第3章

In the three minutes between when my dorm mates told me and when they left, the post had already been pushed to the top of the trending page with my name and photo.

Soon, an anonymous user posted my phone number. [Here's Chloe Harper's number. I think we should teach her a lesson.]

Within a minute, my phone started ringing off the hook.

There was barely a pause between the calls, the notification sounds from every app piling on top of each other in an endless stream.

Someone knocked on the dorm room door. Ethan appeared, his face full of worry.

I put my phone on silent, and the constant notifications finally stopped.

"How did this happen?"

He looked worried, his voice rising without him realizing it.

I stared at my phone. The post now showed a photo of me getting out of my dad's car on the first day of school.

[That must be Chloe Harper's sugar daddy!]

[Wow, the original poster is thorough. How'd they even find this?]

[That car looks insanely expensive. I've heard people that rich have some... fetish. You think Chloe might...]

[Yikes, then you better not let your virgin dorm mate catch anything!]

The comments on the forum were getting worse and worse, as if these people had witnessed me doing those disgusting things with their own eyes.

I turned off the screen, my gaze landing on Natalie's empty bed.

I stood up to leave, but Ethan grabbed my arm.

"Don't do anything stupid!"

I gently pulled free from his grip and tucked a tablet under my arm. My steps didn't slow as I headed out.

I walked until I reached the lecture hall where student council recruitment was being held. Natalie had posted about wanting to join on Instagram just half an hour ago.

I shoved open the doors of the lecture hall. The old hinges groaned, and the noisy room fell instantly silent. Every pair of eyes turned to me.

Someone recognized me and shouted, "Isn't that Chloe, the sugar baby?"

The room went quiet for a beat, then erupted into even louder chatter.

"No way, she actually showed up here?"

"Someone with low morals like hers has no business being in student council!"

"Natalie, is this the one who bullied you? We'll give her hell for you!"

Catching the familiar name, my gaze zeroed in on the figure in the corner.

Natalie met my eyes. The corner of her mouth twitched up for a split second before she quickly rearranged her face into a look of fear.

Her new dorm mate charged over and jabbed a finger in my face in front of everyone.

"You're Chloe, right?"

Before I could speak, her sharp voice cut through the air again.

"You're the one playing sugar baby and bullying Natalie!"

Natalie stood up right on cue, her voice soft, just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

"I know Chloe has it rough. Crystal, don't blame her."

She sniffled for effect.

"After all, not everyone has the decency to work hard for a better life."

Natalie's words set off a wave of applause. Crystal Reed, her new dormmate, cheered loudest of all. Then she whirled back toward me and jabbed a finger in my face.

"See? Natalie is kind and decent. Unlike certain people who choose to throw their lives away!"

A senior, James Black, walked up and shoved me.

"What are you even doing here? We would never let someone with your character onto the student council!"

"Only someone like Natalie deserves to be here!"

The crowd erupted in cheers.

"Way to go!"

"He gets it! That's exactly how it should be!"

"Go cry to your sugar daddy!"

I met Natalie's eyes, glinting with barely concealed satisfaction. I pushed past James and walked straight to the podium.