Chapter Two

Eleanor's POV

Wyatt was a full head taller than me. He stared down at me, disappointment written all over his face.

"Eleanor, since when did you get so selfish? Chloe's always been so good to you. All we're asking is for you to bend a little for our friendship, and you're gonna drag your parents into this?"

Brody grabbed my shoulder, his voice sharp and impatient.

"Look how hard Chloe's crying! How old are you, anyway? You can't make a single decision without asking Mommy and Daddy? Can't you think for yourself for once?"

"So today, we're making the call for you!"

Brody's hand clamped down like a vise and pinned me back in my chair.

I tried to twist free a couple of times, but I couldn't move an inch.

Looking up at those two faces, so sure they were in the right, I felt like none of this was real.

It was hard to believe the three of us used to be practically inseparable.

We lived on the same street and grew up together. Every neighbor on the block used to say how jealous they were of the three of us.

Wyatt didn't talk much, but he always looked out for me like a big brother. Brody was the class clown, and every day he came up with something new to make me laugh.

One night, the two of them lay on the grass in my backyard and made a promise under the stars. No matter what happened, they'd always have my back, and nobody would ever get to mess with me.

But ever since Chloe transferred to our school junior year, nobody had mentioned that promise again.

She'd gotten in on a financial aid scholarship. She looked sweet and fragile, but nobody knew how to wrap guys around her finger better than she did.

If it rained and she'd forgotten her umbrella, she'd huddle by the school entrance, shivering, gazing at Wyatt with those big sad eyes.

If she fell in gym class, she'd be on the verge of tears from the pain, but she'd still force a brave little smile at Brody.

Little by little, the umbrella they used to hold over me started tilting toward her. The snacks and jokes they used to save for me all went to cheering her up instead.

If I showed even a hint of being upset, Chloe would tear up and apologize to me, saying someone like her didn't even deserve friends.

And Wyatt and Brody would rush to her side every single time, demanding to know why a rich girl like me had to pick on someone who was pinching pennies just to buy lunch.

"Quit squirming. We're doing this for your own good!"

A sudden weight came down on my shoulder and dragged me out of the memory.

Brody dug in harder until it really hurt.

Chloe wiped her tears and said softly, "Wyatt, Brody, don't do this. If Eleanor doesn't want to, just let it go. This is all my fault..."

But even as she said it, she was inching her way over to my computer.

"Chloe, you're way too nice." Wyatt's face was cold. "You don't have to be polite to someone this selfish."

He jerked his chin at the computer. "Go ahead and change it for her. Today, all four of us are in this together. Nobody's getting left out."

Something smug flickered in Chloe's eyes. Then she put on a show of hesitating. "Are you sure about this? If her parents find out, they're gonna be so mad..."

"What's there to be scared of? If anything goes wrong, it's on me!" Brody said, thumping his chest.

I was desperate to lunge for the computer, but Wyatt stepped sideways and shielded Chloe behind him.

She sat down in my seat, logged into my account like she'd done it a hundred times, and changed my application in a few quick clicks.

"All done." Chloe turned around with the most innocent smile. "Eleanor, you can't change it once it's submitted, you know. Now we get to be classmates again!"

I was so furious my voice shook. "Are you guys out of your minds? Do you even know what you just did?"

"Eleanor, can you stop being so ungrateful?" Brody finally let go.

"We just didn't want you to be lonely. Chloe was trying to be nice, and you're acting like she's some kind of villain!"

"Okay, it's already submitted. There's no undoing it, so just deal with it." Wyatt took Chloe's hand. "Come on, let's go celebrate."

The three of them walked out of the computer lab, laughing and chatting.

The moment their footsteps faded, I threw myself back at the computer to change my application back.

But the screen only showed one line: You have no edits remaining.