Chapter 5

Within seconds, flames had spread across the entire bathroom floor.

Smoke swallowed the room.

I moved toward the door.

But Rena was already blocking it. She didn't move.

Then Ethan's voice came from the other side.

He pounded on the door, calling Rena's name over and over.

Rena smiled.

"See, Holly? I win."

"Honestly, I always thought Ethan loved me just a little bit more. You were just a distraction. A temporary one."

"You must be crushed right now. Just like I was seven years ago."

I stared at her.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

I was choking on smoke. I might actually die in here. And she was standing there gloating about Ethan's love for her.

I used every ounce of strength I had and shoved her out of the way.

But the door chose that exact moment to jam.

Any chance of getting out on our own was gone.

When the smoke finally hit Rena's lungs, the confidence drained out of her face.

"Ethan, help me! I just wanted to see who you'd choose. I didn't mean for it to go this far."

"Of course I'd choose you, baby. Don't be scared. I'm getting you out of there right now."

It felt like forever before Ethan finally forced the door open.

He rushed in, scooped Rena up in his arms, and carried her out.

He never looked at me once.

At that point, I didn't really care. I just needed to get out.

What I hadn't expected was for Ethan to turn around after stepping out, and kick the door shut behind him.

The bathroom door jammed again.

I couldn't hold on much longer.

Through the haze, the last image that kept surfacing was Ethan's foot connecting with that door.

So that's how much he hates me.

Enough to leave me here to die.

If I could go back, I would go back to when we were fourteen. I would leave him on that rooftop.

He never deserved to be saved.