Chapter 1"You're seriously bringing Holly's parents to graduation? That'll DESTROY her! Her parents are complete assholes! She won't forgive you!"
A week before graduation, I went to see my boyfriend Roger. Then I heard that outside the door.
I froze.
Roger laughed. "She's obsessed with me. She'd forgive anything."
"Besides, she stole that valedictorian spot from Judith. She deserves this! "
"Once the scandal hits, that Fortune 500 internship goes straight to Judith—she's second in line anyway."
"Judith's her foster sister, but Holly's always bullied her! This is payback!"
I didn't say a word. Turned and left.
At graduation, I finished my speech.
Judith was hosting. She smiled at me.
"Your parents are here today, right? Let's get them up here to celebrate!"
I stared at her and said nothing.
The next second, my parents rushed the stage, screaming.
But not at me.
"JUDITH! You ungrateful bitch!"
...
I pressed against the wall in the hallway. Voices drifted from the room ahead.
"Don't do this. I've SEEN what her parents are like. Absolute monsters. This is too far."
Roger scoffed.
"I know. Gambling addict dad who beats everyone. Cheating mom who bleeds them dry. If I hadn't saved her, she'd be dead.
"Her parents find out about that scholarship and job offer? They'll never let go. She'll be trapped forever."
His friend frowned. "You know all this and you still want to do that? She's your girlfriend."
Roger sighed. Like he was being noble.
"Sure, I care about her. She'd die for me. But she slept with those guys! Makes me sick thinking about it. Even if it was to save me."
My vision blurred.
Last year. Drunk guys cornered me at my bar job.
Roger jumped in. Got his arm broken.
I begged them to let him go. Went with them to the alley...
After that night, Roger never touched me again.
I tried telling him what actually happened. He always cut me off. Held me like I was broken glass.
"Don't. Just don't, Holly. I failed you. I don't deserve to touch you..."
I thought he was being selfless.
Turned out he was just disgusted.
"I only feel responsible for her now," Roger continued. "But Judith? She's pure. She's good. I can't let her turn into another Holly. I'd do anything to protect her."
Tears ran down my face. I bit my lip hard. Stayed quiet.
I fought so hard to escape my toxic parents. Three jobs. Scholarships. Saving every penny.
I thought I found someone who'd save me.
Stupid.
I left.
Next day, leaving my bar shift, my phone rang. Roger.
"Holly! Get here NOW! Maze bar, back alley. Something happened. HURRY!"
Chapter 2
Dim light. Several tattooed guys surrounded Roger and Judith.
Judith cowered behind him. Sobbing.
"I'll pay it back! Just give me time! I only borrowed money for interview clothes... thirty thousand! You can't leak those photos—I'm ruined!"
The leader shoved Roger. "Money or she comes with us. Choose."
Roger saw me. Rushed over. Grabbed my bag. Yanked out my bank card.
My scholarship money. Months of brutal shifts.
He handed it over. "Thirty grand. Take it and get lost!" Glared at me. "Password. Tell them!"
My heart sank.
Right then, I was just a password to him.
I gave him the numbers. Voice hollow.
Crisis over. Roger immediately turned to Judith. "You're safe now. I've got you."
She collapsed into his arms. Crying harder.
I clenched my fists.
"That was all my money, Roger. How am I supposed to live?"
He whipped around. Annoyed.
"Your SISTER almost got kidnapped and you care about MONEY? Do you have any heart?"
I almost laughed. "If I didn't, I wouldn't have given you the password."
"Without that money, I can't even eat. But sure. I'm heartless."
Roger's face twisted. "That scholarship should've been—"
He stopped himself.
I got it.
In his mind, the money, the honor—it was all Judith's anyway.
He wasn't panicking. He thought he was taking back what belonged to her.
I smiled coldly.
"Should've been Judith's? She FAILED classes. She's not even graduating on time. How does that make her valedictorian material?"
"BECAUSE OF YOU!"
Roger exploded.
"When you tried to kill yourself, Judith worried so much she couldn't focus! She failed because of YOU!"
My mind went blank.
That suicide attempt? My parents drugged me. Tried forcing me to marry a fifty-year-old man for money. When I resisted, I grabbed a razor. Roger barely saved me.
Judith was there. Did NOTHING to stop them.
Actually delayed Roger from getting me to the hospital.
Now that was MY fault?
Judith lifted her head from Roger's chest. Tears streaming.
"Holly, I'm sorry. This is all my fault... I'll pay you back! I'll sell a kidney right now—"
She swayed. Like she might faint.
"Judith!" Roger caught her. Glared at me with pure hate. "Look what you're doing to her! You won't be satisfied until she's as ruined as you!"
I stared at him. My voice trembled.
"Ruined? How am I ruined? Roger, explain. Explain right now!"
He looked away. Waved dismissively. "Forget it. You're impossible."
He wrapped his arm around Judith.
"Graduation's next week. Try to enjoy your last days. Once you're out in the real world, Holly, nobody's gonna put up with you like I do."
They left me standing there.
I bent down slowly. Picked up my bag.
He thinks HE puts up with ME?
Funniest joke I ever heard.
Chapter 3
I went back to our apartment. Packed everything.
My phone buzzed. Judith. Sending photos.
Fancy black swan cake. Diamond necklace. Roses everywhere.
The last one showed Roger and her, backs facing the camera, leaning close.
Right. Today was Judith's birthday.
Tomorrow's mine.
One day apart. That's it. But looking at this? We're living in completely different worlds.
Midnight. My phone lit up. Roger's text:
"Happy birthday. Got something tonight. Won't be home."
I turned off my phone. Grabbed my suitcase. Left.
New place was cheap. Dingy. Old building.
But mine.
Next morning, turned my phone back on. Fifteen texts from Roger.
"You MOVED OUT? Over thirty grand? When did you get so materialistic?"
"Get back here! Judith came over to celebrate YOUR birthday. She's not feeling well. She's been waiting forever! Go buy chicken and make her soup. Get fish too—she likes it steamed."
Then a whole shopping list. Like I was his servant.
Celebrate MY birthday?
I didn't respond. Set him to do-not-disturb.
He showed up anyway.
Roger grabbed my wrist. Furious.
"How long are you gonna keep this up? We were gonna celebrate your birthday! Judith came over! What more do you want? Still mad about money?"
I looked at his twisted face. Exhausted.
"Roger, I have thirty-five dollars left. You think I care about birthdays? I can't afford your list."
"Money money MONEY! Is that all you think about?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Because I need to survive. Now move. I'm late for work."
He stared. Stunned. "Another shift? Judith feels terrible about the loan. Go home. Apologize to her. Make her feel better."
I couldn't believe my ears. "I lent her money. And I apologize?"
"She's your SISTER! She always looked out for you. Can't you be the bigger person?"
I watched him backtrack when he saw my face.
"Holly, think about it. I take care of Judith for YOUR sake. Your parents are horrible... Judith's your only family. Shouldn't sisters support each other?"
For my sake?
"Roger," I said. "If we broke up tomorrow, would you still 'take care of' Judith for me? Still talk to her?"
Roger froze. Offended. "Break up? What are you SAYING?"
I smiled. "Just curious."
He scoffed. "I'm not petty like you. Judith's sweet. Vulnerable. Anyone would help her. I don't know what your problem is."
He pulled out a small box. Shoved it at me. "Here. Happy birthday."
Inside were a pair of earrings.
Same design as the necklace pendant from Judith's birthday photos.
Obviously the free gift-with-purchase.
I held them up. Smiled brightly. "Thanks! Gorgeous. But I don't have pierced ears."
Roger looked embarrassed. "So get them pierced. Worth it. Wear them at graduation."
Change my body for a hand-me-down gift?
I smiled wider. "Sure. I'll think about it."
Think about my graduation surprise for him.
