Chapter 3
Iris's POV
"Iris! You cut off my cards?"
Liam's voice exploded down the hallway. Everyone walking by stopped and stared.
I'd just finished my study abroad paperwork, arms full of documents, when he grabbed my wrist hard enough to hurt.
"Do you know how embarrassing that was yesterday?" He was practically spitting. "Right in front of Emily and everyone at the store? My card got declined. THREE TIMES. People were staring and whispering—"
I yanked my arm free. "Gen shut them all down. She's pissed I picked State over Yale. Froze every card with my name on it."
Liam's face changed—he clearly remembered how terrifying my sister could be. He bit his lip, took a breath. "Okay, but... can't you just talk to her? Maybe if you explained—"
"I tried." I looked at him flatly. "You know how she is."
Weird silence.
Liam stared at me for a long time, something anxious flickering behind his eyes. "Iris, you've been acting weird lately."
"Weird how?"
"I don't know what it is, but something's off." He frowned, stepping closer. "The way you look at me—it's different. You're not... backing out, are you? About State?"
I smiled, pulled out my phone, and showed him the screenshot of my Yale rejection email. "Already officially declined. It's done."
His whole body relaxed like someone cut his strings. "Really? God, I KNEW it! Iris, you're amazing."
He reached to hug me. I stepped back.
"Oh, hey." His tone shifted, got all excited. "Once we're at State, think you could talk to your sister? Get those cards back? I swear I'll be way more careful. Won't spend like crazy or anything—"
"Liam!" Emily's voice suddenly echoed from the other end of the hall. She half-ran toward us. "Can you help me real quick? I lost my car keys..."
Her eyes were all red and watery, on the verge of tears. "If my mom finds out, she's gonna kill me..."
"Hey, hey, you're fine." Liam immediately switched into comfort mode. "I'll help you look right now."
Then he glanced back at me. "Iris, I'll see you tonight at the dance, yeah? Wear something hot—I want that first dance with you."
Emily pulled him away before I could respond. They practically jogged off together.
I stood there watching them disappear down the hall, my grip tightening on the papers in my hands.
Once we're at State, unfreeze the cards?
Yeah. In your dreams.
The graduation dance that night was in the main auditorium. Everyone dressed to the nines.
I wore a deep blue velvet dress. The second I walked in, heads turned.
"Oh my god, Iris looks insane tonight."
"Wait, didn't she turn down Yale? For Liam?"
"For Liam Rockefeller... the bastard kid. She's actually crazy."
I ignored the whispers and headed straight to the corner bar, grabbing a glass of red wine.
Liam was across the room with some football guys. When he spotted me, his eyes lit up. He started walking over.
Then Emily appeared at my side, holding her own wine glass.
She wore a pale pink dress—the one Liam had put on his maxed-out card.
"Iris, you look so beautiful tonight." Soft voice, practiced sweetness.
"Thanks." My tone was dead flat.
"Actually..." She bit her lip. "I've been meaning to apologize. About asking to borrow your dress before. That was so out of line..."
Right then, she suddenly stumbled—
"Oh!"
Emily screamed as she lurched toward me. I tried to dodge, but her hand shot out and grabbed my arm in a death grip.
Next thing I knew, my wine glass tipped forward, the red liquid splashing all over her chest.
The wine exploded across her pink dress like a bloodstain.
"Iris!" Emily clutched at her chest, tears instantly pouring down her face. "Why did you PUSH me?!"
I stood there, completely frozen.
"I didn't push you."
"YES YOU DID!" Emily pointed at me, sobbing harder. "I was just trying to apologize, and you shoved me! Then you threw wine all over me!"
Liam came running, helping Emily to her feet. When he saw the massive stain on her dress, his face went dark.
"Iris!" He practically roared. "What the hell is WRONG with you?!"
"I didn't push her." I took a slow breath. "She threw herself at me."
"That's BULLSHIT!" Liam shot up, furious. "I SAW what you did! You wouldn't lend her a dress before, now you've ruined the one she's wearing! You're really that jealous of her?!"
"Jealous of WHAT?" I stared at him in disbelief.
"You KNOW what!" Liam's voice echoed through the room. "Emily is sweet and kind—not stuck-up like you, walking around like you own the place! You can't handle that I'm nicer to her!"
"Liam, stop..." Emily sobbed, pulling weakly at his sleeve. "Please... It's all my fault... I shouldn't have even come tonight..."
"This is NOT on you!" Liam wrapped his arm around her, shooting daggers at me with his eyes. "Iris, I'm so disappointed in you right now!"
"I already TOLD you—I didn't push her!" My voice rose despite myself.
"Enough!" Liam cut me off. "Everyone here SAW it. Stop lying."
He pulled Emily closer, his voice cold and deliberate. "You know what? The first dance? Forget it. I'm dancing with Emily instead."
Everything inside me went rigid.
"What did you just say?"
"I SAID I'm giving the first dance to Emily!" Liam made sure everyone could hear. "She deserves it after what you just did to her!"
Whispers erupted everywhere. Liam held Emily's waist gently, comforting her.
And I just stood there like the punchline to a joke, every eye in the room judging me.
My chest felt crushed. I could barely pull in air.
I looked at him and suddenly started laughing.
"Fine." I turned and walked away. "Do whatever you want."
"Iris!" Liam shouted after me. "That's IT? You're seriously just gonna walk out? Don't you think you owe Emily an apology?!"
I stopped. Didn't turn around.
"An apology?" I said it quietly, but my voice carried. "Liam, the only person I owe an apology to is myself. For throwing away Yale. For YOU."
I walked out without looking back.
The second I got outside, the tears came.
Not for Liam. For me.
For the idiot who gave up everything for someone who never deserved it.
2 AM. My phone rang.
Liam's name flashed on screen.
I stared at it. Hesitated. Picked up anyway.
"Iris!" Pure rage in his voice. "Emily tried to kill herself! This is on YOU!"
