up.
My brother, Jaxon posted in our massive family group chat:
"Congrats to my baby sister Brooke for crushing the SAT with a 1580! She's headed to NYU this fall!"
Everyone started freaking out.
"Wow, Brooke's incredible. My kid barely got into state school."
"She's really making the family proud!"
Then someone typed: "What about Riley? How'd she do?"
I started typing back, but before I could hit send—
[You have been muted by Jaxon]
Then he answered for me.
"Riley? She got a 950. Barely scraped into community college. Total waste. Don't worry about her."
I actually laughed.
Then Mom and Dad jumped in:
"By the way, we're all driving Brooke to NYU for move-in day. Anyone who wants to come see campus, you're invited!"
"I'm coming!"
"Me too!"
I locked my phone and stared at the wall.
My whole life, they made sure I never looked better than Brooke.
Not once.
Mom and Dad never told anyone about my grades.
And Jaxon? One time he ripped up my honor roll certificate right in front of me and said:
"We don't keep this crap in the house."
But when Brooke won some tiny local art thing?
They framed it and hung it in the living room like it was the Mona Lisa.
So yeah. To everyone else, I was the screwup. No one even questioned it.
I went back to my tiny-ass room and pulled out this old metal box from under my bed.
Inside were all my awards—the ones Jaxon tore up.
I'd taped them back together in secret.
A drop of tear hit the top one and bled through my name.
Brooke's always been sick and fragile, so Mom and Dad spoiled her like crazy.
But Jaxon used to be different.
When I was little, he'd sneak me candy bars and say:
"You're awesome, Riles. This is for you."
That all stopped when I turned eight.
Brooke almost died from some infection, and after that, even Jaxon turned on me.
"You owe her this."
I've heard that my entire life.
My clothes, my room, my privacy, and now apparently my future—I had to hand it all over.
I heard a car pull up.
Through my tiny window I saw Mom and Dad up front with a million shopping bags.
Jaxon and Brooke were behind them.
He had his arm around her, holding her favorite cupcake.
I bit my lip.
Maybe I could fight back. Just once.
I went downstairs.
"Mom, Dad, Jax—that's my score. I'm not giving it to Brooke."
They all stopped walking.
Dad's face went dark. "Say that again."
I took a breath. "I said I'm not gonna—"
The slap came out of nowhere. I hit the floor hard, my cheek on fire.
Dad stood over me. "How DARE you talk to me like that!"
Jaxon stepped over me like I was trash and pulled Brooke along.
He looked down at me with nothing but disgust.
"Grow up, Riley."
Then Brooke spoke. Her voice all soft and sweet.
"Please stop yelling at her. I don't want to go anymore. It's not my score. I don't want it."
Such a fake little bitch.
But Jaxon's whole face still softened.
"Don't say that, Brooke. Riley owes you. You're going to NYU, and half the family's coming to see you off."
I stared at them and laughed.
This was it. I was done hoping they'd ever actually love me.
Jaxon pulled out his laptop and looked at me.
"Give me your login info. I'm filling out your college apps for you."
"And your password—I'm changing it so you don't screw this up."
I didn't fight him.
Didn't matter anyway.
My file was already at Harvard.
Whatever he submitted wouldn't do shit.
Chapter 2
But I didn't move either.
Mom shoved me. Hard. "Stop being difficult. You're pissing me off."
She went into my room and came back with my score report.
Jaxon logged in. Smiled at Brooke.
"What major do you want?"
She blushed. "Maybe English? I like books."
I snorted.
She didn't like books. She just knew if she picked engineering or something, she'd get exposed day one.
Brooke's eyes filled with tears immediately:
"Riley... do you think I'm stupid?"
All three of them turned on me.
I looked away and kept my mouth shut.
Jaxon rushed to hug her. "Ignore her. English is perfect. Let's do that."
"Thanks, Jax!"
I stared at the floor.
Honestly, I didn't dare say anything.
When we were kids, if I made Brooke even a little upset, they'd punish me.
Sometimes they locked me in the basement with no food.
Sometimes they made me kneel outside in the snow until I couldn't feel my legs.
It was always my fault if Brooke cried.
Jaxon closed the laptop and looked at me.
"I'm taking over your account. Pick whatever you want for that community college, we don't care."
"But remember—Brooke's living your life now."
I clenched my fists and nodded.
Fine.
Didn't matter.
Even if he submitted it, they weren't getting into NYU.
They finally seemed happy.
Mom squeezed my hand. "That's my good girl."
"I'll make your favorite tonight. Pork with pineapple."
I smiled, but it felt like poison in my mouth.
"Sure. Thanks, Mom."
Thanks for forgetting I'm deathly allergic to pineapple.
I glanced at Jaxon. He didn't even flinch.
He was the one who carried me to the ER when I was five after I ate some by accident.
Guess he forgot that too.
The next day they threw this huge party for Brooke to celebrate her "acceptance" to NYU.
Dad stood up with his drink, grinning like an idiot.
"My youngest has been sick her whole life, but look at her now—she's the star of this family!"
"When we take her to NYU, anyone who wants to come see the campus is welcome!"
Brooke smiled all shy.
"Thank you guys so much."
"And if you're ever in New York, stop by NYU and say hi."
I sat in the corner where Jaxon stuck me, watching everyone clap for her.
He'd told me before the party: don't say a single word.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed.
Text from the Harvard admissions guy:
"Riley, you're officially in our system. What major do you want?"
I didn't even think about it.
"Artificial Intelligence Engineering."
"Done. You're in."
I let out a breath.
Then my phone rang.
The NYU recruiter—I'd given them my real number.
"Hi Riley, saw you got into Harvard. Congrats. Any chance we can change your mind?"
I glanced at the party.
At the big banner hanging up that said "Congrats Brooke Shaw—NYU."
"Nah, I'm good. But hey, can you keep the Harvard thing private? Don't tell my family."
He paused.
"Of course. We don't share that kind of stuff."
I turned back and smiled.
This was my life now.
And they didn't get to touch it anymore.
Chapter 3
Two weeks later, the mailman's voice cut through dinner.
"Mail for the Shaws—two acceptance letters!"
Mom practically ran to grab them.
My stomach dropped.
One of those was from Harvard.
But then Brooke jumped up and snatched both envelopes out of Mom's hands.
She tossed them in the corner of her suitcase without even looking.
"Mom, Riley's name is on them and it makes me feel bad. I don't wanna see them!"
Of course.
And of course, everyone thought it was adorable.
Jaxon laughed. "You're right. Who cares about the letters? You'll just show up and check in at NYU. That's all that matters."
He looked at me. "Right?"
"Yeah. Whatever you say."
He stared at me for a second. I used to fight back. Scream. Cry.
But now, I was smiling.
Later that night, Brooke came into my room.
She wrinkled her nose. "God, Riley, your room is so gross. Mine's like three times bigger and actually gets sunlight."
I didn't answer.
I just wanted her gone.
"But don't worry. Once I'm at NYU and super successful, I'll help you out. Like charity or whatever."
I took a slow breath. "I don't need your help. Get out."
She pouted.
Then she spotted the metal box under my desk.
Before I could stop her, she grabbed it.
"What's this?"
My heart dropped.
She had opened it.
"Wait... are these your old ripped-up awards?"
"Riley, are you keeping these to expose me or something?!"
"Brooke, give it back. I'm not like you."
She just pulled out a lighter.
"I don't care. I'm not letting you keep this!"
She flicked it.
"Stop!" I lunged forward and ripped the box out of her hands.
Those were all I had left—
"AHH!"
Brooke suddenly threw herself backward and hit the floor, screaming like I'd just attacked her.
Footsteps. Jaxon got there first.
"BROOKE!"
He pulled her up. Then he slapped me across the face so hard I tasted blood.
"You HIT her?!"
I kept my eyes on the floor, my face burning.
"I didn't."
But he didn't even care what I said.
"Brooke, what happened?"
She started crying. "I just wanted to look at her box and she shoved me."
Mom picked up the awards scattered on the floor.
Her face went cold.
"Riley. Why are you keeping these?"
"Are you planning to humiliate Brooke in front of everyone?"
I laughed.
It was so ridiculous I couldn't help it.
Jaxon ripped the box out of my hands and glared at me.
"You're disgusting."
Then he pulled out a lighter. Set them on fire.
"No—don't—PLEASE—"
He shoved me away and I watched every single piece of proof that I was ever good at anything turn to ash.
Then he looked me in the eye.
"Stop trying to ruin her life. You owe her this."
After they left, I sat on the floor staring at the ashes.
I scooped them up with my bare hands even though they were still hot.
My palms turned red and started blistering but I didn't stop.
I hated them.
I hated them so much I could barely breathe.
I'd planned to tell them the truth on move-in day. That I wasn't going to NYU.
But now?
No.
Let them go.
Let them bring the whole damn family.
Let them brag to everyone!
I wanted to see their faces when it all fell apart.
