blackmailed

chapter one

monday
the repetition ringing of my alarm fills the emptiness of my room, is it six thirty already? I grab my phone from my bed side table and scroll through instagram one last time before getting up. usually I like to lay in bed contemplating whether my education is really worth it, but I'd rather skip the part where gigi - my best friend lectures me about how this school is the only chance I have at making a living for myself. and she's right.

I squeeze into a pair of ripped jeans and pick out a black turtle neck I've had for forever. for someone who can barely afford a pair of shoes, I have an expensive wardrobe all thanks to my years of shoplifting and stealing from my fare share of wealthy foster parents. I pull my hair into a high pony tail and make my way to the kitchen. elio - my roommate hands me a plate of pancakes that have been drenched in syrup, mmm my favorite. I take a huge bite and have to stop myself from moaning at how good these pancakes are. which by the way, are pretty freaking good.

"are any of your booty calls here that you should warn me about?" I say through a mouthful of food.

"not today, justin left an hour ago." he winks while sitting down in the chair across from me.

I laugh, "doctor justin or justin justin?"

...

his silence speaks for itself. "seriously you're sleeping with that asshole again? you can do better."

"I can't help myself, he gets in my head." his voice quieter than intended.

I roll my eyes, "you can help yourself, you're just choosing not to. besides justin the doctor is way better looking."

"he's way too old for me we've been through this already." he looks disappointed, don't worry elio I'm sure there's another cute boy you can use your ridiculously good looks on.

"he's not too old for me." I wink jokingly. although justin the doctor is pretty attractive. what is it with doctors? they're always so hot.

he gives me a look of disgust, "you're older than me by three weeks. don't get too ahead of yourself."

I look down at my phone. shit it's eight o'clock. I down the last of my pancakes and quickly rinse my plate. as much as I hate waking up as early as I do, I really can't afford to miss any classes. especially since I'm already hanging by a thread with my school funds.

"hey I gotta go. pick me up at three?" I ask while jumping around the room in attempts of getting my shoe on without having to untie it.

"only if you're still on for tonight." oh shit I completely forgot, the party's on tonight.

I groan, "I don't even know why you take me to these lame rich people parties, you just end up ditching me for some guy you just met."

"you promised." he says as if I'm one to keep promises.

I sigh, "fine, see you at three."

***

I meet gigi at the front of the school just before eight thirty. I'm surprised I made it on time, usually I always end up getting held up for some stupid reason. we walk into the cafeteria and sit in our usual spot away from everything. I unzip my bag and grab out a bottle of ice tea that I had originally been saving for lunch, but it's too long of a wait. and if I have to deal with morons for the entire day I should at least sooth my ice tea craving right?

"xavier's such an ass." I turn around to find what she's looking at, it's xavier yelling at some poor kid who accidentally bumped into him while cat - his girlfriend shields herself behind him.

I roll my eyes and turn back around, "what's his deal anyway?"

"well If I was dating the skankiest girl in school I'd be pretty pissed all the time too." she watches them in disgust as they walk away holding hands. you will never see them apart, whenever one of them goes somewhere the other has to follow. they may as well be attached by the hip, It's pretty disgusting to be honest.

there's a long screech that comes from the loud speaker. "willow siore please make your way to the principal's office." I wonder what that's about.

"that's my cue, I'll see you at lunch." I push myself off the table and walk in the direction of the office.

this can't be good. maybe the school finally found out I was the one who keyed the principals car. If that's the case then I'm in deep shit. I wait outside his office and stare at all the posters on the walls.

I can't believe they still bother with the talent shows, no one goes after what happened last year. basically while this girl was preforming her act she vomited all over the front row, it was hilarious. I wish someone recorded it.

after about twenty minutes of staring at pretentious posters about school activities and what not I'm finally told to go in.

I close the door and take a seat opposite to mr trevandè, "you wanted to see me?"

"yes actually, I've noticed that you're behind in your school funds, you haven't paid a cent in over a year." he continues to flip through a binder while examining every page.

"and you're just saying this now?" I shoot back.

"if you don't pay the school one thousand dollars to cover expenses by friday we'll have no choice but to kick you out. Is that clear?" he folds his arms and leans back into his chair, what a piece of shit.

"crystal." I leave his office and slam the door behind me.

the hate I have for this school...

the rest of the day is a blur. all I can think about is how the hell I'm suppose to get one thousand dollars by friday. I could pick up a few more shifts at the coffee bean but that would only leave me with a few extra bucks, and I wouldn't get paid till next monday. I'm so screwed. I wait for elio in the parking lot, everyone else has left. I watch as a crow pecks away at an old bag of chips that's being dragged along by the wind. if only my life was that simple. a crows only problems are what they're going to eat for their next meal.

finally elio pulls into the parking lot and I get in without giving him any time to stop. I look out the window for most of the drive home, all the energy I had left my body the second I entered the principal's office.

"rough day?" he inquires, his eyes still glued to the road.

I close my eyes and sink back into the car seat, only wishing for it to swallow me whole. "yeah.. something like that."

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to be continued..