Chapter 3

The next morning, I slung my backpack over my shoulder and headed out.

Andrew's car was parked out front.

Andrew and Frank were already sitting inside.

Suddenly, Nora zipped past me, flung open the car door, and jumped right in.

I instinctively stopped in my tracks.

Andrew's car was pretty much just for Nora.

Me? I always got dropped off by the family driver.

Andrew didn't start the car right away.

I could feel his gaze through the window, fixed right on me.

I kept my eyes down, fiddling with my backpack straps, pretending I didn't notice.

"Andrew, come on. If you don't hurry up, I'm gonna be late," Nora complained, sounding impatient.

Andrew just gave a noncommittal grunt, then out of the blue, looked at me, and said, "Aren't you getting in?"

I looked up and caught his eye.

I shot the pouting Nora a look and then just shook my head. "No, thanks. I'll wait for the driver."

Back when I first got brought home, I actually rode in Andrew's car once.

But that same night, Nora broke out in a rash. Apparently, she was "allergic." She never said it straight out, but the way she looked at me and the Quinns' glances told me everything I needed to know.

They saw me as filthy.

Andrew paused for a moment, then said, "Come on, get in. The driver took the day off."

I blinked in surprise.

The driver took the day off? No one told me.

When I glanced up, I saw Frank and Nora smirking, clearly in on it from the start.

It stung a little.

I was always the last to find out about anything in this family.

But honestly, I was used to it by now.

"Honestly, I was planning to take the bus anyway," I said, smiling.

Andrew frowned, looking like he had more to say.

Frank, riding shotgun, scoffed, "Andrew, stop wasting your sympathy on this charity case. She's been dirt poor her whole life. Just let her handle herself."

"Come on, let's get moving. Nora's got a performance this morning," Frank urged.

Andrew set his jaw and looked away.

The black sedan drove off.

"Andrew, you really shouldn't waste your sympathy on that ungrateful girl," Frank complained.

His voice carried back to me on the wind, and his mocking laughter echoed behind me.

"Walking all the way down the hill? It's a good half hour just to the bus stop from our place. That country bumpkin will be wiped out by the time she gets there. Serves her right."

I was speechless.

I turned and headed to the garage, grabbing the beat-up bike I brought with me when I moved in.

I was not an idiot.

Frank, however, seemed to think otherwise.

*****

Standing outside the classroom again, I felt a little awkward.

I hadn't even gone in yet.

Someone noticed me before I could step inside.

"Well, well, look who's back, straight-A queen! I thought you'd been kicked out for good this time!"

It was Julian Johnson, whistling at me with that mischievous grin.

Lily Linwood, right next to him, shot him a glare and elbowed him, saying, "Ignore him. You know nothing good ever comes out of his mouth."

Lily was the daughter of a jewelry tycoon. She looked all soft and delicate, but she was brutally honest and never sugarcoated anything.

"Summer, seriously, what would you say if my parents adopted you? My mom's always wanted another daughter," she whispered with a playful grimace.

"That two-faced girl in your house? Ugh, don't even get me started. And the rest of your Quinns... Seriously, are they all nuts or what?" Lily muttered, rolling her eyes.

Her family's business empire stretched all over the world. They were just as loaded as the Quinns. Lily had zero filter and never cared who she offended.

I just gave her a smile and kept quiet.

"Hey, Summer, you still doing homework for people? I'm a regular. Give me priority, okay?"

A chubby girl squeezed over, her eyes shining as he looked at me.

It was Penelope Ashford. Her family ran a restaurant chain.

This was a fancy prep school for the privileged.

Basically, it was packed with heirs and heiresses from the top families, kids who were all set to inherit their family empires one day.

Homework? Just another annoying chore for them.

For me, though, it was how I kept myself afloat.

The teachers knew my situation, so they pretty much turned a blind eye.

"Yeah, I'm still taking orders," I replied with a friendly smile and a nod.

Other students swarmed over.

Some were curious about where I'd disappeared to these past few days.

Others were making bets, wondering if I'd get booted out for a third time.

Penelope just stood there, blocking everyone else with her chubby body.

Honestly, it was kind of funny.

Dealing with these pampered rich kids was way simpler than handling the Quinns.

They wear their likes and dislikes right on their sleeves. No sneaky tricks, and no drama.

Out of everyone, Penelope was especially good to me.

When I was broke, I'd just hide out in the bathroom at lunchtime.

Penelope soon found me and dragged me straight to a restaurant.

She ordered enough food to feed three people.

Later, Penelope even had her chef deliver an extra lunch to school for me every day.

I was genuinely touched.

I couldn't help asking her why she was always so nice to me.

She rubbed her chin and put on a serious face.

"I guess... I've got this whole hero vibe deep down?" Penelope said.

She stopped and then burst out laughing. "Plus, my life mission is to turn every skinny friend I have into a chubby one. Chubby is the future of beauty. Summer, are you with me?"

That was so over-the-top.

I couldn't really relate.

I couldn't help but laugh, and the tears I was about to shed just disappeared.