Chapter 10: Shattering Alliances

But Rachel finally snapped. She cornered Nick in the hallway after school, her voice echoing down the row of lockers.

"It’s one thing for you to avoid me in front of Jamie, but now she’s not here and you’re still acting like you’re loyal to her."

"Nick, you don’t really like that bookworm, do you?"

Nick’s jaw clenched. He shoved her away, frustration crackling in the air.

"Wasn’t it you who insisted on that bet?"

"If I hadn’t stayed loyal for her, how would you have gotten those first places?"

"Now that you’ve got what you wanted, you’re biting back?"

"I didn’t make you go this far."

Rachel grabbed his collar, mascara streaked and voice cracking with something like heartbreak.

"Where have you two been these past two weeks since the SATs? What did you and that bitch do? Tell me!"

Nick’s silence said everything. And for the first time, I wondered—had I really won, or just lost in a different way?