Aria's POV
By nine, I was back at the dorm. The place reeked of sweat, bleach, and exhaustion. I barely had time to settle Lana in her crib before the others surrounded me like bees around spilled honey.
"I heard they docked your pay, Aria. Is it true?"
"Did you really find a gold necklace?"
"Don't listen to them! Aria's not that kind of person!"
Their voices buzzed all around.
Then kara appeared, her tired eyes finding mine immediately. She didn't even drop her bag before she pulled me aside. "Aria, did you piss someone off?"
Her voice was low but urgent. kara had always looked out for me even when it got her punished for it.
Because of me, she'd been reassigned to the dump section, the filthiest, most dangerous area in the district. And it showed. She looked like she'd crawled o
