quickly, and can easily put others in their place. You’re the first truly promising student I’ve had in years. I reward those that please me. Continue to please me and you’ll be amazed by the doors that will open up for you,” she glibly explained.
“Thank you,” I managed before she left the room.
Just as the door was about to close, she opened it back up and stuck her head back in. “By the way, I know that haircut isn’t nearly as short as it looks. You can start wearing it down.” Then she was gone.
I stared at the door in absolute amazement. In a few short days the woman I thought would be my worst enemy had become the best ally I had in my new life. Dumbfounded by the turn of events, I turned my attention back to my new living quarters.
Three full-sized black leather couches and glass end tables formed a U around the edge of the living room. The wall behind me was covered with a huge entertainment system that included a huge viewing screen and gaming systems, like the ones I had used in arcades – but these didn’t require credits to play.
I started to walk towards the kitchen, but the click-clack of my shoes made me look down. Wow, the floors were real hardwood, even in the kitchen, which was easily three times the size of the other girls’. I had to laugh when I saw that even my washer and dryer were nicer – sleek, black, front-loading and industrial strength. This apartment clearly wasn’t designed for a student’s use.
At first I was a bit surprised when I entered what I thought was my bedroom. Unlike the other rooms, it was small, with only a small bed, bureau, a little closet and a tiny, tiny bathroom – but then I realized that it was a guest bedroom. My bedroom was the second doorway, and it was huge, with a canopied king-sized bed in the center of it. I opened another door within the room and discovered it had a huge walk-in closet with all of my clothes already in it. Through the other door awaited my dream bathroom. It had both a Jacuzzi tub and a shower. A marble vanity ran the length of the wall opposite the tub. On top of it was spread out all the beauty products and make-up I could ever need.
Well if any of the girls didn’t really hate me, they certainly would after they saw my new apartment. I couldn’t wait to tell Byron about it.
Oh. I can’t call him up anymore.
Self-loathing filled me as I stared at my stupid reflection and my ridiculous hairstyle in the mirror. I grabbed a brush off the counter and violently began to brush it out, not caring how much it hurt or if I broke every remaining strand of hair around my face.
I didn’t stop until every hair on my head hung limply, but even then I didn’t really look like myself. I was rapidly transforming into someone I didn’t recognize, and it wasn’t just my hair and clothes. I didn’t even have the same name anymore. I wasn’t sure if I could like the new me. Maybe the girls were right turning their backs on me.
A soft knock on my door interrupted my mental tirade. I took a deep breath and steeled myself for the girls’ reactions to my apartment. I expected them to range from silent loathing to outright hissy fits. What I didn’t expect was to see Avery’s smiling face standing in my doorway.
“I bring gifts and an invitation,” Avery announced as he held up a trash bag and a roll of duct tape. He answered my confused expression by saying, “You’ll see.” Then he walked into my apartment like he owned the place. “So have your first few days as a fast-tracker been enjoyable?” he asked as he surveyed the room.
“That all depends on your point of view. Yeah, I got the nice apartment, and I have the biggest wardrobe. But Mrs. Glabough decided to rename me Zandria and the rest of the girls hate my guts and won’t even speak to me,” I complained.
“In my book, that counts as an outstanding first few days. I had a feeling you’d do well, Zandria .” But seeing my unimpressed look he added, “Look,
“Thank you,” I managed before she left the room.
Just as the door was about to close, she opened it back up and stuck her head back in. “By the way, I know that haircut isn’t nearly as short as it looks. You can start wearing it down.” Then she was gone.
I stared at the door in absolute amazement. In a few short days the woman I thought would be my worst enemy had become the best ally I had in my new life. Dumbfounded by the turn of events, I turned my attention back to my new living quarters.
Three full-sized black leather couches and glass end tables formed a U around the edge of the living room. The wall behind me was covered with a huge entertainment system that included a huge viewing screen and gaming systems, like the ones I had used in arcades – but these didn’t require credits to play.
I started to walk towards the kitchen, but the click-clack of my shoes made me look down. Wow, the floors were real hardwood, even in the kitchen, which was easily three times the size of the other girls’. I had to laugh when I saw that even my washer and dryer were nicer – sleek, black, front-loading and industrial strength. This apartment clearly wasn’t designed for a student’s use.
At first I was a bit surprised when I entered what I thought was my bedroom. Unlike the other rooms, it was small, with only a small bed, bureau, a little closet and a tiny, tiny bathroom – but then I realized that it was a guest bedroom. My bedroom was the second doorway, and it was huge, with a canopied king-sized bed in the center of it. I opened another door within the room and discovered it had a huge walk-in closet with all of my clothes already in it. Through the other door awaited my dream bathroom. It had both a Jacuzzi tub and a shower. A marble vanity ran the length of the wall opposite the tub. On top of it was spread out all the beauty products and make-up I could ever need.
Well if any of the girls didn’t really hate me, they certainly would after they saw my new apartment. I couldn’t wait to tell Byron about it.
Oh. I can’t call him up anymore.
Self-loathing filled me as I stared at my stupid reflection and my ridiculous hairstyle in the mirror. I grabbed a brush off the counter and violently began to brush it out, not caring how much it hurt or if I broke every remaining strand of hair around my face.
I didn’t stop until every hair on my head hung limply, but even then I didn’t really look like myself. I was rapidly transforming into someone I didn’t recognize, and it wasn’t just my hair and clothes. I didn’t even have the same name anymore. I wasn’t sure if I could like the new me. Maybe the girls were right turning their backs on me.
A soft knock on my door interrupted my mental tirade. I took a deep breath and steeled myself for the girls’ reactions to my apartment. I expected them to range from silent loathing to outright hissy fits. What I didn’t expect was to see Avery’s smiling face standing in my doorway.
“I bring gifts and an invitation,” Avery announced as he held up a trash bag and a roll of duct tape. He answered my confused expression by saying, “You’ll see.” Then he walked into my apartment like he owned the place. “So have your first few days as a fast-tracker been enjoyable?” he asked as he surveyed the room.
“That all depends on your point of view. Yeah, I got the nice apartment, and I have the biggest wardrobe. But Mrs. Glabough decided to rename me Zandria and the rest of the girls hate my guts and won’t even speak to me,” I complained.
“In my book, that counts as an outstanding first few days. I had a feeling you’d do well, Zandria .” But seeing my unimpressed look he added, “Look,
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