The Rich Girl Dorm Trap

The Resident Director frowned. "Chloe. First come, first served. Mia picks first."Pain from the impact still throbbed, my vision flickering in and out. Everything in front of me blurred.Chloe gripped the 502 form like her life depended on it. "I have to get 502. Mia wouldn't fight me for it, right?"That look—same as when she shoved me off the roof last time. Like if I said no, she'd jump me, choke me out, toss me down the stairs, and watch me hit.Pain slammed through me, fogging everything. I staggered back. "Fine. We're classmates. You go first."Then I turned to the RD. "Ms. Anderson, thank you. I'm good with 501 or 502."No objections. Ms. Anderson wrote Chloe under 502. Just like she wanted.Then she wrote "Mia Mercer" under 501.My whole body went slack, like a popped balloon. I almost dropped.The weight crushing me—gone. Just like that. Even breathing felt easy.This time, I'm never stepping into 502.After locking in 502, Chloe looked smug. If she had a tail, it'

In my last life, Chloe never stopped complaining about 501.Too suffocating. Too intense.Always studying. Always competing.Like if they skipped one day, they'd drop dead.But now?This felt like a dream.My three roommates were top scorers from three different states.Their SAT scores didn't even show how good they were—the test was the limit, not them.After moving into 501, I realized it wasn't just hard work.They were straight-up brilliant.One spoke four languages. One was deep into AI. The last? A math prodigy, basically locked in for a physics PhD at an Ivy.I'd basically scored three private tutors—for free.I could wake up laughing.Especially Emma Dawson.Every time she caught me doing calculus, she'd frown over my shoulder."You're still getting this wrong? Why use such a stupid method? You're wasting time. I can't even watch."I instantly held up my book like an offering. "Please. Teach me."Like she'd been waiting, Emma snatched my pen.One calc problem

I ran into Chloe again while picking up a food order. Late.She looked wrecked—like a skeleton trying to breathe—curled up in the garden, quietly sobbing.I didn't want to deal with her, but she saw me.She looked up, and I sucked in a sharp breath.A deep gash cut from the corner of her eye back toward her ear. Deep enough to make your stomach turn. Crumbs were stuck in it, like someone had mashed a cookie into her face.She grabbed my hand. "You laughing at me? Seeing me like this—happy? Glad I took Room 502 from you?"I shook her off and stepped back. "I don't know what you're talking about. If you don't treat that cut, it's gonna scar."She burst out laughing, high and unhinged. "Scar? They don't keep pets unless they're marked. They want it to stay."You know how messed up they are? They make me wipe them after the bathroom. I can't even talk in my sleep. If I clench my teeth, I get slapped."I'm losing it. I haven't slept a full night since school started. They're gonna

"It was wrong of me to cut in line and take Mia's 502 spot. The guilt's messing with my studies. I'm asking Ms. Anderson to switch us back. If we don't, I really can't go on."The three from 502 wore faint smiles, their eyes drifting between me and Chloe.Ms. Anderson looked at me, awkward. "Mia, Chloe's already depressed. Why don't you—"I paused. "Switching rooms isn't just between us. Shouldn't the other roommates have a say?"The three from 502 traded glances, then nodded in sync.Ms. Anderson let out a quiet breath. "Well, if that's the case..."Before I could say anything, Emma and the other two spoke at once. "No. We don't agree."Chloe's eyes filled, right on the edge of breaking.She pulled out the bank cards she'd earned these past weeks—earned the hard way. "I'm better than Mia. I have money. A lot. If you agree, I'll give you a thousand. No—five thousand."More cards came out. "Each one has five grand. Say yes, they're all yours."Emma stepped in front of me. "You

Chloe lay in a hospital bed, unable to move.And just like that, the storm hit me.She gambled her life and turned me into everyone's target.People online dug up everything. Said I bullied her. Said I pushed her to it.Someone dumped animal carcasses outside my door. My parents lost their jobs over the scandal. My scholarship? Gone—handed to someone else.There were even rumors the school might put me on probation.Outside 501 used to be dead quiet. Now it was packed—people lining up just to trash me.That's when Nadia showed up."Chloe's gone. We've got an open spot. Want in? Join us, and all these rumors disappear. You know we can do that."I curled up in the corner, staring at her in despair.Behind her, the rest of 502 stepped in."I've got a feeling you belong with us."And just like that, it clicked.Now I knew why Chloe made me come to the roof.They forced her.And now?I was next.I instinctively stepped back. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not