Surviving my Scholarship

Blue Hawaii

"Stop the humming already," I grumbled as I rolled over in the soft fabric of the bed I had gotten so used to sleeping in since meeting the Galloway family. My hand skimmed the cold surface until reaching the end of the bed and disappointment filled my heart. He was gone. So was the humming.

"Good morning," Mrs. Galloway giggled in my ear. I landed on my back with a soft groan. I stared up at the massive curls consuming Mrs. Galloway's head as she leaned over me a giant smile pasted on her face. It looked forced and didn't reach her eyes as it normally would. She softly pulled the curls back and around her shoulder before pulling the blankets off of me. "Sorry sweet, we are out of time."

"Time for what," I grumbled as I curled myself into a small ball trying to keep warm and in bed. I tried summoning heat only to shiver in my spot. Mrs. Galloway dropped the cloth she was folding and glanced back at me in shock. I glanced over at her and frowned.

"Time for what," I asked again. Her eyes glassed over and I rolled my eyes as the sobbing started from her. "Forget it. Where is Pierce?"

"He has some things to do this morning. He said he would meet up with you later," Mrs. Galloway forced out in between sobs. She started folding up cloths again after saying that forcing herself to stay focused on her work. She couldn't look at me. The tears dripped into the suitcase that lay open on the floor.

I sighed out in frustration as I hit the button to the door peering out before pounding on the intercom. Anger was starting to consume me.

"Jon," I growled into it and I heard shuffling down the hall before his figure appeared in the doorway. He walked in slowly. His hands went into his pocket and he leaned against the wall in ease. He looked almost happy about what was occurring. There was a weight lifted from his suited shoulders and his suit looked different than normal.

"You summoned me princess," he mocked as he leaned calmly against his resting place.

"It didn't matter," I stated now looking at the suitcase Mrs. Galloway was cramming full of clothes I had never seen before. Their stitching seemed primitive at best. "Did it?"

"I don't know," Jon started clearly going to avoid answering me truthfully. I interrupted him as I glanced back at him with a frown.

"The deal," I grumbled. "It didn't change anything. Did it?"

"No," Jon shook his head running his hand down his smooth head. He stopped and rubbed the back of his neck without looking up at me. "Pierce swore that he would put you on that shuttle to Earth."

"I'm not going," I stomped my foot like a child and Jon shook his head as he looked at me.

"You have no choice, princess," Jon crossed his arms as he looked down at his feet scuffling them. He was obviously uncomfortable now dealing with me.

"If I don't," I crossed my arms closing the gap between us. I had to press against him to look up at his eyes as they watched his shoe play with the shine of the floor and he stepped back against the wall to move away from me. I gave him space stepping back slightly and his eyes came up to rest on mine.

"Pierce loses everything else," Jon mumbled as Mrs. Galloway tried to suppress sobs that rose from the statement. Jon turned and walked out again as I turned my attention to Mrs. Galloway.

"Everything," I stated to myself as I turned back to see Jon was gone. Typical leaving at the first chance he received. Mrs. Galloway cried into one of the cotton like shirts with Abercrombie written across it. "What does that even mean?"

"He had to sign over his inheritance to her in order to get her help to save you, as collateral. If you don't get on that shuttle, she gets everything and Pierce has no choice but to become her play thing for the rest of his life," she looked at me. The pain in her eyes made me step back and look down at the floor in shame. Pity filled her expression. "You are like a daughter to me. I don't want to lose you, but I can't lose Pierce to her."