Chapter 2

I woke up the next morning and opened the window, quickly realizing that the neighborhood was even more lively than during Christmastime.

A huge welcome banner had been hung up at the main entrance, saying, "Our heartiest congratulations to the top SATs scorer in the country! Welcome to Emerald Green, Mayor Brian Winters and Board of Directors from Bloomberg Finance!"

Karen strutted about in her high heels, shouting through a megaphone, "Move the red carpet farther to the left! Make sure it shows off the grandeur of our high-class community!

"The welcome band needs to rehearse again! Make sure you don't make a single mistake when the mayor and the chairman arrive later!"

One of the homeowners, Marianne Barnett, looked like an extravagant peacock today, dressed to the heavens in a tight-fitting cocktail dress and her hair styled back in perfect locks.

"I heard that the chairman of Bloomberg Finance is personally coming today! And he might invest more in our area if he's in a good mood!

"If that happens, the property prices in our neighborhood will double or triple, and it will be the perfect opportunity for us to climb the social ladder!"

I sneered coldly when I heard that. I was just about to wheel out our tiny stall with Mom when we suddenly heard Karen's shrill voice screaming at us.

"Tanya Hastings! Do you not understand human language? Or are you just being a stubborn, defiant bitch?" she barked at Mom. "You're absolutely not allowed to open up your stall today! Who told you to bring out this shabby old cart of yours? Who the hell are you trying to disgust with that?"

Mom hurriedly stopped in her tracks and smiled warmly at Karen as she attempted to explain things.

"I've scrubbed the cart with soap thrice yesterday. There's not a single lick of grease on it. I promise I won't embarrass anyone when the reporters come around later—"

Before she'd even finished her sentence, Karen's crude laughter interrupted her as she said, "The reporters are here to interview the country's top scorer, not a raggedly old burrito seller like you!"

Marianne then rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, "You're just trying to ride on the top scorer's wave today because there will be cameras rolling, aren't you?"

I cocked my eyebrows when I heard her smug tone and asked, feigning ignorance, "Where's this precious top scorer now, then? Why are you all making more of a fuss than they are?"

Karen rolled her eyes and said disdainfully, "That top scorer is probably busy at home answering calls from the admissions office from Starvard or Dale University and planning out the rest of their life!"

Marianne then gave me a once-over and said contemptuously, "Did you think those top scorers would have as much time on their hands as you?

"This is the main difference between you and them. They're off to a better life while all you deserve is to continue rolling in grease at your mother's burrito cart for the rest of your life!"

I stepped forward and glared ferociously at Karen and Marianne.

"Really? Then maybe you should get rid of the wax in your ears and listen properly to me! Your so-called top scorer in the country is—"

Yet, before I could finish, Mom pulled me to the back and shook her head at me.

She said, "The reporters might be here anytime soon. It's going to be embarrassing if they catch us in a brawl. Let's not make a fool of ourselves."

"But Mom—"

Mom gently straightened out my collar and said, "We didn't do anything wrong. There's no point wasting our breaths proving ourselves to these kinds of people.

"Besides, have you already forgotten who's coming to our burrito stall later? I'm going to need you to help me with their orders later."

The fire in my chest gradually died down.

Mom had a point. What was the point of winning an argument against these people now? I'd just force them to eat their words later when the cameras were actually rolling.

However, Marianne thought that my silence meant I'd chickened out. She smugly tossed her hair to the back and scoffed at us.

"You thought you could curry favor with the top scorer or something? In your dreams. You'd better know where you stand."

Just then, the walkie-talkie belonging to the security guard, Randall Chase, squawked to life.

"Ms. Myers! I think someone's here to interview the top scorer!"

Karen broke into a wide smile the moment she heard that. Every last hint of her earlier hostile attitude vanished without a trace.

"Hurry! Come with me to the entrance to welcome them! We must make sure to display our high-class image to them!"