Chapter 1

At my sister's and my college-celebration party.

Mom and Dad had prepared surprise gift boxes for us both.

Marcy opened hers first.

An eighty-thousand-dollar spread of Apple gadgets.

She threw her arms around our parents, sobbing so hard she could barely catch her breath.

My box was about the same size as hers.

Mom smiled and gestured at it.

"You two are sisters, cut from the same cloth. Go on, open yours!"

I couldn't tear into it fast enough.

A huge cake sprang out from inside.

And smashed straight into my face.

I wiped the frosting out of my eyes.

Marcy instantly doubled over laughing.

My brother clapped me on the shoulder, grinning.

"Just messing with you. We knew Marcy would cry when she got moved, so we set up a little gag to lighten things up."

I swiped a hand down my face.

"So there's no gift for me, then?"

Ethan Mason blinked.

"Marcy got into a mid-tier college, so of course she deserves a reward.

"You landed some third-rate school. Don't go putting yourself next to Marcy and measuring up."

Mom and Dad turned away, smiling, to fix up Marcy's dress.

Ethan left me standing there and went to help her set up her new gadgets.

But my acceptance to a top university had been hand-delivered to Mom and Dad by the principal himself.

It had been half a month now.

Had they never even looked at it?

...

Dad lifted the trailing hem of Marcy's gown, arranging it just so for the best photo.

Mom stood in front of her, straightening her collar.

Their eyes brimming with satisfaction and tenderness.

Only me.

The dress I'd spent three hours choosing was crumpled now.

Smeared all over with sour, reeking frosting.

As if they'd known this cake would end up on my face.

The cake seemed to have been made with expired ingredients.

The smell of it turned my stomach.

Ethan flapped a hand at me, shooing me off.

"What are you still standing here for? Waiting to gas out the guests?

"Go change already!"

I held it in.

I didn't let the tears fall.

I turned and fled into the changing room.

Looking at the dress I'd chosen so carefully over three hours, now ruined.

I knelt on the floor.

Smoothing out the parts the frosting hadn't touched, little by little, careful as anything.

The tears came anyway, no matter how I fought them.

It was the first time I'd ever worn a formal dress.

When I found out I'd get to dress up nicely for this party, just like Marcy.

I'd started planning three days ahead.

I'd stood in the boutique comparing options for the longest time.

Before I settled on this pale green dress.

And now it was all ruined.

By the time I came out of the changing room.

I'd been put into an oversized shirt and slacks that dragged a little on the floor.

"We didn't have anything in a women's size here, so you'll just have to make do."

Ethan waved a careless hand.

"It's not like you're the star of the show today anyway."

I clenched my fist.

"This is my college party too, not just Marcy's."

"Then why didn't you get into a mid-tier college like she did?"

Ethan laughed.

Marcy's gown was arranged and ready now.

She turned, smiling, the hem of her dress drifting with the motion.

She took my hand.

"It's okay, sis. Grades aren't everything.

"We're girls, there's always a way forward. You're not great with clothes, sis, but you've got a pretty face~"

"Don't be modest, Marcy. Who says grades aren't everything?"

Mom shot me a faintly contemptuous glance.

"At the very least, grades show a person's intelligence and self-discipline. Without those two things, however your SATs turned out is most likely how the rest of your life will turn out too."

"Really, Marcy, you don't need to run yourself down to protect your sister's ego. She's not that fragile."

Marcy's cheeks colored.

"Never mind, I'll just stay humble~"

"Humble about what? Your father loves seeing the daughter he's cherished hold her head up high!"

"That's right. Show off when you've earned it. After all, your grades are the real deal."

The door suddenly swung open.

"I'm not too late, am I?"

My childhood companion, Norman Weiss, appeared in the doorway holding a huge armful of roses.

For the first time all night, something like joy stirred in my chest.

Roses were my favorite flower.

Mom and Dad might not have bothered looking at my acceptance letter.

But I had told Norman my good news!

"Norman!"

I stepped forward, thrilled.

But he walked right past me.

"Marcy. Congratulations on getting in."