I woke up feeling like I hadn't slept at all. My body felt heavy, and my mind was still tangled in the events from last night. The look Vanessa had given me at the dining hall haunted my thoughts, replaying over and over again. It wasn't just anger—it was something darker, more dangerous. My stomach churned just thinking about it.
I pulled myself out of bed and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were puffy, dark circles lining them from the sleepless night. I splashed cold water on my face, but it didn't help. I could feel the weight of my secret pressing down on me like an anchor. Vanessa wasn't just going to sit back and glare at me from across the room. She was going to find out the truth, and I had no idea how much longer I could keep it hidden.
I needed to tell TJ. She deserved to know before someone else told her, before she found out through gossip or—worse—through Vanessa herself. I couldn't bear the thought of losing her friendship because of this.
All day, my nerves buzzed like live wires under my skin. I went through the motions at school, barely able to focus in class. The whispers in the hallway seemed louder than usual, like they were directed at me. Paranoia crept in, making me feel like every glance, every giggle was a sign that someone else knew. It was only a matter of time before Vanessa made her move. I could feel it in my bones.
By lunchtime, I couldn't take it anymore. TJ and I sat in our usual spot, but I barely touched my food. She noticed right away, narrowing her eyes at me.
"What's up with you? You've been weird all day," she said, taking a bite of her sandwich. Her tone was casual, but I could hear the concern beneath it.
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. "Can we talk? Somewhere private?"
She raised an eyebrow but didn't question it. "Sure."
We left the cafeteria and walked down to the courtyard, finding a secluded spot away from the crowd. The air was cooler outside, a gentle breeze ruffling the leaves in the trees, but I could barely feel it. My palms were sweaty, and my throat felt tight as I tried to form the words.
TJ looked at me, her brow furrowed in concern. "Justine, you're scaring me. What's going on?"
I took a deep breath, my hands trembling. This was it—the moment I'd been dreading for so long. "There's something I haven't told you," I began, my voice shaky. "Something about me… about why I'm here at this school."
TJ's eyes softened. "Okay. Whatever it is, you can tell me."
"I'm… I'm not like the other kids here. I don't come from money. I'm not rich, TJ." The words tumbled out of me, faster than I'd intended. "I'm here on a scholarship. My family doesn't have the wealth or the status everyone else here has. I've been hiding it because I was scared… scared that people would look at me differently. That they'd treat me differently."
I watched her face, waiting for the flicker of disappointment, the flash of betrayal. But it never came. Instead, she just stared at me, her expression soft and understanding.
"That's it?" she asked gently. "That's what you've been keeping from me?"
I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. "I didn't want you to think… I didn't want you to stop being my friend."
For a moment, she said nothing, and the silence was unbearable. I was ready for her to walk away, to tell me that she couldn't be friends with someone like me. But instead, she reached out and took my hand, squeezing it tightly.
"Justine," she said softly, "I don't care how much money you have. That doesn't matter to me. You're my best friend. You've always been there for me, and nothing's going to change that. Not this. Not anything."
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I let out a shaky breath. "Really?"
"Really," she said firmly. "We're in this together. No matter what."
I smiled through the tears, a wave of relief washing over me. TJ had always been my rock, and hearing her say those words made me feel lighter, like maybe everything would be okay after all.
But my relief didn't last long. Just a few days later, my worst nightmare came to life.
It happened between classes, when I was walking alone down one of the quieter hallways. I didn't even see her coming until it was too late.
Vanessa Caldwell.
She appeared in front of me like a shadow, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against the side of her designer bag as she blocked my path. The hallway was deserted, the sound of her heels echoing ominously against the floor.
I swallowed hard, dread pooling in my stomach. "Vanessa," I said, my voice coming out steadier than I felt. "What do you want?"
Her lips curled into a smile, but it was cold—calculated. "Oh, I think you know exactly what I want, Justine."
I stood my ground, though my heart raced in my chest. "If you're here to threaten me, you can save it. I don't have time for your games."
Her eyes narrowed, and she stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "This isn't a game, sweetheart. You see, I know your little secret."
My blood ran cold.
She tilted her head, her gaze sharp as a knife. "You thought you could hide it, didn't you? Pretend to be one of us. But you're not. You're just a little charity case, here on some pathetic scholarship, trying to play in a world you don't belong in."
I clenched my fists at my sides, anger bubbling up inside me. "You don't know anything about me."
Vanessa let out a low, mocking laugh. "Oh, I know enough. And so will everyone else, including Nick, if you don't do exactly what I say."
My heart pounded in my chest. "What are you talking about?"
She leaned in closer, her voice dripping with malice. "It's simple. Leave Nick alone. Stop playing your little games with him, or I'll make sure the whole school knows the truth about you. And trust me, it won't just be whispers in the hallways. It'll be everywhere."
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Vanessa wasn't just threatening me—she was threatening my entire life here. Everything I'd worked so hard to build, every friendship I'd made, every bit of acceptance I'd fought for—it would all come crashing down if she told people the truth.
And worse than that… Nick. If he found out, would he hate me even more? Would he use my secret to torment me, the way he always did with every little thing he could?
I shook my head, trying to steady my breathing. "You can't make me do that."
Vanessa's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Oh, I think I can. And I think you'll do it, too. Because deep down, you know you don't belong here. You know that once people find out the truth, you'll be nothing to them."
She turned on her heel and walked away, leaving me standing there, frozen in fear and anger. My worst nightmare had just become my reality, and there was no escaping it now.