Page 38 of House of Bass

But aren’t they one and the same?

16

HARLEY

The flash of the camera went off, and Harley dropped her smile immediately. She was exhausted. Today had been the first day she’d met the other scholarship students; they were taking photos for the school website, something they apparently did every year. Each new cohort of first-year scholarship students were put on display to be fawned at by rich people who liked to act as if they were saving the world by funding some poor kid’s education.

There were five others: Anika Madon, an Indian girl from Croydon; two other girls from Liverpool, Tamika Moore, a black girl and Niamh Hughes, a blonde white girl; Hamza Adil, a Pakistani boy from Sheffield; and James Evans, a white guy with fluffy brown hair, who went by Jamie. He was Mancunian. Then there was Harley, the unusual sixth.

For the last four hours they had taken pictures in almost every room on campus, she still wasn’t sure why they needed so many, but she was happy to be done with it. Especially because she was the only one here who wasn't actually on scholarship, she felt strange about cosplaying in front of people who actually needed it. She kept the ruse up well enough, she did after all know what it was like to be poor.

All of them seemed to have befriended one another as they appeared comfortable around each other. Harley kept to herself during the short breaks they got in the middle walking from room to room.

As she packed her bags to leave, a voice called to her. It was Jamie. “Hey, we're going to The Vine to get some food, do you want to come?”

He looked at her expectant, as did the others, who stood a couple paces behind awaiting her answer. It was Saturday and she had already called off work because nobody would give her an exact time on how long this would take.

“I promise, we don't bite. We just want to get to know you,” Jamie said.

Harley felt a bit bad that she hadn’t made any effort to get to know other people.

How bad could it really be?

She gave him a small nod, “Sure, I'll come with.”

“Good, we're fun. I promise.” He stretched his arms out implying she should lead the way, then they fell into step right with one another.

The Vine was student run; it was a mix of a sports bar and restaurant but also a makeshift nightclub when need be. Sometimes people came here to study, judging by the few students already here, it was safe to assume they were here to do that.

“Harley, we wanted to know-” Anika started.

“Erm, you mean you wanted to know,” Niamh interrupted.

“Fine, I wanted to know how you became such close friends with the Five Heirs in less than two months?” Anika asked, eager and wide eyed. She reminded her of Annabel’s friend, the bubbly one, but with a brain.

“Ugh, who cares about them. They’re pretentious pricks who think they own the place,” Hamza said.

“They do own the place,” Anika replied. Hamza rolled his eyes, waving her off.

Harley shrugged, aiming for nonchalance. “It just happened.”

“How did it just happen? Low class citizens like us are never even given the privilege of even talking to them,” Hamza said, a tiny bit bitter.

“Annabel seems fake to me. No one is that nice,” Tamika added on.

“That’s not how it works.” Niamh said.

“She’s tall, pretty and wears Chanel. She’s perfect,” Anika remarked, then looked back at Harley. “Ignore them. Can you introduce me to Daniel? He’s so fit.” Anika bites her lips. Her brown eyes that made her look like the reincarnation of Bambi, were so wide and hopeful.

“Sure,” Harley answered. She was going to say whatever would stop this conversation from happening.

“Let’s all leave Harley and her choice in friendships alone.” Jamie butted in, she was grateful that he came to her assistance. “We agreed not to scare her off.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Anytime.”

Conversation picked up about other things: football, classes and parties. Jamie talked to her, and he seemed to be moving closer but she couldn't tell if she was making it up. That is until he put a stray hair behind her ears and she cringed away from it.