Chapter 5: Rivalries and Rooftops

Derek’s face was dark as he shook me off.

"I know you came back too! All our past grudges—I don’t want to argue anymore! If you think I wronged you, I apologize! But Lillian, you need to understand—us being back now is a chance from fate! I will protect Natalie. No one will take her from me—not even herself! I don’t expect you to help, but don’t cause trouble, or I won’t let you off!"

He said it like some movie hero, voice all deep and stormy. I just stared, expressionless, listening to his dramatic declaration and warning.

When he finished, under his angry glare, I sneered.

"Who do you think you are? Idiot!"

Everyone likes Natalie.

She’s smart, kind, beautiful.

At school, she’s always top of her class, guaranteed to get into Harvard or Stanford, maybe even be valedictorian.

She joins all kinds of competitions, can sing, dance, play music, chess, paint.

But she never acts superior—always smiling gently at teachers and classmates.

At home, she’s her parents’ pride, the family’s hope, praised by everyone.

She never talks back, always obedient and sweet. No matter how demanding, she just nods meekly.

But that kind of person, the year she finished the SATs, the year she was valedictorian, while her parents were throwing a huge party, basking in everyone’s envy and jealousy—she climbed to the rooftop and jumped, ending her life.

No one knows why she killed herself.

Not even me.

Only much later, as I got older and memories replayed, did I catch glimpses of the ugly truth beneath the pretty surface.