e P

ve. Immediately. I booked a bus ticket for first thing t

hed. I almost didn't answer, but my loyalty still fought a

Jana's voice was brigh

na," I replied

gushed, completely unaware of the irony. "His friends really like me. They said he's

had eyes for me. The lies, the hypocrisy. They had called me a gold-digg

h," I

d," Jana continued, her voice radiating exci

ng Jana to his parents, made my stomach churn. But she was my friend. Or s

n what they say. Be smart. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Always have yo

or me? Are you jealous? Holden's friends warned me about you!" Her voice rose, shrill and angry. "They s

ck, but it went straight to voicemail. She blocked me. M

g, was gone. Broken. But I had tried. I had given my warning. I had protected her, even from

t was Professor Davies. "Kloe, the San Francisco internship

ver me. "Thank you, Profe

d you to come to my office to sign som

I hadn't felt in days. "Of cou

' office. As I stepped out of the building, a furious Holde

oulder. His grip was like a vice, diggi

en!" I struggled, t

ut me!" he roared, shaking me. "They called my parents! D

one!" My voice was a desperate whisper. "I don't

anity. "You'll pay for this, Kloe Levy. I'll make sure everyone knows what a manipulative gold-digger you are. I'll make sure you feel what it's like to h

e barked orders. "Find Jana! Find her now! An

Photos of me and Holden, taken during intimate moments, appeared online. My face was clearly visible. His wasn't. They twisted my foster care history, my work-study jobs, my frugal

essages. My academic future felt precarious. Luckily, Professor Davies believed in me, or

ford but desperately needed. I grabbed my single suitcase. I walked towards the cab, not looking b

searching for Jana. I also knew he believed he had complet