SNOB: A Dark College Enemies to Lovers Romance

Chapter 3

“Oops!”

My chest crashes into the leader’s. Hard.

She shrieks as red wine pours down the top of her dress into her cleavage.

“I’m so sorry.” The bored tone in my voice says the opposite. “I didn’t see you on my way to the ladies’ room.”

She blinks, her pink lips open. “You stupid, stupid…” she stops, eyeing my outfit. “Excuse for a human. This is custom Chanel. Do you know what it”ll take to get this out?”

“Less than what it’ll take to get your voice out of my head and your attitude adjusted.”

“Excuse me?” Classic response. Everyone else steps back as she steps forward. “Say that again.”

“Why? Gonna tell Daddy?”

Glancing at The Bob still in her seat, her nose is finally out of her book, her almond eyes wide. She’s shaking her head no and… wait. Is she really telling me to stop? No way am I letting these bullies get away with this.

“Do you know who you’re speaking to?” The leader eyes my outfit again, another step forward. My Oxfords don’t budge, the empty glass of wine still in my hand like a trophy. “Who even let you in here looking like a broke ass Merida?” It’s not the first time someone has joked about my red curls. I get it, I stand out, especially here.

“Hannah, your dress.” A wavy-haired brunette pipes up from the group behind her. “Forget her. We need you out of that before it stains.” Her friend tries to usher her forward as Hannah’s eyes narrow into mine. “You’re going to regret that, Pippi.”

Another comment about my hair makes me roll my eyes as her clan of five walks behind her in formation like a musical. Each of them nudges my shoulder as they pass but I stand tall, pushing my chest out.

“She means that.” The Bob speaks.

“Gee, you’re welcome.”

“Thanks,” she sighs, as if the entire interaction meant nothing. “I just think you made your life at Saint Bons harder. And mine.”

I snort, hearing the name of that school. “I don’t go to Saint Bons and maybe they’ll take a second guess the next time they bully you. You know that’s what was happening right? Bullying?”

“Hannah and her Paradise Posse are only the beginning.” The Paradise what? “Wait.” Her eyes dart around my outfit. “If you don’t go to Saint Bonaventure University then, why are you here?”

“For a job.” Looking around the room, I hope I didn’t miss my chance.

“You’re not getting a job here,” The Bob says. “Not looking like that.”

“Ember!” I hear my name from a distance. “Ember Everett!”

“I’ll take my chances.” It’s the only one I have. Turning towards the voice, I call out to the woman adorned like a queen, gold jewelry complimenting her beige blazer and dress. “Here!”

She doesn’t move as her eyes wander over my frame. She repeats my name, confusion striking her face. “Ember?”

“That’s me.”

Her nose wrinkles as she looks at her marble clipboard. “Beau Laval!”

I… Did she just move on?

A small laugh comes from next to me. “Told ya.”

“At your service.” A boy sitting some tables away stands up in plaid pants and suspenders, flipping his shaggy pink hair. Despite his eccentric appearance, he fits in way more than I do. He looks my way, wincing at my outfit and I can’t tell if it’s an apology or pity. Either way, the woman takes him into another room, leaving me behind.

“Well, alright.” Pulling out the chair next to The Bob, I plop my sketchpad down and open it up to my current project. That woman. Again. Working on her gives me a little break before I decide what to do next. “I’m happy this is funny to you.”

“It”s not.” The Bob leans back in her chair, her smile fading. “A part of me wishes you were going to Saint Bons. Hannah and the Paradise Posse would learn something. Hey, wait, did you draw that?”

Glancing at The Bob, her wide eyes stare at my page. Her fingers reach for it but I pull back, noticing her manicured nails. They’re not flashy, clean with a coat of blush polish. Her entire outfit is more modest than those around us, a black sweater-vest beneath a white shirt. But the single diamond earrings in her ears give her privilege away.

“Yeah, I did,” I reply.

“Who is it?”

I shrug, my hand reaching for the gold locket around my neck. “It’s kind of an homage to my mother.”

She pulls the sketchpad back towards her, flipping through the pages. She flips through graffiti-style words and other portraits. Uncle Jake. Him.

“You’re really good,” she says slowly like she’s calculating something. “You know, you can absolutely get into Saint Bons with your skills.”

“I’ll need more than some shitty drawings to get into a school like that.”

“They”re not shitty.” She looks into my eyes, her words firm. “My dad happens to be on the board. I say one word about you and how you helped me today and he’ll be happy to get you in. Besides, few people I know need that art scholarship and you definitely do.”

“I’d never set foot in Saint Bons.” A waiter with a tray of wine goes behind me and I grab one. Just the idea of going to SBU makes my skin crawl. My mind shifts to Uncle Jake on the sofa of our shitty home. “I need a job. Something that pays well.”

“Did you miss the part where I said scholarship?” I wish The Bob would use some of this sass on Hannah. “Money won’t be an issue and the graduates from Saint Bons get the most prestigious offers. Not only will you get a free ride, but doors will open for you and they’ll open wide.”

“You’re really selling the place, but I don’t belong here. Students will know that.” Everyone will.

“Considering how you stood up to Hannah, that won’t be a problem.” She puts her pen to her mouth, in thought. “That’s if she doesn’t run her mouth to the reigning Crowns of the school, but you can handle it.”

“The Crowns?”

“It wouldn’t be Paradise Hill without them. Malcolm, Gray and Ry. They’re beautiful…” She trails off, her pen swirling around a couple strands of her hair. “And brutal, especially to newcomers. But that’s beyond you, isn’t it?”

“Nothing about The Hill scares me,” I scoff.

“Don’t fuck with them.” Her demeanour shifts, a look on her face like she saw a monster. “I know you’re from The Valley, but stay clear.” She leans in like she’s making a business deal. She might not be as bad as Hannah but she still has The Hill in her blood. “Along with the Paradise Posse, the Crowns run the university, and The Hill.” It’s hard not to snort and that makes Greta laugh too. She rolls her eyes, playing into it. “It’s all silly but that’s the way things are here. You’ll see.”

“And you think I’ll fit into all that?”

“Only one way to find out. Say the word, and I’ll let Daddy know.” She leans into the word as if she knows this world is bullshit.

“What’s in it for you?”

“You helped me. I was born here and no one has ever done what you just did. I’m only paying it back. You know we like to pay it back.” She winks as if she’s in on her joke.

The elite only give back when it benefits them and something tells me there’s a benefit for her too. I don’t say anything, leaning into the silence.

“And okay, it’ll be worth it to see Hannah humiliated a couple more times before I graduate.” That makes me chuckle and The Bob smiles. “ I need to keep my head down and get through classes, but Hannah makes it really hard. But, what do you say? You’ll have to do the work and I can’t help you if you don’t go to class or exams. I can only get you in. Once you’re in SBU, getting a job like this will be laughable. Plus, they have to hire students.”

Don’t miss an opportunity.

Jake’s voice rings in my head. The coherent, sober Jake. And Dad? He’d call me insane for passing up a free ride to a prestigious school. All because I helped someone.

My finger taps against the locket around my neck before a laugh escapes me. “Fuck it. Let’s do this.” Shaking my head, I reach out a hand, solidifying my decision. “I didn’t get your name.”

“Greta.” She smiles, her thin lips reaching her eyes as she takes my hand. “Fukushima.”

I choke on my spit hearing that last name.

“As in Hiroshi Fukushima?” I confirm. “The guy who made the PlayBox?”

“Guilty,” she winces as if that last name comes with pain. “So, you ready for this?”

I smile at the way my day’s turned around. A new friend. A new opportunity. What could go wrong? “I’m always ready.”