Chapter 3

During Dora Juggins's sophomore year, she started dating Shepherd Showyer, the computer science department heartthrob. Shepherd came from a good family, had a wonderful personality, and was handsome. He was the classic tall, rich, and handsome man, along with being a highly educated and talented scholar. A computer science department heartthrob and an English department beauty, they hit it off at the university anniversary gala. Shepherd pursued Dora, and the young couple quickly fell head over heels for each other. Their relationship grew sweeter by the day. They could spend eight hours wrapped up together and still not feel it was enough. The first time Shepherd invited Joy Zimmerman and Jade Quiney to dinner, Joy chattered on without pause. She scrutinized Shepherd from across the table. Her gaze was calculating, then disdainful, as though she were searching for every possible flaw. By the end of the meal, she had picked apart practically everything about him. Dora laughed and scolded her. "Before Shepherd and I got together, you were always going on about how handsome and good-natured the computer science department heartthrob was. You even daydreamed about him as the male lead in a romance novel. So why are you suddenly finding fault with everything now that we're dating?" Joy snorted twice. "How is that the same? Before, he was a heartthrob. But after he stole you away, he became my enemy." She pointed at Shepherd. "I think he has those flirty eyes. He doesn't seem trustworthy. Keep a close eye on him, and don't let yourself get swept away. If he ever forces himself on you, tell me. I'll take a cleaver to him and castrate him!" Compared to Joy's constant disapproval of Shepherd, Jade's reaction was completely different. She spent the entire meal trying to chat with him, asking what he liked about Dora. She praised Dora, then praised Shepherd, showering them both with compliments in a voice as sweet as honey. After they returned to the dorm, Joy told Dora that something seemed off about the way Jade looked at Shepherd. "Her eyes light up every time she sees him," Joy said. Dora didn't take it seriously. "He's handsome. Anyone's eyes would light up when they saw him." Dora first began to suspect Jade during Christmas of her junior year. She and Shepherd had planned to watch a movie together that evening. But Joy got into a car accident that day, and Dora rushed to the hospital, completely forgetting about her date with Shepherd. When she remembered, she called Shepherd several times, but he didn't answer. By the time Joy came out of surgery, her parents had arrived at the hospital as well. Dora hurriedly hailed a cab and raced to the movie theater, but the film had already ended by the time she got there. Then she saw Shepherd and Jade walking out of the theater together. Dora didn't think much of it. She hurried over to explain herself to Shepherd, only to find him furious. He accused her of caring more about her friend than him. In his eyes, he wasn't important to her at all. The two of them ended up having a huge fight. As far as Dora remembered, it was their first argument. She thought Shepherd was being ridiculous. Joy had been in a life-or-death situation. Forget a movie, even if Joy had won a million dollars in the lottery, Dora would have gone to her first. Throughout their argument, Jade kept trying to mediate. More accurately, she spent the entire time taking Shepherd's side. She kept telling Dora to understand how Shepherd felt about being stood up. She told Dora to be gentler, to put herself in his shoes, and to reflect on her own behavior. Dora was too busy arguing with Shepherd to pay any attention to her. But as the argument dragged on, something began to feel wrong. Shepherd knew everything Joy had said about him while complaining in the dorm. He even questioned Dora about whether Joy had always been trying to break them up. Dora stared at him in shock, then instinctively turned to Jade. Jade quickly explained, "I didn't mean to tell him. I only wanted to comfort Shepherd." Dora frowned. "Then why did you two come out of the theater together? Did you go to the movie together?" Jade's expression turned wounded. "I knew you had gone to the hospital. I was worried Shepherd would be left there waiting and wondering, so I came to explain things for you. I was only trying to help." Shepherd noticed Dora's anger and softened. He pulled her into his arms and tried to soothe her. "The tickets were so hard to get. It would have been a waste not to use them," he explained. "Jade said she really wanted to see the movie, so I took her in." Dora asked why he hadn't answered his phone. "I put it on silent when I entered the theater," Shepherd said. "Jade told me she had come to explain things for you, so I thought you wouldn't call again. That's why I didn't check my phone."