Palm South University Season 1 Omnibus
“You’re much too pretty to be a lawyer.”
    I don’t even try to argue. “I have to go, Mom. Talk soon.”
    “Okay, darling. Kisses.”
    Suddenly, my need for a drink escalates from an eight to an eleven.
    My parents are from what I’ve always known as “old money”. They both come from rich parents who also come from rich parents. None of the women in my family have ever worked a day in their life, unless you count fitness and party-hosting as work. My mom was hesitant to even entertain my idea of getting a degree at all, but conceded only when she realized I’d probably need to go to college if I wanted to meet a doctor or an entrepreneur.
    I may be the only girl in the country whose parents would be disappointed if I passed the BAR.
    When I get to Ralph’s, Skyler, Cassie, Bo, and Jess are already waiting at a back table. It’s happy hour, so I slide up to the bar and grab a cheap plastic cup filled with beer before heading back to them.
    Mother would be so proud.
    “Let me guess,” I say, chugging half my beer before taking a seat next to Bo. “Lei was busy again?”
    “We shouldn’t be worried, right?” Skyler asks, her brows furrowed.
    “Why would we be?” Jess challenges. We all turn to Skyler, waiting. She looks uneasy, like maybe she said something she shouldn’t have.
    Shrugging us off, she grabs her drink and lifts it to her lips. “I don’t know. No reason. I’m just being weird.”
    No one pushes the subject, but when I see Jess sketchily glaring at some bald guy across the room, I decide it’s the perfect time to call her out. “Speaking of weird, what’s going on with you and teacher guy?” I waggle my brows and Jess groans.
    “He’s annoying.”
    “Oh?” Bo chimes in. “So you’re not into him anymore?”
    “Oh I’m still very into him.”
    We all exchange blank stares.
    “He’s annoying because he won’t go the fuck away.” She groans. “I’m not allowed to have him, yet he has to look sexy as hell in class every day and then he somehow happens to party at the same bars, too. I mean really,” she dramatically gestures toward where the bald guy she was just staring at is seated at the bar. I guess that’s Jarrett. “How unfair is it that he looks that good right now and I’m three drinks past buzzed?”
    “Just go talk to him,” Skyler urges, being her normal, confident self. “I mean seriously, he probably wants to bone, too.”
    “No way,” Jess argues, shaking her head. “You should see the pained looks he gives me in class. Like I’m the biggest regret he has and he’s just waiting for my ticking time bomb to go off and expose his shit.”
    We all fall silent, unsure of how to argue that. If I were Jarrett, I’d be worried about Jess blabbing, too. He has more to lose. He has everything to lose.
    Suddenly, a wide grin breaks out on Bo’s face. “Well look who decided to show.”
    Ashlei gives her a pointed look. “Talking shit about me, girls?”
    “Always,” Skyler jokes, cheersing Ashlei’s fresh cup of beer. “Looks like you have some catching up to do again.”
    “Well,” she concedes, lifting her cup as we all do the same. “I guess it’s a good thing I like a challenge.”

 
    SITTING AT THE SORORITY HOUSE is driving me insane. I don’t feel prepared for the competition tomorrow, but there’s nothing more I can do. I practiced all day and if I do any more, I’m going to be too sore and worn out to compete. This is the time when I’m supposed to rest and prep my body, but all I feel is anxiety.
    Ever since I can remember, I’ve always been competitive. And not just a little bit, but to a fault. I blame my need to win for all my failures in dance throughout the years. I would constantly push myself too hard and then punish myself if I didn’t win. I even went through a cutting phase, which I knew was wrong and hurtful and stupid but I did it anyway. Now, I’m older. I’m more mature and I’ve learned from my past.
    But I still

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