Se connecterCLARA'S POV "The corset dress you tried on yesterday at the bakery! And all the others, they're right there, the red one too!""Maya, no," I shook my head quickly. "I told you yesterday, that dress is way too tight; it shows too much skin. I can't wear that in front of all those people.""Yes, you can!" Maya grabbed my shoulders tightly. "Listen to me, Clara! Sloane wants you to run away. She wants you to go crying and feeling sad for yourself. Are you really going to let her win that easily?""I just don't want any more negative attention," I argued."You're already getting attention! Make it the good kind!" she said. "Stand here. Don't move an inch. I'm running to the truck right now." She unlocked the bathroom door and sprinted out before I could say another word. Two minutes later, the bathroom door flew open. Maya rushed inside, completely out of breath, holding a black plastic garment bag."I ran all the way," she panted, locking the door again. She unzipped the bag and pulled
CLARA'S POVThe crowd around us gasped and started laughing out loud. Sloane just stood there with a cruel smile, holding her empty red cup while everyone stared at me."Maybe next time you’d know when to shut up," Sloane said loudly. The girls standing behind her giggled, the cafeteria scene replayed in my head, and I felt like the ground should open and swallow me whole. I wiped the sticky fruit punch from my chin. I shivered as the freezing cold liquid soaked through my purple dress."What the hell is wrong with you?" Maya yelled, shoving her way through the circle of guests. She shoved the cups at some random guy standing nearby and stepped toward Sloane."Oh look, the silly friend is here again," Sloane mocked loudly. "Two paupers make a bunch, I guess."The crowd laughed much harder, and Maya stepped right up to Sloane's face. "You did that on purpose! You are a pathetic, miserable bully!"Sloane didn’t flinch. "Watch your mouth, Maya. You don't belong here either. This isn't S
CLARA'S POVI called Maya the moment Maria left. She picked up on the second ring."Girllll, guess what?""What?""Mrs. King just gave me a pass; I'm coming tonight.""Wait, what? Are you serious?" Maya shrieked joyfully. "Okay, okay, get dressed right now, don't waste a single second. What are you wearing, the purple one?""Yeah, the purple one.""Perfect. Do your hair down, not up. I'll book you a ride; don't take the bus.""Maya, you don't have to—""Too late, already doing it. Just get dressed."I hung up, ran into the shower, and was out in minutes. I pulled the purple dress out of the closet, my hands moved fast, and I slipped it on, zipped up, and checked myself once in the mirror. The fabric sat easily at my waist, and for the first time in months I actually liked what looked back at me.I put on some light gloss and was applying my blush when my phone buzzed. My ride was waiting outside the gate. I grabbed my bag, checked the pass one more time to make sure it was still tucke
CLARA'S POVWe stayed and watched from the sides. They let go, and Gabriel gave her a forehead kiss; then they both went through separate doors. Maria turned to check if anyone was watching, and as her head spun toward us, we ran back inside."What was that?" Maya whispered."I told you, life at the Kings' is crazy," Becca said.I remembered the incident from that night; the wine with glasses, Gabriel in shorts. I wanted to tell the girls, but Maya needed to go. We headed to the gate once the coast was clear and said our goodbyes.JAXSON'S POVI was driving in when Maya's father's truck pulled out of the lot. She was lucky I didn't catch her here. It was past noon; how many minutes did a bread delivery actually take?I parked and walked straight into the house, still turning it over in my head, and Maria met me at the door before I even got my bag off my shoulder."Master Jaxson," she said. "Your mother called earlier. She asked about Lily's fever."I stopped walking. "What?""She kno
MAYA'S POVBLACKWOOD ESTATEI arrived at the estate a little past nine in the morning and got off my father's truck parked by the side gate. The staff members helped the workers haul crates of bread inside. Becca met me at the entrance, a sweet smile already spreading across her face."Right on time," she said, then pulled me in for a quick hug before waving the truck driver through toward the kitchen. "Come in. Open the gates so he can park in."We walked back to her room together, and she shut the door behind us. I lay softly on the bed; it's Becca after all, I can be myself around her. She lay right beside me, and we turned to each other, all smiles."What's going on, bread girl?" she giggled."A lot. We hardly even talk during the week," I said."Yeah, I know, we're not supposed to use our phones when on duty.""Yeah, I know that.""How's school?" she asked."Chaotic, as usual," I said. "We've got tests coming up, and half the senior class is losing their minds over college applic
CLARA'S POV"I don't understand," I said, genuinely confused."What don’t you understand? What, you don't understand English? Want me to say it in French? Tu n'es pas autorisé à aller à la fête de James," he said sarcastically with a weird accent."But I was invited.""But you're staff here. You're obligated to be here; it's the weekend. Remember what your employee guide says, remember the rules, Clara.""Jaxson, it'll only take a few hours. I can ask Maria, I'll be back before—""YOU DON'T BELONG THERE!" he screamed. "What's the point? You don't belong there anyway. You stay here, do your job, and cancel every thought of going to that party." He pointed at me. "Don't test me, Clara. Don't. This isn’t theschool games; if you disobey me, I’d make your life miserable."He turned and walked away.I stood there, tears rolling down my cheeks. I searched for the words to fight back, to curse and scream at him the way he'd just done to me, but nothing came. He was right; I didn't belong ther
He stared at me. I stared right back. Our eyes fixed on each other. The world did not end, though it felt like it should have. His mouth opened. "What the hell?" he screamed. "Adene? Is this a joke? Are you stalking me now?" "Jaxson." Maria appeared behind him, but her eyes moved straigh
I stared at the screen until the light burned my eyes. Removed from the W******p group. Then from the squad. What for? What was my offense? My phone rang out. Maya was calling. I picked up. "Clara? Are you seeing this?" Maya’s voice was frantic. "I just saw the notification. I tried to message
The word hit me like a physical blow to the chest.Filled?This couldn't be true. I needed this job. It wasn't just a job; it was the medicine in my mother's veins. It was the roof over our heads."Maria, wait," Mrs. Gabe pleaded. "I spoke to Helena this afternoon. She said—""And I am speaking t
Clara’s POVSterling Heights Academy – CafeteriaThe warm milk dripped down my hoodie, soaking into the thick fabric.I didn’t have to look up to know who it was.“Oops,” Sloane smirked. She held the empty milk carton like a trophy. “I thought that was the trash can. My bad, scholarship girl. You’r







