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Chapter 1
Raina
College is going just fine, if you consider lying and cheating to befine. But I learned a long time ago that if you’re born into the wrong family, your privileges don’t stretch that far.
I was born into a family with an alcoholic for a dad, who beat me and my mom until she committed suicide.
Go figure.
I guess we don’t all have it as good as some of the shiny, polished, put-together rich kids on campus. But that’s okay because that doesn’t mean I have to play the hand fate dealt me. In fact, I’m not.
I bribed my way into a dorm room, scammed myself into classes, and I even got my hands on a few books. The guy who stole one for me from the library—since I’m sans student ID and can’t check out my own books—is an asshole.
I’m not above using anyone to get what I want in life.
I know, it sounds crude. It sounds awful, actually. If I’m being honest, I sound like a complete bitch. But I’ve been stepped on my whole life, it’s time for me to do the stepping so that I can get where I want. I want a future. I want a job. I want a life away from the penniless abuse I’ve known for as long as I can remember. Is it still wrong if I’m doing all the wrong things but for the right reasons?
“Wakey, wakey,” a soft sing-song voice pushes its way into my dreams, and I frown. When I peek through one eye, Lacey sits on the edge of my bed.
I groan. “Stop it.”
She giggles as if my grumpy morning-attitude isn’t the turn off I hoped it would be.
“We have to get to class early today. Test day, remember?”
“I don’t remember ordering a wake-up call.” I flip my blankets open and glare at Lacey.
She’s already dressed, her blonde hair pulled into a ponytail complete with a ribbon wrapped around her head, and she looks bright and eager despite my contempt. When I glance at the time, it’s barely eight.
“What time did you get up?” I ask.
“Oh, I studied through the night. I hope my light didn’t wake you.”
I was out like a light. Since I left home, where I’d slept with one eye open in case my piece of shit dad had too much to drink and felt like turning me into a punching bag, I’ve slept like the dead. It makes all the difference when I feel safe.
“It was fine,” I grumble and sit up.
“Oh, good. I’m surprised you didn’t study all that much for the test.”
I blink at her. “I studied in the library.”
That’s a lie. I took notes there, but I didn’t study all that much. I took notes in class, and that will be enough for me to get through this test. I’m not one to brag or anything, but I’m smart enough to wing a ‘warm up’ test. I have to take care of a couple of other things, and I just don’t have the time to sit cooped up in my room right now.
Especially not if it’s with Lacey.
God, she’s annoying. She doesn’t stop talking. I swear sometimes she will talk to me for a full 5 minutes without even blinking. For some reason, despite my attitude toward her though, she thinks we’refriends.
It helps to have someone in my corner when I need to ask questions and find stuff out, but friends? I’m a far cry from bonding while we eat Ben & Jerry’s and talk about the boys that broke our hearts. It’s not like I’m being fake towards her. That girl just has thick skin… like knives wouldn’t cut through sort of skin.
Her life is perfect. She’ll never understand mine. And I don’t what her to know me, anyway.
“You should head to the showers if you don’t want to be trampled by the masses. Everyone is getting up now, and soon there won’t be a stall open for you.”
I know she’s right, and I hate it. Begrudgingly, I grab my things and head to the communal showers to get ready before the big rush. The last thing I need right now is to be squashed into a corner by a bunch of girls who quiz each other for the test or gossip about the guys on campus or discuss the latest fashion.
I could do with those tips, I guess. But I’d rather die than be a part of a group of cackling hens like that. Just thinking about them makes me groan.
When I get back to the dorm room, Lacey is ready to leave.
