Page 35 of Claimed and Shamed

I feel like I did nothing to deserve Melissa’s admiration at how I was taking all of this, but I tried to take the compliment. Besides, it wasn’t as if I was getting many of those these days anyway.

We go to another rush event, a party, and everyone there has seen the video. Melissa and I hear people whispering about me and we notice that everyone is looking at me in a snarky way.

“Hey slut! Is that your name? That’s what you like to be called, right?” Someone I don’t recognize insults me as they walk by and Melissa glares at them, until someone else speaks up.

“Or do you prefer whore? Because we can call you a whore if you want!” A girl I don't recognize is speaking now, and all the people around her laugh.

“Did I hear you get called a cumslut, at some point, too? That’s a new one I haven’t heard before!”

Everyone laughs and I can’t believe people are making these comments to my face. I don't care about the video, but I do feel betrayed knowing that it was probably one of these girls that claimed they liked me that set me up.

“Oh look, it’s Tricia. Maybe she will come to tell these assholes to shut their faces if they know what’s good for them. Tricia!” Melissa calls after Tricia. She sees Melissa first and waves, but then she sees me and immediately looks away.

Somehow that hurts even worse since we were all so concerned about her at the party.

“Just ignore them. It’ll die down, eventually. Tons of rumors have been spread about me since I joined the Elites, but they’re all false and go away over time. This too shall pass.” Henrik says.

He is being kind to me but he is the only one showing me any sort of human decency at this party. “We should just go chill out and have a drink together, what do you say?” he adds.

I hesitate, looking around at all the disgusted stares.

“Here. Show them you don't care, and then you can go home when you want,” he says, passing me a beer. “Have a bottle and show them you are better than the gossip, sweet girl!”

I let him convince me to drink the beer and I chug it down without a second thought. But something feels off. I start to feel a little woozy almost instantly, which has never happened to me after chugging a beer. Especially only one beer.

“Henrik, I don’t feel so good…” I look around for Melissa, but all the people are blending together and I can’t single her out.

“Huh? What was that darling?” Henrik’s face gets blurrier and blurrier the longer I stare at him.

It’s the last thing I see before everything goes dark.

Chapter Eighteen

Hudson

“Hudson?”

I was very confused when I saw a number I didn’t recognize, but I decided to answer, and it is Melissa.

“I can’t find Stevie!” I can barely hear her over the loud music of what sounds like another party.

“What do you mean you can’t find Stevie?” I yell, trying to make sure she can hear me over the music.

“You’re going to be pissed, but she came with me to this party at the Elites that they are throwing with Zeta Tau. Now she’s gone! I can’t find her anywhere!” Melissa’s voice sounds panicked and worried.

I remember my conversation with Henrik and my blood begins to boil.

“I’m on my way.”

I don’t even wait for her to answer before hanging up and breaking into a sprint, heading straight for the Elite house down the street.

When I get to the party, Melissa is on the front porch waiting for me.

“When did you last see her?” I ask, panting, and running on adrenaline and anger.

“She was talking to Henrik. I went to grab a water bottle and I was going to walk over to them, but they were gone!” Melissa is freaking out.

“Try to drink your water, take a breather out here and I’ll go in and try to find her.” I rest my hands on Melissa’s shoulders, looking her in the eye. She finally nods and takes a swig of her water. “Deep breaths okay, I’ll be right back.”