cting Preston Vance arri
w would smile or nod at her. Today, as she walked down the aisle, heads turned away. Pe
esk in the very back
up. The midterm group project accounts for thirty percent of your final grade. You
aotic chatter as students scrambled to for
ica Adler, whom she had shared notes with last week.
ward the middle of the room. Preston Vance was sitt
ackpack. "Sorry, Elinor. We're full." She hurr
oth gave her immediate, flimsy
ut a loud, intentional burst of laughter. Preston caught E
ston had ordered the entir
stood alone in the quiet hall. She walked down to the po
uldn't find a group. Can I complete the project
exceptions. Especially not when Trustee Vance is reviewing my department's funding proposal this week. Fi
until her fingers hurt. A zero meant
d. Her stomach growled, a sharp reminder that she
her university email, hoping her wor
mail from the Fin
rty Grant has been reviewed and denied. Reason: Applicant fail
. The wind whipped her
for the entire semester. She knew her adoptive father's medical bills proved her poverty. The
ompletely
ino
ry class, was standing a few feet away, looking around
u can't win against him. He bragged about getting your grant
neck. She refused to ask him for anything beyond the bare minimum he provided. Buying her own food,
idn't do anything wrong, Sarah.
r with pity. "Suit yourself
bustling campus. The world felt like i
phone vibrat
number. Her thumb hesitated before swiping
he speaker. It was smooth, lazy, and laced with
out of her head. Did he know? Did he see
s white. She couldn't force a sing
o'clock tonight. The Pinnacle restauran
ne wen
e restaurant in the city. A summons from Boyd was never j
e. She had no money, no friends, and a m
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