Chapter 2
The next day, during homeroom, the teacher went out of her way to introduce me to everyone.
But the moment I started to speak, the whole class broke out in smirks.
Even though there were plenty of empty seats, the kids nearby glared at me and made it clear I wasn't welcome.
"Ms. Myers, I can't stand that cheap vibe. Estelle can't sit next to me," one kid said.
"She's way too tall. If she sits in front of me, she'll block my view," another complained.
"I don't like her either. Tell her to get lost," a third chimed in.
Dana frowned, looking troubled.
Just then, a basketball came flying out of nowhere and smacked him right in the head.
The fat kid who had been complaining about my "cheap vibe" jerked his head to the side and toppled right off his stool.
"Who the hell threw that?" he yelled, scrambling to get up.
But before he could finish his rant, he saw who had thrown the ball striding over.
"Francis? What's wrong? Thanks, man, that really woke me up," the kid said, instantly switching to a fawning grin.
He switched to a fawning grin in an instant, smooth as butter.
With the whole class watching, Francis grabbed my floppy backpack and dropped it onto the empty seat beside him.
"What are you afraid of? Just sit wherever you want," he said.
Francis shook out his sweaty hair, tilting his head just enough to pose for the perfect shot.
He was definitely handsome, like a model.
When he noticed me staring, Francis smirked and sat down with lazy confidence.
Francis pulled out his phone and started typing away, sending messages one after another.
Then he sat there, waiting for a reply.
That look in Francis's eyes. I had seen it more times than I cared to remember.
It was just like a cat toying with a mouse, enjoying every second before the kill.
Thinking back to my roommate who bolted out of there, she wasn't the villain the rumors made her out to be.
The only thing that made sense was that Francis must have set her up.
I twisted the cap off and, acting all clumsy, spilled water right onto Francis's shirt.
He shot up, pissed off, and dropped his phone onto the desk.
While pretending to wipe his shirt down for him, I managed to sneak a peek at his phone. He was chatting in a group called "Hunting."
Francis texted: [She's crushing on me hard right now, totally grateful. Give me a week and she'll be mine.]
Katelyn replied: [Francis wins again? No challenge at all. Hey, Julius and Nelson, say something.
[Alright, here's the deal. Whoever wins her first, I'm theirs.]
Julius replied quickly: [For real?]
Katelyn: [A promise is a promise.]
Nelson took a few minutes before replying, [Isn't this kind of shady?]
No one bothered to answer him.
When Francis saw the message, his Adam's apple twitched, like he was itching for something.
He paused for a moment, then unbuttoned his shirt, his abs practically radiating alpha energy.
"Wipe this spot too," Francis said, his voice low and teasing.
I jumped back, flustered, but my stomach started rumbling like crazy.
I financed my tuition with a loan.
After blowing my summer job cash on a bus ticket and some essentials, I was down to my last 24 bucks.
Before I hit rock bottom, I needed to land a part-time gig.
Francis seemed to pick up on how broke I was. He slung his jacket over his shoulder and invited me to grab lunch at the cafeteria.
The third floor was where they did fresh stir-fry. After checking if there was anything I didn't eat, he went ahead and ordered five of the biggest main dishes on the menu.
"From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you weren't like the other girls here," Francis said.
He leaned closer, his eyes locked on mine, like he meant every word.
If I hadn't seen what was going on in that secret "Hunting" group chat, any sheltered girl would have fallen for his act.
Francis tried to lure me into being his plaything, making one sink into depravity for a lifetime. The price was merely a single meal.
This game was so unfair.
"Dig in," Francis said.
He pushed the dishes toward me.
The slow-cooked barbecue ribs smelled amazing. They were made with these tiny, tender cuts I had never tasted before.
I took a bite, and it was pure bliss.
While I was having my meal, Francis kept typing away and chatting on his phone, a confident smirk playing on his lips.
If he was going to be this proactive, I might as well take advantage of him.
After we finished eating, I couldn't help but gush, "I've never had food this good before. Man, I wish I could eat like this every day."
Francis froze for a second.