The Day I Stopped Needing Them

Chapter 3

Bianca rattled off a long speech in front of me.

It turned out that during the holiday, she had invited Landon, Phoebe, and Trevor to a gathering at her house.

While I shivered in the pouring rain deep in the mountains, they pitched tents on her rooftop and laughed together as they watched movies.

While I lay feverish in a puddle after a venomous snake bit me and they rejected one desperate call after another, they ate barbecue, talked about life and their dreams, and laughed at how stupid I was for taking so long to get off the mountain.

While I lay in the operating room, my survival uncertain, the boyfriend, brother, and best friend I trusted most held Bianca's hands and planted a tree with her.

The four of them wished that they would celebrate that same day together every year.

Not one of them spared me a single thought...

Bianca had supposedly come to apologize, but she only wanted to flaunt the fact that she had stolen the attention of everyone around me.

I dodged the hand holding the milkshakes.

"Bianca, you don't have to put on an act around me. I can't be bothered to watch.

"I don't accept your apology. From now on, whatever happens between the four of you has nothing to do with me."

I had just turned around when I heard a thud behind me.

Bianca had actually fallen to her knees. Milkshakes and cake splattered across the ground.

Landon and the others rushed over at the sound.

"Bianca, is she bullying you again?"

Landon was the first to pull Bianca to her feet.

He frowned at the angry red scrapes the concrete had left on her knees, then crouched and gently rubbed them with his palm to ease the pain.

My brother, meanwhile, slapped me without asking a single question. Blood streamed from my nose into my mouth, tasting salty and bitter.

"Marina Knox, don't ever call me your brother again!

"Bianca came here determined to make things right with you, and you forced her to kneel. I don't have a vicious sister like you!"

Phoebe's face flushed crimson with rage.

"Marina, you really need to stop.

"You were never like this before. Why can't you find it in your heart to show Bianca a little kindness?

"She does nothing but praise you and say nice things about you when she's with me. You don't deserve her kindness."

She turned and linked arms with Bianca.

"It's okay, Bianca. I'll protect you from now on. I won't have anything more to do with her."

Landon didn't say a word.

But the coldness and reproach in his eyes felt like countless thorns piercing every inch of my flesh.

He crouched down and gave all his tenderness to Bianca.

"Climb on. I'll carry you to the campus clinic and get those knees treated."

Bianca climbed onto his back.

Phoebe and Trevor flanked her protectively as they accompanied her to the clinic.

I forced my tears back, lifted my chin, and walked to my dorm with my shoulders straight.

Once the holiday ended, the university began selecting its scholarship recipients.

My grades had always ranked among the top three in my major. I was certain to receive the scholarship.

But when my advisor called me into her office, her voice was grave.

"Marina, you won't be receiving the scholarship this year."

I froze.

"Professor, what happened?"

She handed me a stack of papers.

"Landon, Phoebe, and your brother, Trevor, all sent formal complaints to the university. They strongly recommended that your scholarship be revoked.

"They also submitted a video they claim shows you forcing Bianca to kneel, insulting her, and bullying her. They said your character was too poor for you to deserve an honor."

I stared at the video, which had been secretly recorded from an obscured angle.

Then I looked at their three handwritten complaints, each bearing a red handprint.

At last, involuntary tears spilled from my eyes.

They had gone to extraordinary lengths to steal my scholarship.

All so Bianca, whose grades ranked below mine, could receive it and have her name placed on the university's honor roll.

I asked anxiously, "Professor Harper, will this affect my exchange program?"

"You've already signed the agreement, so it won't.

"Marina, I know you aren't that kind of person. I hope you'll stay strong."

I nodded with a bitter smile.

Landon was waiting outside the academic building.

"Have you been crying?"

He offered me a tissue. I didn't take it.

"Now the scholarship belongs to Bianca. Are you all satisfied?"

"Marina, you've already received the scholarship once. Let Bianca have it this year."

I looked at him in silence, all the words I could have said lodged painfully in my throat.

"Landon, will you give me back the bracelet on your wrist?"

It was one of a matching pair I had handmade after buying the materials myself. He wore one, and I wore the other.

When I fastened it around his wrist 3 years ago, he held me and refused to let go.

"Unless we break up, I'll wear this bracelet forever."

Landon stroked the bracelet on his wrist.

"Marina, I never said I was breaking up with you. I'll always treasure this bracelet.

"Stop treating Bianca like your enemy. I want the two of you to be friends."

I couldn't help laughing.

"Friends? I don't need a friend like her."

I removed my own bracelet and tossed it into the nearby trash can.

"Landon, this is where we end."