All Chapters of PLAYING PRETEND: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

"He saw the pictures of us sitting together at the campus library and his public relations team warned him that our fake relationship was ruining the Bennett family reputation.""H-he actually yelled at you over some stupid photos from a campus gossip blog?" I stuttered while my hands curled into tight fists against my thighs."He did a lot more than just yell at me because he demanded that I break up with you before Monday morning," Kyle clarified with a bitter and defeated scoff."He told me I was embarrassing our family by holding hands with a broke nursing student and he refused to let me drag his legacy into the dirt for a little bit of internet fame."A cold rush of guilt hit my stomach because I knew my presence in his life was the direct cause of this massive disaster."He said I was acting like a spoiled child who just wanted attention and he called our arrangement a pathetic circus," Kyle added while his knuckles turned white around the mug."I tried to defend you and I told

"It is honestly a lot less stressful on this side of the campus hierarchy because nobody expects you to be perfect all the time," I offered gently."I do not even know how to be a normal student without the Bennett name paving the way for me," Kyle admitted with the raw vulnerability returning to his voice."I keep thinking about the tuition deadline and how I am going to pay for my classes without my father's bank account," Kyle confessed into the darkness."The financial aid office has emergency grants for students who lose their parental support during the semester," I reassured him while shifting my weight on the mattress."I can take you to the student union tomorrow and help you fill out the application paperwork so you do not get dropped from your courses."Kyle let out a long sigh and I could hear the fabric of the blankets rustling as he shifted his long legs on the floor."I spent the last three years avoiding that office because my dad always handled the billing statements

I paced back and forth across the faded rug of my dorm room while my hands formed tight fists at my sides.The bright Monday morning sunlight poured through the window but the cheerful weather offered zero comfort to my racing mind.Kyle sat on the floor with his knees pulled tightly to his chest and he stared blankly at the glowing screen of his silver laptop.I read the horrible email from the administration office three times before the true weight of the situation finally settled in my chest."She cannot just do that to you without a formal investigation," I yelled while pointing an angry finger at the digital message sitting in his inbox."Vanessa cannot just accuse you of academic bribery without providing some kind of proof to the dean of students.""She already did it, Finn," Kyle replied with a quiet and defeated voice that broke my heart."My father cut off all my financial resources last night so I do not have a lawyer or the money to fight her false allegations.""But she

I dropped the ruined metal tray into the hazardous sterilization bin and I practically sprinted toward the basement elevators to escape the harsh glare of the clinical ward.My chest heaved with uneven breaths while the stainless steel doors slid shut and granted me a brief moment of privacy from the judging eyes of the hospital staff.I leaned my tired back against the cool wall of the elevator car and I stared up at the blinking floor numbers while a deep sense of failure settled into my stomach.Brenda was definitely going to write a severe reprimand on my permanent academic record because dropping sterile instruments was a massive mistake for a senior nursing student.I rubbed my sweaty palms against the fabric of my blue scrubs and I prayed that I would not lose my hospital placement over one stupid panic attack.The elevator chimed loudly when it reached the bottom floor and I stepped out into the busy hospital cafeteria to start my mandated lunch break.The large room buzzed wi

I stood in front of the massive corkboard inside the student union building and I stared at the colorful flyers pinned to the cork.My stomach turned with a sickening knot because I never thought I would have to search for minimum-wage employment just to survive the semester.I spent my whole life swiping a heavy black credit card without ever looking at the price tags on my expensive clothes or my luxury meals.Now I was staring at a bright yellow paper advertising a part-time janitorial shift in the campus dining hall for twelve dollars an hour.I pulled a blue pen out of my pocket and I wrote the manager's phone number down on my hand because my cell phone was still broken.A deep flush of shame crept up my neck but I swallowed my pride because I refused to be a financial burden to Finn.He already sacrificed his small bed and his quiet sanctuary for me so I needed to earn enough money to buy my own groceries this week.I knew Finn was currently at the hospital dealing with his str