Always Left Behind, She Left Them All

My little sister, Bella, had been taking my stuff since she learned to walk. My sweaters. My friends. My seat at the dinner table.

And every single time, Mason Hayes stepped in front of me and made her give it back. He was the boy next door and my best friend since second grade.

On my eighteenth birthday, he kissed me in his driveway, and just like that, my best friend was my boyfriend. Then he made me a promise. After graduation, we'd go as far away from this house as we could get. Somewhere with an ocean. Somewhere Bella couldn't follow.

I lived on that promise all senior year.

Then came Decision Day.

Half the senior class was packed into somebody's basement, everyone wearing a T-shirt from the college they'd just committed to. Mine was navy blue with SAN DIEGO across the front in white letters. Mason had bought it for me the day we both got in.

He was four beers deep when he slung an arm around my shoulders, grinning like he had good news.

"Oh, hey. Bella committed this afternoon. That college right across the street from ours." He tugged my ponytail. "I'm the one who told her where to apply."

I stared at him.

"Don't look at me like that." He laughed. "You know how she is. If she went off somewhere by herself, she'd wreck the whole state by Thanksgiving. This way I can keep an eye on her."

He leaned down until his forehead almost touched mine.

"Relax. Once we're out there, I won't let her mess with you anymore. Promise."

He knew. He knew better than anyone why I'd buried myself in AP classes and science fair projects for three straight years. Every all-nighter, every application essay, all of it was my ticket out of a house where Bella always came first.

And he'd saved her a seat right next to mine.

Somebody cranked the music up. I slid my phone out of my pocket and texted a man I'd turned down five months ago.

Dr. Sutton, is the scholarship spot still open?

He answered in under a minute.

Of course. I've been holding your file this whole time. Confirm before midnight and it's yours.

I checked the time. 11:51.

Back in December, Dr. Sutton had been one of the judges at the state science fair. He'd stood in front of my project for twenty minutes, asking question after question, while the other judges moved on without him. Then he'd handed me his card.

He ran a program that sent American students to a university in Edinburgh, Scotland. Full ride. Tuition, housing, flights, all of it. The only catch was that I'd have to stay for the whole four-year degree.

I'd said no before he even finished explaining.

Because Mason and I had a plan. San Diego. The ocean. Us.

I couldn't stand the thought of leaving him.

Dr. Sutton hadn't pushed too hard. He'd just said he'd keep my spot open in case I changed my mind.

I opened the acceptance form and signed my name.

The confirmation popped up at 11:58.

"Hayes, you absolute legend." One of Mason's friends shoved his shoulder. "Taking the girlfriend to college wasn't enough? You're bringing the sister-in-law too?"

Mason kicked him in the shin. "Shut up. Bella's a walking disaster. Somebody has to babysit her."

"Claire's gonna kill you, bro."

"Claire?" Mason snorted. "Claire doesn't do drama."

Then he looked down at me. "You're not still mad, are you?"

I locked my phone. "No."

His shoulders loosened, and he tapped the tip of my nose. "See? I knew you weren't gonna be petty about it." He pulled me into his side. "Seriously, if she gives you any trouble out there, I'll handle her myself."

I was tired. Too tired to say any of the things piling up in my throat. I eased out from under his arm.

"I'm gonna head home. Long day."

"I'll drive you."

"You've been drinking. I've got my car."

He walked me up the basement stairs anyway, still trying to get a smile out of me. "Apology milkshakes tomorrow? My treat. Large. Extra whipped cream."

I nodded.

There wasn't going to be a tomorrow for us.

I got into my car, opened the confirmation email, and read the first line three times.

Welcome to the program, Claire. Your flight to Edinburgh departs July 9.