UNDER THE WRONG MISTLETOE.

MADELINE'S POV

"Mom! Mom!" Beth's voice cut through the house like a siren. I could already hear the panic in her tone before I even stepped into the living room. "I need today's date with Calhoun to be perfect... he wasn't impressed with yesterday's look."

There she was-standing in the middle of the living room like some frantic princess who'd just been told her crown wasn't shiny enough. Her hair was spread across her shoulders in perfect curls, her makeup already half-done even though it wasn't even noon. Typical Beth.

"You don't know that," I said, walking in. "You looked perfect yesterday."

She turned and gave me that signature glare... the one that could probably melt steel if she tried hard enough.

"I'm not taking advice from someone who barely looks at the mirror."

Ouch.

For a moment, I stared at her stupid perfect face. The smooth skin, the tiny nose, the annoyingly symmetrical features-everything about her screamed I was born to be adored.

And for a brief second, I imagined burying my fists right into her perfect nostrils. Just one good punch. One. Then we would see how "perfect" she looked after that.

But of course, I didn't. I never do. I just swallowed the heat rising in my throat.

Mom walked in. "Do you want to get something from the mall?" she asked Beth. "Or borrow something from Meemaw?"

"Eww." Beth wrinkled her nose like Meemaw's clothes were covered in fleas. "I'd rather stab myself. We're going to the mall."

I turned to Mom quickly. "Wait-Mom. You promised to teach me how to make those desserts today, remember?"

Mom paused. Her eyes darted between me and Beth. I already knew what her mouth was going to say even before she opened it.

"Yeah, but..." She sighed and rubbed her forehead. "This is more important. We'll do that some other time, okay?"

Of course. Always "some other time."

I nodded. I always nod.

She looked at Beth. "Come on, let's go find something for you to wear."

"Yay!" Beth shrieked so loudly my ears nearly bled. She grabbed the keys, practically skipping to the door.

They left without another glance in my direction.

I let out a long sigh. I was used to this. It didn't even sting as sharply anymore. I've been hinting at my parents for years-begging silently for attention, affection, acknowledgement-but... nothing. And I've learned something:

When you grow up invisible, you stop expecting anyone to see you.

I mean... what does it matter? I'll probably end up marrying some town farmer eventually. That's the most my parents seem to think I'm good for.

"Hey, Maddie."

I spun around, startled. Jeremy was leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets, watching me with that amused expression he always had when I didn't notice him.

"How long have you been standing there, you creep?" I asked.

He smirked. "Long enough to notice you're becoming mentally unstable."

I chuckled. "Honestly? I've been thinking the same thing."

He laughed, shaking his head. "Well... you have a mail." He lifted a white envelope. "You've never gotten mail before, so I'm kinda curious who it's from."

My eyebrows shot up. "Give me that." I snatched it from his hands. "Did you read it?"

"Does it look read?" he asked, raising a brow.

I inspected it-it was still sealed perfectly. Untouched.

He shrugged. "Besides, you know how much I hate invading people's privacy."

"Cute," I muttered, already tearing it open.

The bold headline hit me immediately:

FROM FRANCE'S SCHOLARSHIP DEPARTMENT

My breath slipped out of my lungs. I stared at the words, then at Jeremy, who was already narrowing his eyes at my expression.

I read further, my hands shaking, and then-

I screamed.

"What??" Jeremy snatched the letter from me. "Maddie-what is it?" He skimmed the page, and his jaw dropped. "Oh my God... you've GOT to be kidding me."

I nodded, tears springing into my eyes. "This-this is REAL. Jeremy-I applied before college. I thought they ignored me! But they emailed me and I never responded, so they decided to reach out through mail. I... I got a scholarship."

A full-body thrill shot through me. I could barely breathe.

"This is my dream come true," I said, hugging him tightly.

Jeremy hugged me back, and he was just as excited. "But... do you think your parents will agree? France sounds kinda expensive."

I froze.

I hadn't thought about that. At all.

"They should..." I said, forcing confidence. "They'll have to. Scholarships like this don't just fall from the sky."

Jeremy gave me that comforting smile of his. "Well then... this calls for a celebration."

I nodded eagerly.

He wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Bills on me."

"Who else would pay?" I teased. "You're the man."

He grinned. "Exactly why I love you."

We laughed and walked out of the house together, talking about France, about dreams, about everything that felt suddenly possible.

---

When I returned that evening, Mom was in the kitchen, elbows-deep in dinner prep.

"Where have you been, Maddie?" she asked without looking at me. "Dinner isn't going to cook itself."

I stepped closer. "I was out with Jeremy."

"Mm-hmm." She pushed a bowl toward me. "Spare me the details. Start kneading this dough."

I washed my hands. I didn't even complain. I was too happy for that.

"Mom..." I started, heart thumping. "You know that college in France I applied to before starting here?"

"What about it?" she asked distractedly.

"Well... I got a mail today. They offered me a half-scholarship and-"

"You rejected it, right?" she cut in sharply.

I froze.

"Re... reject it?"

She turned, annoyed. "We have no money for that, Maddie. You know that."

"No, I don't know that!" My voice cracked. "How would I know? You never talk to me about anything! And studying abroad means everything to me-"

"Maddie." Mom sighed, stepping away from the beef she was marinating. "I know what it means to you. But we do NOT have the financial capacity for that right now. We just can't."

"Really?" My voice broke completely. "We don't have money NOW? You guys spent a thousand dollars-A THOUSAND-on Beth's dress. A dress she'll wear once! But MY future? MY dream? I'm supposed to just throw it in the trash?"

"Maddie, please don't start-"

"Oh, right." I laughed bitterly. "You expect me to bottle everything up like I always do. But it hurts, Mom. It fucking hurts." Tears spilled down my face uncontrollably.

"Maddie..." She stepped toward me.

I stepped back.

"Beth has ALWAYS had everything!" I shouted. "Getting betrothed to one of the most powerful families in Texas. Fancy boarding schools. Special treatment. And me?" My voice shook violently. "I get NOTHING. I'm always the second choice. I'm nothing. And you don't even care."

"We love you both equally-"

"THAT'S a lie," I snapped. "A bloody lie."

I turned and started toward the stairs-furious, broken, shaking-but then I froze.

Beth was standing at the doorway.

She'd been listening the whole time.

Good.

Let her.

I didn't care anymore. I wanted every single one of them to be hurt for once. To feel just a tiny bit of what I've felt my whole life.

I wiped my cheeks and walked past her without looking back.