Chapter 3

Early the next morning, I went apartment hunting.

Price wasn't an issue. I just wanted somewhere comfortable to live.

Within two hours, I found a luxury apartment and signed the lease. Then I hired movers and headed back to the dorm.

The apartment came fully furnished, so I only needed my personal belongings. But I wasn't leaving the appliances I bought for my ungrateful roommates to enjoy.

Freya and the others stared at me.

"Holly, you're seriously doing this?"

I ignored them and told the movers to get started.

The noise drew people out of the neighboring rooms. They gathered in the hallway to watch.

"Oh my god. Is she really taking everything?"

"I thought she was generous. Guess that only lasts as long as you agree with her."

"We still have to see each other in class every day. Why make it this awkward?"

"No wonder Eugene picked Cassidy. I'd get tired of having every little thing held over my head, too."

With everyone taking their side, my roommates grew bolder.

"Whatever. Let her take it."

"She buys a few appliances and thinks she gets to run our lives. We've put up with it long enough."

"Yeah. At least Cassidy can move in now. She's actually nice, and she doesn't hold things over people. Living with her will be a lot easier."

The constant comparisons to Cassidy almost made me laugh.

For three years, I watched them cut back on food and electricity and looked for excuses to help with their bills. Now, they called that bossing them around.

My family had money, but that didn't mean I had to keep letting them take advantage of me.

I turned to the movers, keeping my voice even. "Could you pick up the pace a little? I'd like to stay on schedule."

I paid for the appliances, and I still had every receipt. They stood around watching, but no one tried to stop the movers.

As the crew carried the appliances downstairs, Cassidy stepped into their path, her eyes red.

"Holly, please don't do this. It's my fault. Don't take it out on them. They can't afford to replace all this. What are they supposed to do? Please, just leave it here. I'll find a way to pay you back. Whatever you want, okay?"

She was offering them my appliances and making herself look generous in the process.

Before I could answer, Eugene shot me a disapproving look.

"Holly, come on. How long are you going to drag this out? I told you, it was just for show. Do you have to make everyone else miserable over it?"

I laughed in disbelief and looked him in the eye. "What's wrong with taking things I paid for?"

Eugene hesitated. "Nothing's wrong with that, but…"

"Then get out of my way."

Cassidy started to speak, but Freya caught her arm. "Cassidy, don't beg her. We'll be fine without them. She can keep her stupid appliances. I'm not taking anything from a homewrecker. Who knows where she got the money?"

Then she turned to the movers.

"You guys better be careful. She goes after other people's boyfriends. You think she'll have a problem stiffing you? You could end up doing all this for free."

I paid the movers in full before we arrived and told them they could keep the appliances once they carried them downstairs.

They ignored Freya, said goodbye to me, and loaded everything into their truck. As they drove away, her expression soured.

I scoffed, looking from her to Eugene and Cassidy.

"You all know who cheated on whom."

I walked past them and headed straight to class.