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But the feeling only lasts until we take our seats, and I spot the now empty table that Synclair was sitting at earlier. Even with the room busier than it was at breakfast, no one is sitting there.
“You never answered my question.”
Today’s food theme is Asia. The sushi I’ve ordered was served on several plates and looks amazing. Despite this, I’m currently using my chopstick to poke out the avocado from inside my roll before I can eat it.
“What on earth are you doing?” Penny has a large bowl of beef ph? and is slurping at the broth from her spoon as she stares at me.
“I hate avocado.”
She frowns. “You should have ordered it without.”
“I didn’t want to trouble anyone.”
“That’s literally their job. Most people here will ask to customize their meal somehow.”
Before I can tell her I’m almost done, my phone vibrates again. I quickly pull it out of my pocket and read the message. At once, my heart sinks.
Coffee Dick:Dry Cleaning bill $20. Cleaner couldn’t remove. Shirt to be replaced - $125. Total, $145.
Penny leans over and peers at my screen. “What’s that all about?”
“I ran into a guy this morning.” I sigh. “I mean, it was my fault, but I ended up getting coffee all over his shirt, offered to pay the bill, and here we are.”
Pursing her lips, Penny sits back. “Guy’s doing you a favor. That’s cheap.”
If you have more than $300 in your bank account, it probably is. Instead, I send nearly half of my savings over to the Venmo details given, while silently praying that the library has books that I need.
When I look up, I find Penny watching me, gnawing on her lower lip. “What?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think. Do you need me to cover it for you?”
Quickly, I shake my head. Yes, I’m running a very tight budget when it comes to my finances, and maybe I shouldn’t be turning down an offer of help, but I don’t want to be indebted to anyone. Especially not money.
If my dreams come true and I find the truth that sets my brother free in a matter of days, money won’t be an issue. And if I have to stay here for longer than a semester, I’ll just feel obligated to pay that back.
“It’s fine. Though if you know anywhere that’s hiring?”
I’m not expecting a response, but Penny tilts her head. “I mean, I do, but it depends on what you’re prepared to do.”
“If the next words out of your mouth are OnlyFans—”
“No, although, if you hit that right, it would be good money.” She shrugs. “Actually, it’s probably a much better option. I can help you set it up. Take some sexy pictures for you?”
“What was the other option?”
“Oh.” Penny frowns. “The dining hall. Mina Clemence had someone fired this morning.” She glances over her shoulder at the serving area. It’s all clean and empty for the dinner service, but wait staff are constantly walking through, carrying meals out to tables. “But I wasn’t really serious. No one wants that job.”
Nobody except me.
A job is a job, and sure, there might be better money with OnlyFans—or whatever site I went with—but once something was on the internet, it was there forever. And honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that.
But more than that, it gives me a new opportunity.
Anyone who was here at the same time as Cole and JP may have already graduated, but there is a much better chance that a faculty or staff member is still here. Trying to get either to open up was going to be hard, but if I was a fellow staff member, I might find an opening.
“Penny, you are amazing,” I say before I finish poking the avocado out of my sushi.
I’m not sure if it’s the avocado or the job, but Penny has a look of disbelief on her face. Before I can decide whether I’m ignoring it or not, the volume of the conversation in the room drops.
