Ruling silverlake High

The review

My sneakers squeaked loudly against the polished marble floor of the administration wing. The hallway leading to Principal Vance’s office was lined with gold-framed oil paintings of the school's founders—all of whom looked remarkably like Zander’s ancestors. By the time I reached the heavy mahogany door, my hands were clenched into tight fists inside my blazer pockets.I pushed the door open.Principal Vance sat behind a massive glass desk that looked like it cost more than my family's entire trailer. He was a sharp-featured man with thinning silver hair and a tailored charcoal suit. To his right stood Tiffany Vance, looking entirely smug, her arms crossed tightly over her cheer uniform."Ah, Miss Montgomery. Come in, close the door," Principal Vance said, his voice flat and completely devoid of warmth.I closed the door behind me and stood firmly in front of his desk, refusing to sit in the plush leather chair he gestured toward. "You called for me, sir?""I did." He adjusted his glasses, looking down at a thin manila folder with my name printed on the tab. "A serious incident was reported to my office this morning regarding your behavior off-campus last night. Miss Vance here claims you verbally assaulted her and threw biological hazards at a public establishment.""Biological hazards?" I burst out, letting out a sharp, disbelief-filled laugh. "I threw a dish rag on a table because she intentionally smashed a sugar shaker at my feet and told me to clean it up. She was harassing me at my place of work.""She attacked me, Uncle Richard!" Tiffany whined, her voice instantly turning into a high-pitched, fragile act. "She threatened to dump boiling coffee on my face! Ask Landon, ask anyone. She’s completely unstable. She doesn't belong at Silverlake."Uncle Richard.A cold dread settled heavy in my stomach. I looked from Tiffany’s triumphant grin to the principal's indifferent face. Of course. Tiffany Vance. Principal Vance. They were family. The entire system was rigged from the very top down.

Miss Montgomery," Principal Vance said, his tone sharpening. "The Silverlake Academic Scholarship is not just based on your GPA. It strictly requires the highest standard of moral character and conduct, both inside and outside these walls. Representation matters. We cannot have our scholarship recipients engaging in public brawls and bringing disrepute to our institution.""I didn't brawl with anyone," I said, my voice vibrating with controlled rage. "I was doing my job to feed my family. She came into my workplace to humiliate me.""Be that as it may," the principal continued, closing my file with a definitive snap. "Due to the severity of the report, your scholarship status is officially placed under administrative review. A disciplinary board will meet at the end of the month to determine if your enrollment will be terminated."The room seemed to tilt. My chest tightened so hard I could barely breathe. Terminated. If I lost this scholarship, I lost my shot at an Ivy League university. I lost the future I had spent every waking hour of my teenage life bleeding for."You can't do this," I whispered, my voice finally cracking."I can, and I am," Principal Vance said coldly. "You are dismissed."Tiffany gave me a mocking, wave of her manicured fingers as I turned around. I stumbled out of the office, the heavy door shutting behind me. The hallway was empty now, the morning classes having already started. The silence was deafening. I leaned my back against the wall, sliding down until my knees hit the floor, burying my face in my hands. I wouldn't cry. I promised myself I wouldn't cry over these monsters. But the suffocating weight of reality was crushing me."I told you the game had started, sweetheart."I snapped my head up.Zander was leaning against the opposite wall, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, his dark varsity jacket slung over his shoulder. He had followed me. He had been waiting out here the entire time."Did you do this?" I spat, standing up so fast my head spun. I marched right up to him, pointing an accusing finger at his chest. "Did you have her do this because I threw your pathetic money back at you?"

Zander didn't flinch. He looked down at my face, his ice-gray eyes tracking the slight tremor in my jaw. The mocking smirk he usually wore was completely gone, replaced by an unreadable, intense seriousness."I don't need Tiffany to fight my battles, Aria," he said, his voice a low, smooth rumble. "And I don't use the administration to clear my board.""Then stop her!" I yelled, uncaring of who heard me. "You're the king of this place, right? Everyone does what you say. Tell your little girlfriend to drop the review!"Zander took a slow step forward, completely invading my space until I was backed against the wall once more. He reached out, his thumb and forefinger gently but firmly gripping my chin, forcing me to look up into his piercing gaze. His touch was electric, burning against my skin."First of all, she isn't my girlfriend," Zander whispered, his gray eyes darkening with a possessive intensity that made my heart race. "And second... why would I stop it?""Because it's my life!" I choked out."Exactly," Zander murmured, his thumb lightly tracing the line of my jawline, sending a terrifying shiver down my spine. "It's your life. And right now, the only way you get to keep it is if you come to me. You wanted to prove you couldn't be bought, Aria. Now let's see what you're willing to sell to stay in my world."He let go of my chin, leaving my skin tingling, and walked away down the empty corridor without looking back.