Chapter 16
HARPER
Warren has been acting strange lately, or at least stranger than usual.
When he walks me to class today, Easton is already there, and, of course, he waves and smiles at me.
I return the smile and wave before turning back to say goodbye to Warren, who is staring daggers into Easton’s head.
I don’t understand his need to be territorial.
“Hey, I was just saying hi,” I say softly. “I thought we were past this?”
“I don’t care. I told you not to talk to him, and I’m tired of you doing whatever the hell you want. You know Easton pisses me off, you know his stupid antics make me lose my mind, but yet, you feed right into it.” Anger rushes off of him in waves.
Unable to hold in my own anger, I lash out at him, “I don’t do anything.
He’s your roommate, and I’m your… well, I don’t even know what I am to you.
All you keep saying is that I’m yours, but you’re not mine.
So, I don’t know what that means, but it surely doesn’t mean you have to piss in a circle around me. ”
The look in his eyes is feral, and his hands curl into tight fists, “You’ll regret talking to me like this. You belong to me, Harper. When I tell you to do something, you do it. Maybe I need to remind you of that.”
Without so much as a goodbye, he turns and walks away, leaving me to simmer in my own anger. Gritting my teeth, I stomp into the classroom and take my usual seat, tugging my books out of my bag.
“Everything okay?” Easton asks as I situate my stuff.
“No, everything is not okay,” I growl. I don’t understand him.
We never discussed what we are or if we are exclusive.
Which doesn’t even matter because all I did was say hi.
I can’t wave at someone like Easton, who I share a class with?
What am I supposed to do? Look the other way when he enters the room?
“Warren’s a tough cookie sometimes. When I first met him, I thought he was a douchebag. He fucked girls like it was a competitive sport, then you came into his world, and everything changed.”
“Great, he fucked every girl in this school, but I can’t wave at you.
” I snort. “Whatever, it doesn’t matter.
We’re just mad at each other and need some space.
” Easton nods like he understands, but I doubt he knows a damn thing about relationships.
Walking away, he takes his own seat, and the professor starts discussing the reading material from over the weekend.
I’m knee-deep in notes, absorbing every single thing the professor says when the door to the room opens, and a woman pops her head inside.
The professor stops speaking and walks over to greet her.
They exchange a short conversation before the woman steps completely into the room.
Confused, I set my pen down and wait for something to happen.
“Is there a Harper Martin in this class?” the woman asks.
I swallow thickly and raise my hand like a small child. At the movement, her eyes clash with mine.
“Hello, Miss Martin, I need you to please come with me.” I nod and stand on shaky legs, shoving my stuff into my bag.
A knot of worry tightens in my gut. Did something happen to my parents?
I don’t know who this woman is or why she’s asking me to leave, but something tells me it’s not good.
Tossing my backpack over my shoulder, I walk down the aisle, listening to all the whispers as I walk by.
When I reach the woman, I look over my shoulder at Easton, who’s looking at me with the same expression I’m wearing. Confusion. The lady opens the door and ushers me out into the hall, following closely behind me.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
“We will talk about it once we reach the admissions building.” Even though I have a thousand and one questions, I keep my lips closed and follow her to the building. What could possibly be going on?
When we finally reach her office, I take a seat in the chair in front of her long wooden desk. A metal plaque is sitting on the smooth surface, reading Mrs. Jensen, financial aid. Only then does it occur to me that this may have to do with my scholarship.
Taking the seat opposite me, she crosses her hands in front of her and looks me straight in the eyes, disappointment reflecting back at me.
“Do you have any idea why I have called you into my office?”
I shake my head because I’m smart enough not to question until I have all the answers.
She nods her head, “Blackthorn was recently made aware by a concerned patron that you’re not living in the dorms but are receiving payments for housing through the school. If you don’t live on campus and are receiving payments specifically for that expense, you are committing fraud.”
My mouth pops open and closes and then opens again. This is worse than I thought, so much worse.
“Effective immediately, you will no longer receive housing payment, and furthermore, we need you to repay that money as soon as possible. If you fail to repay the money, we will be forced to pull your scholarship.”
Shock, rage, dread, and sadness all engulf me at once. Through the fog of emotions surrounding me, one name pops into my head. Warren. He did this. He threatened me time and time again, and now he finally did it, and all over what? Me waving at Easton?
“I don’t have that kind of money. I’m using the money to rent a cheaper place off-campus and the rest of the money to pay for food and books. Surely, there is something that we can do to fix this?” I reply desperately, pinning Mrs. Jensen with a pleading stare.
Apparently, she’s not impressed by my admission, either that or she simply doesn’t care.
“The way to fix this would’ve been to have been staying in the dorms all along.
I’ve already discussed this with the other school board members, and they’ve decided that you can either pay the payments back, or you can forfeit your scholarship.
Might I add, that you’re lucky to be given a chance out of this and that the school is not pressing charges for fraud. ”
Tears sting my eyes… he got what he wanted. He got rid of me. I was so stupid to think that Warren and I were moving past whatever it was that was eating him.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know how to pay back the money, and I don’t know how to live on campus. I would have no money for books or food or anything else for that matter.”
“Look, the only thing I can do for you is set up a payment plan for the housing money you owe. It’s only for one semester. It’s not that much.”
Not to you, maybe. Unsure what to tell her, I just stare at my hands in my lap.
“I’ll tell you what,” she continues, “how about I give you until tomorrow to figure it out?”
“Okay,” I agree, knowing damn well that there is nothing to figure out. I pretty much just lost my scholarship. Lost everything I worked hard for. “Thanks,” I mumble, before getting up and heading out of her office.
As soon as I’m out the door, the tears start to fall.
With blurry vision, I start walking away from the building and off the campus.
There’s no reason for me to go back to class.
No reason for me to study or think about tests and homework.
The only two things I need to worry about now is where the hell I’m going to live and how the hell I’m going to pay for it.
Everything I worked for is gone… gone.
“What do you mean they want the money back? Who cares where you live?” Valerie asks.
“Because if I’d lived on the campus, I guess the money ends up back in their pockets somehow,” I shrug. “Either way, it doesn’t matter. I broke the rules, and now I have to deal with it. Are you sure I can stay here for a while?”
“Yes, I’m sure. As long as you want,” she reassures me.
I couldn’t bring myself to go to my parents’ place.
I don’t want to face them yet. Face the disappointment that I know they will have when they hear I fucked up, and I definitely won’t go back to Warren.
Which left me with Valerie as the only other place I could go.
It might not be the best choice in the long run, but it’s the best for me right now.
“Thanks, Val. I mean it.”
“It’s okay. I owe you anyway. For all the times I’ve been a major bitch to you.”
“I’m not going to argue with that.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. Maybe this can be our new beginning? You and me, roommates. It doesn’t sound that bad.”
“Yeah, not too bad. So, are you still working at the diner?”
“Sure do, got a raise too, and tips are great.”
“Maybe I could start working there? So I can help out with rent and stuff?” I’m going to have to get used to a minimum wage job, so why not start at a diner? I’m sure the pay won’t be that great starting out, but I can get tips which should cover it.
“Ah, well… I-I don’t think they need anyone right now,” she tells me, suddenly sounding nervous, her eyes darting around the room. “We’re pretty well staffed. Should be like that for a while too. You could definitely look for a job elsewhere though.”
“Oh, okay…” I guess she doesn’t want me to work with her. Or maybe she thinks I won’t be able to do the job well? Whatever it is, if Val won’t help me find a job, I can do it on my own.
“I have to get to work. Working the graveyard shift, but you’re free to stay for as long as you would like.” I give her a tight-lipped smile and take a seat on the couch. I guess I’ll sleep here for the night, and just take it day by day.
“Thanks again, Val. I might not be here in the morning. Going to try and start job hunting early.” Valerie nods as she reaches the door.
She looks a little more dolled up than I would expect a waitress to be, but if it gets her good money, then I get it.
You have to do what you have to do. As soon as she’s gone and I’m left alone with my thoughts, I look around the small apartment and am reminded of how much it looks like mine did.
I have nothing now. No scholarship, no home, nothing, and all because I believed that things were different between Warren and me now. Fishing my phone out of my pocket, I power the thing down before he can call me. I don’t have it in me to fight with him right now.
Nothing he says can fix this. He threatened me, warned me, and I basically gave him the ammunition he needed earlier today.
Stupid me. Stupid heart. I should’ve used my brain. The tears start to come then, and there isn’t any way to stop them.
I gave my heart to Warren again, but this time he didn’t just break it, he destroyed my life. He took everything from me.