Chapter 2

When I opened my eyes, I smelled antiseptic.

Ethan Calloway sat by the bed, absorbed in a book. Sunlight caught the sharp, beautiful lines of his profile.

My heart stumbled.

I worked up the nerve. "Ethan. Why am I here?"

He set the book down and crossed to me, standing tall with that half-smirk he always wore when he was pretending not to care.

"My lady, you've been out cold for two days. If I hadn't broken a window and dragged you out, you'd be dead."

"Although… that rotting window of yours barely needed breaking. One yank and it came loose."

Then, too casual, he asked, "Zoey, which college are you going to?"

I looked up at him for a long time.

"Ethan. I don't like you. Stop wasting your time on me."

His face flushed deep red. He stammered, "Who—who said I liked you? Don't flatter yourself."

A breeze drifted through the window. My voice came out cold, thin.

"I'm going to marry rich, Ethan."

"Your family doesn't have money. You're not good enough for me."

The smile drained from his face. His bangs fell forward and hid whatever was in his eyes.

"Just focus on getting better. We'll talk about this later."

I watched him walk away, his shoulders set too straight. Then I pulled the blanket up over my head and cried until I couldn't breathe.

A boy like that. Luminous. Kind. All the promise in the world.

I was dying.

How could I ruin him too?

It was raining when they discharged me. I stepped down off the curb and the mist settled on my shoulders.

Through the drizzle I saw my parents. Actually looking for me.

My father was pacing, spitting curses.

"The recruiters from Harvard and Princeton have been waiting two days for this ungrateful brat, and she decides to run away from home!"

I raised my hand to call out.

A huge hand locked around my waist from behind.

"Dad! Mom! Help—"

A palm clamped over my mouth. In the next second I met Lila's eyes. Her lips moved silently, clear as a knife.

Enjoy yourself.

Then my mother turned and started walking toward us. "I swear I just heard Zoey calling me."

I strained against the arm, eyes wide, trying to wave.

Lila hooked her arm through my mother's. "Mom, you're imagining things. If she were nearby she'd have come home by now. Let's look over there."

My father was still cursing. "Little tramp. When she comes back I'm going to beat some sense into her!"

"If she were half as thoughtful as Lila, I would have told her everything by now!"

I lost track of time.

When the man was finally done with me he pulled up his pants, sighed, and dropped me like a rag doll.

Rainwater mixed with blood ran out from under me.

I stared up at the sky. Empty.

A filthy stray dog wandered over and nudged my face with its nose.

My voice came out hoarse.

"You too? They throw you out?"

The dog circled me twice, dark eyes curious.

I pulled the tatters of my dress back over my body until I was decent enough to move, and walked out of the alley.

The little dog trailed behind me.

I counted the few dollars left in my pocket.

I bought it a hot dog from a cart.

"I have to go now," I whispered.

There was a crowd outside my house.

The moment I appeared, everything broke loose.

Two older girls grabbed my hands. "Zoey! Congratulations on being state valedictorian. We're from Harvard admissions!"

Before I could react, another girl hooked my arm. "Zoey, please, consider Princeton!"

"Come to Harvard—our dining halls are incredible!"

"Ignore them. I can tell you belong at Princeton."

"Harvard!"

"Princeton!"

The two groups looked about ready to start shoving each other when Lila shrieked.

"What were you doing out there?!"

"Are you trying to humiliate Mom and Dad again?!"

The recruiters finally saw me clearly—the torn dress barely covering me, the welts and bruises and dried blood. The yard went silent.

My father burst out of the house with the strap in his hand and backhanded me across the face. I hit the ground.

My ears rang. I coughed up another mouthful of blood.

"You little disgrace! You ran off to whore around again!"

He turned on the recruiters, waving the scraps of my dress like evidence.

"You can all go home! This piece of trash has been passed around—probably got some boy's kid in her right now!"

"All she has is a test score. She has no morals!"

The two recruiters stared at each other, horrified.

One of the Harvard girls said carefully, "Sir… couldn't there be some misunderstanding?"

Lila rushed in, all smiles. "Yes, of course it's a misunderstanding. My sister was out for two nights, she must have been studying somewhere!"

Someone in the crowd muttered, "Studying where, exactly? For two nights?"

"Her dad said it himself. Can't be making that up."

The Harvard recruiter cleared her throat. "Um… we have other families to visit today."

"Zoey, Harvard isn't going to fight Princeton over you. Princeton is a fine school."

The Princeton girl forced a smile. "Zoey, I think Harvard is wonderful. Their dining halls really are excellent. You should go with Harvard."

And like that, they left.