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Chapter 1

Gemma

The Second Star Diner really sucks, that’s for sure As I stand at the server console, trying to figure out how to punch in an order for our new TripleMeat TripleCheese Slaer, my boss wanders by and sneers at me

“Yo Geh for you? It doesn’t take a college degree, but wait a ers “You don’t have one, right? In fact, you don’t even have a high school degree, right?”

I freeze ashard and fast Jiree because he’s seen ht there up at the top that I have nothingthe books on weekends So this asshole is just trying to baitme feel bad about myself

And it’s working, to be honest My tein to foret fired, but that’s nothing but a pipe dreaer position because of nepotis in his direction

“This order console is new,” I say casually, gesturing to the iPad ure it out”

“You sure?” Ji soures”

It’s true Numbers have always bewildered me, but it’s not because I’m dumb It’s because I have dyslexia So yes, letters tend to blur beforeinto q’s all the time But still, my dyslexia isn’t his business, and I wasn’t about to share inforuy It would only amp up the constant harassain

“I don’t have a college degree, but I’et my BA someday,” I say in what I hope is a neutral voice “I have a lot of respect for higher education, and look forward to taking classes”

“Oh please,” wheezes Jioing back to school You Don’t Have A High School Degree They don’t ade is for people with brains and money, and that’s not you I kno much you make here You’re poor Besides, they’d never take you, so it’s not even money that’s the issue It’s you”

I freeze, stung by his words How can someone be so mean? He must have thrown three different insults in that tirade, and besides, what he said isn’t true People who have GEDs get into college all the time It can be a little harder because you have to do two years at co to put in the time

But he’s right Hoould I pay for college? There isn’t exactly a e Stash” lying beneath the rainbow People say that you can apply for financial aid, but everyone knows that it’s hard to get, and even if you do get soh Plus, hoould I pay it back? What kind of job would I get that could help me pay down tens of thousands of dollars in student loans?

But Jihtssmile

“I’ht voice “I’ll get an Associate’s and then try and transfer somewhere for my Bachelor’s”

My er doesn’t even hear the ice in , and leers at ht The fat ht now his big belly is literally sainst the plastic countertop I avert rossed out

“Please,” he wheezes again “Save the ‘holier than thou’ speech You’re not going to get through Evergreen Credits there cost a hundred bucks each, and each class is so like four credits You can’t afford that on a waitress’s salary”

This is the tiht because one, it’s not like Jiiveten bucks an hour I’ve already hit the top of the pay scale, and unless I take onmy way