Chapter 2

Chloe's POV

"Die from cake?" He snorted and turned his back on me. "Then fucking die!"

The words slammed into me, heavier than the lack of oxygen in my lungs.

Liam walked away without a second glance. Mia immediately hooked her arm through his, pouting playfully. "Come ON, they're waiting for you at Beer Pong! Stop letting her ruin the vibe."

I stayed curled on the sticky floor by the couch, watching their retreating backs as the crowd swallowed them, laughing and shouting.

My swollen tongue blocked my airway. I clawed uselessly at my neck, turning every forced breath into a high, wet wheeze.

*What do I do? Am I seriously going to die right here?

Through the gaps in the crowd, I saw them. The neon party lights washed over Liam’s face as he handed Mia a red cup. They were so close. So happy.

My blurry vision locked onto Liam's smiling profile, and it felt like a knife twisting in my gut.

Two years ago, things were so different.

I remembered our first Valentine's Day. He had bought a $50 box of artisan chocolates, but after reading the back and seeing "Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts," he immediately threw it in the trash.

I had laughed and told him it was probably fine, but he had grabbed my shoulders, looking me dead in the eye.

"I'm not risking it, Chloe. Not even a one-percent chance. I love you too much to ever let anything hurt you."

He used to check every label. He used to panic if I even coughed while eating.

Now? Now he was the one who had forced the allergen down my throat, all because he couldn't stand seeing his "best friend" shed a couple of fake tears.

A heavy boot suddenly nudged my hip.

"Whoa, dude." It was Jason, one of Liam's newer frat brothers. He crouched down, his beer sloshing over the rim of his cup. "Hey, Liam! Yo, Liam!"

Liam turned around, looking annoyed. "What?"

"Bro, your girl looks seriously fucked up," Jason said, his voice laced with actual panic as he saw the angry red welts creeping up my neck. "Her lips are turning blue. Should I call 911?"

For one fleeting, pathetic second, I thought the reality of my condition would finally snap Liam out of it.

Instead, Liam rolled his eyes.

"Jesus, Jason, leave her alone." Liam scoffed loudly. "She drank too much, saw Mia use my cup, and now she’s throwing a toddler tantrum for attention. If you call an ambulance and waste everyone's time, she pays the bill."

A few guys around the table chuckled.

"Damn, Chloe," someone mocked from the back. "Oscar-worthy performance right there. Just let the man celebrate his funding!"

Jason awkwardly backed away, muttering an apology, leaving me alone in the dark corner.

I clawed desperately at the sticky floorboards, digging my nails into the wood until my fingers cracked and bled.

Celebrate his funding.

The funding Mia proudly claimed she got for him. Just an hour ago, she had backed me against the bathroom sink.

"I have actual power," she had sneered, looking down at me like I was trash. "My dad's a VP at Sterling Group. What do you have? You're just a charity case on financial aid. Break up with him tonight, or I'll ruin you."

I wanted to scream, but my throat was sealed shut.

What a massive, pathetic joke. I spent two years playing the broke college girl so Liam could be with me without feeling any sort of burden. I literally handed him that investment from behind the scenes."

And Mia just stole the credit and used my own money to threaten me.

She really thinks she’s some untouchable VIP. Does she even know her "powerful" dad is on my family's payroll?

But who cares if I’m dead? I had to hold on. Right before dropping my phone, I managed to text my older brother.

He was fiercely, violently overprotective of me. If anyone dared to hurt me, he’d completely ruin their lives.

I just had to stay awake until he kicked those doors down.

My vision started going black.

Then, a fresh roar erupted from the crowd, snapping me back to reality.

"Truth or Dare! Truth or Dare!"

"YO Liam lost! DARE, bro, you gotta do it!"

"KISS! KISS! KISS!"

I used the last ounce of my strength to peel my eyes open.

Through the haze, I saw Mia sitting across from Liam, staring at his lips, smirking like she'd already won.

Liam hesitated, shooting a quick glance at me.

"Dude, it's a GAME!" someone yelled, slapping Liam's back. "Your girl's not gonna freak out over a stupid dare, right?"