“Love you too.”
I wanted to talk to him longer, but I don’t want him to get in trouble at work. They don’t usually have meetings there. The store got a new manager last week, so maybe that’s why.
Going over to the windows, I look out at the ocean. I could get used to this view and the sound of the waves. I didn’t think I liked the ocean. I wasn’t someone who hung out at the beach. My mom would take us to the Jersey Shore every summer for a weekend, but it was crowded and hot, so I never really liked it. Here, the ocean feels different. It relaxes me, which I need right now because I’m feeling nervous after hearing Trystan talk about school.
In less than a week, I’ll be starting my senior year at a new school thousands of miles from my old one. This year was supposed to be fun. I’d finished most of my required credits, so I was going to take all easy classes so I wouldn’t have to study and could spend my time with Axl and my other friends.
Now I’m stuck at this private school that will make me take classes I don’t want or need. Even if I put on my tough New Yorker act, they’ll still give me shit for being the new girl. The girl who doesn’t belong.
Act like you belong.That was Trystan’s advice, and maybe I should consider it. I don’t have tobethem to act like them. It can all be pretend. It might be a better approach than trying to fight them.
“Hey!” I hear a voice say.
I turn and see a girl standing at my door. She looks about my age with dark hair and dark eyes, wearing navy pants with a white, short-sleeve, button-up shirt. Her clothes look like a uniform.
She comes over to me, smiling. “I’m Shayla.”
“Rumor,” I say, shaking her hand.
“Sorry if I startled you. I wasn’t sure if I should just come in.”
“Are you the girlfriend’s daughter?”
She looks confused. “Um, I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Brock said his girlfriend had a daughter he wanted me to meet. I thought she was younger than you but maybe I heard him wrong.”
She shakes her head. “It’s not me. I’m Maria’s daughter. The maid?”
“Haven’t met her yet. I just got here.”
“My mom’s usually here but she had an appointment today, so she sent me instead. I’m just here to pick up the dry cleaning. Do you have anything for me?”
“To dry clean?” I laugh. “I don’t wear clothes that need dry cleaning. They’re all wash and wear.”
She looks at me funny. “You’re a Halliway, right? Brock’s niece?”
“I’m a Bennet. Rumor Bennet. And yeah, I’m his niece but I’m not rich. Having people clean up after me or take stuff to the dry cleaners is all new to me. When I lived in New York, my mom and I had to haul our stuff to the laundry machines in the basement. It sucked, but what are you going to do? It was the only option.”
“Living here, my mom will take care of it for you. Just leave whatever’s dirty in the hamper. The guys don’t even do that. They just leave it on the floor and my mom picks it up.”
“They’re so pathetic.”
“It’s all they know. It’s how they grew up.” She smiles. “So how do you like it here?”
“I don’t.”
She laughs. “You’ll get used to it. It’s always hard to start somewhere new.”
“You want to sit down?” I ask, motioning to the couch along the wall.
“Um.” She checks behind her. “I guess I could. I’m waiting for Trystan to finish whatever he was doing. I need to get hisclothes from his room, but he told me to come back in a few minutes.”
“What was he doing?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask.”
“Have a seat,” I tell her as I sit on the bed.
