It would have been fun to say a big fight happened.

Olivia stood her ground, told Serina right to her face. Yes, Olivia should have ripped her hair off. Even if it leads to nothing. Better yet, it would have led Miles to hate her... Probably? 

And would that not be so much easier? A nice wrapped story with an end point.

But she heard the click, as well as "Cheese" said by the photographer.

"Olivia smile a little, you are beautiful. Will you dear?" Said Serina in a melodic tone. Kind, as always. Looking exactly as a book heroine looks, looking her age, eighteen years old, and grown.

Olivia never meant to compare, girls should not compete with each other. Life is hard enough. But her sparkly pink dress was far too abysmal of a difference, from the elegant emerald green dress Serina wore.

Miles hugged Serina’s waist, and Olivia was sure they were something more than senior ball partners. 

Turner smiled besides his new boyfriend, and Olivia existed between spaces. There for the picture, Violeta and Sarah came with her, they were both on totally different class schedules and even years. But they were there for her.

Even if it was for her to feel inadequate. They would cheer her up.

Violeta had brought her too many Pepsi cups from the table and looked at Olivia as if a puppy had been kicked. And Sarah in her usual big sister energy advised her over, and over again. That this too shall pass.

And it did. She had fun. Until Miles said "See you never needed to be my partner. It was so silly of us. We will be friends forever, nothing changes."

The light on the dance floor, colourful, did wonders for Serina. Miles' face was all lines of happiness. And nothing changed for them. The temporary beautiful light had made her another girl.

The next few months, she obsessively studied. Unhealthy and unhinged. Not a single message from Miles or Serina. While Violeta and Sarah worried away at this new resolve.

Olivia knew. Serina would get into any college, as well as Miles.

She had once told him how things were difficult for her. She was anxious to be alone, scared of the world outside. At first going to school made her want to throw up, and then it passed. But she still cried over her inaptitude at advanced math. If that was reality is up to the universe. But she confided in him that she had to put double the effort as him.

As school stopped their daily bus commutes also stopped, and she said out loud: “Good riddance.”

She would never confide with him. She promised to never be the first to confess her entire life.

She got into her dream college, and Miles was now a distant dream.