CHAPTER2
988 Words
Vera's POV
My cheeks flushed with humiliation as his pals burst into unrestrained laughter from behind. I look down and brush the remaining debris from my face, attempting to reclaim what's left of my dignity.
I take a big breath and glance up. "What do you want?" My voice was icy and lacking in comfort.
Living in the social top crust had taught me to be cruel. To survive, you should not have a heart, and if you do, you should hide it.
He raised his brow and sat in the empty chair in front of me. When he slammed the crumpled piece of paper down, my whole body shook. As the cafeteria fell silent, Jackson blew a whistle and chewed his gum. "s**t is about to go down for real," he exclaimed in complete amusement.
I took the paper and turned it toward me—the marriage contract.
My eyes scanned the paper until I saw my name. "Why is my name written here?" I murmur, sensing everyone's piercing stare.
Sam takes the paper and stuffs it into his pocket. "You tell me." He stood up and leaned in towards me, both palms on the table. "What did you do?" he asked, his tone strained.
My hands twist and pull on the pattern skirt. "I didn't do anything."
As I try to catch my breath, he moves in closer, his lips brushing across the lobe of my ear. His musky aroma invades any sensible thoughts still inside my mind as I take an inhale through my nostril. "I will never marry you," he slyly says.
He pushes himself back, his wonderful muddy browns scowling at me before walking away.
My eyes refuse to move away from the back of his head as I take a big inhale. "Don't think you're all that great!" I shouted uncontrollably, praying for a hole to appear beneath me so I could vanish.
He comes to a halt and carefully turns around, his eyes seductively glancing at me. I expected him to lash out at me at that point, but instead his lips twisted up into a sly sneer.
I tilt my head as the buzzing noise pierces my ear. "Why is there an al-"
"Vera! "Are you sleeping in the bathroom once more?" Lilly yelled.
"Why are you screaming about me in the bathroom?" I ask, turning to face her. We are clear." I look around and notice that the cafeteria is empty.
"I told you sleeping in the bathroom isn't good for you." Lilly got up and folded her arms.
My head is jolted up from the sink next to the toilet. My shorts are still wrapped around my ankle, and my butt is still on the toilet. I examine the bathroom in order to see...
"I-I'm awake!" I answered to my irritable roommate.
"Vera! " Don't you have an interview at eight o'clock?"
I flushed the toilet, began washing my hands, and then brushed my teeth. "Yeah!"
"Aren't you going to head out?"
"Why? It's only six o'clock."
There was a long silence. "Vera! It's 7:30."
The toothbrush almost flew out of my mouth, but it stayed inside. "What? What are you talking about? Last time I chec-" I pressed a button on my phone, which never left my side. "Wait a minute! I've been asleep for about two hours on the toilet!" I spit the foam out.
I quickly rinsed out the rest, splashed some water on my face, and slathered some lotion on my parched skin. I dashed into the bedroom after leaving the restroom to get some work clothes. "I set out your interview clothes for you." The surface of Lilly's inner mother
When I pass her, I kiss her cheek. "You're the best."
I dashed out the door after changing into my interview attire. "Paperwork on the counter, heels near the front door." "I called someone to come get you," she explained.
I hugged her like a bear. "What am I going to do without you, Li?"
She smiles as she resumes her dishwashing. "Probably become a hobo on the streets."
I didn't want to go back home and show my parents my shameful face after my divorce. Mom and dad knew about my obsession with my ex-husband, so they did everything they could to make me happy.
So, after graduating from high school, I married Sam. I was 18 years old when I said, "I do."
I can't tell them that their daughter is unhappy. However, even if they were in South America, they would have heard the news by now. The fact that I divorced my husband almost a year ago
It's difficult to find a good-paying job at the age of 20, but I didn't want Lilly to continue providing for me while she was still in school. She encouraged me to go to college, but I felt it wasn't for me. Despite attending one of the most elite academies, I've never been much of a reader.
I prefer hands-on experience and working in the field, which institutions don't provide much of. We came together in the center, and I told her that once I get a job, I'd like to attend a class or two. The difficult thing isn't getting into college; it's acquiring the money to pay for the classes.
Lilly offered to help me, but how can I ever take more advantage of my friendship with the most amazing girl on the planet?
"Thank you for not turning me into a hobo," I murmured, returning her smile.
She shoves a waffle in my face. "Now, go." She motions with her hands to the door.
I nod and collect everything before squeezing my heels together. I turn to face her. "Wish me luck."
"You don't need it," she says, giving me a thumbs up. "You've got this baby girl. Carpe diem, right?"
I returned her thumb and smiled, "Carpe diem."
- Writer
