“Alex,” Paul said, walking over to her and placing a hand on each shoulder, “you can’t do that. You’ve worked so hard for that internship—you can’t give it up over some stupid guy.”

She moved her hands on top of his, looking him dead in the eye with more of that manic confidence. “It’s not some stupid guy,” she said, continuing to move her hips. “Danial was the actual love of my life, and I was half-staying in New York just to be with him. But now I don’t have to, because he wants to be with Daphne, which makes total sense! So I’m free!” She could hear how crazy she sounded, how full of rage and denial.

“Stop talking about her.” He moved her hands down to her sides, holding them still in his grasp. “And how are you moving to Greece?”

The question almost took her by surprise, as if something as banal as logistics couldn’t be part of the equation.

“My cousin’s friend can get me a job at this beach bar. They basically only hire English speakers, and if I start in June, I can work almost a full high season, which means more money. I’ll have enough to rent an apartment!” She nodded her head encouragingly, as if she needed his approval.

“Alex, stop.” She had never heard Paul this serious, but it only made her nod harder, feel more deliriously confident. “How are you even getting there, though? This is actually insane.”

She could feel the chaotic energy flooding her, filling her with a jittery certainty, the only thing stronger than her sadness.

“I’m a Preferred Cardholder.” She smiled, pulling his hands above their heads and twirling herself underneath them, “I have a $5,000 limit on one of the cards!”

“One of—Alex,” he pleaded, his eyes starting to slick with anxious tears, “do you want me to call your mom?”

“I already talked to my mom yesterday,” she asserted, returning to the armchair and flopping down, bringing her laptop to rest atop her thighs. “She doesn’t get a say. And I know you think I’m out of my mind,” she continued, “but I’m not. I know exactly what I’m doing. I’m actually, truly done pretending to be one of the Club. I’m going to go enjoy my life, and forget about Columbia, and Danial, and all of this bullshit.”

Paul stood for a moment where she had left him, before shaking his head and coming to kneel in front of her.

“You can’t do this.” Paul’s eyes were full of tears now, slipping free down his beautiful, freckled, privileged face. “I know you want to forget about Dan, but this isn’t the way to do it. Just running away from everything… running away from me.” His voice caught on “me.”