Chapter 2

Ethan and Brooke exchanged a look.

Then they both reached over and gave me a quick pat on the head.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Ethan said with a frown.

Brooke looked at me, too. "What is that supposed to mean? Of course we're not going to leave you behind."

They laughed it off like they always did.

Brooke grabbed a first-aid kit and helped clean the cut on my back. When she finished, she suddenly turned to Ethan.

"Oh, did you book the flights for our trip yet? I sent you my ID information last night."

Ethan slapped his thigh.

"Oh, crap! I totally forgot. I've booked ours. June's is the only one left. I'll do it now."

He pulled out his phone and started booking my ticket.

I stood there, still trying to process what was happening.

"Wait. Why did you two suddenly decide to take a trip?"

Brooke hooked her arm through mine and smiled.

"You've been wanting to travel for ages, remember? We start our internships next semester. Once we're working, it'll be a pain to get time off."

She grinned.

"Ethan and I have been saving up for two months. We wanted to take you somewhere nice before we start our internships. We thought it'd be a fun surprise."

She looked so excited about the trip that I couldn't bring myself to ruin it.

My hands went cold.

I didn't know how to tell her I didn't want to go.

I grew up in the country, in a house with a deep pond right outside.

When I was little, the other kids used to pick on me because I was slower than they were. More than once, they'd pushed me into the pond, and someone nearby had pulled me out before things got worse.

Years later, I still dreamed about sinking underwater and struggling to breathe.

I was terrified of water.

I remembered telling Ethan and Brooke about it during dinner freshman year.

Ethan had pulled me into his arms and promised he'd never take me anywhere near deep water. Brooke had squeezed my hand and promised she'd help me stay away from it.

Apparently, they'd both forgotten.

Brooke must have noticed my hesitation. She took my hand and looked me straight in the eye.

"June, don't even think about saying no. Ethan and I will cover your share for now. You can pay us back once you have a job."

Ethan nodded.

With both of them looking at me expectantly, I couldn't find the courage to refuse.

So I forced a smile.

"Okay. Whatever you two say."

Once the emergency alert was lifted, we went back to our dorm and started packing for the trip.

Brooke moved around the room, sorting things into piles while talking nonstop.

"Ethan gets terrible ear pressure on flights, so we need to pack his favorite mints. And he only drinks that one brand of bottled water, so I'll grab some before we leave."

I stopped folding my clothes and looked down at my suitcase.

I hadn't even known Ethan had trouble with his ears on planes. I'd never heard him mention it.

Somehow, Brooke knew all these little things about him that I'd never known.

When she finally finished packing, she dusted off her hands and gave me a smug smile.

"See? Aren't I the best? You only have to pack your own stuff. I've already taken care of everything for Ethan, too. One less thing for you to worry about."

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"You're so thoughtful, Brooke. Thank you."

She smiled and linked her arm through mine.

"You don't have to thank me. That's what friends are for."

The next morning, we grabbed a cab outside the campus gates.

Brooke opened the front passenger door for me.

"June, you should sit up front. You get carsick, remember? You'll feel better if you can see the road."

I buckled my seat belt.

Almost immediately, I heard the familiar sounds of a mobile game coming from the back seat.

"Brooke, get online!" Ethan called excitedly.

"Coming!" she replied.

I reached for my phone, ready to join them.

But Ethan tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a pair of noise-canceling earbuds, still in their packaging.

"Here, put these on and get some rest. Brooke and I are trying to rank up before the season ends. Since you get carsick, you should close your eyes instead of staring at your phone."

He didn't say I would slow them down.

He didn't have to.

I understood perfectly well that he thought my slow reactions would hurt their chances of winning.

I took the earbuds and put them in.

"Sure. You two go ahead."

Their laughter and game sounds soon filled the car.

They had each other to talk to, compete with, and share everything with.

I sat in the front seat, shut out by a pair of earbuds I'd been given for my own good.

My phone vibrated in my hand.

A message from Aunt Dana appeared on the screen.

[Your application has been approved. I've also spoken with your university, and they've agreed to defer your graduation while you participate in the trial. If you're still willing, report to the research team in three days.]

I stared at the message for a long moment.

Then I took a deep breath and replied with two words.

[Got it.]