Level the Playing Field

Leverage.

A/n: Hello! This is a work of fiction. Characters, businesses, events and incidents in this book are a product of the author's imagination. Once again, no copyright infringement is intended. I do not own or claim to own the rights to the image used for the cover. Any who, who doesn't love a good cliche? Enjoy ☺️

Fuck.

She can't believe it. She had done so well. So so well at blending into the background. She even coordinates the color scheme of her clothes to match the dreary, murky, grays and browns of the university walls- just to make sure she isn't noticed. She often wonders if boring equals prestige; Erlhedge University boasts about being one of the most prestigious Ivy League universities in the world, and that's true, but why does that mean that they can't add a splash of blue or green on the walls? The two pairs of eyes pinning her in the doorway of the lab tells her that this isn't time to be thinking about the color of the walls in the hallway; but she can't help it. Her brain chooses to distract her with trivial thoughts when she's in distress.

"Plea-"

"I didn't see an- going! Leaving!"  Sadé shouts in panic before stumbling over her feet to get away. 'Shit shit shit' plays on repeat in her head as she speed-walks across campus for the safety of her dorm room. Why me? Why did I have to be the one to see that?

"Hey!"

The sound of his voice kicks her into another gear, she starts jogging. She's never spoken to him before and she doesn't want to today. Being seen with him only comes with trouble. More than he's worth too.

"Stop!" Sadé's heartbeat picks up and so does her feet. She starts running. Pathetic. But the campus still has students loitering about even as the sun dips over the horizon. It only takes one pair of wandering eyes to see them in conversation for gossip to spread like wildfire. She just needs to make it up to her room. She's so so close. Sadé looks back briefly, just to ensure there's still a safe distance between them. He's a couple yards away, still at a safe distance, but his long legs eat away at the lawn. If he decides to run he'll catch her, Sadé knows she can't outrun a 6"1 athlete but she sure as hell would try. He keeps walking though, probably knowing how weird it would look to be seen full on chasing a woman obviously trying to get away from him. Sadé takes the stairs two steps at a time and almost falls face- first on the floor of her flat flinging her body through the door.

"Sadé? What the hell?" Mikayla squeaks in surprise. Her roommate clutches at her chest looking at her as if she just appeared through a portal.

"Shhhhhhh!" Sadé pleads with her eyes. She's sure he didn't see what room she entered, she's hoping he doesn't start knocking door to door describing her to people. He doesn't even know her name but the black population at Erlhedge is quite small so she wouldn't be that hard to find. Sadé leans against the door. Waiting. Heart pounding. Silence. Mikayla waits for another two uneventful minutes to pass before speaking.

"You want to tell me what the fuck that was?"

Sadé stays quiet for another beat, just to make sure.

"I saw something that may have changed the trajectory of my life." Sadé utters in a grim tone.

Mikayla rolls her eyes at her and turns to enter the kitchen.

"I'm very serious, Mikky!" She follows closely behind watching as her friend reaches for two mugs in the overhead cabinet.

"Do you want some tea, Sadé?" Mikayla asks, dismissing her obvious turmoil. She can't blame her friend, she knows she can be dramatic. Sadé cries while watching talent shows when the auditions get golden buzzers.

"It was Jude." That's all it takes for Mikayla to pause.

"What about Jude? What did you do?" Mikayla asks accusingly, squinting her eyes at her.