Page 28 of Cruel Riches

“Sure. I don’t really know anyone else here anyway.”

She swallowed hard. “Well… I failed my first year. For some reason I thought it would be totally fine to party every night and barely study, but obviously, it wasn’t. I was lucky they didn’t kick me right out.”

Laurel’s earlier standoffish attitude made sense now. She was ashamed of almost flaming out of college in her first year, and that made her shy away from people in her classes so that she wouldn’t have to admit the failure to everyone.

Even though we’d just met, I felt a strong kinship with her. She understood innately why someone might choose to conceal their past.

I smiled at her. “It’s not so bad. Sometimes high school doesn’t properly prepare you for what college is like. But you know now, so you’ll do better this year.”

“I hope so.”

“If anyone ever gives you shit about being older, just tell them you took a gap year like me,” I said. “I doubt anyone will question it.”

“I’m more worried about running into people who were in my classes last year.”

I shrugged. “If they say anything nasty, just tell them to fuck off. I bet they’ve made mistakes too.”

She grinned and cocked a brow. “You know, I think I might actually like you,” she said.

I returned her grin. “That’s literally the nicest thing anyone’s said to me all week.”

“I guess you’ve met some of the snob squad members, then?” she replied.

“Yup.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll get better. You seem cool, so once people get to know you, you’ll have no trouble fitting in.”

We returned to our studies, quietly reading and taking notes. A while later, some movement in the corner of my eye attracted my attention. I looked up, worried it was Nate on the warpath again, but it was just a petite girl with fair skin and auburn hair. She was glancing around the octagonal reading room, presumably searching for somewhere to sit.

Laurel leaned over and muttered in my ear. “Oh, god, I hope she doesn’t come over here.”

“Why?” I whispered.

“She’s in one of my other classes,” she explained. “I’m sure she’s nice and all, but she’s so fucking bubbly and perky. Like a redheaded Barbie doll or something. It’s annoying.”

I raised a brow. It sounded like her caginess about meeting new people was rearing its ugly, standoffish head again. “I’m sure she’s not that bad.”

“Trust me. She hangs out with multiple snob squad members. They all look like they fell off the set of Gossip Girl.”

“Well, she’s not with them now.”

“Yeah, because she isn’t actually one of them. She just sucks up to them, hoping to be invited into the inner circle. It’s pathetic.”

“Hey, don’t be mean. You don’t really know her, do you?” I said. “Besides, she looks so sweet and nervous. She really can’t be that bad.”

Laurel pursed her lips and fell silent. The auburn-haired girl tentatively made her way over to our desk and smiled at us. “Hi. Can I sit here?”

“There isn’t enough space,” Laurel said sharply.

The girl’s face fell. “Oh. That’s okay,” she murmured. “I’ll find somewhere else.”

I kicked the bottom of Laurel’s shoe under the table and gave her a meaningful look. She let out a short sigh. “Sorry. I meant there’s not enough space because all our stuff is laid out everywhere. Just give us a second to move it so we can make room for you.”

“Thanks!” The girl’s face brightened again. “By the way, I’m Ruby.”

I smiled. “I’m Alexis, and this is Laurel.”

“Nice to meet you. I think you’re in one of my classes, Laurel.”

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