My Girlfriend and My Best Friend Were Stealing My Life's Work

The day I submitted my college applications, I got a call from a number I didn't recognize.

"Don't go to Kingsley. Your girlfriend has connections there. She's going to steal your research and use it to make your buddy look good."

"You'll be accused of plagiarism. Not just expelled — you'll go to prison."

"Go to Fairmont instead. The ranking is lower than Kingsley's, but your program there will become the best in the country."

I asked warily, "Who is this?"

The line went dead with a flat beep.

On my phone, a message from Ina Fox blinked.

"Babe, I know it's break, but don't slack off on your research!"

"I had a dream last night that your computer crashed and all your files were gone. Why don't you send me a copy so I can back it up for you?"

Remembering the warning from that call, a chill crawled up my spine, and I quickly beefed up the security on my computer.

I stared at the word "Kingsley" on the application page, my finger hovering over the mouse.

Right as I was hesitating, my buddy Cyril Dickerson called.

"Orson Delgado, you put down Kingsley for sure, right? I'm counting on us sticking together in college!"

I kept my tone as easy as I could. "Kingsley, of course. I couldn't stand being apart from you either."

"…"

Cyril's excited whoop came through the receiver.

"The usual spot. Let's celebrate — we're going to be together in college again!"

His voice was as warm and close as ever, warm enough to make me wonder if I'd imagined that phone call.

I agreed quietly and headed to the coffee shop, still uneasy.

I'd barely sat down before Cyril clapped a hand on my shoulder, all concern.

"How's the research coming along? You look worn out."

His concern felt real. I just couldn't tell whether he cared about my research, or about how hard I'd been working.

"It's wrapping up. Just needs proofreading."

The words were barely out when my phone blared an alarm.

*One attack successfully blocked.*

Someone was trying to break into my computer.

"What kind of notification is that? The sound's terrifying."

While Cyril leaned in, I switched the phone to vibrate and locked the screen in a show of fumbling — but not before he got a clear look at the words on it.

"Just my alarm clock. Anyway, something came up — I have to run."

Cyril blocked me, exactly as I'd expected. "You just got here and you're leaving? No way I'm letting you."

The phone buzzed wildly in my hand. I stole a glance at the screen. The block log was still refreshing, but the security held.

When the buzzing finally stopped, Cyril waved toward the door.

"Ina, over here!"

He let go of me and sat down across the table. "What a coincidence, Ina's here too."

I nodded mechanically and scooted farther in.

But Ina sat down right beside Cyril.

Only then did I realize our seating had quietly shifted a long time ago.

At first, I sat next to Cyril, and Ina sat across from me.

Later, Ina started sitting across from Cyril.

Then, every time, the two of them would end up beside each other as if by chance, leaving me alone on the other side.

And because I trusted them so much, I'd never once questioned it.

Once Ina settled in, she leaned close to Cyril, her lips moving faintly.

The shape of her mouth looked like: His computer's protected. I'll think of another way.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Cyril's eyes.

Ina finally turned to me, as if she'd only just noticed I was there.

"Orson, send me a copy of your research files. I'll hold on to them for you."

"If your computer ever dies, all that work would be for nothing, right?"

I took a sip of my coffee. "There's this thing called cloud storage."

"Cloud accounts get hacked too. Wouldn't a second copy with me be double insurance?"

I didn't answer that. Instead I asked her, "You're going to Miami?"

Ina froze for a second.

"No. Why would I go to Miami by myself?"