Chapter 2
My “room” was way up on the third floor–basically a converted broom closet.
Opened the door and just… wow.
Maybe 150 square feet. Single bed, cheap wardrobe, tiny desk. That’s it.
Paint peeling everywhere, window facing the dumpsters out back. Lovely view.
Meanwhile, I’d passed Savannah’s room coming up here-
0-
Pink princess paradise, huge canopy bed, walk–in closet bigger than most apartments, cute little balcony dripping with flowers.]]
The contrast was… fucking brutal.[]
Ms. Lopez, the housekeeper, hovered in my doorway:]
C
“Miss, Mrs. Whitmore says this is temporary. She’ll get you something better real soon.“[]
Ismiled: “Nah, this works. Nice and quiet up here.”
Ms. Lopez looked like she wanted to say something, but just walked away shaking her head.]
I shut the door and cracked open my suitcase.]]
Not much in terms of clothes, but packed with books and notebooks.
Right on top–my SAT scores. Top ten in the whole damn state.
ate.
These scores cost me everything. Blood, sweat, tears, the works.
Foster parents never gave me jack for tutoring. Had to claw my way up completely solo–0
Like, 4 AM study sessions, midnight bedtimes, weekend restaurant shifts just to eat.[]
Still managed Stanford University.[]
Meanwhile, Savannah blew through millions on private tutors and barely scraped into community college.
Life’s a real bitch sometimes.]
Around 10 PM, I went downstairs for water and heard voices from Dad’s office.[]
..Raven’s just so COLD. I’m scared she’ll clash with Savannah.” That was Mom.[]
“Savannah’s heart can’t take stress. Maybe Raven should live on campus?” Dad suggested.[]
“Perfect idea,” Mason jumped right in. “Savannah’s been super fragile lately. Having Raven around might trigger an episode.“]
I stood there listening to my biological family plot my exile.[]
Because my presence might upset the fake princess’s delicate constitution.[]
Un–fucking–believable.
a.“1
I shoved the door open: “Don’t waste your breath. I’ll bounce on my own.”
All three heads whipped around, faces ranging from guilty to panicked.[]
Mom freaked: “Raven, you’ve got it ALL wrong! That’s not what we-
–“0
“I didn’t get ANYTHING wrong.” I cut her off cold.[]
“You’re worried I’ll mess with Savannah’s condition, so you want me shipped off to campus.”
“Makes perfect sense. I’m cool with it.”
Dad frowned: “Raven, are you pissed?“]
Chapter 2
My voice stayed flat:[]
“Nope. Your plan’s actually brilliant.“[]
“I mean, I’m basically a stranger crashing your happy family party anyway.“[]
“What STRANGER!” Mom went ballistic. “You’re my DAUGHTER!“[]
“Oh really?” I nodded slow. “Then how come you didn’t suggest shipping Savannali off so she wouldn’t trigger ME?”
Mom went speechless.[]
Mason got all pissy: “Raven, can’t you just be REASONABLE? Savannah’s actually SICK–cut her some slack!“[]
I looked him dead in the eye: “Mason, foster dad once held a knife to my throat over gambling debts, trying to force me into taking predatory loans.“[]
“I was burning up with fever, barely conscious. Think anyone cut ME slack that day?!“]]
Mason choked up.[]
I kept going: “Nobody gave a single fuck about me. So I learned something real important–this world doesn’t owe ANYONE anything.“[]
avannah’s health drama? HER problem. What’s that got to do with me?“[]
“How can you be so HEARTLESS!” Mason slammed the desk.[]
“Heartless?” I actually laughed.[]
“Your precious sister squats in my life for eighteen years, and I’m heartless for stating facts.“]
“So what’s that make YOU guys?]
“Bio–daughter walks through the door and you immediately start plotting to kick her out. What do we call that?“[]
Dead silence in that office.[]
I turned to leave: “Don’t sweat it. I’ll be gone tomorrow. Wouldn’t wanna cramp your style.“]]
See? Did they stop me? Nope.[]
Next morning I packed up to bail.]
Savannah appeared in my doorway wearing pink PJs, doing her innocent act. Raven, you leaving already?“[]
“Not your circus.” I kept stuffing clothes in my bag.[]
“Raven,” she drifted closer, voice all soft and caring, “you don’t gotta pretend you’re tough, you know.”
I stopped and looked at her.[]
She kept going “Getting rejected by your real parents… that’s gotta hurt like HELL, right?“[]
“You were eavesdropping last night?“]
She smiled sweet as poison “Just happened to walk by.“[]
“Raven, wanna know why they don’t love you?“]
I was genuingly curious: “Enlighten me “[]
“Because I’ve been running this house for eighteen YEARS!
“My photos are all over these walls, my trophies fill every shelf, they remember my every little achievement]
“And you?” She paused for dramatic effect. “You’ve got NOTHING.”
And?
She leaned in real dose, dropping her voice: “There’s no room for you here. Even if you’re the real deal, you’re still just… extra baggage.“[]
I grinned
Chapter 2
So Princess was finally dropping her act.[]
