Chapter 2
12.16
During P.E. that afternoon, after an 800–meter run, everyone collapsed onto the grass, red–faced and gasping for air. I was just as exhausted and sweaty as the rest of them.
Suddenly, Jessica called out to me. “Freda!”
She struck a commanding, princess–like pose. “We’re all exhausted. Go buy everyone a bottle of water from the campus store. Be
quick about it. Thanks for your hard work.”
Her timing was perfect. In the past few weeks, my failing health had landed me in the school clinic three times. My thirty–dollar choice but to call my parents for money, allowing her to reap the benef-
balance was surely empty by now. She assumed I’d hon
its and score points for her “generosity.”
But now, free from the system, I wasn’t playing her
Why don’t you go yourself?”
“Easy for you to say,” I shot back coldly. “There are eighty people here.
Jessica bit her lip, feigning distress. “Freda, I was just trying to give you a chance to mend things with everyone. You can’t have
spent all that money I gave you. Since you’re not doing anything, why not help out? Think of it as contributing to the group.”
A strange glint appeared in her eyes. “And if you’re really out of cash, just ask your parents. They’re supposed to support you, after
all.”
The other students, sweltering in the heat, grew angry.
“Jessica treated us to a five–star lunch! Look how
is take, take, take.”
nerous she is. You two are roommates, how can you be so different? All you do
“How dare you disobey an order from Miss Price? Do you have a death wish? Don’t you know your place?”
“You’re not just poor, you’re cheap! It’s a few bucks, is it going to kill you? My legs feel like they’re about to fall off. Go get me a Gat-
orade, now!”
I looked at the swarm of greedy, selfish leeches and sneered. “You’ve got a lot of nerve. You think you’re the only ones who are
tired? Am I just your personal errand girl?”
The sound of hurried footsteps came from behind me.
“Freda! You bitch!”
It was Ethan, his face contorted with rage. He was furious about his father being fired but couldn’t confront me about it directly. He
had gotten away with physically assaulting me multiple times before, so he was used to disciplining me in public.
He raised his hand to slap me, but I dodged it easily.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the rich kid with the Rolls–Royce,” I said innocently, making sure my voice carried. “Why the sudden urge to hit
me? Did I do something to offend you?”
I didn’t give him a chance to answer. “It’s so hot out here. One person buying water won’t be enough. Why don’t you and Princess
Jessica call a few of your luxury cars over and take everyone for a drive to cool off?”
The suggestion immediately excited the crowd. They started clamoring for a ride, and suddenly, the expressions on Ethan and Jes-
sica’s faces turned sour.
“What are you waiting for, Ethan?” I said languidly. “Don’t tell me… you’re a fake rich kid, just like me?”
The jab hit a nerve. He pointed a trembling finger at my nose and exploded. “Open your damn eyes and look! These shoes cost
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Chapter 2
thousands! This watch is over forty grand! Even this t–shirt was eight hundred dollars! Who the hell are you to question me?! Do you even have a hundred bucks to your name? Tell me, everyone, am I right?”
The other students were practically melting and had no patience for his posturing.
“If you’re so rich, then call the cars, Ethan! We didn’t get a proper ride at lunch.”
“Yeah, we were all crammed into one car, and we had to listen to you and Jessica flirting the whole time. You owe us!”
“Princess Jessica, why don’t you make the call?”
Jessica could see that feeding this mob was a losing game. Their greed was a bottomless pit. There was no way she was spendi-
ng another dime on them.
“Oh… I feel dizzy. I think I’m getting heatstroke…” She staggered dramatically and pretended to faint, falling gracefully into Ethan’s arms. He scooped her up and rushed off toward the clinic.
I mumbled an excuse about needing the restroom and slipped away to follow them.
