Chapter 4

The classroom froze. Everyone stared at me in shock.

They clearly didn't expect a charity case to talk back.

The girl who had just spoken turned bright red. So what if your test scores are decent You still need handouts to sit in this room!

Her clique immediately backed her up.

Exactly. Why else would anyone sponsor a poor kid if she didn't have grades

Acting so entitled! If Chloe's family hadn't saved her, she'd be working minimum wage at a warehouse right now.

...

I didn't waste my breath. I walked straight to my desk.

Nobody talked to me.

The guy in front of me glanced back once and turned away. The girl beside me quietly scraped her chair a few inches farther from mine.

Across the room, Chloe watched me with a smirk playing on her lips.

At lunchtime, I bought the cheapest meal from the cafeteria and sat alone in the corner.

Three girls carrying trays walked over and deliberately sat at the table next to mine.

Without acknowledging me, they began their loud performance.

Hey, did you hear Chloe’s family is sponsoring that transfer student in our class.

Yeah, Ms. Hayes mentioned it at the rally.

She’s ridiculously ungrateful. The Millers took her in, and she walks around with that sour face, never saying thank you.

I know! I saw her walk in with Chloe yesterday, and she didn't even say hi. Who does she think she is

Chloe is just too kind. If it were me, I would’ve kicked that leech to the curb.

I put down my fork, picked up my tray, and stood up.

As I walked past them, they went silent for a split second.

The moment I cleared their table, their voices amplified.

See that Look at that attitude! Acting like she's above everyone.

What a pretentious freak. Without Chloe's parents, she couldn't even afford lunch.

I dropped my tray at the disposal station and walked out into the courtyard.

The sun beat down relentlessly.

I leaned against the bleachers, pulled a small notebook from my pocket, and flipped to a fresh page.

I jotted down a line

September 15th Cafeteria lunch, $5.50. Owed to the Millers $5.50.

I paused, then added yesterday's forgotten expense

September 14th Household utilities split, estimated $3.00. Owed to the Millers $3.00.

I had started this ledger the very first day I set foot in the Miller mansion.

Every single penny, every utility cost, every meal—I recorded it all.

I would pay them back every cent.

I refused to owe them anything.

From that day forward, I threw myself into studying.

I woke up at 430 AM every morning and went to bed at midnight.

I solved practice tests between classes, during lunch, and during gym free-periods.

First district mock exam I ranked 2nd in the class.

Second mock exam I ranked 1st.

Third mock exam 1st again, with the highest composite score in the district.

Ms. Hayes publicly praised me three times during our class meetings.

Yet every time, someone in the back muttered bitter remarks.

Of course a scholarship kid studies like that. What else does she have She has to claw her way out.

Whenever that happened, Chloe would speak up in her soft, delicate voice. Guys, please don't say that about Maya. She really works so hard.

Hearing that, the classmates looked at Chloe with pure admiration.

Then they would glance at me, their eyes screaming You better be grateful to her.

Then came December. One afternoon, Ms. Hayes walked into the room, beaming.

Under our school’s elite matriculation program, based on the last three mock scores and state academic competition honors, our very own Maya Vance has officially received Early Admission to our nation's top university!

In her office, Ms. Hayes proudly handed me the formal acceptance package.

Thank you, Ms. Hayes!

Don't thank me, Maya. You earned this entirely on your own merit. She paused. Make sure you share the good news with your sponsors.

Thinking of how David and Helen had treated me lately, I nodded. I will. I'll tell them tonight.

Ms. Hayes smiled warmly. Good. After all, they did sponsor you. Keep things gracious.

I will.

After evening study hall, I arrived back at the Miller house. Instead of heading straight upstairs as usual, I waited in the living room.

At 1030 PM, the front door opened. David and Helen walked in, followed by Chloe, whose hands were full of designer shopping bags.

Maya You're not asleep

Normally, I was buried in books by this hour.

Chloe smiled at me, though a flicker of guilt flashed across her eyes.

I was waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Miller, I said calmly. I have some great news to share.