I took my chance.

I got a 4.0 GPA for the spring semester, and I was high on life.

And a shit ton of caffeine, alcohol, and romance, but mostly life.

I deserved as much money as the school was willing to give me, and somebody would have to pry the dollars out of my cold, dead hands for me not to take advantage of it.

I loved success for the sake of success, but there was nothing like winning and feeling the weight of tens of thousands of dollars being stuffed right back into my pocket. Plus, all that money made my ass look bigger. I was just killing two birds with one stone.

Home (well, American home) for the summer, poor Viktor was caught between his boy and his girl, his old tradition and his new forever.

Matt never moved Viktor's bed out of his room, but I wanted Viktor in mine with me. And Arti, who would never wear out her welcome.

He picked Matt for some fucking reason.

But despite the loss he practically stabbed me in the back with, Viktor and I were completely obsessed with each other, just like we always had been.

Tara and I had begrudgingly struck up a friendship too. She never really did much besides sit in her cage and plot eight different ways to assassinate people, but that was a common interest of ours.

Wikipedia said that tarantulas could live up to twenty years, and I figured it was the safest course of action to befriend her, so she wouldn't come after me in my sleep.

Friends didn't kill friends usually, and Tara wasn't a mouse or a man, so I wasn't too concerned about that.

On a late June evening, Viktor and I sat in the basement, watching the horror program called the NHL Draft.

He slouched on the couch, his butt on the edge and his shoulders at the top of the back of the couch, hugging a pillow tightly to his chest as he stared at the TV screen. His blue eyes reddened with each moment that he didn't dare to blink.

Noah Trainer. First overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres.

"You okay?" I asked, watching Viktor rather than the TV.

He nodded slowly but didn't look in my direction.

"Buffalo sucks anyway. They'll never be relevant as long as Noah's on that shit show of a team," I said.

"I hope he has all the success in the world. I really do," Viktor said, his tone flat and unchanging.

"That's at least nice of you to say. I hope he gets wrecked on his first shift of his first game."

"Don't be bitter. It's not his fault that he's there, and we're here."

"Yeah, but he was kind of a douche about it."

"Matt never liked Noah either. He thought he was faker than a three-dollar bill."

I laughed. People could call us Jaynes a lot of things, but we were pretty fucking real.

"It's just not fair. You did everything right, we tried so hard, and it was all for nothing. I'm sorry, Amanda," Viktor said. "This could have been our time too, and I ruined it."

"Don't ever apologize for this. We're done feeling sorry for ourselves," I said. "We're going to move on to next season. Yeah, you can't be drafted after this, but it's not the end of the world. Show those motherfuckers what they missed out on, a damn good hockey player with an even better attitude. Someone will give you a contract if you fuck shit up, I'm sure."

He looked at me for a moment before speaking. "They're not going to want me, even as a free agent. That's probably even more difficult than getting drafted."

"People forget a lot of shit in a year, especially if you put up some strong numbers."

"But the twins were my ticket there, and their careers are over."

"Then find some chemistry with someone else. Give yourself some credit. You are not the product of your wingers."

"And what if it's all over before I find someone like that?"

"Then one, you got to do what you love four years longer than Matt. Two, you'll be able to say you gave it everything you have. And three, you're forgetting that you're wanted by so many people who love you for who you are, especially me."

A small smile crept up on his face.

I smiled right back at him. "Remember the way failure hurts. You and I know that feeling all too well. Use disappointment, anger, frustration. Use the memories of us at the rink, you and Matthew on the bench and on the ice, and Mom's undying support. Let them fuel you. Emotions aren't bad if you use them wisely."

"Can I ask for one thing from you?" Viktor asked.

"Absolutely."

"Would you please right me another list of goals? And don't make them easy."

I smiled. "When have I ever made anything easy on you?"

"That's true."

He closed the gap between us halfway, and I met his lips for a smiley kiss.

Amator was back, and we were ready to fuck some shit up.

"Hey," he said, and I watched his eyes flit to the tv screen for a moment, then back to me.

"What?"

"You're just the best person ever."

I smiled. "You're the second best."

Viktor laughed. "I missed your smile. It's so sweet."

"Most people wouldn't ever use the word 'sweet' when describing me, but okay."

"I don't know why they wouldn't. You're the most adorable person, and you're just the sweetest. You look mean, but you're not at all."

I rolled my eyes, but my smile didn't fade. "Okay, okay. I'm a rough, tough cream puff. Sue me."

"I've finally gotten to you, huh?" he asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You never would have admitted that earlier this year. I'm glad that you're not so scared of yourself anymore."

"I was never scared of myself."

"You were scared of your emotions, and that's the purest form of yourself, Candy Cane. And I really love you, even on your bad days."

"I don't have bad days."

He laughed.

"I'm serious. I'm pretty damn even-keeled," I said.

He laughed again.

I crossed my arms. "Stop laughing. It's not funny."

"It's funny, because you know it's not true. But I was going to say, before you started lying, that you've gotten to me too. I'm pretty pissed right now about what happened, and we're going to get what we deserve. I promise."

"Really?"

He nodded.

I ran my fingers through his perpetually messy blond hair. "Yep. I did get to you. You've finally grown a fucking backbone."

He picked up my other hand and kissed my knuckles. "Thank you."

"You did that on your own. I just shoved you in the right direction and said, 'good luck, bitch.'"

He shut his eyes and shook his head with a smile. "I don't think we could be any more different."

"Probably not, but that's what makes it fun," I said. "It's always exciting when you can't agree on shit."

"Oh, since you mention that, I wanted to ask you about your opinion on something."

"What's that?"

"Do you think Winterview has a chance at having a good season next year?"

I thought for a moment. "Your guess is much better than mine could ever be. I don't really know the resilience of the group. You'll have a new coach, a new set of expectations. There are just too many variables in this equation for me to come up with a solid, definitive answer."

"I feel like we can do it."

"Then go with that optimism. You know a lot more than I do."

He nodded. "I'm going to make it happen."

***

There certainly never was a dull moment in the Jayne house, but with nothing much to do besides wait for the future, we were as close to that point as we had ever been.

But even so, Natalie, Melissa, and Leah talked Blaine, Arti, Matt, Viktor, and me into playing a game with them. They still hadn't decided on what game they wanted to play, but arguing was a great way to figure that out.

"Let's just play hide and seek. Everyone knows how to play that," Leah said.

Natalie shook her head. "We're not six anymore. We're too old for that."

"You're never too old for hide and seek," Leah said.

Melissa nodded silently.

"Well, I don't want to, and that makes the vote two to two," Natalie said.

"You don't get two votes. That's not fair," Leah said.

"I'm the oldest, so my vote counts as double."

"You're not the oldest. Matt is," Melissa said.

"You're the sixth oldest. You're a baby just like the rest of us," Leah said.

Natalie pressed her hand to her chest. "Don't betray me like this. We have to stick together to make sure our voices are heard."

"We're literally the only three people talking right now," Leah said.

Melissa nodded again, and I laughed.

"I haven't heard any ideas from you, Captain Giggles," Natalie said.

"If you want my opinion, I'll be glad to give it to you," I said.

Natalie shook her head. "No one wants to listen to you, boyfriend stealer."

"Still bitter?" I smiled.

"No. I don't even care that Viktor doesn't love me back. I'll steal him one day," Natalie said.

"I do love you, Nat. You're just a little too young," Viktor said.

Natalie crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "Oh, great, now I'm being little sister-zoned."

I laughed at her.

"We have a bigger problem on our hands, you guys. We still don't know what we want to do today," Leah said.

"You know, I never got that cheesecake I was promised in Wisconsin. I'm not calling you a liar, Amanda, or anything like that, but I'm just saying," Blaine said.

"How would you like that cheesecake shoved right up—" I stopped myself before I said something too mean in front of Melissa. "I don't think we have the ingredients for it."

"Then go to the store and get them," he said.

"Sure, let me just take the wreckage of my baby and drive to Giant Eagle just to make you happy. Because I just live for your joy," I said.

"It's about time you let your dead baby go and get a new car, don't you think?" Arti asked.

"I will never let my dead baby go. I want to be buried with her," I said.

"Oh my god, you have attachment issues," Matt said.

I nodded. "That's true, but—"

I was interrupted by a knock on the front door.

"It's a serial killer. Everyone, hide!" Natalie whispered.

"It's not a serial killer," Matt said.

"It's the FBI! They're here to investigate Viktor for his involvement with Russia," Natalie said and turned to him. "For the record, I don't know you."

"What are you talking about? I'm Swedish," Viktor said.

"Uh huh. That's what they all say, you Russian spy," Natalie said.

"I thought you loved me."

"So you're not denying my accusation? Interesting," Natalie said.

"Oh my god, no one here is a Russian spy, and it's not the FBI at the door. It's probably just some door-to-door salesperson or something," Matt said. "Just be quiet, and they'll go away."

"I can hear you, you know," the voice from the other side of the door said.

"Shit, it's even worse than a serial killer or the FBI," Arti said. "That's my sister."

"Kasey?" Natalie asked.

"Yeah, it's me. I just have a letter for Arti," Kasey said.

Blaine smiled. "I love your sister. She's so adorable."

"And demonic, but whatever," Arti said.

I walked over to the door with Arti and opened it up.

I knew Arti's little sister from the time she was born, and with her conflict with Arti, I hadn't seen her much in the previous few years.

She certainly wasn't a baby anymore.

She looked like a smaller (if that was even possible) version of Arti, just with less makeup and more early teenage angst. Just like Arti in the eighth grade.

Kasey held out the letter to Arti. "Here. I don't know what it's for, but it seems kind of important."

"Thanks," Arti said.

"And just so you know, I miss you a lot. Mom and Dad don't, but I do," Kasey said.

"I thought you hated me," Arti said.

"Yeah, when I was ten and didn't know why Mom and Dad didn't agree with your 'lifestyle choices.' It's ridiculous."

Arti took in a breath. "Okay, well, bye then."

She reached for the door, but I held it open.

"You want to come in?" I asked.

Kasey nodded. "Yeah."

"I'm sure the triplets will be happy to—"

"Kasey!" Leah cheered, then ran over and practically hugged the life out of the poor girl.

Nat, Melissa, and Leah always liked Kasey and looked up to her like she was a goddess or something, but three years difference in age meant Kasey was too old and too cool for them a lot of the time.

I smiled and looked over at Arti, who had torn open the envelope and studied the letter inside.

"Who's it from?" I asked.

She looked up at me. "Winterview. Guess who's officially a Wildcat now?"

Arti applied to transfer to Winterview without telling me?

That shady bitch.

I loved her.

"Are you serious? I didn't even know you wanted to transfer," I said.

Arti smiled. "Well, with Blaine transferring, I wanted the whole squad to get back together."

"Well, except for Matt."

"He doesn't like me anyway. Plus," she took a deep breath, "I may have accidentally fallen in love with someone that I absolutely have no shot with whatsoever."

"Fallen in love?" I asked.

"It's different this time. Viktor was nice but not my cup of tea for obvious reasons. Eleanor was a good way to keep myself busy, but I could never fall in love with someone like her, and she kind of went off the rails. But Drew, she's strong, she's kind, she's classy, she's everything I'm not. She's perfect."

"In love, though?"

Arti nodded. "Yeah. In love."

"You only knew her for, like, three days," I said.

"Right, because this isn't the digital age or anything, and communicating with her over a distance is completely impossible. God, Amanda, you're so stupid sometimes."

"I just don't want you to rush into anything. It's better to just—"

"You were the one who shipped us. Shouldn't this be validation?"

"I guess, but—"

"Just let me do me, okay? We're two different people. And let's say things don't work out with Drew. I'll still have you," Arti said.

I had seen her rush into love before (if we could even call it love), and it hurt everyone within a five-mile radius. I just didn't want it to happen again.

But I shut my mouth. Like she said, we were two different people.

"Yeah. If you haven't managed to lose me yet, I don't know how you could ever get rid of me," I said with a laugh.

If she was willing to give up her California dream for Winterview, how could I even question her?

Arti was much more than I ever imagined she could be. And I was even her self-proclaimed best friend.

She had something to prove, and I sure as hell wasn't going to hold her back. I was going to have her back.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey everyone! Thank you for reading!

Arti, Viktor, and Amanda sure have come a long way, haven't they? Don't mind me, just crying over how much they've grown up over the course of two books.

Who do you think has grown the most?