Chapter 4

"So you're just going to take it?"

"Take it?" I cut into my steak. "I never said I was going to take it."

Tara looked at me, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

I didn't say another word. After finishing my meal, I headed back to the dorm.

Mia wasn't there. Her bed was neatly made, and a half-finished cup of soda sat on her desk.

I opened my Notes app and began re-organizing my log of every single meal I had picked up for her over the past month,

down to the exact dollar amount, timestamp, and order details.

One thousand dollars.

It wasn't a life-ruining sum for me, but it wasn't pocket change either.

What infuriated me was her entitlement, her smug attitude, and the sheer audacity of biting the hand that fed her.

I had picked up meals for her every day, rain or shine, running back and forth from the dining hall twice a day, all because she gave me a sweet "Babe, you're the best!"

In return, she tossed me ten bucks and claimed she saved me gym fees.

And now she was running around campus telling everyone I was a freeloader.

She was going to answer for this.

The next morning, the tension in the lecture hall was even thicker.

Several students averted their gaze when I walked in. People who usually waved pretended they didn't see me.

I found a desk and sat down. The girl next to me immediately placed her tote bag on the adjacent seat, acting like I didn't exist.

I said nothing, opening my textbook.

A few rows back, Mia was whispering into Rachel's ear. When I glanced back, Mia quickly averted her eyes, a smug, triumphant grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.

I could barely focus through the entire lecture.

When class ended, I packed my bag. Our class rep, Dylan, called out to me.

"Elena, hold on a second."

I stopped and turned around.

Dylan was tall, wore wire-rimmed glasses, and was usually quiet, though fair-minded.

He walked over, pushed his glasses up his nose, and looked uncomfortable.

"Look, Mia said some things in the class SnapChat group last night. I'm sure you saw it?"

"I'm not in that group," I said. "I was removed last semester because I rarely chat."

Dylan blinked, clearly unaware of that.

"Right." He sighed. "Well, to be blunt, Mia claims you owe her money and refuse to pay it back. She also said you've been threatening her so badly that she's terrified to stay in the dorm. People in class are talking. They think you should make a statement and clear the air."

"So you believe whatever comes out of her mouth?" I countered.

Dylan opened his mouth, caught off guard.

"Does she have any proof?" I looked him dead in the eye. "She claims I owe her money. Does she have PayPal records? Does she have SnapChat screenshots? She has nothing except her own mouth, and you all just swallowed it whole?"

Dylan's cheeks flushed slightly. "It's not that everyone entirely believes her, but we felt you should..."

"Should what? Get down on my knees, apologize, and confess to things I never did?"