Our different worlds

A problem with a name

The sense of calm I'd managed to cultivate after the whirlwind at Alex's house was something I didn't want to lose, not after weeks of being thrown into chaos by his family and by my own struggles to fit in at Kingswood. I'd begun to settle back into my own rhythm, and even the gossip and stares had finally started to fade into the background. A few threats had continued for a while, and I knew that Alex, Dan, and Thomas had put in more than a few intimidating appearances in the cafeteria, shutting down murmurs and taunts before they could get too loud. I still felt a little strange being on the receiving end of all that attention, but when Alex held my hand in public, I felt confident, grounded. Safe.

But as Maeve, Julia, Amelia, and I were sprawled out in our dorm room, laughing about Alex's mom's strange sense of humor, that feeling of calm was shattered by a knock on the door, sharp and uninvited. The door swung open before I could answer, and standing there was Rose. Her expression-simmering with barely contained anger and jealousy-sent a chill through the room. Her eyes locked on me, and she sneered.

"You can stop pretending," she said, voice cold and cutting.

I blinked, stunned into silence for a moment. "Pretending about what?"

Her eyes narrowed as she took a step closer. "That you belong with Alex. He's mine, Evelyn. And if you think I'm going to let some... some charity case take my place, you're delusional."

The words stung, but I held her gaze, steady and unflinching. I could feel Maeve tense beside me, her whole body practically vibrating with fury. "You're the one who told King's Gossip," I said calmly. "You told them I was on a scholarship, didn't you?"

"Of course I did," she snapped, a smug smile on her face. "The whole school deserves to know the truth-that you're just a charity case, playing at being someone you're not."

Maeve practically flew out of her seat, hands clenched into fists. Julia grabbed her arm, whispering furiously for her to calm down, while Amelia placed a gentle but firm hand on Maeve's shoulder. Despite the tension in the room, I felt oddly... at peace. Rose's words only strengthened my resolve, and I found myself smiling, much to her frustration.

"You know," I said, my voice steady, "I'm not ashamed of where I come from. I'm proud of my family, and I've worked hard to be here. If you think you can make me feel ashamed of that, then you don't know me at all."

Rose's face twisted with anger, her mouth opening to spit out another insult, but I didn't let her. "I'm proud of who I am, and if Alex wants to be with me, it's because he knows my worth. I don't need to justify myself to you."

I watched as Rose's face contorted in frustration, her fists clenched as she seemed to realize her words had no effect on me. With an indignant huff, she turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Maeve let out a long breath, shaking her head. "I swear, Evelyn, I was one second away from-"

I laughed, reaching over to squeeze her hand. "She's not worth it."

Despite the lingering tension, the rest of the night was filled with laughter and stories, and for the first time in what felt like ages, I felt genuinely at peace. And for the next few weeks, things continued to go well. My time with Alex was filled with lighthearted moments and laughter, and even at school, things seemed to settle down. Rose still cast the occasional glare in my direction, but it felt like an afterthought-a tiny annoyance in the background, easily ignored.

But then, on an unremarkable Tuesday afternoon, I received a call from my mom. Her voice was soft, almost hesitant, and a strange sense of worry settled in my chest.

"Honey, can you come home this weekend?" she asked, her voice filled with an uncharacteristic tension.

"Of course, Mom," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Is everything okay?"

There was a pause, and then a quiet, "We'll talk when you get here."

The call ended, leaving me with a sinking feeling in my stomach. Later that evening, I told Alex about it, and he held my hand, his thumb gently brushing over my knuckles.

"Go home," he said softly. "See what's going on. I'll be here when you get back."

The next morning, I packed a bag and took the train home. I spent the journey lost in thought, wondering what could have happened to make my mom sound so... different. When I arrived, I found my parents sitting at the kitchen table, their faces drawn and weary.

"What's going on?" I asked, taking a seat across from them, my voice barely above a whisper.

My mom took a deep breath, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. "I... I lost my job."

The words hit me like a punch, leaving me momentarily speechless. "Lost it? Just... like that?"

She nodded, her gaze dropping to the table. "They said it was a sudden budget cut. No warning, no explanation. Just... gone."

My dad sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "With Ethan's school fees, it's been... difficult."

A pang of guilt twisted in my chest as I thought about the savings I'd been putting away from my summer jobs, the little nest egg I'd been so proud of. Without a second thought, I reached into my bag and pulled out an envelope, placing it on the table.

"Take it," I said, my voice steady despite the emotions swirling inside me. "It's not much, but... it'll help."

My mom's eyes filled with tears as she shook her head. "Oh, Evelyn, we can't... You worked so hard for that."

I smiled, trying to reassure her. "It's for you. You'll pay me back someday, right?"

They shared a bittersweet laugh, my mom wiping her eyes as my dad reached over to squeeze my hand. But as they began to talk, explaining the series of unexpected expenses that had been piling up-an old fridge that suddenly needed replacing, an inexplicably high rent increase-I felt a strange sense of unease.

"Can I see the rent notice?" I asked, a sinking feeling settling in my stomach.

My dad nodded, reaching into a drawer and pulling out a folded piece of paper. As I read it, a cold shiver ran down my spine. The company listed on the notice wasn't the one I was used to seeing. Instead, it was a new name, one I didn't recognize.

"Mom, did you notice this?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm. "This isn't the usual company."

She frowned, her brow creasing as she glanced at the paper. "I thought it was strange too, but... I assumed it was some sort of official change. They sent the notice, so..."

Something in me whispered that this wasn't right. I pulled out my laptop, typing in the name of the company, my heart pounding as I scrolled through the results. And then, there it was-Belmont Industries. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut, my stomach twisting as the implications sank in.

This wasn't just some random company. This was Alex's family's business. The very people who had made it clear that I wasn't welcome in their world. They hadn't just dismissed me; they'd found a way to reach into my life, to disrupt my family, my safety, my home.

I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady as I looked up at my mom. "Did they... did they give any reason for the increase?"

She shook her head, her eyes filled with confusion. "No, just a notice saying that the new rates were effective immediately."

The words echoed in my mind, each one sharpening the edges of my anger, my sense of betrayal. Alex's family hadn't just tried to push me away. They'd taken aim at the people I loved, at my family's security, at everything I'd worked so hard to protect.

For a moment, I considered telling my parents everything, explaining who was behind this and why. But I couldn't bring myself to do it-not yet, not without a plan. I forced a smile, reaching out to squeeze my mom's hand.

"Don't worry, Mom. We'll figure this out."

But as I sat there, the weight of what I'd discovered settling heavily in my chest, I knew one thing for certain: this was no longer just about me. This was about my family, about the people who had supported me, who had sacrificed for me. And no matter what it took, I was going to protect them.

But I knew I needed to talk to Alex.