Chapter 1 After college started , I dumped my childhood sweetheart Marcus Blackthorne . He just smirked . " What , just because I picked HER up for orientation instead of you ? " " Yep . " He laughed again , all patronizing and smug . " Okay babe , so how many days are we ' broken up ' this time ? " Before I could answer , his precious little scholarship princess called . " Don't worry , I'm coming . " Watching him sprint off like a lovesick puppy , I choked back the words burning in my throat : " FOREVER . " Ten years of chasing this asshole . But I was DONE playing his game . Time for some people to get what they deserved ! I went back to my dorm alone , staring at the major transfer form on my desk . Thinking back to orientation day two days ago . Marcus had promised to pick me up at the train station . I waited for hours at that unfamiliar station , missing bus after bus to campus , until I finally got his text : [ Joy , something came up . Can't make it . Just take a cab to campus for orientation . ] I instinctively made excuses for him - maybe he really was busy . But when I finally dragged my luggage and the gifts I'd bought him to the dorm building , sweating like crazy … I saw him helping another girl move her stuff . She was on her tiptoes , wiping sweat from his forehead with a smile . " Marcus , you're such a sweetheart ~ Picking me up , helping with orientation , carrying my bags … I don't know how to thank you . " I laughed bitterly . " Why don't you just marry him? " The girl's face turned red as she hid behind Marcus . Marcus looked thrilled and headed straight for me . " Joy ! You made it ! " " Look at my brave girl , handling orientation all by herself . " He reached out to pinch my cheek with that adoring expression . I slapped his hand away . " So you didn't pick me up because you were busy with HER stuff ? " He tapped my nose , looking exasperated . " Jealous again ? " With that " what am I gonna do with you " look , he pulled me over to the girl : " This is Chelsea Morrison , the scholarship student I mentioned . She doesn't know anyone here , so I'm helping her out . Come on , say hi . " Chelsea said timidly , " You must be Joy ! Hi , Marcus told me about you . " A Dionon ! 0.0 % I knew who she was . Marcus brought her up every time we talked on the phone . We'd fought about her countless times . All my hurt turned to rage : " We're not friends , so don't act like we are ! Stop being so fake . " I said coldly . Chelsea's eyes instantly filled with tears as she bit her lip . Marcus immediately grabbed my wrist , his voice stern . " Joy ! What the hell ? Apologize . NOW . " I yanked my hand free with a cold laugh . " Apologize ? Not happening ! " I ran toward the dorm building . But the tears I'd been holding back fell as soon as I started unpacking , dropping onto the gifts I'd bought for him . My roommates were chatting on the balcony , not noticing my breakdown . " Damn , this freshman works fast - already hooked up with an upperclassman ! " " And look how far they've gotten already - they're practically all over each other ! " I froze , wiping my tears quickly before running to the balcony . Seeing them hugging downstairs , I suddenly felt exhausted by this whole relationship . Maybe it was time to end it . During orientation , I asked my advisor about switching majors . She gave me a transfer form - due in three days . I waited stubbornly for Marcus to come apologize . If he did , I'd forgive him . But he never came . He was too busy taking care of Chelsea , treating her roommates to dinner , getting her ready for orientation week . The campus forum was flooded with photos of them together - so perfect , so matched . I suddenly remembered when we were kids and he'd hold my hand playing house , with passing neighbors teasing that I was his little bride . Marcus would seriously correct them : " She's not my little bride - Joy's my WIFE ! " Everyone always said we were the perfect couple , meant to be . Thirteen years of feelings made my chest ache for three whole days . I could feel them slowly peeling away from my heart - from excruciating pain to numbness . By the time I told Marcus we were breaking up , only a dull ache remained . He was certain I was just throwing another tantrum . Certain I could never leave him . Because I'd compromised and second - guessed myself countless times to keep this relationship alive . I'd even studied day and night , ignoring my parents ' objections to major in pre - med , just because he'd said " I'll be waiting for you at Jefferson Medical School . " 0.3 % Chapter 1 Looking at the campus forum photo of Marcus running with Chelsea in his arms , I firmly wrote " Request transfer to Business Management " on the form .