𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 𝟷

a.n- Read the prologue, I'm begging you.

I wake up at 3 AM shaking, and sweating. I always have nightmares most of the times I can't remember them. So it feels like missing puzzle pieces. Very hard to explain, it just feeling like a part of me is missing. I grab my phone to check my socials. Kai, my boyfriend texted me five hours ago. A video with girls twerking in the background. He cheats, nothing new. However his mom and dad love me, and they give me opportunities that I can only dream of. Then twenty minutes ago he sent a flirty text asked for nudes. What a lovely gentleman.

I open my g-mail.

I have a notification from my inbox. My heart begins to flutter, and I automatically raise up. My eyes close, and I click on it. I open my eyes, oh my cow. Stark industries. Adrenaline kicks in. I close my eyes again and click on it.

Hello Miss Alexandra Adamos,

We are pleased to inform you that this summer you will be attending the annual Stark Internship along with five other interns.

Can't wait to see you.

-Pepper Potts

Internship coordinator.

I fall back on my bed. I got it. Oh my goodness. Adrenaline courses through my veins. I had a competition with 500 other people and I got it. I got it. Pure joy radiates out of me. My roommates groan at my giggles. Do I call Kai? Do I really need him any more? He is the epitome of worthlessness. I'll figure out how to dump his ass one way or another.

It is time for midnight McDonald's. Perfect celebration. I grab my keys off the nightstand and head out.

I jump in my old bronco, Dad's last gift to me.

I turn the key in the ignition, the engine rattles. I give it the five hard hits on the dash then it starts again. At least if anyone tries the steal it they have to know to do that. That's what dad told me at least. While driving to McDonald's my mind wonders about the five other people. Competition in my eyes. What will it be like? Working with an arrogant genius philanthropist who can teach me so many things. I'm gonna try not to think about it.

I order two big macs, and a coke. The cashier looks at me judgingly. Even though he's wider than a fridge. I still have a child's metabolism; and I might as well use it to my advantage. As I'm well into my first burger, the country club girls walk in. Stanford. With their dumb blonde pony tails and tennis skirts. It's three in the morning right now. I have on my dad's hoodie and lilo and stitch socks. They gawk at me and laugh. The three think they bully me in economics. I just smile at them.

The head of their cult, Celestina walks over.

"Hi, Alexandra, right?" She asks smiling flaky.

She damn well knows my name. Lucky for me, I know just how to push her buttons.

I return a smile, "Hi! I'm sorry who are you?"

Her face drops, "Oh hun, you must not get out much. I'm Celestina Bradley."

I reply, "If you mean by participating careless dumb little cults, no hun, I do not get out much."

She gawks, says nothing and leaves. And that ladies, is how you put a stupid white girl in her place.

I grab my tray and throw away my wrappers, then grab a refill for my coke.

I walk outside check under the car and backseat for creepos. And drive back to campus.

By the time I get home it's 3:30. I get back in bed. And wake up at 6. I'm still groggy from my terrible sleep schedule.

I have three new messages from Kai.

Hey.

Delivered at 4 AM.

If you're not gonna respond to my needs then we should break up, Alex.

Delivered at 4:03 AM.

Bye, Alexandra.

Delivered at 4:04 AM.

I laugh as my eyes roll. That idiot thinks I care about him. Funny. Not to mention the narcissistic attitude. I quickly put my clothes on, and grab my bag and head out for coffee at Dan's.

When I get there I pull out my laptop and get started on my work. This the prefect coffee shop. It's my home I'd say. But I'm pretty dramatic. Dan has all of the classics on a shelf. For anyone to read. But if you return one with so much as a page hurt he might burn hot coffee on you. In this digitized age books are withering. Young people prefer phones and superficial stuff. Dan recognizes that, so he's trying to keep books out there I guess.

And that's what pulled me in the most.

A grumpy old single man who loves coffee and books. And hates superficial people. As I drift into my mind abyss Dan pulls up a chair.

"Hey Lexy," He greets.

His nickname for me and his only. He knows I hate it.

I smile, "Hey old man," He hates that.

I want him to be the first person to know about the internship.

"You know that internship you helped me apply for," I remind him.

He recalls it, "Yeah."

A smile makes it way to my lips, "Well I got in!"

He smiles then whoops and hollers loudly. The whole place looks at him.

"Lexy that's amazing. The stark internship?"

I nod.

"Kid, you're gonna do great things. I always knew you were. We've got to get you everything you need," he states.

I decline, "No Dan. That's your money. You're half the reason I applied. You and your wonderful personality is more than enough to keep my afloat." We rarely compliment each other, part of our friendship. So it's almost sarcastic when we do.

We're kindred souls, we both know it.

"I've got the money. Rosie's dead. I can't spend it all in one place." Dan explains.

"Let me help you. You will return it by becoming a big shot engineer and curing what ever the hell you want." He laughs.

I laugh, "I give in, fine."

Dan whips out a credit card.

"Lexy you use this." He winks.

"There's some things you don't know about me," He says as he winks.

Then he pulls away to help his employees, it just got busier.

I smile to myself. Somehow I think he knows my parents are broke, and they couldn't dream of paying for my expenses at the Stark tower.

I start getting my work done, but my mind continually drifts.

To What is next?