All This Over Five Bucks

"You think you've got the moral high ground just because you sleep naked?" Ronda sneered. "If you're that horny, go find a man already."My ears burned as anger rushed to my face. At the same time, my heart started acting up again, harder than before. The flutter sharpened, and a dull ache pressed into my chest.I did not want to argue with her anymore. I just wanted it finished—pay her, sleep, and get through the day. Hence, I sent the money.After I transferred my share of the electricity bill, Ronda still did not leave."Why did you send me 25 dollars?" she demanded. "I did the math. 25 total. That means five each. Just send me five."I stared at her, confused, then swallowed my temper. "Then refund me 20 dollars."I pulled the blanket back up and put on my headphones, making it clear the conversation was over. I needed her gone.Ronda reached out and yanked the headphones straight off my head."No," she said. "You need to send me another 5 dollars. I'm not accepting this 25

We exchanged a few words when he spotted me.When I told him I was heading to the cafeteria, Charles frowned."I just saw Ronda hanging around there with a group," he said quietly. "They looked shady. If you've got beef with her, you should probably stay away."I smiled. "What's there to be afraid of? It's broad daylight. What can she do to me?"I did not give it another thought and headed for the cafeteria.On the way, I passed a fruit stand. Zoey liked strawberries, so I asked the owner to weigh out a box for me.When I arrived, Zoey was already there, sitting alone.I set the strawberries in front of her and asked, "What's so important that you had to meet here? I brought you these. Try them."She kept her head down. Fear showed plainly on her face. Her eyes flicked to the strawberries, then she suddenly grabbed my hand. Her lips barely moved. "Run."Before my brain could catch up, figures poured in from every direction. A group of men closed in fast, forming a tight circle

My father's familiar, steady voice came through the phone. "Hello? What's wrong, sweetheart? Did something happen at the academy?"The moment I heard it, everything I had been holding back collapsed. Fear, anger, and humiliation poured out at once. I started crying softly, my breath catching as I failed to form a single word.I did not need to. He heard it immediately. His tone changed, sinking and sharpening at the same time."Sweetheart," he said slowly. "Did someone hurt you? Stay where you are. Don't move. Dad's coming right now."…An hour later, my father arrived at the cafeteria with several people in tow.The instant he saw me, clothes torn, face swollen, dried blood still clinging to the corner of my mouth, the calm and gentle man everyone knew finally broke."Sweetheart. My precious girl, what did they do to you?" His voice trembled."I'm sorry," he said as he pulled me into his arms. "I'm sorry Daddy came late. I let you suffer."His tears soaked into my hair. He as

"Tell me this first," Kenneth snapped. "How did a repeat offender who takes pleasure in bullying her classmates even get into our academy?"Gideon hurried to explain. "Headmaster, you've misunderstood. Ronda is my niece, that's true, but she earned her place here on her own merits. And the accusations of bullying are completely baseless—""Baseless?" Kenneth cut him off. "Then how do you explain what happened to Esther Snow in her dorm? How long did you plan to keep that from me?"He struck Gideon across the face.Gideon snarled back, "Why are you hitting me again? Do it one more time, and I won't hold back. Don't think you can bully me just because you're the headmaster."The words had barely left his mouth when Kenneth jabbed a finger at his nose and erupted. "So you know what bullying feels like? Then where was that courage when Ronda was tormenting Esther? Stealing from classmates. Beating classmates. Filming private footage of female students. Is that even human behavior?"B

After the situation was reviewed, everyone who had laid hands on someone was taken away, except for the housekeeper and Kenneth's people.Naturally, that outcome had been arranged in advance. Those men would spend, at most, half a month inside before walking free.Ronda and her brother were a different matter. With the evidence airtight, there was barely a trial. Sentences came swiftly, each imposed at the maximum standard.As the instigator, Ronda received 15 years. Brody received 10. The remaining participants were sentenced to between 7 and 8 years each.….At the hospital, Kenneth stood beside my father. His voice stayed low and strained as he begged him not to withdraw the donation."I wanted them dead," my father said flatly. "But the law does not allow that. I will not let my daughter be hurt again. She is leaving this academy."Hearing the finality in his tone, Kenneth hurried to placate him. "Mr. Snow, please don't be upset. I admit this was our failure."But Miss Snow