Chapter 1 – Scarlett
Professor McGrath glanced at his watch, his black hair catching the sunlight streaming in through the window. “Alright, boys and girls. Time’s up. Please put down your pens and pencils,” he said, his deep, polite voice thick with a British accent.
I watched him from my seat, fingers absently drumming on my table. Not to brag or anything, but I’d already put down my pen about thirty minutes ago. This was my final paper in college, the exam that would officially usher me into the real world.
But the real world wasn’t uncharted territory for me—unlike most of my classmates who lived off their parents’ money. Some of us weren’t that lucky. We weren’t born into wealth or comfort, so we were forced to grow up much earlier.
I stayed back in my seat while they all marched toward the professor—some laughing and chattering amongst themselves. I didn’t roll well with a crowd, and that’s why I liked to keep my distance all the time.
And no, I wasn’t antisocial. I just enjoyed my own company—which was exactly what an antisocial person would say. Anyway, I guess I was built like that.
I waited until the last student had submitted their paper before I grabbed my backpack and rose to my feet. I slung it over my shoulder, my pair of flats making no noise as I approached Professor McGrath.
He was piling up the paper when I materialized in front of him, then quietly dropped mine on his desk. He raised his head, adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses, and beamed at me.
“Congratulations, Miss Carter,” he said, his British accent unmistakable in his tone.
“Thank you, Professor McGrath,” I answered, adjusting the backpack sliding off my shoulder.
“How’s it feel to be free from college?”
“Hmm.” I thought for a moment. “Pretty much the same.”
He let out a light laugh. “Why am I not surprised?”
My lips curled into a small smile.
“I take it you’re not planning a night out with your mates.”
I paused for a second, then began backing away slowly, my smile intact. “I’m afraid I’m flying solo, professor.”
“But at least you’ll be doing something fun, right?” he asked, casting a suspicious gaze at me.
I didn’t reply, just kept on backing away with my eyes fixed on him.
“Right?”
I shrugged my shoulders then turned around, heading out of the classroom. “Catch you later, professor!”
Everyone thought I wasthemost boring human being ever. I didn’t go to clubs with my classmates, didn’t hang out with them, and had never been spotted at any birthday party. Never.
I was basically a loner—one who could be in a room full of people and still be invisible. Maybe it was some sort of superpower, not being seen unless I wanted to be.
My footsteps were silent on the floor as I walked through the crowd of celebrating students. They were laughing among themselves, taking selfies and group photos to show their future grandchildren.
Cool. Good for them.
While they were having fun and escaping reality, I was stuck deep in it—real life and all the garbage that came with it. A good number of these guys were privileged to have been bornwith a silver spoon. I wasn’t. And so I wouldn’t waste my time trying to blend in and do the things that they did.
Not that they were doing anything bad or stupid. I was just too stiff to understand them—to loosen up a bit. Maybe it was because I didn’t have it easy like most of them. Or maybe it was because I was too much of a Debbie Downer.
Inmydefense, life had dealt me a bad hand from a young age—my father’s resentment, my mother’s absence, and a bunch of other crazy stuff that shaped me into the woman I was today.
My grandma always said I was a 22-year-old girl with the mind of a woman twice my age. She was the most important person in my life right now—the only one who played the roles of the mother and father I grew up without.
Just then, someone running by bumped into me, knocking me a few steps back.
“Watch it!” he growled without even slowing down.
