Chapter 1Three days after SAT scores dropped, I saw this post:
"Both daughters got into NYC schools—how do I split allowances FAIRLY?"
Everyone: Same amount, obviously!
Then my brother dropped this bomb:
"Older one's Plain Jane—wouldn't know what to do with money. Younger one? GORGEOUS. High-maintenance. One skincare haul? Two grand."
"$800 for Plain Jane. $8,000 for the princess. THAT'S fair."
My childhood bestie:
"SO true! We'll watch the hot one anyway."
I laughed till tears came.
They're riding off to their glittering dreams.
Me? The throwaway.
One minute before deadline, I torched every NYC school.
Locked in somewhere 1,200 miles south.
Their princess game?
I'M OUT.
"Willow, sweetie! Fruit's ready!"
Mom's voice snapped me out of it.
She stood there holding cantaloupe slices, all sunshine and smiles.
"Hey, even if the scores aren't great, don't lock yourself away like this."
I killed the browser tab and walked out.
Mom gave the juicy center piece to my sister Serena, then glanced at me with this soft, pitying look.
"Look, even if you end up at community college... we're not gonna judge. We can take care of you."
My phone was still lit up with the text from the State Board.
[Willow Parker, Score: 1520/1600. State Rank: #7.]
I flipped it facedown.
"Yeah. Thanks."
Dad and my brother Nathan were huddled over this massive college guide, laser-focused on Serena's future.
"Serena crushed it—1380! That's prime territory for a solid state school. You thinking NYC or LA?"
Nathan practically glowed.
"NYC, duh. Jasper's there."
Serena melted into Mom's arms, all princess vibes.
No one—not one person—turned to me and asked:
"So what'd you get?"
Dad clapped the book shut, grinning wide.
"Alright, applications later. Right now?"
"Our girl deserves a celebration. Mall trip, ladies! Pick anything. Daddy's credit card is burning. Go change!"
Something flickered in my chest.
It'd been years since I got this treatment. Not since Serena got sick when we were twelve.
"Okay."
I basically ran to my room.
White blouse. Lip gloss. The whole thing.
I stared at myself in the mirror, heart hammering.
Maybe they haven't completely forgotten about me.
I opened my door.
Empty living room.
Their shoes? Gone.
I just... stood there.
My phone buzzed.
Serena's post from three minutes ago.
[Squad goals! Family mall run for my grad gift! ??]
Picture showed them in the car.
Dad driving. Nathan shotgun. Mom and Serena giggling in back.
All four of them beaming.
That five-seater?
Never had room for me in the first place.
Fingers shaking, I hit call.
"Mm? Willow, what's wrong?"
Mall chaos in the background. Pop music blasting.
"You guys... left?"
My voice cracked.
"Oh crap—forgot to tell you!"
Mom sounded breezy as hell.
"You were holed up in there forever. Figured you didn't wanna deal with the heat."
"Just chill at home with the AC. There's watermelon in the fridge."
Didn't even ask.
Just decided.
"Mommy! Can I get Häagen-Dazs?!"
Serena's baby voice cut through.
"Of course, angel! Two scoops, whatever flavor!"
Mom laughed, then brushed me off.
"Anyway, gotta run, hon. We're helping your sister pick a bag."
Click.
Done.
Chapter 2
I tossed my phone on the bed and went to scrub off the lip gloss.
Same old story.
Hide-and-seek when we were kids? I was always "it." Nathan and Serena would hide together in the huge master closet, giggling and holding hands, while I stood alone in the creepy attic counting to a hundred.
When I finally opened my eyes and started looking, they were gone. Searched everywhere, found nothing.
Turned out they'd ditched me to grab ice cream.
Guess nothing's changed.
I pulled open my drawer and found this ancient photo album. First few pages showed baby me, maybe two years old—Dad lifting me up, Mom kissing my cheek, Nathan being a total goofball.
One New Year, some aunt mentioned:
"Girl, your brother was obsessed with you back then! Someone said you looked too tan, and he literally chased them down the street!"
They used to care.
Then Serena showed up.
Poof. Invisible.
She's got that whole porcelain doll thing going. I'm... not that.
Family visits were always the same—"Oh my god, Serena's like a Disney princess!" Then they'd spot me and manage: "This one's sweet."
Sweet. Obedient. Low-maintenance.
My label for eighteen years.
A knock pulled me back.
I shoved the album away and opened the door.
Jasper stood there with fancy dessert boxes, white tee, that bright smile.
"Yo! Guess what I got!" He waved the boxes. "Cakes for both of you!"
I glanced down at two identical lava cakes through the plastic.
"Cool."
Didn't reach for it.
"Come on, take it! I picked yours out special."
He pushed one into my hands and walked past me into the living room.
"Where's Serena? She's not answering my texts."
"Mall. With everyone."
I set the box on the table.
He blinked. "Oh, shopping trip! That's why. You didn't wanna go?"
So casual, like I had a choice.
I stared at that cake. My stomach turned.
Three years ago, freshman year, Jasper sat in front of me. He offered me candy once and I said I hated sweets.
His eyes went wide. "Wait, seriously? A girl who doesn't like sugar? That's different."
After that, it was always dark chocolate. When ordering boba, he'd write: "Zero sugar. She'll kill me if it's sweet."
Three years.
All erased.
Now he only sees Serena—Princess Serena, sugar-loving Serena.
First time he came over, he caught Serena in her frilly dress eating strawberry cake. On his way out: "Dude, your sister's adorable. Nothing like you."
"I get why your brother's all about her. Honestly, I'd probably—"
Thought he was joking.
He wasn't.
That joke became the blueprint for every choice he made after.
"You gonna eat that?"
He sat on the couch, eyes glued to his phone. Probably texting her.
"Yeah."
I tore it open, stabbed a piece, forced it down.
Sweet.
Sickeningly sweet.
"So, college plans?" He kept scrolling, grinning at his screen. "Serena's thinking finance. I've been helping her scope out programs."
"What about you? Your mom said maybe community college, right? That's cool. There are good ones in New York."
"We'll all be in the same city anyway. I'll take you guys out on weekends."
I swallowed that nauseating sweetness and walked to the coffee table, opening my laptop and logging into the portal.
All those New York schools stared back.
Cursor moving.
Delete Columbia. Delete NYU. Delete Cornell.
First choice search bar.
University of Hawaii.
1,200 miles away.
Click. Save. Submit.
Jasper looked up. "Which New York school you thinking?"
I closed the laptop and met his eyes.
"Doesn't matter."
Chapter 3
Evening. Keys at the door.
Mom, Dad, Nathan, and Serena walked in loaded with bags.
Serena spun around in a white silk slip dress, holding Jasper's hand.
"How do I look? Dad just bought me this for graduation!"
Jasper's eyes lit up. "Stunning. Perfect on you."
Mom dug through a bag and pulled out a pink canvas tote. Tossed it to me.
"Willow, thought you could use this for books."
I caught the freebie bag with the designer logo.
"Thanks."
"See? You're so easy." Dad patted my shoulder. "Not like Serena—always wanting new stuff, costs a fortune. But you? Never ask for anything. Such a good kid."
I stood there, fingers on the rough canvas.
They never asked: "Willow, you want anything?"
Just assumed Serena deserved everything while I'd take their leftovers and smile.
Serena noticed my silence. Grabbed Mom's arm.
"Mom, did I spend too much? She looks upset."
She turned to me, all guilt, shoving bags at me. "Take all this! I don't need it! Mom and Dad gave me eighty grand for graduation. Nathan sent twenty thousand. I'm set. You take it!"
The room went silent.
Dad's hand froze. Nathan's face went pale.
One hundred thousand dollars.
Nobody told me.
"Willow, it's not like that." Nathan jumped in. "I'm broke from my internship right now. Next month I get paid, I'll send you something big. Promise."
"Exactly, honey." Mom rushed to add. "Our CD matures next month. I'll give you something then. We'd never play favorites!"
They scrambled to explain. Like I'd caught them stealing.
I looked at their panicked faces.
Almost laughed.
"Forget it."
"Willow, don't be mad at them." Serena bit her lip. Her eyes found my desk. The old wooden music box with the bear. "What if I trade you? All these clothes for that music box? I've always loved it."
That box was the last thing Grandma gave me.
I was ten. Mom and Dad took Serena to Disneyland. Left me at Grandma's in the countryside.
Rain pouring down. Grandma walked me through the market. Bought me that box with egg money.
She touched my hair. "Whatever Serena gets, you get too."
When I wanted to give up, I'd open that box. Feel like Grandma was still here.
Mom jumped in. "Willow, if she wants it, just give it to her. When you get to New York, I'll buy you a new one. Nicer."
Jasper added his two cents. "Yeah, she never asks for anything. Don't be stingy. Plus I'll get you an expensive speaker in New York. Way better."
One after another. Deciding for me.
Trading a freebie bag and empty promises for the only thing that mattered.
"Okay."
I walked over. Picked up the box. Handed it to Serena.
She grabbed it, grinning. "Thank you so much!"
"Cake time!" Jasper pushed Serena toward the dining room. Everyone followed, laughing.
I turned around.
Locked my door.
Opened a resale app.
Started listing everything that tied me to this house.
