pte

ut, warm against her skin, but inside she felt heavy. Her bag pressed into her side, filled with books she b

t seemed, had al

r of a group of girls, her blonde hair shining like it had its own spotlight. Her eyes locked o

eetness. Her friends laughed on cue. "Did you wipe down tables this morning before rush

pread fast, like fire on dry grass. She gripped her books tight

ing, anything, but the w

her way through designer handbags," Sophie said casually, brushing an invisible speck

their mouths, others exchanged shocked looks.

" she snapped, her voice rising. "Your f

her long curls catching the sunlight. "See, unlike you, I don't need to use other peop

. Everyone was watching now. Cla

the middle of this. She hated the way Clarissa's eyes b

he would collapse under the pressur

oug

rd. Brian was there, tall, composed, his presence commanding

t leapt into

authority to make even the boldest students quiet. "I t

aught off guard. "B

e finished, his gaze steady, unflinching. "You'

n. She opened her mouth to argue, but Brian had already shifted his focus. His eyes

courtyard faded, replaced by the sound o

n Clarissa's arm. "Let's go," he said,

on dark with embarrassment and anger. Her fri

n to disperse, though not without

ike armor. Her cheeks burned. She wasn't sure if she wante

ently. "Well," she said with

ut closer to a sob. She turned her face away

more, she hated the warmth that had sparke

upposed to

ie's

oors gleamed under the chandelier lights, but the shine meant nothing to her. She had g

st as rich and cold as they were. They had always cared more about deals and alliances

s were lined with books and paintings, gifts from her mother that were meant to "cultivate"

y she had c

dn't care about last names or family fortunes. She was stubborn, honest,

ht of people like Clarissa, then what did that say about the rest of them? Sophie had t

courtyard scene in her mind. The way Clarissa had sneered, the way Alice had

rved into a

be interesting," she

oo. The way his attention had lingered on Alic

adn't noticed yet

he storm that was coming. But she wasn't worried. Tog