No Second Chances: Their Lost Ava

sity of California, Westwood ap

ered over the

dream. Th

han's, a

htened in

sed the

pened. Yale

keyboard, filling in the fie

differen

st, a mourning for something not y

ing a differe

-framed photo s

lung around each other at the Northwo

senator, handsome and composed even i

y quarterback, his smil

een them, feeling like the

t, under the stadium lights, h

, always," Ja

is serious gaze mee

d her mouth now. Alw

on wasn't just abou

a decla

ering of ties that

drawin

e whispered to

ened. They had l

wood Legends," used to

like the Chloe

s on the socio-economic im

' re a rockstar for hand

through weeks

shared news – mostly met with sil

or achievement, ho

nce." Chloe' s "f

like an outside

roject was supposed

hing, outlining the presen

o the group, had

me of this off your plate," Chloe had said

, adding her own "unique" spin, and then d

p," Ethan had told thei

of initiative," Jax had

ing her work, her voic

a new silk scarf to school

ted. "Ethan just thought I looked a little cold yester

t a similar scarf for Ava' s birthday last month,

a small, silken ban

va' s sto

Sarah Chen's house was

ress, a pale blue, off-the-shoulder g

re necklace, a family hei

t beautifu

oe had w

Ava' s

s grandmother

blood r

hat are y

you, and I saw it hanging on your door. I just tried it on for a second, it was so beautiful, and then your mom said you were running late and I

masterpiece of p

had rushed to

said, his tone sharp. "It wa

ing to sniffle. "Yeah, Ava, don't be so dr

ally winke

is she?" Chloe whispered, l

oice hardening. "We can Venmo you for it if

arp and cold

e it. Or they

chose

Yale application, the c

ct, the constant dismissal in their group chat –

ere no longer h

hey never

and clicked "Submit"

on washed over her,

tiny spark of defi

made thei

e had m