"I am never going to have a boyfriend."

She stared up at the ceiling, laying in the bed wide awake instead of the dreamland that she would rather spend her time in.

Yesterday, her classmates had made sure to make fun of her in front of the entire school and that included the seniors. Everyone was laughing at her and she was sure that they had got a good look on her face. If they had not, then the photos circulated around would definitely make everyone remember her.

Her eyes act with sleep and tiredness. It was not hard to come by, she could fall asleep at anywhere and at any point of time but she continued to evaluate her life.

Was the cruelty that she faced every day worth living? This snide remarks, snarky commentary and the bullying, what is it worth going through this every single day just for a future that this school promised to give her?

"Victoria!"

"Shit," she cursed and winced, "coming!" She hollered back before grabbing uniform and rushing into the bathroom. Throwing them on after a bath, she ran downstairs just in time for her mother to place a plate for her at the table.

"No running, kid." Vera chided slowly, the wrinkles moving around her face as she said it. "You will miss school if anything happens."

And not to mention that they did not have the money for insurance and hospital bills; Victoria nodded anyway.

She knew it.

"Where's dad?" She eyed his empty chair which was common but it was unlikely for him to be absent from breakfast two days in a row.

Vera glanced at his chair before sighing. "She is picking up extra shifts. Your school is going to start introducing new uniforms next year and we need to be ready for them."

The next year..

Victoria closed her eyes and palmed her entire face with her hands. How was it that she was a scholarship student yet the school could make any change they wanted and not pay for her like they were supposed to?

They were supposed to pay for everything yet it seemed like a game they liked to play with her. If they were in the mood, they would pay for her and other scholarship students but if they were not, they would just ask her parents to pay for it.

It was porridge and oats for breakfast. Something her mother could boil together and put in some seasoning to create a good taste which she was fine with.

They were better off than some people and she constantly reminded herself of that. That was something that kept her going.

Once she had cleaned off the bowl and placed it on the counter after washing it, Victoria picked up her bag and kissed her mother on the cheek. "Bye, mum."

"Bye, Love." Vera smiled and Victoria's heart melted. "don't take stress at all, okay? And if you feel it is too much, go to the library and read a book, alright?"

"Yeah." Vicky smiled before rushing off to the bus stop. It was better to be ten or at least five minutes early because the bus could never be trusted and at this hour it was overly crowded.

The moment she reached the bus stop, she eyed the people around her. They were waiting for the bus just like her.

Glancing at the time, she heard the bus honk. Squaring her shoulders and putting on a brave face, Victoria prepared herself for what was about to come.

The people started to group together, eager to get on the bus and, for once, get a seat to themselves. She had been through this a lot of times to know better than to just let people get their way.

Pushing past everyone and moving forward, she climbed into the bus before forcing her way into a seat and fighting off a middle-aged woman who gave her a stink eye.

"You don't even need a seat!" She hissed at Victoria who shrugged back.

"But you need a cream for those wrinkles." Victoria pointed at her face which was increasingly growing red.

The woman was about to say something, she opened her mouth probably to scream or curse her but the mob that was still getting on the bus pushed her away and to the front.

Victoria sighed And shifted slightly in attempt to get comfortable on the hard bus seat. This was all she got and she had to make do with it.

Getting a seat on the bus was the easiest of what she could do in her day. The hard part of her day began when she was going to get off and walk into One of the most prestigious and luxurious schools in the country.

The Archer's academy.