Chapter 2

"Your hair..."

"It's naturally difficult. Really dry." I hurriedly pressed a hand over the edge of my wig.

He didn't question me further. "Come on. I'll get you something to eat."

Elliot led me into a narrow lane behind campus filled with steam and food carts.

Grease and smoke hung in the air, making me cough.

"Two spicy chowders," he told the vendor. "No cilantro in one."

He guided me to a stained folding table.

I stared at the dark smears on its surface and refused to put my hands down.

"Too dirty?" He took out a packet of tissues and wiped the table twice.

"No. Not at all." I shook my head quickly.

Soon, the vendor carried over two enormous bowls.

The broth was bright red, crowded with vegetables and processed bites I couldn't identify.

I poked a pale strip with my disposable fork.

"What's this?"

"Imitation crab."

"What kind of crab? North-coast king crab?" I blurted.

Elliot's fork stopped halfway to his mouth.

He looked up and studied me sharply.

My stomach dropped. "I-I saw it in a video online."

He watched me for another moment, then returned to his food without comment.

I lowered my head and ate in terrified silence.

After dinner, Elliot walked me back toward campus.

"Do you have enough money for living expenses? Tell me if you don't."

I blinked. "Enough? Maybe... not enough?"

I had no idea what a financially struggling student was supposed to spend each month.

"I work weekends at a restaurant near campus. They're hiring. Want to try? It pays twenty-five dollars an hour."

Twenty-five dollars?

I sometimes spent more than that on bottled water.

But Molly Reed was hardworking and poor, so Molly Reed had to say yes.

"I'd love to. Thank you." I tried to look overwhelmed with gratitude.

That night, curled up in bed, I sent him a question before I could stop myself.

"What do you think of Sienna Wilde?"

"Why are you asking about her?"

"I'm curious. Don't guys like rich, beautiful girls like that?"

His answer came quickly, cold even through the screen.

"She's arrogant, rude, and completely self-centered. She'll probably need some arranged business marriage one day, because no normal man would choose her."

My smile vanished.

Rude? Arrogant? No man would want me?

Elliot Pierce had a lot of nerve insulting me behind my back.

I slammed my phone into my pillow.

Fine. Tomorrow, I would show him what rude really looked like.

The next morning, I marched into the student activities building in heels, ready for war.

Elliot was a sophomore and served on the campus events committee. That morning, he was organizing the equipment room.

I kicked the door open and pointed at a stack of dusty gym mats.

"Elliot Pierce, move every one of those mats to the athletic field. I need them."

He was counting volleyballs. He looked up with a slight frown.

"Ms. Wilde, the gymnastics club needs those this afternoon. Why would you move them outside?"

"Because I feel like it. They're depressing indoors. Maybe they need sunlight." I crossed my arms and lifted my chin.

"They belong to the university, not to you." His voice hardened.

"My father just funded a new library wing. I think that earns me the use of a few mats."

"You won't move them? Fine. I'll call the dean and have you removed from this committee."

Elliot stared at me, his jaw rigid.

At last, without a word, he bent down, lifted two heavy mats, and carried them toward the field.