Meta Ad Library · GB,DE,FR,BR
What competitors are running.
Active Facebook + Instagram + Messenger ads from this app’s developer (and lookalike pages). Spend and impressions only show for EU/UK/BR-targeted ads under DSA disclosure.
Active Facebook + Instagram + Messenger ads from this app’s developer (and lookalike pages). Spend and impressions only show for EU/UK/BR-targeted ads under DSA disclosure.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he?. No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me out for the night instead of letting me sulk at home. Dinner ended early when the group decided to crash a massive post-graduation house party one of the seniors was throwing at his parents' place near the lake. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too. With half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into the crowded living room, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye across the room when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to find the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner in the hallway—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that". Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier". My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off toward the kitchen, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk". I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of cheap beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the humid air of the house and the thump of bass shaking the floorboards. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?". I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots in the kitchen. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?". I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too". Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me". She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem". His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil". I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you". The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting". By the time they rejoined the group on the back patio, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he?. No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me out for the night instead of letting me sulk at home. Dinner ended early when the group decided to crash a massive post-graduation house party one of the seniors was throwing at his parents' place near the lake. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too. With half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into the crowded living room, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye across the room when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to find the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner in the hallway—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that". Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier". My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off toward the kitchen, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk". I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of cheap beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the humid air of the house and the thump of bass shaking the floorboards. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?". I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots in the kitchen. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?". I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too". Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me". She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem". His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil". I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you". The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting". By the time they rejoined the group on the back patio, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he?. No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me out for the night instead of letting me sulk at home. Dinner ended early when the group decided to crash a massive post-graduation house party one of the seniors was throwing at his parents' place near the lake. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too. With half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into the crowded living room, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye across the room when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to find the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner in the hallway—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that". Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier". My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off toward the kitchen, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk". I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of cheap beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the humid air of the house and the thump of bass shaking the floorboards. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?". I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots in the kitchen. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?". I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too". Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me". She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem". His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil". I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you". The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting". By the time they rejoined the group on the back patio, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he?. No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me out for the night instead of letting me sulk at home. Dinner ended early when the group decided to crash a massive post-graduation house party one of the seniors was throwing at his parents' place near the lake. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too. With half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into the crowded living room, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye across the room when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to find the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner in the hallway—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that". Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier". My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off toward the kitchen, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk". I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of cheap beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the humid air of the house and the thump of bass shaking the floorboards. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?". I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots in the kitchen. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?". I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too". Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me". She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem". His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil". I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you". The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting". By the time they rejoined the group on the back patio, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.
It was deadline day for college apps, and my childhood best friend Colton just completely screwed me over. Out of nowhere, he switched his application to match whatever school Brynn—our school's Instagram princess—had picked. My friend Quinn couldn't help herself as we sat in the courtyard during lunch break. "Wait, what about your little shadow over here?" she said, nodding toward me with this evil grin. "Didn't you two pinky-swear back in like eighth grade that you'd both get into Northern Colorado Tech together?" Colton barely looked up from his phone. For a second, I could see something flicker across his face—like he actually remembered our pact. Then he just shrugged. "Sage? She'll figure it out. I gave her my login info ages ago. Once she sees I switched, she'll just change hers too. She follows me everywhere anyway." I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. But I kept my face completely blank and quietly got up from our usual spot. I pretended I hadn't heard anything and just walked away. That afternoon, I didn't log into the application portal to check what he'd done. And I definitely didn't change my own application to follow him. Here's what Colton didn't know: he could chase Brynn all the way to UC Santa Barbara if that's what made him happy. But I had my own dreams to chase. And everything I'd worked for—every late night studying, every practice test—it was never just about staying close to him. Chapter 1: The Restaurant Colton's words from earlier kept playing in my head like a broken record, and I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe. We'd made this promise back in seventh grade over chocolate milkshakes at IHOP. Both of us were going to get into Northern Colorado Tech and study aerospace engineering together. This wasn't some random childhood fantasy either. Our families had spent entire Sunday afternoons spread out at kitchen tables, going through college brochures and talking about our futures. We'd even submitted our applications on the same day, sitting right next to each other at his dining room table. But now he'd just... thrown it all away. Without even giving me a heads up. I was standing outside the VIP room at this trendy burger place downtown, trying to decide if I should go inside and join everyone or just leave. That's when I heard the conversation that basically shattered my world. Hayes—who's always been way too nosy for his own good—was clearly trying to stir up drama. "Okay but seriously, how do you even know Sage will bother checking your application status again? What if she doesn't notice you switched?" Colton actually laughed out loud, like it was the stupidest question he'd ever heard. "Come on, dude. I know her better than anyone. She probably checks that portal like every five minutes, completely paranoid about messing something up. She's been obsessing over making sure we end up in the same program since junior year." There was this tired, annoyed tone in his voice, like dealing with me was exhausting. "You guys just don't understand what it's like. Imagine having someone glued to your side since kindergarten. She's basically my shadow—I can't go anywhere without her tagging along." The whole room erupted in laughter, and I felt my cheeks burning with humiliation. I pressed my back against the wall, clenching my fists so hard my nails were leaving marks in my palms. Hayes wasn't finished stirring the pot. "But even if she finds out, you're really that sure she'll just drop everything and change her own application to follow you?" Colton didn't even glance up from his phone—probably playing that stupid mobile game he's always obsessed with. "Are you kidding me? Sage hasn't spent more than like a week away from me since we were literally born. If she doesn't follow me to college, who else is she gonna latch onto?" One of his other friends decided to jump in. "Dude, that's pretty messed up though. Couldn't you at least tell her you're ditching the plan? Especially since everyone knows you're only doing this because of Brynn?" I could practically hear Colton rolling his eyes through the wall. "Look, I forgot to bring it up, alright? And honestly, I just didn't want to deal with all the waterworks. If she knew I switched schools because of Brynn, she'd probably have a complete meltdown and bombard me with texts for weeks." His voice got softer, like he was trying to justify it to himself. "Besides, Brynn's really freaked out about moving to California alone. With all the drama her family's been through lately, it makes total sense for someone she trusts to be there." All the guys started making these understanding noises, mixing fake sympathy with some pretty gross comments about Brynn. "Yeah man, totally makes sense. Brynn's absolutely gorgeous, and after all that mess with her dad's embezzlement case, she definitely needs someone watching her back." Then came the comment that made me want to throw up. "Plus it's not like your little puppy dog Sage is any real competition. Girl's got her face buried in textbooks 24/7 and always looks like she just crawled out of bed. No contest against the prom queen. And you're giving up your pilot dreams for her? That's some serious dedication. Good thing you're not totally whipped." More obnoxious laughter filled the room, mixed with the annoying beeping sounds from their phones. I stood there completely frozen, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every single word felt like a physical blow. Part of me wanted to kick down that door, grab Colton by his collar, and demand to know how he could be so casual about destroying everything we'd planned together. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like concrete. Instead, I just turned around and walked straight out of the restaurant, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Chapter 2: Breaking Point Once I was alone in my room with the door shut tight, the tears I'd been holding back finally broke free, streaming down my face in hot, unending waves. I collapsed onto my bed, burying my head in the pillow, but it didn't muffle the ache that had been building inside me all day. Colton's words kept looping through my mind, each one sharp and unrelenting, like shards of glass I couldn't stop touching. How could he just switch up everything? Aerospace engineering had been his dream since we were kids—the one thing he talked about with that fire in his eyes, the goal we'd chased together for years. We'd studied late into the nights, traded flashcards and pep talks, all to nail those test scores and get into the programs we wanted. And just minutes before I stepped into that restaurant, I'd been smiling to myself, stupidly excited about how we'd made it, how we were finally heading off to build that future side by side. But now, it hit me like a gut punch: he'd tossed it all aside. For what? A casual comment from someone else? It didn't make sense. If he could throw away years of planning that easily, what did that say about us? About me? And worse, why couldn't he even bother to tell me? Was I really that much of a burden, something he had to dodge and weave around? The thought gnawed at me, twisting deeper. If he was so scared of me clinging to him, then what about that night on my eighteenth birthday? We'd snuck out to Riverside Park, lying on the grass under a blanket of stars, the air cool and electric. He'd leaned in first, his kiss soft and tentative, like he was testing the waters, both of us breathing hard, hearts pounding in sync. I'd felt it then—that rush, like we were finally crossing a line we'd been dancing around forever. But now? Maybe it was just the beer talking, a fleeting moment he regretted the next morning, and I'd been the fool who turned it into something more. Something inside me snapped, a quiet fracture that left me hollow. I wasn't some helpless tagalong, though. Everyone—Colton included—had always assumed I'd follow him everywhere, from kindergarten through high school, like it was written in stone. Same schools, same classes, same everything. But no one knew the truth: I had my own reasons for wanting Northern Colorado Tech, reasons that didn't involve him at all. It was about me, my passions, the path I wanted to carve out on my own. I glanced at the computer on my desk, the screen still lit up from when I'd absentmindedly opened it earlier. The Common App portal stared back, but I slammed it shut without a second thought. I wasn't going to change a thing for him. He could chase after Brynn and her dreams down in Santa Barbara if that's what he wanted. And me? I had my own sky to reach for, one that didn't need him holding me back. From now on, our roads could diverge, and I wouldn't look back. Chapter 3: The Video Call After I sorted through it all in my head, everything suddenly felt lighter, like a weight I'd been carrying had just dissolved into nothing. It wasn't the end of the world, or even close. My mom was right—what she always said about having to grow up and stand on your own two feet. And that kiss? I could write it off as no big deal, just like getting stung by some random bee in the park—annoying in the moment, but easy to forget once the pain faded. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, letting the chill snap me back to calm. My skin felt tight and refreshed, and for a second, I thought I could leave it all behind. But then my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Colton. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen, but muscle memory kicked in—I answered before I could think better of it. "Sage, what's the holdup? Everyone's here waiting on you to start eating. You're getting slower by the day, princess." His voice came through casual, like nothing was wrong, but it grated on me. I knew what he was talking about—the post-exam ritual with his close crew, taking turns hosting these over-the-top dinners to blow off steam. Today's was his turn, but I was done with it. "I'm not coming," I said quickly. "You guys go ahead without me." Before I could explain or hang up, another voice cut in, soft and syrupy, like she was trying to sound sweet but not quite pulling it off. "Colton, is Sage not coming because she's upset about me being here with your group?" I caught a glimpse of her on the screen—Brynn, half-turned toward him, her face close enough to his that it made my stomach twist. She had this way of leaning in, all innocent and concerned, but it felt calculated. Colton didn't even pause to respond to her. One of the guys in the background jumped in first, laughing it off. "No way, Brynn's the highlight of the night—we're thrilled she's here." Another one added, "Sage is just being her usual self, you know? Gets territorial if any girl's within ten feet of Colton. It's kind of her thing." Brynn tilted her head, her voice dropping to a whisper that was probably meant for him alone, but loud enough for me to hear. "Colton, maybe I should just go. I don't want to cause any trouble..." His expression shifted in an instant, like a storm cloud rolling in. He reached out—I could see his hand on her arm—and said firmly, "Brynn, stay put. Sage is just in one of her moods—who knows what's bugging her this time. If she doesn't want to come, fine, we don't need her. Let's eat." He didn't even look at the camera when he said it, just ended the call with a quick tap. The screen went black, and I was left staring at my own reflection in the dim light of my room. Anger flared up hot and fast, my pulse thudding in my ears. Without thinking, I blocked him right there—pulled up his contact and hit the button. It was the first time we'd ever fought like that, the first time I'd cut him off completely. And of course, it had to be over her. Again. Chapter 4: Memory Lane As I sat there in the quiet of my room, piecing it all together, the memories started flooding back—unwanted, like rain seeping through a leaky roof. It had been two years since Brynn transferred in during sophomore year, and I couldn't even count how many times Colton had bent his own rules for her. Maybe it was just a guy thing, falling for someone who always looked so perfect, all fresh-faced and put-together, even when the rest of us were barely holding it together with late-night study sessions and messy hair. We'd fought about her more times than I could remember, icy silences stretching out until one of us caved. I'd convinced myself he must like her, so I pulled back, tried to fade into the background, thinking it was for the best. But Colton always tracked me down, his voice steady as he swore it was nothing—just helping a classmate who had it rough. "She's got a complicated home life," he'd say, "and people talk behind her back, judge her for stuff that's not her fault. I'm just being decent." And I believed him because, honestly, he'd never lied to me before. Not once. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I didn't see it happening, not until it was too late. They started sharing secrets, inside jokes, all the little things I used to have with him. And now, with college applications, he'd even switched his choices because of her. It made me feel stupid, like I'd been clinging to a fantasy that was crumbling right in front of me. My thoughts were a tangled mess until a notification pinged on my phone—a text from some random number. Sage, you actually blocked me? Wait till I get home, you're in for it. 😡 It was Colton, using a friend's account to get around the block. Anger shot through me like a spark, and I didn't hesitate—I blocked that number too, cutting him off completely. I had to get to school. It was the last week before most college application deadlines, and Mrs. Peterson had been calling seniors in for individual meetings if they still needed help with their applications. I'd been avoiding mine all week, knowing she'd probably ask about my backup schools and why I wasn't applying anywhere on the West Coast like most of my friends. Traffic was a nightmare, so by the time I walked into our AP Gov classroom, most people were already there. We'd been using this period all week for college prep since Mr. Rodriguez was out sick. Colton and Brynn were in our usual spot—her in my seat, like she'd claimed it as her territory, not even bothering to move when she saw me. Her eyes had this smug glint, like she was winning some game I didn't want to play. Colton stared straight ahead, his jaw set, pretending I wasn't there, probably waiting for me to break first and apologize. I didn't. Instead, I scanned the room and slid into the empty chair next to Quinn, my best friend, putting as much distance between us as I could. Mrs. Peterson stuck her head in from the hallway where she'd been talking to another student. "Alright everyone, just a quick reminder—most of your EA and RD deadlines are this weekend. If you haven't submitted yet, don't panic, but don't wait until 11:59 PM either. The Common App servers crash every year. And if anyone has last-minute questions, I'll be in my office until 6 PM today." Then she basically left us to figure our lives out while she continued her individual meetings down the hall. Quinn was in the middle of spilling some juicy gossip about a mutual friend who'd just had a meltdown over a bad dye job, and I was half-listening, trying to laugh along, when a hand came down on my shoulder, firm and familiar. "Sage, come on, let's talk." I turned, meeting Colton's eyes for a split second before looking away. I wasn't in the mood, so I focused back on Quinn, forcing a smile. But he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my shoulder, turning me to face him fully. "What's your deal this time? I'm exhausted with this back-and-forth. We're about to start college—isn't it time to grow up?" I met his stare, my voice sharp. "It's immature and pointless, so why don't you save us both the trouble and stop trying to fix it." He held my gaze for a beat, frustration flickering across his face, before he shook his head. "Fine, whatever. I don't have time for your tantrums. Just don't come crying to me later when you're upset." I kept my expression blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. For a moment, I thought he'd walk away, but then his hands were on my cheeks, turning my head so I had to look at him. His tone softened, almost like the old Colton. "The Common App deadline is in three days, so make sure you've submitted everything. Don't wait until the last minute—it's too important." Before I could respond, Brynn appeared, clutching her laptop like it was a lifeline. "Colton, could you help me with my UC application? I'm having some technical issues with the personal statement upload." He nodded without hesitation, but as he turned to go, he did that thing he always used to do—pinched my cheek lightly, like I was still his little sister or something. "And hey, if you need to use a school computer to submit anything, the library's open late all week. Just don't procrastinate on something this important." Chapter 5: The Setup A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, hidden from everyone else. Colton probably thought his little reminder back at school would do the trick—that I'd rush to check my application, spot whatever he assumed I'd missed, and blindly add UC Santa Barbara to my list just to follow him. But he couldn't be bothered to spell it out, could he? No, that would mean actually dealing with me, the "high-maintenance" one, and why put in the effort when he could just drop hints and hope I'd fall in line. Good thing I'd made up my mind. No turning back now. I glanced over at him, still glued to Brynn's side, tweaking her application like it was the most important thing in the world. Grabbing Quinn's arm, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, desperate for some air. She could tell I was in a mood and wouldn't let it go—insisted on dragging me to her friend Brooklyn's birthday party instead of letting me sulk at home. I put up a half-hearted fight, but eventually gave in; anything to get away from that mess. Dinner turned into drinks when the group decided to hit this new bar that had just opened. That's when it hit me—we weren't the only ones with plans for the night. Colton's crowd was there too, and with half our friends overlapping, it didn't take long for everyone to cram into one big booth, laughing and chatting like nothing was wrong. Colton caught my eye when I walked in, his face flushing a little, but he didn't say a word, didn't even nod in my direction. Fine by me; I played it cool, acting like he was just another stranger in the room. On my way to the bathroom, I heard voices around the corner—Colton and some guy from his group, Tucker. They were talking low, but I froze, not meaning to eavesdrop, yet unable to walk away. "Come on, man, just be straight with her," Tucker was saying. "She's a kid going off to the other side of the country; it's not fair to leave her hanging like that." Colton brushed it off with a casual laugh. "Nah, she's good. I told her a bunch of times to sort it out. Bet she's already changed it by now. This cold shoulder thing? Probably just because I didn't loop her in earlier." My stomach twisted, the words hitting harder than I expected. Before I could process it, they rounded the corner and spotted me. Colton shot Tucker a look that said "get lost," and Tucker wandered off, leaving Colton to block my path against the wall, his arm caging me in like I was trapped. "Sage, we need to talk." I rolled my eyes and tried to sidestep him, but his hand shot out, pulling me back. The scent of beer on his breath was sharp, mixing with the dim bar lights and the thump of music in the background. I turned my head away, not wanting to breathe it in, not wanting to deal with this at all. We stood there, locked in a stare-down, until he cracked first, a reluctant chuckle breaking the tension. "Still mad, huh? I was gonna text you about coming here tonight, but you blocked me, remember? And earlier at school, you had me so worked up I forgot to mention it. Come on, cut it out. I don't even know what you're so fired up about half the time. Oh, and did you get your application squared away?" I kept my face neutral, staring at the floor, refusing to give him anything. Words felt pointless; they'd just get twisted anyway. But he wasn't done, leaning in like he was about to say more, when Brynn's voice cut through from behind him. "Colton, Tucker is calling you for shots. Sorry, am I interrupting something...?" I didn't stick around to find out. As Colton glanced back, I ducked under his arm and bolted, but Brynn was quicker. Her hand clamped down on my wrist, holding me in place with a grip that felt way too tight, her eyes gleaming with that same smug satisfaction I'd seen earlier. Chapter 6: The Performance A fake apology spilled from Brynn's lips the moment I tried to brush past her. "I'm so sorry, Sage, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. You've been in a mood all day, and it's got Colton all twisted up too." Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her fingers dug into my wrist like claws, the pressure sharp enough to make me wince. I twisted free with a jerk, sending her stumbling back a step, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that looked way too convenient. "Colton," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear, "is Sage still mad at me for crashing your little group thing? I'll say sorry, okay? Just don't let this come between you two because of me." She stepped in front of me, hands clasped like she was about to bow or something, but it was all for show—her way of playing the victim while stirring the pot. Colton spun around, his face darkening in an instant. "What are you apologizing for? She's the one with the attitude problem." His words hit like a slap, and before I could respond, he was glaring at me. "Sage, why'd you push her? You owe Brynn an apology. We're all going to the same school soon; it makes sense to keep things civil." I didn't bother arguing. "If you love playing caretaker so much, have fun with it—both of you." The words shot out before I could stop them, and I turned on my heel, storming out without looking back. Colton's voice chased me down the hall, a mix of frustration and warning. "Sage, that's enough. You're overreacting." By the time they rejoined the group, Colton looked like he'd bitten into something sour, his jaw set tight, while Brynn had transformed back into her usual flirty self, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. No one else seemed to notice the shift—or maybe they didn't care. The teasing started right away, everyone cracking jokes about how long they'd been gone, implying all sorts of things that made my skin crawl. Even Tucker, Colton's childhood buddy, jumped in, egging it on with zero regard for how it might land with me. Why would they? In their eyes, I was just the girl who'd always been there for Colton, the one who didn't matter now that something better had come along.