I Called Myself Ten Years Later—and Exposed My Cheating Boyfriend Chapter 08

I Called Myself Ten Years Later—and Exposed My Cheating Boyfriend Chapter 08

“Chloe, one of your high school friends is here to see you.”

Bramford started later than most schools. Almost everyone else in our class had already left for their new campuses. The only people still around were the ones taking a gap year or heading to community college.

Who would be showing up now?

I opened the door, and there was Audrey, looking like she’d been crying for hours.

She grabbed my sleeve and completely broke down. “Chloe, please. You have to help me.”

“I bombed my exams, and my parents won’t pay for my community college tuition.”

“You know how smart I am. Lend me the money, please.”

“Give me one more shot, and I’ll transfer in somewhere. I know I will.”

She still had no idea about the disappearing ink. She genuinely believed she’d just choked on test

day.

I stepped back, face blank. “I’m a student, Audrey. I don’t have that kind of money.”

“This is something you need to work out with your parents.”

Ms. Walker jumped in. She’d only brought Audrey upstairs because the girl had been sobbing in the hallway. She hadn’t expected this.

“There are student loans for this kind of thing. Or start a fundraiser. You need to figure it out.”

“Don’t put this on another kid.”

Audrey didn’t budge. She’d known me for three years. She knew I was a pushover.

She also knew exactly how much I had saved up just enough to cover a year of community college

tuition.

“Is this about Julian? Is that why you won’t help me?”

“I swear I’ll never talk to him again. Not a word. I’ll cut him off completely.”

I sighed. Then I smiled at her.

“Wow, he did all that to you and you don’t even hate him? So generous of you, offering to cut him off for my sake.”

She looked confused.

I tilted my head, all sweetness. “Did you know the pens Julian packed for you were disappearing

ink, too?”

“Lucky for me, my parents packed a backup set. I almost used his.”

“He’s the one who ruined your score, not me. His family lives right upstairs. Go get the money from

him.”

Audrey looked like the ground had been pulled out from under her. Everything that had happened to her was Julian’s doing.

She got off the floor and went straight up to his place.

I closed the door. The shouting started almost immediately, muffled through the ceiling. I couldn’t help but smile.

However Audrey chose to deal with Julian was her business, not mine.

I had three days before I left for Bramford. Everything I’d worked for was finally happening.

Moving to a new city alone should have scared me. It didn’t. I stood at the gates of Bramford and felt something I hadn’t felt in months – hope.

I recorded another video. Same idea – a message for myself ten years from now. I hoped future–me would show up again. I hoped she’d have something better to say this time.

That Christmas, Julian didn’t come home. He stayed at school.

I heard Audrey had shown up at his family’s apartment and trashed the place. It got bad enough that someone called the cops.

But she had no proof. There was nothing she could do. Her parents had to pick her up from the

station.