Chapter 5
1140 Words
THREE DAYS LATER
Adeline was going to chew off her fingers at this rate.
“Addie,” Kate said nervously, swatting her hand away for the third time, “you’re going to finish those fingers if you don’t stop biting them.”
Adeline didn’t reply. Her eyes were glued to her phone, refreshing the scholarship portal like it owed her money.
Refresh.
Refresh.
Refresh.
Her heart beat so loudly she could hear it in her ears.
Alexander leaned against the wall with crossed arms, pretending to be calm — badly.
“Why are you two shaking like criminals?” he asked, clearing his throat. “Should I go first? As the man of the house.”
Kate and Adeline turned slowly.
“No,” Kate said flatly.
“No,” Adeline echoed.
Alexander raised his hands. “Okay, okay. Just offering leadership.”
Adeline inhaled deeply, then reached for Kate’s hand with one hand and Alexander’s with the other.
“Let’s check it together,” she said softly. “Unity.”
Kate nodded. “Unity.”
Alexander muttered, “I don’t trust this unity thing, but okay.”
Adeline clicked.
The page loaded.
For half a second, the room was silent.
Then...
“AHHHHHHHHHHH!”
Kate and Alexander screamed at the same time, jumping like their bodies had been shocked with electricity.
“YESSSS! WE DID IT!” Kate yelled.
“I PASSED!” Alexander shouted, spinning Kate around.
They danced. They screamed. They laughed.
Then they noticed something was wrong.
Adeline wasn’t celebrating.
She was sitting on the bed.
Crying.
Tears streamed down her face as she stared at the phone in her trembling hands.
Kate froze. “Addie…?”
Alexander rushed to her side. “What’s wrong? Did it not load?”
Adeline couldn’t speak. She only shook her head weakly.
Kate gently took the phone from her hand.
Her breath caught.
“What…?”
Alexander leaned over Kate’s shoulder.
His face drained of color.
“What?!” he exclaimed. “This doesn’t make sense!”
On the screen:
ADMISSION STATUS: PENDING — UNDER REVIEW
Kate’s chest tightened. “Pending? After all that?”
Alexander clenched his jaw. “That’s rubbish.”
Adeline wiped her tears angrily. “I did everything right. I studied. I prayed. I answered everything.”
Kate hugged her tightly. “Hey… hey… don’t break down yet. It doesn’t say failed.”
“But it doesn’t say passed,” Adeline whispered, her voice breaking. “What if...”
“No,” Alexander cut in firmly. “No what-ifs. You’re the smartest person in this room. They probably need to confirm something.”
Kate nodded quickly. “Yes! Maybe document verification. Or system delay.”
Adeline sniffed. “You promise?”
Alexander placed his hands on her shoulders. “I promise. Westbridge would be stupid not to take you.”
She managed a small smile through her tears.
Three days later…
Her fate was still hanging.
.......
MITCHELL’S HOUSE
“Mom,” Mitchell whined, flopping dramatically onto the velvet couch. “I need new dresses and shoes. I have to look beautiful for Brian. We will resume soon.”
Mrs. Laurel didn’t look up from her tablet. “You just bought clothes last week.”
“That was last week,” Mitchell pouted. “This is resumption. Different energy.”
Mrs. Laurel sighed. “Fine. Get Cassie. Tell her to inform Lucas to take you to the mall with the other ride.”
Mitchell’s face lit up instantly. “I love you, Momma!”
She kissed her cheek loudly, tossed her bag at the nearest maid, and spun on her heels.
“Follow me,” she muttered, cat-walking out of the room like a runway belonged to her.
Mrs. Laurel shook her head but smiled faintly before turning back to her video call.
“Yes,” she said coolly to the screen. “Tell him my husband insists the flight must arrive before 7 a.m. Otherwise, the agreement won’t be signed.”
.....
THE MALL
The mall buzzed with noise, music, and wealth.
Kate held Adeline’s hand tightly as they walked inside.
“I was scared for you,” Kate admitted. “You were tearing up like someone who failed.”
Adeline sighed. “My mind left my body, pleaseee. Pending is worse than no.”
Alexander walked behind them, scrolling through his phone. “Guy, I was already wondering how I’d survive college without my beautiful sister.”
Adeline shot him a glare.
“Try me again.”
He laughed. “Okay, okay.”
Kate smiled softly. “Regardless… we made it. Westbridge.”
Adeline nodded slowly. “I still can’t believe it. Westbridge. Me.”
Her chest filled with excitement and fear all at once.
They stepped deeper into the mall, laughing, pointing at stores, planning outfits for college.
And then—
BAM.
Adeline collided with someone.
Hard.
“Oh my!” Adeline gasped. “I’m so so...”
SLAP.
The sound echoed.
The world froze.
Adeline staggered back, hand flying to her cheek.
Her vision blurred. Her ears rang.
For a full second… she didn’t understand what had happened.
Kate screamed. “WHAT THE—?!”
Alexander stepped forward angrily. “Are you mad?!”
The girl in front of them was stunning — tall, clear-skinned, dressed in designer clothes, eyes blazing with entitlement.
Mitchell.
“You stupid b***h!” Mitchell yelled. “Were you blind? Didn’t you see I was coming?”
Adeline blinked slowly.
Her cheek burned.
Her heart pounded.
Then something inside her snapped.
Before Mitchell could finish her sentence—
SLAP.
Adeline slapped her back.
Harder.
“I am not a b***h!” Adeline screamed, her voice shaking with fury.
The mall went silent.
People stopped walking.
Phones came out.
Security guards turned.
Mitchell stared at Adeline like she had just committed a crime punishable by death.
“You— you slapped me?” Mitchell whispered, shocked.
Kate stepped beside Adeline. “She slapped you back. Try again.”
Alexander cracked his knuckles. “Please do.”
Mitchell’s face twisted in rage and humiliation.
“You’ll regret this,” she hissed. “Do you know who I am?”
Adeline wiped her cheek and stood tall. “I don’t care who you are. You hit me first.”
Mitchell laughed bitterly. “Poor girl. You just made the biggest mistake of your life.”
She turned sharply and stormed away, heels clicking aggressively against the marble floor.
The mall buzzed back to life.
Kate turned to Adeline, eyes wide. “Addie… are you okay?”
Adeline nodded slowly. “Yeah.”
I was even about apologizing to the arrogant fool and she f*****g hit that stinking hand on my face, very annoying " Adeline said
I know her type, spoilt brats definitely a Mama's girl" Alexander commented
- Writer
