The Night He Forged My Signature, I Confirmed My Exchange Spot Chapter 05

The Night He Forged My Signature, I Confirmed My Exchange Spot Chapter 05

He didn’t answer for a long stretch.

Outside, the billboard still showed the last day before finals.

Finally, Nathan spoke. “Bethany, you’re not Megan. She’s clinically dependent on others. You’re not.”

I watched his profile. “So I’m supposed to be the one left behind because I can function on my own?”

“I’m not leaving you behind. I’m trusting you.”

The words landed light, but they stung more than any accusation.

In the meeting room, my mother was already seated. Nathan’s mother sat beside her.

Mrs. Holloway smiled and beckoned to me. “Bethany, come sit down. Nathan has explained everything to us.”

My mom pushed a glass of water toward me. “Listen to the school’s suggestion first. Don’t argue.”

The administrator opened a roster. “Here’s the issue: Bethany and Megan’s programs overlap. Nathan can only serve as companion sponsor for one student.”

Mrs. Holloway sighed. “Bethany has always been stable. Megan comes from a broken home, and her therapist strongly recommended familiar support.”

My mom nodded. “Bethany, we’re not going to fight her for this.”

I turned to Nathan. “You agree with that?”

He held my gaze. “I told you. I’ll make it up to you next year.”

I laughed, dry and humorless. “Make it up how?”

His brow creased. “Ask for anything. I’ll give it.”

I pulled out the supplementary form from my bag. “Can you explain this line, then? Previously used Bethany Krause as a temporary emotional substitute?”

The room went dead quiet.

Megan, sitting in the corner, went pale as paper.

Nathan finally stood, reaching for the sheet. “That wasn’t meant for you.”

I pulled it back. “Who was it meant for, then?”

Mrs. Holloway’s expression soured. “Nathan, how did that get in the folder?”

My mom looked between them, lost. “What does that mean?”

Megan broke into tears. “Please, don’t say any more. Bethany will be hurt.”

Nathan closed his eyes. When he opened them, his voice was barely controlled. “Bethany, that was just background wording the doctor required. It doesn’t mean anything.”

I stared at him. “Doesn’t mean anything?”

He paused. “Freshman year, when Megan transferred away, I wasn’t in a great place. I started hanging around you because you were calm, and you reminded me of her quieter side.”

The air left my lungs.

So that was why he sat next to me in sophomore year.

Not because I was good at explaining problems.

Not because I’d handed him an umbrella in the rain.

Not because he’d noticed me writing his name on my hoodie cuff.

Because I was a shadow of Megan when she was stable.

Nathan continued, “I did come to care about you a lot. These years weren’t fake.”

Megan shook her head, sobbing. “Nathan, stop.”

He looked at me, voice firm. “Bethany, you know better than anyone that we’ve had something real. You’re not going to throw all of that away because of one clinical form.”

I turned my phone toward him.

The exchange confirmation page was open.

The appeal button was ticking down.

Twenty-one minutes left.

Nathan’s expression went dark. “You haven’t dropped this yet?”

“No.”

He reached for my phone. “Sign the deferral now. Don’t make me decide this in front of the faculty and our parents.”

I lifted my chin. “What else are you planning to decide for me?”

Nathan grabbed a pen and shoved the deferral form in front of me.

“Sign it.”

He paused.

“Do this one last thing. Be the person who understands.”

I watched the pen hover over the paper.

The tip was about to touch the line when the meeting room door swung open.

I pressed the “Confirm Appeal” button on my phone first.