I spin on my heel to get a look at whoever this bitch is, recognizing her immediately as the girl from the Alumni Ball bathroom.
“What bad 2000’s high school movie did you jump out of? Is it too late for you to go back in?” I ask, popping a bubble of gum in annoyance.
“Miss? Your total is $15.95.” I tap my card, attempting to not have this troll get under my skin. It was clear she was miserable and jealous and got her rocks off by putting others down.
“The card says declined, miss.” The teller says, snapping me out of my thoughts. I frown, tapping the card again.
“Still declined.” I feel my stomach clench with nerves, my heart rate accelerates as I mentally go through what I know my balance was earlier today. I just fucking checked it this morning.
Several giggles and snickers rise from behind me, and I feel my ears burn. “Guess you don’t have everything.” The main mean girl says with a chuckle behind me.
“I got it.” Javelynn says, swiping their card and grabbing my bag so we can get the hell out of here.
I mouth a thank you to Javelynn, who squeezes my hand and shuffles us out the door.
A pit forms in my stomach, knowing that this is how my family gets me to reach out to them. By fucking with my finances, knowing I’ll need to talk to them.
Fuck.
I couldn’t wait until I was done with this school and could be out making my own money, instead of relying on people who hardly gave a damn about me. Sure, they cared for me in the way that checked the boxes of avoiding familial neglect, but they sure knew how to lay on the emotional trauma. And why not add some financial abuse on top of it. They controlled every cent to my name and getting a job on campus wasn’t an option. I’d been forbidden and jobs on campus were scarce as it was. Most everyone that attended the Academy came from the richest families in the world. Who would need a job for extra cash?
I love that they couldn’t be bothered to think about the scholarship students or people like me, who would love to have that type of independence away from their family ties.
We walk down to a café and sit in a corner booth facing the windows.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Skye asks, exchanging worried glances with Javelynn.
I shake my head no. “But I might need to borrow some money for food later if that’s okay.” My chest crumples at having to even ask, but they both immediately come to my aid, no questions asked.
I give them a small smile and clasp their hands in mine. “I’m grateful to have friends like you.”
“And I’m grateful to be the little friend to the Queens of Hell House.” Javelynn says with a mocking bow.
We burst out into laughter, and the dark mood that had settled over me immediately evaporates.
I’ll deal with my family later, but for now? Now I was going to have a fun day out with my friends.
ChapterThirty-Six
SKYE
SONG: ALMOST TOUCH ME BY MAISY KAY
We get back to the house just in time for dinner, but when we step through the door, we’re greeted with the sound of Graham yelling about Spam.
“What in the world do you think you’re doing to my kitchen, Sloan?” He yells.
“Listen, this is a communal kitchen, and I had a craving for a Spam sandwich, so sue me.”
Salem and I exchange a look of amusement. I wonder if Sloan woke up and chose violence because of what had happened between us the other morning. I hadn’t told Graham or Salem yet that I’d been intimate with Sloan, in a way that surprised even me. I couldn’t explain it, but I was tired of being expected to act a certain way. I took what I wanted without shame for the first time in my life, and I liked the way that made me feel. I felt powerful when I took Sloan’s cock in my mouth, and it turned me on in a way that had me aching so bad that I pulled Graham into the girl’s bathroom during my break.
I hardly recognize myself, but college is all about finding out who you are, and I like this new free part of myself that I’m evolving into.
“How could you disgrace my pans with that meat goo?”
“Look, I like it. I promise I’ll wash the pan after.” Sloan says.
“You better, or so help me, I’ll put you on the no hot sauce list with Emmet.”
