Chapter2

That exact night, Lachlan and Tamsin made it official.

They didn't hide it.

She wore his varsity hockey jacket everywhere.

They often skipped classes to take joyrides.

Instead of going to his hockey practice, they got drunk at local bars and posted the photos online.

Watching their wild antics online, I only found it ridiculous.

In our past life, I would have cried and tried to save him.

Now? I had my own life to save.

I threw myself into the brutal college admissions grind.

To get into a top Ivy League, I worked mercilessly.

I slept only four hours a night and studied until 3 A.M.

In my last life, I missed Harvard's cutoff by three points.

Why? Because I spent my senior fall babysitting Lachlan through his exams.

This time, I was playing purely for myself.

One Tuesday, I walked past them in the hallway carrying a stack of homework.

Lachlan deliberately stepped out. He blocked my path. He pulled Tamsin close and kissed her right in front of me.

"I like her like this, Vesper," Lachlan said. He looked down at me with arrogant defiance. "Tamsin is a rock that finally smashed my boring, suffocating eighteen years of life."

He sneered. "So stop begging for my attention. Don't text me about hockey schedules. Leave me alone. Being around you is entirely too dull."

I didn't blink. I didn't say a word. I just walked right past him.

By the end of the fall semester, the truth caught up to him.

Without me doing his work, Lachlan’s GPA crashed. He plummeted straight to the bottom hundred of our class.

Meanwhile, I secured the number one rank.

The next morning, I stood in the counselor’s office. I was just turning in my National Merit application.

Suddenly, the door flew open. Mr. Harrison dragged Lachlan and Tamsin inside. He slammed a folder of failing transcripts onto his desk.

"Lachlan, do you want to ruin your life?" Mr. Harrison yelled. "Your grades are complete garbage. You are dating instead of studying. You skipped three varsity practices!"

Mr. Harrison pointed at the calendar. "The Ivy League scouts are coming to your game next week!"

Lachlan stood there holding Tamsin’s waist. He looked completely bored.

"Relax, Counselor," Lachlan rolled his eyes. "I know what I'm doing. You worry way too much."

The door swung open again. The oxygen left the room.

Alistair Rhys stepped inside. Lachlan’s billionaire father looked like pure ice.

"Shut your mouth," Alistair ordered.

Hearing that cold voice, Lachlan panicked. He immediately shoved Tamsin behind his back to protect her.

"Dad, don't blame Tamsin. I pursued her. You can't touch her," Lachlan declared.

It was like pouring gas on a fire.

Tamsin poked her head out from behind him.

She foolishly thought Lachlan’s protection made her untouchable.

She actually rolled her eyes at his father.

"He's right," Tamsin scoffed. "I didn't force him to drink or skip class. He wants to please me. If an old man like you can't control his own son, don't yell at me."

Alistair didn't yell. A terrifying sneer crossed his face.

"Lachlan," Alistair said softly. "I poured millions into your athletic pedigree. And you choose this classless trash? You let her insult me?"

Lachlan shouted, his chest heaving. "Dad, I love her! I have to protect her!"

Alistair took a deep breath. He calmly adjusted his cuffs.

"I don't care who you date, Lachlan. But this girl is useless," Alistair said coldly. He glanced over at me by the filing cabinet. "Why did you drop Vesper? Look at her. Top of the class. Quiet and out of trouble."

I froze.

This was completely wrong.

This did not happen in our past life.

Before, Lachlan's grades never dropped this violently.

Alistair never came to the school. He certainly never praised me out loud.

Hearing my name, Lachlan violently snapped.

He whipped around and glared at me with pure, murderous venom.

"Vesper, you snitching bitch!" Lachlan roared. He took a threatening step toward me. "Are you really pulling the exact same trick?! Didn't I hurt you enough in our last life?!"

Silence fell over the room.

Mr. Harrison slammed his fist on the desk. He looked horrified. "What are you talking about, Lachlan?! Vesper didn't say a word! I called your father last night!"

Lachlan's face instantly went pale.

Last life? Hurt?

I stared into his terrified eyes.

My heart pounded against my ribs.

I quickly realized Lachlan was reborn, too.