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“Yeah,” Roni scrunches up her face in a smiley frown. “Hitting people isn’t something you do here. Rich kids don’t hit. They hire other people to hit for them.”
I think about Wyatt and his mask. Maybe that’s why he conceals his face. Either that, or he’s trying to protect it. I tilt my head as I poke my pasta with my fork. “So hitting isn’t posh.”
Terri continues to stare at his plate as he talks. “People think you have poor breeding because you can’t control your base instincts.”
“Base instincts.” I stare at Terri in shock, and he replies by slurping his squash soup out of his spoon. I back down. He’s not doing anything wrong except telling me the truth.
“So,” I say, avoiding eye contact, “I’m on the bottom rung of the ladder?”
“Actually, you’re standing on the ground,” replies Terry, “The ladder is out of your grasp.”
Roni glares at him unkindly as I stare at his boldness. I want the truth, but that stunned me like a sucker punch. “Terri,” says Roni, “sometimes being too honest will cost you plenty.”
“Sorry,” Terri whispers.
I wave it off. I’m a big girl. “You’re trying to help, and I need the truth.”
Terri finds my words encouraging and immediately launches into a thought-out explanation. “The trouble is you’ve run afoul of the top of the social ladder. Bryce and Pierce are the biggest donors to the academy and have been since their great grandfathers attended. Their families dictate school policy with their bank accounts.”
“What about Wyatt?” I ask softly.
“Wyatt? He can be cool,” replies Terri, “He’s saved my ass plenty of times.”
My eyes widen in shock. “Terri is walking on the wild side. I don’t think you meant the animal?”
“I’m experimenting.” When Terri smiles, his face lights up. He’s a sweet kid, and no one should ever pick on someone so kind. I didn’t know Wyatt could be decent too.
***
“Five hundred dollars?” I blink my eyes when I read Getz’s email sent to all candidates for the investors club. I learned from Terri that the club is invite-only.
I check my wallet, and my cash is dwindling into nothing, which is the norm. Pretty soon the only thing in my wallet will be lint. I sigh, checking my next email. It’s a request to schedule an appointment with the head administrator, Dr. Marianne Rawlins. Not now. If that woman hadn’t gotten ahold of me on the first day, I’d be home right now, or at the Pit earning cash. I’m not into this.
I look around at my blank walls and scowl. I’m just not feeling at home here. My mom was too poor to send me away from home, and quite frankly, I was okay with that. I leap off my bed, and Roni looks up from her textbook.
She’s lying on her bed on her stomach, reading through her textbook and looking cozy wrapped up in a chunky yarn throw. I face-palm my forehead.
“I have readings for my classes. I have homework!” I get up, heading for the bathroom, and someone screams when I open the door. “Sorry,” I call out.
“Knock next time!” shouts a testy voice.
“Lock the fucking door.” I frown, ready to punch it, but freeze. Roni is eyeing me like she’s not so sure about me anymore. The longer I stay at Stonehaven, the less I fit in. My old life was hard sometimes and always stressful, but I miss home. And Mom. And Nova.
“I need a minute.” I grab my jacket and hustle out the door as Roni watches me with growing interest.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone and start tapping as I run down the stairs at the end of the hall. I wait for her to answer, hoping she’s still at home.
“Girl, where are you hiding?” Nova’s voice relaxes the weird knot screwing up my shoulders.
“You know I’m stuck here,” I tell Nova. “They have a curfew.”
“Are you sure it’s boarding school? Sounds more like juvie to me.” Nova sighs. “You’ve been tricked.”
I laugh. “Look, you going to the Pit tonight?”
“It’s Friday.” I can hear her smile beaming over the phone. “I wish you were coming.”
“I am,” I reply with conviction, “I need cash. Can you talk to Grinder and get me a fight?”
“Sure, but if you don’t show…” Her voice trails off.
“I’ll be there.” I have to be there. I need the cash, and the investors club is the only thing that interests me at this school.
Nova cheers. “Great because I’m going to be cheering you on.”
