Chapter 1
“What the fuck is going on! How did my train ticket suddenly disappear?!”
Tickets were already hard to get before Thanksgiving, and seeing the inexplicable “Order Canceled” notification on my phone made me even more furious.
I immediately called my boyfriend to vent.
“The ticket I worked so hard to get was canceled–how am I supposed to come home with you? This is so annoying!”
I never expected my boyfriend’s response to completely freeze me:
“Oh, your ticket? I canceled it for you. Kira couldn’t get a ticket and was feeling down, so I refunded yours and let her buy it.”
“It’s only a dozen hours anyway–just take the bus.”
Kira? His childhood sweetheart?
But… what gives him the right?
I stayed up three straight nights to grab that ticket! Paid extra for business class! What does her bad mood have to do
with me!
A dozen–hour bus ride? If anyone’s taking it, it should be YOU!
Ha! Since you want to play it this way, I don’t need to keep up this act of being some pure, poor girl anymore.
I immediately hung up on him and called my dad:
“Dad! Come pick me up and take me home.”
“Our private jet–yes! Land it right at the school entrance!”
Right before Thanksgiving break, I pulled three all–nighters straight just to score Amtrak tickets for me and my boyfriend to go home together.
I let out a huge sigh of relief, only to get this text from him:
[Kira’s having a mental breakdown. I gave her your ticket.]
I stared at the canceled booking confirmation on my phone.
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Che Clundered Molo Million.
THAN NG LEON Vol Doufomance07 All My Courtroom Evidencel
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Chapter 1
After a moment of silence, I picked up my phone and dialed:
“Dad, can our private jet land right at the campus airstrip?”
Dead silence for two seconds on the other end.
My father was clearly thrown by my sudden and extremely over–the–top request.
But he knew me. I wasn’t the type to go full drama queen over nothing.
“Absolutely.” He didn’t ask questions, just agreed immediately.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Sweetheart, you never need to thank me. We’ll talk when you get home.”
The second I hung up with Dad, Derek’s call came through.
“Quinn! What’s your problem? Why are you leaving me on read?”
His voice was dripping with attitude and irritation.
“It’s literally just one ticket. Are you seriously gonna be this extra about it? Kira’s going through the worst time right now–can’t you just be cool about this?”
I gripped my phone, knuckles going white.
“My ticket. You just straight up canceled it without even asking?”
‘It was a total emergency!”
Derek’s tone got even more defensive.
‘Kira completely bombed her midterms and she’s having a total breakdown. She’s been a hot mess all week. That first–class seat you scored is quiet and chill–exactly what she needs to decompress during the trip.”
‘Plus, why didn’t you book an extra ticket when you had the chance? Now we’re stuck dealing with this drama!”
His logic was so backwards I almost burst out laughing.
Derek, I stayed up for three nights straight refreshing that website, eyes glued to the screen, practically gave myself carpal tunnel trying to snag those tickets.”
I thought this would be our first trip home together, you know? Something special. And you just gave away my seat like it was nothing?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
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She Slandered Me to Millions (Cue the Poko Pan
Chapter 1
Derek’s voice went up an octave.
“Quinn, I swear you’ve turned into such an ice queen lately. Like, when did you get so selfish?”
“Kira’s supposed to be your friend too! She’s totally on her own out here, barely keeping it together–shouldn’t we have her back? You’re really gonna throw a tantrum over one ticket?”
“Barely keeping it together?”
I repeated his words softly, feeling my heart turn to ice.
“She’s not having it easy, but I am? Making me take a dozen–hour bus ride home–why don’t you consider my
situation?”
“What’s wrong with the bus? It just takes a bit more time and is a bit crowded! When did you become such a princess?”
Derek’s voice was thick with disappointment.
“I thought you were sweet and down–to–earth. Turns out you’re just another spoiled brat! You’re embarrassed because it’s not first–class anymore? You’d rather make everyone miserable than just deal with it?”
His words hit me like a slap in the face.
Spoiled?
Me, being spoiled over a first–class train ticket.
He had absolutely no idea that I couldn’t care less about the stupid ticket. I just wanted to go home with him, to have that time together!
If I snapped my fingers, forget one ticket–I could buy the entire damn train car without breaking a sweat.
But I was so done with this conversation.
I wanted to see what other Oscar–worthy performances he and his precious “damsel in distress” had lined up.
My silence seemed to register as guilt and backing down to Derek.
His tone softened just a bit, but still had that patronizing edge.
“Look, chill out, okay? I get that you’re upset. I’ll take you to that fancy steakhouse when we get back to make it up to you, alright?”
“Just see if you can grab a coach ticket. Kira and I will meet you at Union Station when you get in.”
I could practically see his smug face, thinking he’d been so generous in throwing me that bone.
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She Slandered Me to Millione (Cue the Pako Tours Bivol Hut Her Viral Performance? All My Courtroom Evidence!
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Chapter 1
“Don’t bother,” I said flatly.
“Don’t bother with what? What are you even saying?” Derek sounded confused.
“I’m saying keep the tickets. I’ll figure out my own way home. Don’t worry about me.”
My voice was completely flat, giving nothing away.
“Quinn! Are you seriously being this dramatic right now?”
Derek’s voice shot up with irritation again.
“Can you please stop acting like you’re twelve? How exactly are you gonna ‘figure it out‘? Everything’s sold out.
What, you think you can just charter a private jet or something?”
Bingo, Derek.
That’s exactly what I’m doing.
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