The night before the university applications were due, the senior class group chat exploded. Holy shit, Terry, why did you switch your application to the UK? I thought you and Ava were set on Paris. Terry’s reply was casual, almost lazy. I switched. So what? She has my login info anyway. He followed it up with a smirk I could feel through the screen. She’ll see I changed it and she’ll follow me. That little shadow can’t live without me.

Chapter 5

His eyes were red, his hair a mess, and for a split second I saw the boy I’d grown up with—the one who shared his lunch with me in third grade, who held my hand through my first panic attack, who whispered promises of Paris under the stars.

But then I remembered the kiss.

The way he wrapped his arms around Rachel. The way he defended her. The way he tossed our twelve-year dream aside like it was nothing.

The illusion shattered.

“Go home, Terry,” I said, my voice steady. “I’m not changing my application.”

He froze, like he hadn’t expected me to say no.

“Ava, come on,” he slurred. “You can’t be serious. Paris is… it’s just a city. We can have better in the UK. I’ll show you.”

“It’s not just a city,” I cut in. “It’s our dream. Or it was. You forgot that when you decided to throw it away for her.”

His jaw tightened.

“This isn’t about her. It’s about us. Don’t you get it? I can’t do three years without you.”

“You’re my… my what?” I asked sharply. “Your shadow? Your backup plan? The one you can count on to follow you anywhere, even when you treat me like garbage?”

He flinched.

“That’s not fair. I just… I messed up, okay? I should’ve talked to you first. But Rachel—she was upset. Her dad called and she was a mess—”

“Save it,” I said. “I don’t care about Rachel’s dad. I care that you chose her over me, over everything we built.”

He grabbed the windowsill, desperate.

“Ava, please. The deadline is in ten minutes. Just check the portal, please. I changed it back for you.”

My breath caught.

Changed it back?

For a second, doubt crept in.

Maybe he had realized his mistake. Maybe he still cared.

But then I remembered the way he talked about me in the group chat. The way he had called me clingy. The way he had kissed Rachel like I didn’t exist.

“You’re lying,” I said.

“I’m not,” he insisted. His voice cracked. “I swear. I logged in an hour ago and switched it back to Paris. Just check, please. I can’t lose you.”

The clock on my wall ticked.

11:52 p.m.

Eight minutes until the portal closed forever.

I hesitated.

What if he was telling the truth?

But then I thought of Ethan. Of the way he smiled, no strings attached. Of the future. I could have one where I wasn’t someone’s shadow.

“I’m going to Paris,” I said. “You’re going to the UK. That’s our choice.”

With that, I closed the window, blocking out his pleas.

When the clock hit 11:55, I opened my laptop.

My final choice: Paris.

I didn’t change it.