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Elijah’s dad narrowed his eyes, taking in my paint-covered hands and shirt His smile was stiffer than his collar as he dipped his chin in a single nod “Likewise”

“Mr Prescott is one of the biggest donors here at Oak Park,” Dean Levy continued, barely looking at uy’s ass I was surprised he could still breathe “The renovations on the football stadium were thanks to him”

“That’s… aweso the way Mr Prescott was staring at ets that look froreat cause”

“What did you need, Talia?” Dean Levy asked

“Haze moved back to Elijah’s dad “Oh, um, I just had a question… but then I realized I knew the answer already Sorry to waste your time”

The dean peered atinto a frown as he finally took inon with the paint?”

I touched htly “Oh—just a du to ask if it was okay to skip e I don’t want to walk around with paint on me all day”

Levy nodded “Just try to be back in class by next period I’ll have your teacher alerted And be more careful

with your uniform, please Next tilance toward Mr Prescott

“I will Thanks”

Biting backthat wasn’tmy backpack

As soon as I ay from the admin office, I ran

It didn’t matter who I told The Princes and their families owned Oak Park Literally The whole se onto my trump card in case I ever needed to play it But the truth was, I didn’t have one There was nothing I could do to stop their torture of me

I’m alone Completely alone

Chapter 14