Chapter 8: Fractures

Rachel started a one-sided cold war with me.

Whenever she saw me, she’d turn away, acting like I didn’t exist. She’d flip her hair and stare out the window like I was a stranger.

She’s always been like this. Whenever I upset her, she’d ignore me until I apologized and made up. Sometimes hours, sometimes days.

I was grateful for the quiet and doubled down on my studies. My notebooks filled up with practice essays and geometry proofs.

Soon, the first practice SAT rolled around. It hung over us like a storm cloud, everyone tense for days.

I prepared seriously and felt pretty confident. My pencil was sharpened to a perfect point, every formula crammed onto a sticky note.

After the test, classmates gathered, excitedly discussing answers. The halls buzzed with nervous energy.

Someone said, "Did you hear? Rachel skipped the exam. No one saw her all afternoon. Her homeroom teacher is searching everywhere."

Rachel was always a school celebrity. Even though we weren’t in the same class, I heard news about her all the time.

Once someone mentioned her, everyone started gossiping. I heard everything from “she eloped” to “she’s sick with mono.”

I found it boring, packed my things, and headed home for dinner. The air outside was brisk, the smell of fresh-cut grass lingering from the groundskeeper.

Halfway there, I saw Jason holding Rachel as they appeared in front of me.

She’d changed a lot. Her long hair was cut short, makeup heavy, even black lipstick.

But she was still beautiful. Maybe more so, in a rebellious way.

Jason showed off, "She gave up the exam for me. Would she ever do that for you? Eric, you’re just a loser."

I couldn’t be bothered. "Yeah, a loser." I let the word fall between us like a wall.

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Jason’s face. "I can say whatever I want. What’s it to you? Just stay a nerd—no girl will ever like you."

Did he think all girls were as shallow as him? I doubted he’d ever loved anyone but himself.

Rachel leaned into him, saying sweetly, "Jay, now do you believe I love you most? I’d give up anything for you."

"Don’t threaten me with breaking up again. Without you, I can’t live."

Jason looked touched, held her hand, and knelt on one knee. "Rachel, you’re the light God gave me. Thank you for shining on me."

I was speechless and walked away. Nothing left here but regret.

Behind me, they hugged and kissed, like they were in some Netflix teen drama. I wondered if they practiced those lines in the mirror.

Later, to cover her lie, Rachel deliberately hurt her right hand, claiming she missed the exam because of a fracture. The school nurse bought it, but I saw through her act.

Rachel’s mom was anxious. "What do we do now? How can she study like this? The SATs are coming."

Rachel looked unconcerned. "Worst case, I’ll repeat the year. No big deal. Mom, I’m so smart—I’ll do even better if I study another year."

Her mom could only sigh and pleaded with me, "Eric, your grades are good. Help Rachel if you have time."

I wanted to tell her the truth—that Rachel didn’t want saving, not from me. But I just nodded, swallowing the words.

When the practice test results came out, I was top ten in my grade.

In my previous life, my best result was just outside the top ten. It felt like a miracle, like I’d finally caught up to the person I wanted to be.

The homeroom teacher looked at me approvingly, saying I might be the dark horse of the year.

Before I could say anything, Rachel blurted, "No. I don’t want him to tutor me."

Her mother was embarrassed and tried to smooth things over. "Well, it’s senior year. Eric should focus on his own studies."

My mom felt sorry for her, eyes red, asking Rachel if her hand hurt.

My mom had watched her grow up and treated her like half a daughter. She’d even saved Rachel’s baby teeth in a little envelope, just in case her parents forgot.

Rachel smiled sweetly. "Mrs. Miller, it doesn’t hurt at all."

When the adults left, she sneered at me, "Don’t think I’m pathetic. Love can numb pain—what’s a little injury?"

"You’re just a nerd. Don’t get cocky just because my mom praised you."

"Don’t come looking for me again. I don’t want Jason to get the wrong idea."

With that, she picked up the orange my mom had asked me to peel for her and tossed it straight into the trash.

"I won’t eat anything from you. It’s as disgusting as you are."

I ignored her, still riding the high of making the top ten. Nothing she said could bring me down.

If my mom hadn’t dragged me over, I wouldn’t have come. I couldn’t wait to get back to my room and lose myself in the next practice test.