Chapter 1
Sophie's POV
That admissions season, Lily — a poor student who couldn't even clear the state university cutoff — insisted on dragging my two childhood friends off to the worst community college in the state, just so she wouldn't have to go alone.
Ethan held an offer from Yale. Ryan had been accepted to Stanford. Yet the two of them, as if under a spell, were ready to throw away those schools just to follow her.
I wore myself out trying to talk them down. All I got back was: You look down on Lily. You're just jealous.
Behind their backs, I contacted counselors, admissions offices, and their parents, and clawed their spots back one by one just before the deadline.
Lily went to that community college alone. Six months later, she jumped from the roof of her dorm.
Ethan and Ryan handled her funeral, then came back and tied me to the roof of a thirty-six-story building.
"If you hadn't stopped us from going with Lily, she never would have been bullied there."
"You're so capable, aren't you? Then go down and keep her company."
They pushed me over the edge without a flicker of hesitation.
When I opened my eyes, I was back at the start of college application season.
This time, I won't save them.
"I've made up my mind. I'm going to community college."
Ethan Carter set his phone on the table. He sounded as if he had already made the decision weeks ago.
Ryan Brooks nodded. "Same here. The three of us can apply together. After two years, we can still transfer to a better school."
Lily Wilson sat between them, her eyes already shining with tears.
"Thank you," she said softly. "I know my grades aren't good. I only scored a little over two hundred on the entrance exam, so community college is probably my only option. But I really don't want to be alone in a new place."
We were sitting in the student center beside the high school. Summer heat poured through the open glass doors, and on the electronic screen above us, college acceptance announcements kept scrolling.
Looking at the three familiar faces in front of me, I realized in an instant — I had been reborn.
In my last life, I wore myself out trying to talk them out of it, and it ended with me shoved off a roof, broken on the ground below.
This time, I'll only watch, cold and silent.
"Have you both really thought this through?" I asked.
Ethan frowned. "Of course we have. We're adults. We know what we're doing."
Ryan leaned back in his chair. "Don't act like you're the only one who understands how college works. Lily is willing to start over. Can't you be happy for her?"
Lily tugged lightly at Ryan's sleeve.
"Leave her alone. She has good grades. Of course she thinks community college is beneath her."
Her voice made me sound arrogant before I had even said a word.
In my old life, I would have rushed to defend myself.
This time, I closed my laptop.
"Choosing a college is a big decision. I'm going home to talk to my parents."
I stood and headed for the door.
Ethan stepped in front of me.
"What's that supposed to mean? We already made plans. Are you backing out now?"
"I never agreed to anything."
"We've grown up together," Ryan said. "Does that mean nothing to you?"
I looked at him.
For a second, I saw his face from my previous life, twisted with rage as he shoved me off the roof.
"My first choice is a top university," I said. "If you want to go to community college, that's your decision."
Lily's tears spilled over immediately.
"So you think I'm not good enough for you?"
Ethan grabbed a tissue and handed it to her.
"Don't cry, Lily. Some people only care about school rankings. They wouldn't understand."
Ryan stared at me.
"You need to apologize to her."
"Why?"
"Because you hurt her."
People nearby began turning to look.
Above us, the screen changed to a new message:
Congratulations to the Class of 2026.
I picked up my bag.
"From today on, don't include me in your plans."
I stepped outside. Ethan followed and grabbed my arm.
"You don't get to walk away like this."
"Let go."
"If you refuse to apply with us, none of us is going to have a good time."
I shook him off and pulled out my phone.
"Dad, I need you to come to school right now."
Ethan's expression changed.
"Why are you calling your parents?"
"To deal with what you've done."
I switched to speakerphone.
My father's voice came through, sharp and controlled.
"Send me your location. I'll be there in ten minutes."
Lily was standing by the doors. The moment she heard him, she bent down and picked up my computer bag.
"Since you won't help, I'll make the decision for you."
She opened my laptop and sat on a bench in the lobby.
Ethan and Ryan moved together, blocking my way.
"Stay back," Ryan said. "Lily is only helping you submit an application."
I reached for the computer. Ethan shoved me hard.
My back hit the glass door, and the bag slid from my shoulder.
Lily looked up at me. Her fingers moved across the keyboard.
Then she clicked Confirm.
On the screen, my Yale application had been replaced by an application to Westlake Community College.
