Chapter 1: BetrayalI Quit Their Game

The SATs were finally over when my four childhood friends invited me to play a game of Take the Dare. When it was my turn, the real heiress who just got home asked if we would tell everyone our dream university.

The four boys said it was Westborder U. Ronald Peyton slid his application over to me and smiled as he tapped on my score. More than 1400. "I dare you to give up Queencity U and come to Westborder with us. Whoever backs off is a loser."

That night, I signed the contract right in front of them. Everyone started egging Ronald on after I confessed, and he said yes.

When the acceptance letter came, I went to see them only to notice the projector in the living room still turned on. The screen showed a group chat called "Protectors of Melissa (Imperia)".

"Did she sign it?"

"Yep. Four fake applications to bait her into Westborder. Good trade."

"Melissa's smart. Got rid of that annoying girl with one little game."

"Ronald's suffering though. Has to pretend to date her until term begins."

I stood before the screen, and behind me, the door opened. The boys and Melissa walked in carrying champagne. They were celebrating their acceptance into Queencity U.

The moment they saw me standing in front of the projector, every one of them froze.

* * *

Ronald composed himself first. "Now that you've seen it, there's no point hiding it. Melissa has no family, and she's never been able to adjust to the northwestern region. You've always been independent. You'll be fine on your own."

Melissa tugged on him, her eyes red. I did not cry, but I pointed at the chat history. "Who made the fake applications?"

"I printed them," Ronald admitted without hesitation.

"Who came up with the game of Take the Dare?"

Her eyes darted away. Yves Quinton quickly shielded her. "We came up with it together. Don't just go after Melissa."

I nodded and looked at Ronald. "Saying yes to my confession is part of the plan?"

Ronald's throat bobbed. "You would never agree to a long-distance relationship. If I didn't say that, you'd never have signed the contract." He made it sound so matter-of-fact, and he didn't even sound guilty.

Melissa's eyes went red, then she snatched Xavier Riverson's phone. "This is my fault. I'll apply to another university. I'll go to the northwestern region with Helena. You guys can stay in Imperia."

The four huddled around her, and Christian Herman took her phone. "You're not changing anything. The acceptance letter is already here!"

"What about Helena?" Melissa was crying so hard, her shoulders were shaking. "She'll be sad going somewhere so far alone."

Ronald took a tissue out and wiped her tears away. "She's always been an independent girl. She can survive anywhere. You're frail and have never left Imperia. Don't ruin your future."

I was just nearby, watching them cheer her up. This was the answer. It was never really about the northwestern region being unsuitable for Melissa. They simply could not bear the thought of her suffering.

As for me? They had no problem throwing me away.

Xavier adjusted his glasses and said calmly, "I know this is underhanded, but the results tell me that everyone gets their best ending. You're going to the research institute that works for you the best, and we'll stay here with Melissa. Everyone's futures are guaranteed."

I smiled. "You expect a thank you, then?"

Yves noticed the mockery, and his face fell. "You wanted to go there in the first place. You never said no to the professor no matter how many times they called. We only helped you make up your mind."

I did want to go. The project they were handling had been my dream, but I refused them twice because I did not want to leave the boys. At one point, I wanted to give up the project I loved just to stay back here with them. It was not necessary to tell them that now.

I picked up the acceptance letter.

Ronald stopped me. "Where are you going?"

"Home."

"What about us?"

I looked at him. "What do you mean, us?"

He froze. "Don't sulk, Helena. Part of the reason I said yes was so you'd sign the contract, but it wasn't all fake. I'll stay with you until the start of term, and I'll visit you when I have time. I've already given you what you wanted."

He thought dating me for two months was some sort of divine blessing.

Melissa said quietly, "He really cares about you. He even tucked you in after you fell asleep last night."

I almost laughed. These people duped me into signing a contract that had no way out, then one of them tucked me in, and this girl thought that evened things out.

"Stay sweet forever, then." I picked up the lucky charm and placed it before Melissa. "You want a childhood like ours? You can have this."

Melissa did not have the courage to take it. Ronald's frown deepened. "What's going on with you? Weren't you the one who said the five of us would never be separated?"

"That was in the past." I turned to leave, and my phone buzzed.

The research institute's professor texted me, "The ride will arrive in Imperia 48 hours later. I'll need you to confirm your participation, Helena."

I replied with a yes. The NDA was very strict here. After we joined the base, my number and electronics would be sealed away, and no one could contact me for a while.

I turned my phone off, turning on Do Not Disturb for the chat group that had been there all my life before that.

They thought I would get angry. They thought I would cry. They thought that, like every other time, I would eventually go back to them.

But this time, I was the one leaving them behind.