I Refuse To Be Your Backup Chapter 2

The next morning, the school hallways were buzzing with restless energy. Now that final grades and AP scores were officially out, everyone was debating where they would spend the next four years. I sat in my usual seat by the window, flipping through a guide to university programs.

The heavy classroom door swung open, and Will walked in, guiding Daisy by her elbow. Daisy’s eyes were bloodshot, her eyelids swollen from what looked like a long night of crying.

Will walked straight over to my desk, reaching naturally for the meticulously annotated college binder sitting on the corner.

"Iris, do you mind if Daisy borrows your binder for a second?"

I kept my hand flat on the cover, not budging. "Isn't she committed to the local arts institute?" I asked, looking up at Will.

Will let out a heavy sigh and pulled out the chair in front of mine, turning it around to face me. "Her financial aid fell through, and her portfolio scores weren't high enough for the New York school. She can't go to Columbia's partner program anymore."

Behind him, Daisy let out a soft, miserable sob. "Iris, I'm so sorry. I’m just so stupid. Now I'm ruining everything for Will, too."

Will turned to her, pulling a pack of tissues from his pocket and gently pressing them into her hand, rubbing her shoulder. "Don't cry, Daisy. We'll figure something out."

Then he turned back to me, his tone conversational, but carrying the weight of a decision already made. "Iris, Daisy is going to apply to Boston State. I don't feel right letting her stay here all by herself." He paused, looking at me. "I'm going to change my enrollment decision. I'm staying in Boston to be with her."

The old classroom ceiling fan hummed a steady, rhythmic creak overhead. I looked into Will’s eyes. They were filled with the noble, protective instinct of a savior—but there wasn't a single shred of guilt toward me, the person he had built a twelve-year dream with.

"You’ve already decided?" I asked.

"Yeah," Will nodded. "Actually, I was thinking you should change your choice too. We could all stay in Boston. Your mom always wanted you to stay close to home anyway." He paused, offering a soft smile. "That way, the three of us can still be together."

It was almost funny. In Will's mind, his own dreams weren't the only things that could be casually discarded for someone else—mine were expected to bend to his new plans, too.

Slowly, I lifted my hand off the binder. Will immediately picked it up, handing my weeks of meticulous research over to Daisy. "Look through these sections," he told her. "Iris mapped out all the local programs in detail. Her notes are incredibly thorough."

Daisy’s tears vanished, replaced by a grateful smile as she clutched the binder to her chest. "Thank you so much, Iris. I promise I’ll study it carefully."

I stared at the empty space on my desk. "Will," I said quietly.

"Yeah?" He looked back.

"You don't have to give the binder back when you're done," I said, sliding my red pen into my pencil case and zipping it shut. "She can keep it."

Will blinked, clearly caught off guard by how easily I had surrendered it. A faint crease appeared between his brows. "Iris, are you mad at me?"

"No," I said, my voice steady. "Since you guys are staying local, that research doesn't do me any good anyway."

Just then, our homeroom teacher walked in, tapping a marker against the whiteboard. "Alright, everyone, the official state enrollment portal closes tomorrow at midnight. Make sure your final choices are locked in."

Will was called to the counselor's office to help organize some final transcripts. With Will gone, Daisy slid into his vacant chair right in front of me. She opened my binder, her fingers tracing the dense, neat lines of my handwriting, before she slowly turned around to look at me.

"Iris, do you really not blame Will and me?" Her voice was barely a whisper, meant only for my ears. "He gave up Columbia for me. I know that must be incredibly hard for you to swallow."

I turned a page in my college catalog, keeping my eyes on the print. "He has his own feet. He can walk wherever he wants."

Daisy bit her lip, clearly frustrated by my lack of reaction. "To be honest, Will told me last night that he finds your pragmatism a bit... suffocating sometimes. Like you don't really need him." She smoothed her hand over the plastic cover of my binder. "He said I actually need him around. He feels like he has a purpose when he's helping me."

My finger froze against the edge of the paper. The sharp corner cut into my skin, leaving a stinging, bloodless line. I looked up, locking eyes with Daisy’s carefully constructed expression of innocence.

"You're right," I said, shutting the book with a quiet thud. "You two are perfect for each other." I stood up, grabbing my water bottle.

"Where are you going, Iris?" Daisy called after me.

"To get water."

I walked down to the end of the quiet hallway and set my bottle under the dispenser. As the hot water trickled in, steam rose, fogging my view of the hallway. I watched the condensation form on the metal surface, taking a slow, deep breath.

Will, you think I'm too pragmatic. But the truth is, I just refused to let you see me break. If you think she needs you more, then I'll gladly step out of the way.