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“This world sucks. I’ll never get a fair shot.”

“Don’t stop now. Cheaters never prosper and all that. Look, we both know Sierra is meaner than a wet panther while Wade is a total cad.” When Kell gets mad her full southern comes out.

“He just blew my dream right out of the water, seconds after I sent in my application.”

“He could be full of shit.”

“He was guilty as fuck. I saw it all over his face.”

“Don’t give up. You can’t let that trollop win.”

I shrugged. “She already did. I’ve got to walk back in the snow. I’ll call you later.”

I was frozen by the time I made it back to the dorm. Conversations stopped, followed by hurried whispers. News traveled fast over social media and the word was already out that Sienna had stolen another thing that belonged to me. What was it with that girl? Instead of stealing other people’s dreams she should have found her own. I refrained from commenting on Wade’s Insta post when I went to delete him and found myself looking through them instead. I almost yacked at his Tik Tok video. It was them in swimwear and snorkels announcing that they got in. In two taps, I deleted Wade from my social media world. He can have his fake life with his fake girl. It’s not like she’s going to be able to keep his grades afloat. “Good luck keeping your head above water,” I muttered, plugging in my laptop while watching the swirling snow outside.

My phone chimed with an incoming email.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

SUBJECT: RESEARCH PROGRAM

Dear Ryan Hilldale,

Thank you for your submission for the Marine Research Program. Qualified candidates will be contacted shortly for further information on the review process.

Dr. Erin Winnfield

Duke University Director of Marine Sciences

I chucked my phone on the bed. I was tempted to reply, “Why bother when it’s fixed.” I didn’t want to eighty-six any chance of getting in after Wade flunks out. I took a hot shower instead, put on a comfy old pair of yoga pants then scrolled through Netflix. “Rough day?” My roommate, Gretchen asked as she walked in.

“The worst.”

“I come bearing gifts.” She pulled out two tubs of Halo Strawberry ice cream.

“I guess I can work out another day.”

“Riverdale?” She asked.

“I was thinking Outer Banks…”

“Yes! Anything summer and I’m in.” The outside world still swirled in shades of gray. As we watched the show, ideas starting churning. I’m a fighter not a quitter. Wade and his skank might’ve cheated me, but I could still find a way. Chart a new course just as Gran suggested. I started googling marine science programs in the Outer Banks. Duke wasn’t the only game in town. I began my search while watching OBX finding a few promising leads. My cell dinged with a text from Hannah.

H:She wants her bachelorette before she starts showing.

Me:I’m on it.

H:What’s your idea?

I looked up to the screen. A beach house in OBX. Off season it shouldn’t break my bank. We could do a spa theme, watch 365DNI and 50 Shades. Drink cheap wine and well, Kell can have sparkling grape juice.

M:House in OBX.

H:Genius. Book it.

Sighing, I typed in the URL for beach rental in the Outer Banks. There was a ton of options. All still thousands a week even in the dead of winter. I kept scrolling, changing my search filters. My eyes were immediately drawn to the third picture. It was of a hot tub on a deck with waving seagrass and dunes behind it. I clicked on the listing. The beach house went for a nightly rate of $699. That’s steep for me, but if we divided it amongst the group—totally doable. After clicking through the rest of the photos, I was convinced this was the house for us. It’s cute. Classy. Decorated with the finest beach theme and the shiplap.I loved shiplap. I’d shiplap my dull dorm room if I could. Sighing, I dreamed of spending a weekend out in that house, tucked in one of those cozy bedrooms under the snow white, fluffy goose down comforters that the listing boasted as having for winter guests. I’d be far from Wade and his new slut. Away from the whispers and pitying looks.