Straight to the bottom

1

Amelia POV

I stood frozen, my eyes fixed on the heated exchange between my dad and the dorm director. My dad's voice echoed through the lobby, "She got the worst dorm? The one for scholarship students? Unacceptable!"

the director, attempted to placate him, "I apologize, Senator. We'll do our best to accommodate your daughter. However, I must inform you that the dorm assignments are random and-"

My dad cut her off, "Random? I don't pay you to be random, I pay you to ensure my daughter gets the best!"

I intervened, trying to calm the situation, "Dad, it's okay, really. I can handle it. If I'm not comfortable, I'll call you."

The director added, "And, Senator, your daughter has a substantial amount in her student account, $10,000, to be exact. She'll be well taken care of."

My dad's expression turned dismissive, "That's for books and tuition, not for her to enjoy herself. Here, take this." He handed me a thick wad of cash.

After a few more minutes of arguing, my dad finally relented. He kissed my forehead, his expression softening. "Alright, kiddo. Enjoy yourself in New York. Get a boyfriend, don't be too nerdy, and of course, straight A's." As he led me to the front of the dorm, I felt a mix of emotions: excitement for this new chapter, guilt for not speaking up more, and a hint of resentment towards my dad's meddling.

As I watched my dad's car disappear into the distance, I felt a mix of emotions: relief, excitement, and a hint of uncertainty. I took a deep breath, shouldering my luggage, and pushed open the creaky door to my new dorm room.

Inside, I found three girls around my age, each with a unique style. One was bald, with a confident smile; another had long, dark hair and warm, brown skin; and the third looked like she'd just rolled out of bed, with a confused expression.

"Hey," I said, trying to sound friendly.

The Indian girl spoke up, "Aren't you Amelia? Senator Addie's daughter? What are you doing here? This dorm is for scholarship students, and it's...not exactly luxurious."

I smiled, feeling a sense of belonging. "I know, I think I love it here."

The confused-looking girl helped me with my luggage, and we exchanged introductions. "I'm Rohini," the Indian girl said, "and this is Emily from New York."

"I'm Jennifer," the bald girl said, "but don't call me Jenny."

Rohini added, "You'll be sharing a room with Jenny...I mean, Jennifer."

As we chatted, Emily asked, "Why don't you dress like those other girls? You know, the ones who look like they just rolled out of a Hobo's catalog?"

I laughed. "I'm a nerd, straight A's are my thing. I don't really dress to impress."

"Lies," Jennifer said, rolling her eyes.

I turned to Rohini, "Why is she so mean and why do I get to share a room with her?" I asked, pointing at Jennifer.

Rohini chuckled, "That's because Emily and I are sharing a room, duh." She carried my bag to the room and came out, looking at me with a critical eye. "Don't you have a skin routine? Your face has a lot of acne"

I shrugged, "I don't fancy wasting money."

Jennifer snorted, "What's the point of your dad being a senator if his daughter can't enjoy it?"

Emily intervened, "Jennifer, be nice."

Rohini added, "Freshers are meant to resume last week, you should have resumed with us."

I explained, "I wasn't in the state, I travelled to South Korea with my cousin and it was really important."

Rohini raised an eyebrow. "South Korea? What's so important there?"

I hesitated, unsure how much to share. "My cousin's wedding. It was a family thing."

Jennifer snorted again. "A wedding? You missed the first week of college for a wedding?"

Emily defended me, "Hey, Jennifer, come on. It's not her fault."

Rohini added, "Yeah, and we're not exactly in a position to judge. We're all scholarship students here."

Jennifer crossed her arms, "Whatever. Just don't expect any special treatment because of your dad's status."

I felt a surge of frustration but tried to stay calm. "I don't expect anything. I just want to fit in and learn."

Rohini smiled, "Well, you've come to the right place. We may not have the fanciest dorm, but we've got spirit."

"So, daddy's girl, what are you studying?" Jennifer asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Quantum Physics," I replied, meeting her gaze confidently.

"Gurl, that's hard!" Emily exclaimed.

"I know, but like I said, I'm really smart," I said with a smile.

"Today's Sunday, and we usually don't have classes," Emily continued. "Tomorrow you need to be ready, and also, we have part-time jobs, so you'll be here alone most of the time."

I felt a twinge of anxiety at the thought of being alone, but also a sense of independence. "What do you guys do?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

Jennifer snorted, "Like you would ever stoop so low to do it."

Rohini intervened, "We work at a cafe, and they're recruiting! Come join us."

Jennifer burst out laughing, but Rohini's expression was genuine.

"Yes, sure," I said, making a mental note to check out the cafe job. Maybe it would be a good way to spend my alone time and get to know my roommates better.

As the night wore on, we continued talking, and I was surprised to find that Jennifer and I had more in common than I thought. Despite her occasional mean comments, we bonded over our shared intelligence and interests.

As my roommates settled in to read, I decided to relax and enjoy some music. I brought out my phone - a sleek, expensive brand - and put on my favorite playlist with my headphones. I climbed into my bunk bed, noticing that Jennifer's load was on top, so I assumed I'd take the bottom.

Minutes later, Jennifer entered the room and climbed into her bed. I removed my headphones and asked, "Hey, can I ask you a question?"

"What?" she replied gruffly.

"Can you please be nice to me?" I asked, trying to sound sincere.

Jennifer laughed, a deep, throaty sound. "Just so surprised why you ain't with the rich kids," she said, shaking her head.

"I'm not like them, I'm different," I explained. "If I had a choice, I wouldn't want my father to be that rich."

Jennifer's expression softened, and she looked at me with a hint of vulnerability. "You remind me so much of my rich ex-best friend," she said. "She was everything, but things changed when she found out I was poor and my mom was a janitor."

I nodded sympathetically. "Well, I guess she's a bitch, but not everyone is like her, I promise."

Just then, I noticed a collection of expensive-looking wigs on the floor. "Are those yours?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

Jennifer nodded, a hint of embarrassment on her face. "Yes, I stole them to cover my bald hair. I'm a cancer patient."

Before I could respond, Jennifer turned on her phone and blasted loud music, effectively ending our conversation. I put my headphones back on and tried to process what she had just revealed.