Odessa’s pov
The second Professor Bennett dismissed the class, the room erupted into murmurs and chatter.
“You actually got paired with Harlway?”
“I’d rather fail.”
“Good luck.”
“You’re going to need it.”
I had barely finished putting my notebook into my backpack before Maya leaned across the desk.
“I am so, so sorry, honey.
You’re our strongest soldier.”
I blinked.
“For what?”
She leaned in until we were almost brushing noses.
“Landon hates school, and he’s going to hate you now.
Besides, have you seen him?
He’s so hot you’re going to have to pray you don’t fall into temptation,” she squealed.
I rolled my eyes at her.
Sure, he was handsome, but he was a jerk, so I wouldn’t be falling into any temptation.
Naomi lowered her voice dramatically.
“Last semester, he made one tutor cry.”
Maya corrected her.
“Two.”
“No, the second one quit before she cried.”
“Right.”
I stared at both of them, grabbed my hair, and wailed.
“Not the pretty hair, not the hair,” Naomi said, grabbing my hand.
Maya slung her bag over one shoulder.
“Come on, we’ll show you around campus.”
I followed them into the hallway.
Students flooded out of classrooms, filling the corridors with laughter and chatter.
Groups formed almost instantly to discuss different things; it all felt surreal.
As we walked past the student notice board, Naomi suddenly groaned.
“I forgot!”
“What?”
“I promised Lucas I’d help him find the library,” she said.
Maya also sighed.
“I’ve got a meeting with the student council.”
She turned to me apologetically.
“You don’t mind waiting a few minutes?”
“Of course not.”
“We’ll meet you by the fountain.”
“Deal.”
Within seconds, I was alone.
I adjusted my backpack and wandered slowly down the hallway, stopping occasionally to read posters advertising clubs and campus events.
The Photography Society and other clubs—maybe joining something wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
“You.” A sharp voice cut through the air.
I looked up, and three girls stood several feet away, blocking the hallway.
The one in the middle was strikingly beautiful.
Long blonde hair cascaded over the shoulders of an immaculate white blazer, and she wore perfect makeup that put my best look to shame.
Her two friends stood just behind her.
One had sleek black hair cut into a sharp bob.
The other absentmindedly twirled a strand of chestnut hair around her finger while looking me up and down.
The blonde crossed her arms.
“You’re Odessa Hopkins.”
I offered a polite smile.
“I am.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“I’m Cecily.”
The names clicked immediately.
Maya had mentioned them during class—the mean girls of Blackridge.
Without waiting for me to respond, Cecily continued.
“Petra,” she gestured toward the girl with the bob.
“Louisa.”
The brunette offered a lazy wave.
I nodded politely.
“It’s nice to meet—”
“Oh,” Cecily interrupted.
“It isn’t nice to meet you.”
My smile faded.
Around us, students subtly slowed their pace to watch us; some even had their phones out.
Cecily took one graceful step closer.
“I’ve been wondering.”
“About what?” I asked.
“Whether the news exaggerated.”
I frowned.
“The news?”
She smiled sweetly.
“They said your family embezzled millions.”
The hallway fell noticeably quieter, and Petra let out a soft laugh.
“I heard it was much more than millions.”
Louisa clicked her tongue.
“Imagine having that much money and still getting caught.”
Heat rushed into my cheeks.
I tightened my grip around my backpack strap.
“My parents’ case is still under investigation.”
“Oh?” Cecily raised an eyebrow.
“So you’re saying they’re innocent?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“But you didn’t deny it either.”
A few students exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Someone whispered, “I knew it was her,” and, “That’s the Hopkins girl.”
Every word landed like another slap against my face.
I forced myself to remain calm.
“I don’t think my family’s situation is anyone else’s business.”
Cecily gave a slow, mocking clap.
“Very nice answer.”
Petra smirked.
“Almost like it was rehearsed.”
Louisa laughed.
“I’d rehearse too if my family’s face was on every news channel.”
A lump formed in my throat.
I wasn’t going to cry—especially not in front of them.
Cecily noticed my silence and smiled wider.
“You know,” she leaned in just enough for only me to hear, “people like you don’t last very long at Blackridge.”
Before I could respond, another voice cut through the hallway
“Really?”
The four of us turned at once.
A girl with short black hair stepped out from the crowd, a stack of textbooks balanced against one hip.
She looked no older than us, dressed simply in jeans and a university hoodie.
Unlike everyone else watching, she wasn’t smiling; she looked annoyed.
She glanced from Cecily to me before letting out an unimpressed sigh.
“I leave campus for one hour,” she shifted the books in her arms, “and you people are already acting like high school never ended.”
The hallway fell silent, and Cecily’s smile thinned.
“Excuse me?”
The girl walked closer without the slightest hint of hesitation.
She stopped beside me, casually adjusting the books in her arms.
“I said,” she looked Cecily up and down, “this is university.
I thought people came here to earn degrees.”
A few students nearby snorted, and Cecily’s eyes narrowed.
“And who exactly asked for your opinion?”
“No one,” the girl smiled pleasantly.
“I gave it for free.”
Even I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.
Petra folded her arms.
“You really enjoy sticking your nose into other people’s business.”
“I do,” the girl nodded.
“Especially when three people decide to gang up on one.”
Louisa scoffed.
“We were just talking.”
“Were you?” She looked around at the students who had stopped to watch.
“Because from where I’m standing,” her gaze settled back on Cecily, “it looked a lot like bullying.”
A murmur spread through the hallway, and Cecily looked irritated.
“I don’t bully people.”
“No,” the girl agreed.
“You just enjoy embarrassing them in public and making them feel bad about themselves, which *is* bullying.”
A murmur spread through the hallway, and Cecily looked irritated.
“You should really mind your own business.”
“I was,” the girl shrugged.
“Then you made this everyone’s business.”
Petra stepped forward.
The girl raised an eyebrow.
“Or what?”
“You don’t know who you’re talking to,” Louisa said.
“I know exactly who I’m talking to,” she smiled politely.
“Cecily Dian.” She pointed at Petra.
“Petra Clive.” Then Louisa.
“And Louisa Monty.
The self-appointed queens of campus.”
A few students laughed outright, and Cecily’s cheeks flushed.
“You think you’re funny?”
“No, I think you’re embarrassing yourselves.
And you’re just jealous because ‘Pinky’ comes from a wealthy background you can only dream of.”
I was Pinky?
“This isn’t over,” Cecily sneered.
I met her eyes.
“I never said it was.”
She scoffed before turning sharply.
“Let’s go.”
Petra shot me one last glare.
The three of them disappeared down the hallway, and the crowd slowly dispersed.
Within seconds, everyone was pretending nothing had happened.
Just like that.
I let out the breath I’d been holding.
“Are you okay?” I turned toward the girl beside me.
I laughed weakly.
“I think so.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
“Thank you,” I told her.
She waved a hand dismissively.
“They annoy me.”
“So you weren’t defending me?”
“Oh, I was,” she grinned.
“But annoying Cecily was a nice bonus.”
I couldn’t help laughing.
She shifted her books again.
“I’m Riley.”
“Odessa.”
“I know,” she offered her hand.
“It’s nice to officially meet you.”
I shook it.
“You really didn’t have to step in.”
“I know you could hold your own, but it was just an excuse to talk to you, really.”
I smiled, and she shrugged.
“You can repay me by buying me coffee someday.”
“Deal.”
She pointed toward the opposite hallway.
“I’ve got class.
See you around?”
“I’d like that.”
With one last wave, Riley disappeared into the crowd.
I stood there for another moment, maybe Blackridge wasn’t so bad after all.
By the time I reached home that afternoon, my social battery had completely died.
The front door clicked shut behind me.
“Odessa?” Havana called from the kitchen.
“How was your first day?”
I didn’t answer.
I just kicked off my shoes, ran to my room, buried my face into the nearest pillow, and screamed.
“AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!” I let out another frustrated yell.
“WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY LIFE?!”
I flopped dramatically onto the bed.
“I SNUCK INTO AN ILLEGAL FIGHT CLUB!
I GOT PAIRED WITH THE MOST ANNOYING BOY ON CAMPUS!
I GOT BULLIED!”
I groaned into the mattress.
“AND WHY IS THE ILLEGAL FIGHTER IN MY CLASS?!”
A knock sounded on the door.
“Odessa?” Havana’s muffled voice came through the wood.
“Should I be concerned?”
I stared at the ceiling for a long moment.
“Maybe you should.”