The letter

I had no issues sneaking back into my dorm last night. I take everything off  I can off in the limo and then when I get to the campus, it looks like I was just out. No one needs to know my big secret.

I roll over as my alarm blares and hit snooze, it’s 11 AM and I need to get up. Derrick Anders, daddy’s boy, will be waiting for me soon. Why did he ask me to tutor him? Why not some other girl? Or even a guy? He despises me and I despise him. He calls me Annie for gosh shakes! 

I get up and walk to Karen and I’s shared bathroom to find a note on the door, “PUT YOUR MAKE-UP AND SHIT AWAY! THE BATHROOM ISN’T THAT BIG!” I roll my eyes, looking at the note. It’s written in all capital letters in her very girly handwriting. She dots each I with a heart even. Well, I am not feeling the love.

I walk into the bathroom and gasp; that bitch has thrown all my makeup into the trash! This isn’t cheap makeup either. I have a high clientele; I use makeup from Sephora and high-end stores. What the fuck is wrong with her? She is going to hear about this! I gather as much as I can out and put it away. Not all of it is broken but what a bitch.

I turn on the shower and step inside. The steam engulfs my body and I look down at my feet and giggle. Mr. Lana is probably so good in bed. He is at least 20 years older than me if not more. He knew what he was doing. I bet he would worship my body. I groan against the hot water just thinking about it. 

I haven’t gotten laid by a boyfriend since I left my old high school. I lost my virginity to my foster brother, yes, scandalous but were not related. I haven’t had an actual boyfriend since him, just clients and random nights; it’s honestly easier that way. I need to focus on school and becoming more than just a poor orphan. I finish washing my body and hair and sigh, stepping out of the shower. 

I blow dry my hair and decide today I would like to be pretty as just Audrey. Not Raven, but myself. On most school days I look grungy. Hair up, no makeup, and tattered clothes but after the way Mr. Landa made me feel like a Goddess last night, I want to look like one. 

I blow dry my hair and braid two side pieces, putting them behind my head. Then I curl the rest and apply makeup. When I want to look nice, I don’t have any problems achieving it, but most days, I am so tired from work, I just don’t care.

I walk to my closet and grab my nicest pair of jeans with a black flowy top. Since it’s fall, I pair them with black booties and smile at myself in the mirror. This is the real Audrey. Not Audrey who pretends to belong or Raven; this is me and I make no apologies. The song plays in my head and smile at my humor.

I glance at my watch, at 11:45 AM. Shit, I need to get going. Karen and I share a small fridge and I grab out the cream cheese and smear some on a bagel. We have a little food in our room, but Karen is rich, she doesn’t keep anything in here besides expensive face masks. She made sure to explain they were worth $500 each and NOT to eat them.  Something about duck poop and aloe, no thank you! How can she even smear shit on her face and smile about it?!

I grab my bag and walk out the door room. I close it and look at the door. My memory pauses as I think back to the envelope that was pinned there yesterday. I still need to read it.

I make my way out of my dorm building and take in the fresh air as I step outside. Fall at Autumn brown is so beautiful. The tree leaves are turning colors and it’s full of color.  It looks like an oil painting.

I finish my bagel and head for the library. Outside is a huge statue of an owl, the school mascot, and I smirk, touching the cold metal and walking to the door. The door is heavy, and I pull it open, walking inside. The library is huge and filled with every law book you could imagine. There’s a reason I want to be here, why I stay even though everyone makes fun of my background. This college is spectacular. It MAKES great lawyers.  I want to succeed. I am NOT orphan Annie, I am Audrey! Hear me roar!

I look around, Derrick isn’t here yet. I check my watch, at 12:01. Not surprising he is late. I pick a table and sit down, putting my bag down.  I reach inside for my law theories book and see the envelope. I grab it out and look at my name. Audrey is written in alphabet stamps. It’s almost creepy. I open the envelope and grab the letter from inside.

My heart stops.

“Dear, Raven.”

What the fuck!? I flip over the envelope again; no, it says, Audrey.

“It has come to my attention that you have a side hustle. One that is very lucrative.  I watch you leave your room at night. I follow you to different hotels. I watch you and I know.”

My heart beats faster.

“It would be a real shame if anyone else found out. That type of behavior is grounds for expulsion and we both don’t want that, right? I will make you a deal. You give me a cut of your earnings and I won’t tell. I’ll be in touch and remember, I am always watching you. 

Signed, your admirer but yet blackmailer : ) “

I know my face is pale. A cut of my earnings? My earnings keep me afloat. Most of the kids here have money, I don’t. Earning what I do pays for food and extra help when I need it. The letter doesn’t tell how much they expect. What if they want all of it? I can’t make it here without that money; I already tried.

Tears form in my eyes, threatening to fall. My hands are shaky until a voice calls me out of my thoughts, “Annie.. are you listening?”

I look up and see Derrick sitting across from me. I look down at the letter and quickly fold it up, placing it back in my bag, “Are you ok?” he asks me.

I nod and clear my throat; I’m not but I can’t tell him that.

“yes, are you ready to begin?” I ask, opening my book.

He pauses but then he smiles and pulls his book out. I notice him glancing at my body. Is he actually checking me out? Derrick has never paid me any attention to me, but I have too much on my mind now to laugh and joke with him; it looks like I may need his 20k after all.

I have to take tutoring him seriously until I figure out who is behind this and destroy them.