Not Your Bet to Make Chapter 10

Not Your Bet to Make Chapter 10

Later I found out. They’d both competed in the Academic

Decathlon the semester before. Traveled out of town for the

event. Tiffany twisted her ankle. Bad. Couldn’t walk to the

competition venue alone.

Asher was on her team. Didn’t want to forfeit. Carried her

everywhere.

The competition lasted a full week. Seven days. Inseparable. Something shifted between them.

After that, whenever she saw Asher with me, she didn’t veer away like before. She walked right up. Mischievously tapped

his shoulder. Said hi to me.

wasn’t top of the class, but I wasn’t stupid. I could see 10:03

Tiffany had feelings.

Tried to find a moment to talk to her about it. She always

dodged me. Slipped away.

Doesn’t matter now anyway.

I deleted all her contacts. Blocked. Gone.

School started. I carried my own luggage to campus. Found

my classes. Found my dorm.

My roommates were easygoing. Warm. First night they dragged me out for tacos.

The next few days I handled logistics. Classes. Life. Money.

I’d lived cheaply for years. Saved every penny. After tuition,

what was left wouldn’t cover four years. I started job hunting. Found a gig as a barista near campus.

Busy. Full. The old unhappiness rarely crossed my mind.

Didn’t expect my parents to show up.

After class. Packing up for work.

Ran straight into them outside my dorm.

I froze. Completely stunned.

“What are you doing here?”