The girls all turned and faced me, and I just smiled and waved. I watched Nina scowl at me and the others just looked confused. “Who is that?” One whispered.
“And why did she laugh?” Another asked.
One of the original girls I saw widened her eyes and leaned in. “That is the girl that Professor R told us to stay away from.”
The others turned and looked at Nina, who was still scowling. “What’s funny?” She crossed her arms and glared at me.
I just shook my head. “Nothing.” I didn’t give everyone the money to be liked. I did it so that people would have food, which is something everyone deserved.
“No, tell me. I gave my friends money on their food card, and you laughed.” Nina strutted closer to me. “So what is funny?”
“You. You gave them money?” I tilted my head. “You don’t seem to be the type of person who gives money away for no reason.” I turned to the girls. “How much money did you have on your card before you started the semester?”
The tiny, pixie looking blonde pointed at herself. “I had nothing. Last year I worked at The Howl to feed myself.”
I turned back to Nina, who was still glaring, but her eyes held a little fear. “And now, how much do you have?”
“Mrs. Sandlewood gave me a card yesterday and told me an anonymous donor had gifted me ten thousand dollars for the semester. I was so excited I told everyone here.”
“And Nina told you she was the anonymous donor?”
She nodded and looked at Nina. “You said you gifted everyone.” She turned back to me. “There were a few of us that got the money. Why?”
I turned to Nina. “You must be from a rich pack. How much did you fork over?”
She tilted her chin. “Why are you asking? Are you jealous?”
I laughed. “No. I’m not jealous. Just confused.” I turned back to the girl. “Did you ask Mrs. Sandlewood if Nina here was the donor?” She shook her head no.
“I don’t think she will tell me who it was.”
I nodded. “Smart, she probably wouldn’t. But maybe she would tell you if Nina was the donor. Or, here is a thought. Nina said she donated just your friends the money. Ask Mrs. Sandlewood how much was donated.”
“She wouldn’t tell us,” Nina shot back.
I lifted a shoulder. “Maybe not. But why are you so worried about your friends asking?”
Nina bit her lip and then rallied. She glared at me and stepped closer. “You think that just because Professor R told us to leave you alone that you can make me look like a fool? But you’re wrong.” She pointed at all of her friends. “I gifted my friends’ money, and you can’t come in here and convince them I'm lying.”
Her friends furrowed their brows at her words. She said something that wasn’t sitting well. I covered my mouth and just shook my head. This girl isn’t the smartest in the bunch. I raised my hands. “Goddess forbid I give them any information that makes you look bad. All I was saying was before they go out of their way thanking you, and feeling like they owe you. Maybe, just maybe, they check the facts. The anonymous donor wanted to be anonymous for a reason. Probably so people didn’t feel like they owed anyone for basic rights, like food.”
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Nina stepped closer to me. “Who are you to talk down to me?” She snarled in my face, but I couldn’t help the laugh.
I raised my hands again with my basket hanging from one. “Listen, who I am isn’t your concern. But it just seems very convenient that you are taking credit for something that was supposed to be anonymous.”
Nina stepped closer. “Just because Professor R stood up for you doesn’t mean I’m afraid of you. Professor R is a man. And like any man, his attention will drift, but let me make myself very clear, he’s mine. He might support you now, but he will come back to me.”
I looked up, met her glare, and started laughing. “What the fuck does he have to do with you claiming to donate money?”
She stepped closer. “I just want you to know that just because he stood up for you today doesn’t mean he will cover for you now.”
I had to bend over; I was laughing so hard. “He knows who donated the money. As does Alpha Vince and Mrs. Sandlewood. Something that could easily be determined is a very ballsy thing to lie about.”
Nina stammered. “You’re lying.”
I shook my head. “I’m not.” I picked my basket back up. “But find out for yourself.” I stood back up and moved to cash out. “It’s easy enough to check.” I turned to face them. “And I don’t have a reason to lie. I don’t care if you like me or not.”
Nina stomped her foot. “You don't know anything.”
