Chapter 24 I rolled my eyes , deleted the text , and blocked yet another number . Then I focused entirely on taking care of Grandma . The school published their honor roll with everyone's college acceptances listed . I didn't go back to campus , but Joy told me Tanner hadn't either . The day after his party , his dad whisked him off to some company branch , claiming he needed " early business experience . " After his celebration , he even left our class group chat for some reason . I figured this was his way of cutting ties with me for good . Thank fucking God . Grandma's treatment and recovery in D.C. went smoothly , and by the time I needed to head to college , she was safely back home in New York . I only spent one night at home - Mom had already packed everything for me . The next day , she personally drove me to campus for orientation . Never saw Tanner once . The relief was intoxicating . Turns out college wasn't scary at all . As soon as I stepped out of the car with my massive suitcases , a group of upperclassmen basically fought over who got to help me move into my dorm . My roommates were all incredibly warm too . Our major was small enough that all the girls in our year shared the same dorm . Within three days of moving in , they were dragging me around campus , hitting every food spot and Instagram - worthy location . The New England cuisine I thought I'd hate was actually incredible . They even made me do the traditional freshman midnight breakfast run to IHOP on my first night - apparently it was a sacred bonding ritual for their friend group . After sharing way too much personal drama over pancakes and coffee at 2 AM , we became inseparable . I was rapidly adjusting to college life - actually thriving for the first time in years - and military training had just started when I received my third love letter . That's when Tanner called me out of nowhere . The sound of his voice made my stomach drop . " Drielle , I went to your house yesterday wanting to coordinate our move - in day , but your mom said you'd already left for school . " " But I'm here now and I can't find your dorm or your classes anywhere . What's going on ? Which part of campus are you on ? " I suddenly didn't know where to begin explaining . After all this time , he still hadn't realized I never changed my application to Georgia Tech . The sheer stupidity was breathtaking . " It's not about different parts of campus - we're not even at the same fucking school . " I couldn't help the bitter laugh that escaped . " That's impossible . What kind of joke is this ? " Tanner laughed dismissively . " Come on , stop being dramatic . Fine , fine , I'll grovel and apologize , you win , okay ? " 2116 Chapter 24 " Just get down to the girls dorm entrance . My mom sent a care package with your favorite pastries - don't accuse me of being selfish " His casual assumption that I'd just fall back into our old patterns made me want to scream . I'd finally had enough and spelled it out for him , word by word . " Tanner , I think you're genuinely delusional . My application never changed . It was always MIT , aerospace engineering " " You know that's what I always wanted . Why the hell would I randomly end up in Atlanta ? Right then , my roommate Sophia called out to me about lunch . " Hey girl , wanna hit up that clam chowder place in Harvard Square ? " Her distinct Boston accent finally made Tanner panic . When he spoke again , he sounded like his world was collapsing . " You - you - you can't be serious , Drielle . " " No no , that's impossible . You knew I changed my application, right ? " " There's no way you didn't change yours too . How could you go all the way to Massachusetts by yourself ? " The disbelief in his voice was almost insulting . I sighed , exhausted by his self - centeredness . " I'm not kidding . " " Tanner , you never asked me when you changed your application - how were you so sure I'd follow you ? Especially since you changed it for someone else . It would've been pretty pathetic for me to tag along . " Tanner frantically tried to backpedal " But that night - that night I asked you, and you said you knew ! How could you not have changed yours ? It's impossible ! " It's not because of Harper , is it ? I just felt bad for her - she was crying about being scared to go somewhere new alone . " " You know her family situation - since her dad's scandal , she hasn't been back to Georgia . Plus she got in on an arts scholarship , so she didn't have many options . She's not like you with perfect grades - this was literally the best school she could get into … " Tanner rambled on in a panic , but rage was building in my chest . All I heard was " she , she , she " -even now , he was only thinking from Harper's perspective , never considering how I felt . Harper's father was a corrupt politician who'd been imprisoned for years . Though he'd divorced her mother before the sentencing , Harper and her mom had faced endless judgment in their hometown , so they'd moved to New York for a fresh start when she was young . The adult drama wasn't her fault when she was a kid . But her tragedy wasn't my fucking responsibility either . Why should I sacrifice my future for her comfort ? " Tanner , since you care about her so much , you got exactly what you wanted . We're just friends now - we don't have to do everything together . Please don't contact me anymore . " My voice was ice - cold , final . I hung up , took a shaky breath , and before I could even process the storm of emotions , Sophia and my other roommates - Emma and Madison - dragged me off to the dining hall . I thought Tanner would finally back off . After all , we were separated by thousands of miles and countless wounds that couldn't easily heal . But the next evening , Tanner appeared right in front of me . Chapter 24 Like a fucking nightmare I couldn't wake up from .