Chapter 8
Daphne
Freshmen year of high school
Daphne sat in the back of the classroom, her worn-out backpack slouched beside her desk. She listened quietly as the rich kids in her high school chattered excitedly about their luxurious holidays and extravagant Christmas gifts. Their voices filled the room with tales of tropical vacations, designer clothes, and the latest gadgets.
One of the girls, Sarah, with her perfectly styled hair and expensive jewelry, turned to Daphne with a teasing smile. "So, Daphne," Sarah began, her tone dripping with faux curiosity, "what did you do for the break?"
Daphne shifted uncomfortably in her seat, feeling the weight of their eyes on her. "We stayed home," she replied softly, trying to keep her voice steady and desperately wishing her family had done something remotely interesting over the break.
"Stayed home?" Another girl chimed in, wrinkling her nose. "My parents are renovating our house so my mom and I flew to the South of France and then to Morocco. We came back, and my dad surprised me by redoing my entire room. I had no idea he was going to do that."
"Hmm," Sarah hummed, her eyes still on Daphne, looking her up and down slowly. "What do your parents do again, Daphne?"
"My dad's a police officer, and my mom works for a nonprofit," Daphne spoke quietly, wishing they would all go back to ignoring her like they usually did. But for some reason, Sarah's eyes would not leave her.
"That's so cute," Sarah replied, not an ounce of warmth in her eyes. "I think our maid's husband is a police officer or something like that."
"Oh, Daphne!" the other girl whirled around in her seat. "Are you going to the end-of-the-year trip?"
"To Peru?" Daphne asked.
"Yeah, I think that's what Mr. Malbern was talking about," Sarah said with a sigh. "I don't know. What's there to see in Peru?"
"Lots of things," Daphne said. "Machu Picchu, for example."
"Are you going?" One of the girls asked. "There are only four seats for the freshmen class and out of everyone, you have the grades to qualify."
"Please," Sarah snorted. "With a police officer's salary, do you really think she can afford tickets, hotels, and other expenses?"
Daphne felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, "I've actually been saving."
"Oh, that's so cute," Sarah laughed with her hand over her heart. "Do you have like a little piggy bank?"
Before Daphne could reply, Mr. Malbern walked into class and cleared his throat. The laughter died down, but Daphne could still feel the heat on her face. She shook out her hair to cover her face, but it only caught Sarah's attention more. With her face pinched, Sarah looked down at Daphne's shoes and giggled. She leaned over to her friend and poked her with a pencil before pointing to Daphne's shoes. When they looked up and saw that Daphne was staring back at them, they giggled once again.
"Nice shoes," Sarah said. "But I don't know if they will survive a trip to Peru."
Daphne felt a lump form in her throat. She tried to blink back the tears threatening to spill over, but the sting of their words cut deep. All she wanted was to disappear.
Later that night, as the family sat around for dinner, Daphne picked at the food on her plate, feeling her stomach churn at the thought of consuming even just one bite. Her mother had made her favorite meal, but it now seemed unappealing, almost repulsive. She stared at the mashed potatoes, the juicy steak, and the fresh green beans, but all she could think about were the words of Ms. Holly, her dance teacher.
Earlier that day, Ms. Holly had pulled her aside after class. "Daphne, I need to talk to you about your solo performance," she had said, her tone serious. Daphne's heart had leaped with anticipation, thinking she was about to receive praise for her hard work. Instead, Ms. Holly continued, "I'm afraid I have to demote you from the solo. Steven can't lift you properly, and until you lose a few pounds, you won't get your solo for the Spring Recital."
The words had hit Daphne like a punch to the gut. She had nodded numbly, unable to muster a response. All her hard work, all those hours spent practicing, now seemed worthless.
"Daphne," Bill, Daphne's father, began, noticing her reluctance to eat. "Honey, is everything okay?"
Daphne looked up, unable to hide the unshed tears in her eyes.
"Dad, I want to change schools," she said, her voice trembling. "We're not like all the other kids and their families there. They make fun of me for it all the time. I'm tired of feeling like I don't belong."
Bill's expression softened as he listened to his daughter. He reached across the table and took her hand in his.
"Daphne, a good education is something that makes everyone equal," he said. "You have so much potential, and I don't want you to lose sight of that because of a few cruel kids or a thoughtless comment. You need to stay in that school to get the education you deserve. Your chances of getting into an Ivy League college will be tripled."
Daphne bit her lip, the tears finally spilling over. "But, Dad-"
Bill squeezed her hand gently. "I know it's tough, sweetheart. But remember, you're stronger than you think. Those kids might have more money, but you have something far more valuable: resilience and determination. We'll get through this together."
Daphne's mother, Molly, chimed in, her voice soothing but firm. "Your dad's right, Daphne. We understand it's difficult, but changing schools isn't the answer. You're getting a top-notch education where you are, and that's going to open doors for you in the future."
Daphne's heart sank. "But they make me feel so small like I don't matter. Can't we just look at other schools?"
Bill shook his head gently. "We want what's best for you, and this school is giving you opportunities you wouldn't get elsewhere. I know it's hard, but you have to trust us on this."
Molly nodded in agreement. "You have to rise above their pettiness. Focus on your goals and remember why you're there."
Daphne looked down at her plate, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation. "Okay," she whispered, though she didn't feel okay at all.
Bill gave her hand one last squeeze before letting go. "We believe in you, Daphne. You'll get through this."
Daphne nodded, but the lump in her throat remained. She knew her parents wanted the best for her, but it didn't make the daily struggles any easier to bear. She forced a small smile and resumed picking at her food, her mind still swirling with doubts and insecurities.
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Lily
Lily sat quietly and awkwardly at the kitchen table, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her eyes darted around the room, taking in the opulent surroundings. The sound of the refrigerator opening seemed louder in the silence. Wendy's mother poured herself a cup of coffee with practiced ease, her movements deliberate but tense. As she reached into the fridge for an ice pack, Lily couldn't help but notice the way Amanda tried to keep her face turned away, the faint outline of a bruise barely concealed by her makeup.
Wendy stood by the counter, her eyes fixed on her mother with a mixture of worry and helplessness. The silence in the room was heavy, thick with unspoken words. Amanda clutched the ice pack and her coffee, mumbling something about needing to lie down, before quickly exiting the kitchen. The door swung shut behind her, leaving Lily and Wendy in the oppressive quiet, the air filled with the weight of what they didn't say.
"I can stay," Lily spoke quietly. "It's really not a problem at all."
"Thank you," Wendy sighed, pushing away from the counter. "But I got this."
"Are you sure?"
Wendy nodded, her expression firm despite the tiredness in her eyes. "Yeah... positive."
With a reluctant nod, Lily stood up, her chair scraping lightly against the floor. Wendy walked her to the door, the silence between them a comforting presence rather than a burden. As they reached the front door, Lily turned to Wendy, her concern etched clearly on her face.
"If you need anything, just call me, okay?"
Wendy managed a small smile. "I will. Thanks, Lily."
"Of course," Lily squeezed Wendy's hand before stepping out into the early morning light.
The air was crisp and cool. Lily got into her car as Wendy watched her from the door. The engine purred to life as Lily buckled in and glanced back at the house one last time. She knew Wendy needed space and privacy right now, even though she wished she could do more to help.
With one last wave, Lily pulled out of the driveway. The streets were almost empty, the town still shrouded in the quiet of dawn. As she merged onto the highway, the vast expanse of asphalt stretched out before her, only a few cars scattered here and there.
Lily's thoughts drifted back to Wendy and Amanda, the image of the bruise on Amanda's face replaying in her mind. Lily's heart ached for Wendy, and she wished there was something more she could do. She felt a pang of guilt for leaving, but Wendy's insistence had been clear. Wendy was strong, and Lily had to respect her need for space.
Lost in her thoughts, it took Lily a moment to realize the black car behind her on the empty road seemed to be following her.
Lily glanced in her rearview mirror, her heart starting to pound a little faster. The car, an older model with dark-tinted windows, maintained a steady distance behind her. Trying to shake off her unease, she reminded herself that it was probably just a coincidence. Maybe they were simply heading in the same direction.
But as the miles rolled by and the car continued to follow her, the feeling of dread grew stronger. The highway was mostly empty, making the presence of the car even more noticeable. Lily gripped the steering wheel tightly, her mind racing with possibilities.
Trying to keep calm, she took a deep breath and focused on the road ahead, hoping that the car would eventually turn off and leave her alone. She scanned the horizon for any signs of other vehicles, her eyes flicking back to the rearview mirror every few seconds. The early morning light cast long shadows across the highway, adding to her growing sense of unease.
As she neared her campus, the familiar landmarks brought a small sense of comfort, but the black car still lingered behind. Lily's thoughts whirledâwas she being paranoid? She considered calling someone but didn't want to sound foolish. Just as she was about to take the turn into the campus entrance, the car suddenly veered off to the right, disappearing down a side street.
Relief washed over her, and she let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. A bit of embarrassment followed. She felt silly for overreacting so much. Maybe it really had just been a coincidence. Shaking her head, she drove into the campus parking lot.
As she reached her floor and the doors slid open, she stepped out, only to freeze in her tracks.
There, just a few steps ahead, was Gabriel, emerging from Heather Barker's dorm room. He was pulling on his black t-shirt while the silver dog tag around his neck glistened in the sunlight pouring in through the hallway windows. His hair was disheveled and the faint smell of alcohol completed the red tired eyes.
Lily felt her heart sink as she watched him. Gabriel ran a hand through his hair, tousling it further before his gaze fell on her at the end of the hall. He held her gaze with an intensity that momentarily caught her off guard as he walked toward the elevator, his strides confident and unshaken by his hangover. He shifted his leather jacket to one hand as his brows furrowed and he looked away, seemingly uninterested in Lily's presence.
Lily felt a surge of emotions run through her - upset, confused, and hurt by his indifferent behavior. She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the lump forming in her throat. As Gabriel reached the elevator, he pressed the button and waited, his back turned to her. Feeling dismissed, Lily turned to leave, her footsteps heavy with disappointment.
She heard the ding of the elevator and then the sound of the sliding doors opening as she stood before her door, struggling to pull out her keys. She figured Gabriel was long gone when suddenly his voice called out to her.
"Lily," he said, his tone flat and detached. Lily stopped and turned around, her eyes meeting his once more.
"No tutoring today," he stated, his expression unreadable.
Lily nodded slowly, her emotions swirling.
"Okay," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
Gabriel held her gaze as the elevator doors closed, leaving Lily standing alone in the hallway.
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Levi
Junior Year of High School
"And over here is our third campus library," the tour guide spoke as she led the small group through the halls of Princeton University.
Levi tried to concentrate on the guide's words, eager to absorb every detail about his potential future alma mater. However, his efforts were continually ruined by Evie, who seemed utterly disinterested in the tour.
Levi shot Evie a subtle but sharp glance, hoping to convey his annoyance. But she was too engrossed in something else. Her eyes were fixed on a handsome college boy standing nearby, and she seemed more intrigued by him than by the prestigious library they were being shown.
Frustration mounting, Levi grabbed her elbow and hurried her along with the group
"Pay attention," he whispered.
Evie barely acknowledged him, her focus still on the boy. Levi sighed inwardly, realizing it was futile.
For the remainder of the tour, he made a deliberate effort to ignore Evie, choosing instead to immerse himself in the tour guide's explanations and mentally note everything about Princeton University that appealed to him.
At the end of the tour, as everybody bored back on the bus, Evie walked up the aisle and dropped her bag onto the seat next to Levi.
"Move over," she said.
"Oh, you're talking to me now?" Levi looked up.
"I figured I save you from having to sit with Camile for the next few hours," Evie said, sinking into the seat.
"I like her company," Levi's eyes narrowed. "She's very intelligent."
"Why?" Evie laughed. "Because she has a fuckin' encyclopedia up her ass? That's not a sign of intelligence."
"And you ignoring the tour and undressing college boys is a sign of intelligence?"
"I don't need to listen to the tour," Evie shook her head. "Of course, they're going to only tell us the best things about this place. It's like dating. You don't go on a first date and tell your date you have no money in the account and you live in your parents' basement."
"I forget you're too smart for all of us," Levi jeered. "So smart that you can't even bother to try."
Ignoring him, Evie rolled her eyes and pulled her bag away from between them.
"Can you please go back to your seat?" Levi asked.
"I can't sit with Mason for another second," Evie frowned. "Please. He's insufferable when you're stuck on a bus with him."
"Go find another seat."
"I'm fine right here, thank you very much," Evie smiled, knowing she was getting under Levi's skin.
Levi also knew arguing with Evie would be a waste of time. She was stubborn before compare and the smartest move would be to ignore her.
"So," Evie turned toward him.
Levi glanced at her, a hint of irritation in his expression. "What?"
"Are you planning to apply for early admission?" Evie asked casually.
"Why do you care?" Levi replied curtly, his tone sharp.
Evie hesitated. "I was just thinking, if you apply early, maybe I will too."
Levi's annoyance flared into a more direct frustration. His brows furrowed as he looked toward her long and hard.
"Evelyn."
"Yeah?" Evie smiled.
"I don't want to go to college with you," Levi said. "Go and be your own person somewhere else."
Evie blinked, surprised by Levi's bluntness. The tension between them was palpable as she processed his words. She opened her mouth to respond but closed it again, unsure of what to say.
Levi turned away, staring out the window, determined to distance himself from Evie for the remainder of the trip. His frustration with her lack of focus and apparent disregard for his feelings during the tour had reached its breaking point.
After several minutes, Evie quietly got up from her seat, her movements subdued as she moved to another seat farther down the bus. Levi felt a pang of guilt gnawed at him for his harshness. He hadn't meant to be so blunt, but frustration had gotten the better of him. Despite this, he didn't say anything to Evie as she settled into her new seat at the back of the bus beside Mason.
Poor babies :(