Chapter 3

After that tasteless dinner, Brandon showed up at our front door carrying two cold mango smoothies.

One was for Maddison, the other was for me.

Maddison took a sip and immediately gave him a thumbs-up. "You really do get me. In the middle of summer like this, cold drinks are the best."

I wrapped my hands around the cup, feeling the chill seep slowly from my palms into my chest.

Before Brandon met Maddison, he'd once told me he had an older brother, too—the kind of brother who was so brilliant that nobody in the family could see anyone else.

Back then, I'd naïvely believed we were the same.

But after he met Maddison, Brandon had said, "Maddie really is more likable than you are."

Even so, I still liked him because he was the only person who remembered me while thinking about Maddison. Whenever he bought something, he always bought two of them.

One for her. One for me.

At some point, though, the matching gifts had quietly changed. There were still two of everything. Only now, both of them were things Maddison liked.

"Ashley, what are you waiting for? Drink it before it melts." Brandon glanced at me and urged me on casually. His eyes, however, never left Maddison's smiling face.

I looked at him. "Brandon, I'm allergic to mangoes. And I have stomach issues. I can't drink iced drinks."

The air fell silent for a brief moment.

Brandon frowned as if trying to remember. Then he answered impatiently, "Are you? I could've sworn I've seen you eat mango before.

"Besides, what smoothie place doesn't serve drinks cold in the middle of summer? Do you have to be so high-maintenance?"

However, the time he was talking about had been my first time eating mango.

Brandon had cried while apologizing to me afterward. He'd promised he'd remember my allergy from then on. Apparently, "from then on" had only lasted three years.

Tyler let out a cold snort beside us. "Ashley, are you really going to ruin everyone's mood again?"

I lowered my eyes in disappointment.

For the first time, I was grateful I hadn't chosen a university in Arlington. Otherwise, I would have had four more years of this.

Four more years of being overlooked.

Four more years of being blamed for things that had never been my fault.

The next morning, Mom and Dad were heading to the Grand Regency Hotel to finalize plans for Maddison's graduation party.

Downstairs outside our apartment building, I stood awkwardly beside the car. The August sun beat down on the asphalt until heat shimmered above the pavement. The skin on my arms stung beneath it.

Dad looked over impatiently. "Why aren't you getting in?"

"There's no room for me."

His brows immediately pulled together. "You're an adult. Can't you squeeze in a little?"

Mom chimed in right after him, "Maddie gets carsick. She has to sit in the front. Be reasonable."

But Maddison was sitting comfortably in the passenger seat, adjusting the sun visor.

Mom occupied one side of the back seat. Tyler occupied the other. Brandon sat in the middle, holding the laptop bag he'd just bought for Maddison.

Not a single seat had been left for me. Even if I forced myself inside, I'd only end up curled into a corner like a stray.

"There isn't room."

"Then just take an Uber to the hotel. It's not far anyway."

I nodded and stepped back. "You guys go ahead. I..."

Before I could finish speaking, Dad slammed his foot on the gas, and the car sped away. Exhaust fumes washed over my face, leaving my nose burning. I slowly walked home alone.

In the kitchen, I made myself a bowl of chili mac.

Extra hot sauce. Hot enough to make my eyes sting.

Still, it tasted better than anything I'd eaten all day. Afterward, I washed the bowl and wiped down the counter.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a voice message from Mom.

The background was noisy with laughter and congratulations for Maddison.

"Ashley, why aren't you here yet? Hurry up and call an Uber over. Don't keep everyone waiting."

For a moment, I hovered between blocking her number and replying.

In the end, I only sent two words: "Not coming."

Back in my room, I started packing. I only took clothes for the current season. I could buy winter clothes after I got to South Coast University.

I left everything else—including the gray e-reader—behind on my desk.

Then I opened my savings jar. There was only $32 left inside. The larger bills were gone.

I searched my room from top to bottom.

Nothing.

Where had the money gone?

Just as panic was pushing me toward calling the police, my bedroom door opened. Maddison stepped inside and held up her wrist proudly.

A gold bracelet gleamed beneath the light.

"Pretty, isn't it? Mom bought it for me. It was so expensive, too. $5,500."

The amount missing from my savings was exactly $5,500.

I turned toward Mom in disbelief. "You took my money?"