Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 167671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 838(@200wpm)___ 671(@250wpm)___ 559(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 838(@200wpm)___ 671(@250wpm)___ 559(@300wpm)
And now I lost the only job I had to get us some extra much-needed cash because of those fuckers who stalked me there. All because my hearing aid fell out.
I fish it out of my pocket and stare at it for a moment.
Those boys are ruining my only chance at staying at this university, ruining my job, ruining everything I worked so hard to achieve. And for what? Money that means the world to me yet is pocket change to them.
They’re almost making me regret stealing from them.
Almost.
But I need that money more than them.
I need it more than I need my sanity.
And if this is the game they intend to play with me …
Then I will fucking give it my all to bring them down.
CHAPTER 6
Ivy
My eyes can barely stay open.
I hid in a park behind a tree last night and didn’t have a single ounce of sleep.
But I’m here.
I’m here on Spine Ridge U campus and going to my classes, just as I swore. Nothing will make me give up that easily.
“Hey, Ivy! Come sit with us!” River Landon waves at me from the grass where he’s having lunch with the friend group I frequently join since I came to this university.
Fuck. I really did not want to sit down today when I didn’t bring anything with me to eat. But with River calling me over, I’ll have to go over there.
“How are your classes going?” Océane Pearce smiles at me, her dark skin so radiant in the bright sun that it dazzles even me. “Getting used to Spine Ridge U yet?”
I shrug and smile back. “It’s okay. I’m slowly easing into it.”
The twins, Xavier and Aspen Caruso, share a family-sized salad. One picks out the cucumbers and pickles, while the other vehemently avoids them and eats only the raisins and apple slices. Xavier tries to steal one of the apples, but Aspen swats his fork away. “Fruit’s mine. That was the deal.”
“Bitch,” he whispers under his breath, swatting at her fork too.
She spits a piece of raisin in his face.
“Gross!” Xavier wipes off his face, and Aspen scrunches her freckly nose in amusement.
River laughs. “Y’all can’t ever be nice, can you?”
“Girl’s been bothering me since she stole half my mother’s fucking womb from me,” Xavier growls, and Aspen punches his shoulder in response.
“So much love between you two, it’s infectious,” River jokes, running his fingers through his dark-brown hair.
“What are they fighting about now?” Talon, River’s older brother, asks as he stands over the group.
“Sharing air,” Océane jests as she gets up and pecks Talon on the cheeks. “Where’ve you been?”
“Extra class,” he says, smugly kissing her on the lips, claiming her in front of everyone. “Ready to get out of here?”
“Bet,” she says.
“Where are you going?” Aspen asks, throwing back her medium-length red hair she once told me was not natural even though it totally looks like it. “Somewhere fun?”
“Talon’s taking me out on a date.” She smiles brightly, her curly black hair waving in the wind. “See you all later. And Ivy, we should catch up soon. Message me, okay? We’ll make plans for a night out.” She winks.
“Got it!” I reply.
Talon throws his arm over her shoulders as they walk off.
“Those two have been slobbering each other’s faces off the entire day,” River groans.
“He’s just staking his claim,” Xavier says. “Who wouldn’t with that catch?”
Aspen makes a face. “Bro.”
“What? She is a catch.” He looks at me. “You can’t deny that.”
I nod. “True. She’s gorgeous.”
Xavier makes a weird gesture with his hands. “See?”
Aspen rolls her eyes, but Xavier’s already lost in his thoughts. He looks dazed as hell, staring at something in the distance. I follow his gaze to find Sunny Reed with her super long black-and-green hair waving from side to side as she struts around campus with her usual grumpy expression. Her friends tail behind her, trying to catch up like they’re trying to catch a whiff of air from the queen herself. When she turns, one of them pulls up her phone and takes a picture while she leans against the fountain with a killer smile.
“Xavier,” Aspen says, but he’s not even listening. “Hello, earth to Xavier.” She waves her hand in front of his face.
“What?” he mutters.
I laugh. “You’re staring.”
He looks away with furrowed brows. “No. I’m just tired of my classes, that’s it.” He swiftly dips his fork into the shared salad bowl and pulls out five cucumber slices, shoving them all in his mouth with some lettuce. “Want some?”
I shake my head. “No, I’m fine. Thank you.”
“Aren’t you hungry?” River asks.
“No, no, I’ve already eaten,” I lie.
I always lie.
If I didn’t … they’d know I never have food here. Ever.
And I don’t want them to know I’m not rich like they are.
Whatever is in the cafeteria costs money, which I don’t have. I don’t bring food from home because there is none. I save everything for breakfasts and dinners for both Cora and me; that’s it. I used to eat at work sometimes, but now that’s out of the question. I was used to two meals. Unfortunately, my stomach doesn’t agree with my need to fit in with the societal norms here at Spine Ridge University.