Chapter 1

Hazel's POV

"OH MY GOD!" I screamed, jumping up from my chair.

Michigan State University Engineering Department Full Scholarship Acceptance Letter

I frantically rubbed my eyes and read it again, then once more! Yes, that was my name!

"This is real! This is REAL!" I clutched the paper and spun around my room like a maniac, my heart pounding wildly.

I had fought for this scholarship for an entire year! Now I could finally go to college with Brent!

My hands trembled so violently from excitement that I could barely hold my phone.

"Mom! Mom! I got it!" I practically shouted.

"Got what? Honey, calm down!" Mom's voice came through the phone.

"The scholarship! Michigan State! Full ride!" I was incoherent, tears already blurring my vision.

The line went silent for two seconds, then I heard a chair crash heavily to the floor.

"What?! You actually got it?!" Mom's voice mixed surprise with complex emotions. "My baby girl! I'm so proud of you! But..."

"But what? Mom, this is good news!" I said, wiping my tears.

"Hazel, sweetheart, of course I'm happy for you." Mom's voice became cautious. "But are you sure you want to turn down Northwestern? That's a top fifteen university in the nation... You still have two weeks to think about it."

My smile instantly became determined.

"Mom, didn't we already discuss this?" My voice grew impatient. "I can't leave Brent behind. His grades aren't as good as mine—he can't get into Northwestern. We promised we'd stay together!"

"But Hazel, Northwestern's engineering program is top-tier nationally. Your talent shouldn't be wasted..."

"Wasted?" I interrupted her. "Mom, some things are more important than rankings! Brent needs me, and I need him! I don't want to go to some fancy university without him!"

A deep sigh came from the other end.

"Alright, since you've made up your mind, I won't force you. I just hope you've thought this through—is this choice really worth it?" Mom's voice carried resignation. "Your father would be so proud of your achievements if he could see you from heaven."

After hanging up, I stared at the acceptance letter in my hands.

Northwestern's acceptance letter still lay quietly on my desk. I planned to mail the rejection tomorrow.

Because Brent had said his SAT scores weren't nearly good enough for Northwestern.

Because we had promised to always be together. I couldn't imagine college life without him.

This is all worth it, I told myself firmly. For love, for our future.

I rushed to the kitchen, carefully selecting his favorite dark chocolate cupcake and a rich mocha coffee. The acceptance letter went carefully into my bag—today I was going to give the most important person in my life the surprise of a lifetime!

Walking down the familiar cobblestone path, the breeze gently caressed my face. The whole world seemed to be celebrating with me, even the air felt sweeter.

What will Brent say? I couldn't help but grin. He'll definitely say "I knew my Hazel was the best! We can finally go to college together!"

Maybe he'll finally confess his feelings? Maybe we'll become real lovers?

My cheeks flushed at the thought. A year of hard work, countless nights staying up studying—it was all for this moment.

Reaching the restaurant, I saw sparse customers through the glass windows. Brent should be helping in the kitchen. I decided to sneak in through the back door and surprise him!

Walking around to the back of the restaurant, I heard a familiar male voice through the half-open window. Brent was chatting with Tony.

I was about to knock when I heard words that made me freeze instantly.

"Honestly, dude, I think Sienna needs me more than Hazel does."

My footsteps stopped, my heartbeat becoming irregular.

What?

"She's going to be terrified going to college out of state all alone. She's not like Hazel, you know? Much more fragile." Brent's voice carried a tenderness I'd never heard before.

Sienna? That girl who transferred from Los Angeles three months ago?

Uneasiness began spreading in my chest.

"But isn't Hazel like your childhood sweetheart or something?" Tony asked. "Won't she be mad if she finds out you're choosing Michigan State just to be with Sienna?"

That sentence hit me like a sledgehammer.

He's choosing Michigan State... to be with HER?

A strange tightness began in my chest.

Brent let out a dismissive snort.

"Nah, she won't care. Hazel's been dependent on me since we were kids. Honestly? Without me, she's nothing. She'll follow me wherever I go anyway."

Nothing.

That word instantly silenced my world.

I was ready to give up Northwestern for him! I fought for an entire year to be with him! And in his eyes, I'm NOTHING?

"Besides, Sienna's already been through enough moving here from Los Angeles. She needs someone to protect her, you know?" Brent continued. "Hazel's tough as nails. She can handle anything on her own. That's just her personality."

Intense pain spread from my chest throughout my entire body. I found myself breathing rapidly, and my hand holding the acceptance letter began trembling uncontrollably.

This letter nearly made me trade my entire future for the chance to be with him.

And he doesn't even care.

I staggered backward, terrified of being discovered. My foot slipped, and everything in my bag scattered on the ground—the coffee cup and cupcake smashed to pieces.

Tears blurred my vision as I crouched down, trembling as I tried to pick up the fragments.

The pain in my chest nearly tore me apart, but I bit my lip hard, refusing to let myself cry out loud.

So all these years of my feelings were just a joke to him.