Chapter 2

After Ethan left, I stepped up and handed my Physics Olympiad registration form to Mrs. Gable.

She took it, looked at me, and nodded with a small, relieved smile.

Ethan and I had been competing in physics since our freshman year.

In freshman year, I took third place, and Ethan took second.

In sophomore year, I took second, and Ethan took first.

I was always exactly one spot behind him, and it drove me crazy.

I had made a bet with him. I told him that during our senior year, I would definitely take first place and rub it in his face.

Back then, Ethan had just smiled, gently ruffling my hair.

"Chloe, some things are just about raw IQ. You can't beat me, and you never will."

"Even if you somehow get first, your overall SAT scores will never touch mine."

Looking at his confident, proud face back then, I had been more determined than ever to beat him.

I always believed that if I worked hard enough, I could have everything I wanted.

Just as I turned to leave, Mrs. Gable called out to me.

I turned around, confused. She looked at me with worried eyes.

"Chloe, you and Ethan are close. Can you please talk to him?"

"He’s such a good kid. I don't want him getting dragged down by the wrong crowd."

"Skylar’s family has serious money. Even if she drops out of high school, she can just go inherit her dad’s company."

"But what about Ethan? What is he going to do without college?"

"Look at his grades lately. They’re in a freefall. And he’s starting to act like a street punk."

"I think I saw a tattoo on his arm earlier today."

"He used to be such a sweet, sensible boy. How did he ruin himself so fast?"

Honestly, it wasn't just Mrs. Gable who couldn't figure it out. I couldn't understand it either.