Chapter Twenty-Five

“No… wait. How much did you hear?”

“Enough! Start talking because I’m bloody confused.”

This was the last thing Grey wanted. To get caught.

“Uh…”

“And don’t lie to me.”

Grey didn’t even know how she could possibly lie her way out of this one. She knew she would have to come clean eventually, but she never mentally prepared for it. Now here she was unable to open her mouth and spill the truth.

“Fine, just hear me out. The scholarship you heard about is the only reason I’m here.”

“Why would you need a scholarship?” Ela scrawled.

“Because I couldn’t impossibly afford this school without one!”

Ela shook her head, “But I thought—”

“No, my works two jobs one at a gas station and another one at a restaurant. I went to a community college back in the states.”

Ela hung her mouth open and burst into laughter.

“Are you kidding me? You’ve got to be joking.”

“I’m not joking. That’s the actual truth. My clothes… weren’t lost by the airline those were my only clothes.”

Ela remained silent for a few minutes, probably digesting the bombshell Grey had just dropped on her.

“Why would you lie? Do you think we’re that shallow that we wouldn’t talk to someone who doesn’t have the same bank balance as us?”

Grey exhaled a shaky breath. “I don’t know. I didn’t mean to. I certainly didn’t come here planning on lying about who I was. Mia just assumed—”

“Well, you didn’t correct her!”

“You’re right. I saw it as an opportunity to survive.”

Ela scoffed, “Please, people here aren’t all bad.”

Grey cocked her head to the side, “Maybe you’re just unaware, but outsiders like me can be treated differently. I doubt I’d have been invited to be friends with you guys if you didn’t think I was rich.”

“I can tell you for a fact that it doesn’t matter to me!”

Grey wrapped her arms over her chest. “Oh yeah? How many friends do you have that don’t have that don’t have two houses and private jet?”

“One.” She said.

“Yeah, who?”

“You, duh.”

“That isn’t what I meant!”

“Well, it’s what you get. Now I don’t have to tell how dumb this stunt you pulled is.”

“I know Ela.” Grey pushed her hair behind her head.

“You don’t know in case you’ve forgotten. West hates lies.”

Grey bit her lower lip. She’d gone too many lies thinking about how she would eventually tell him and his reaction. If he loved her would he care about her status? She understood he would rightly be mad.

“Not to mention when everyone else finds out… I would hate to be you.”

“Ela…” Grey whined.

“I’m just saying, people hate being taken a fool of. I’d just keep quiet about this. Let’s just make it through the next year.”

“Wait, you won’t tell?”

Ela rolled her eyes, “I thought you’d have figured out by now that I’m not that kind of person. Mia won’t hear from me what you did with her ex.”

Grey cringed. Ela started to walk away in her skinny five inch heels.

“Where are you going?” Grey asked.

“To chill with my real friends.”

“We are real friends.” Grey sighed.

“Obviously not real enough to tell me who you really are.”

Ela continued to walk away. There was nothing Grey could say to bring her back. Instead she turned back to the shimmering blue lake, beckoning her to dive in and drown her worries and herself.

***

Grey ended up swimming until her skin wrinkled. The lake was her safe place and she stayed until the sun couldn’t linger in the sky any longer. She eventually packed up her things and headed back to the dorm house. She was dripping wet by the time she got there, her shoes in her hands and her jacket over her shoulder. Loud music came from the building, Grey wondered what was the reason for the place being so lively. There were girls giggling in the lounge and dozens on the stairs.

All Grey wanted to do was get changed and crawl under her blanket. She needed to talk to Ela, but she had a feeling her friend needed time to process things. She opened the door to their dorm room, but it slammed just before she could glance at the familiar setting.

“Is there a reason you’re not answering my calls?” West blasted.

“West!” Grey stepped back and gasped.

West stepped in front of the door and Grey, his arms folded over his white hoodie.

“I haven’t even checked my phone.” Grey said.

“All day?!”

Grey sighed, despite the small trembles that ravished her body. She almost couldn’t look him in the eye. Her secret had finally come to light, but she was holding it from him. She needed to salvage whatever they had between them. She didn’t want to kill it prematurely.

“I went for a swim… and I lost track of time. That’s all.”

“So, you aren’t upset with me?” West closed the distance, taking Grey in his arms.

Grey recalled the conversation she shouldn’t have heard. Her blood went slightly cold. She was too rattled to be with him at that moment.

“I didn’t… like that you kicked me out, but it’s whatever.”

West pressed his lips on her forehead and sighed. “Sky told me Brandon was bothering you. What happened.”

Brandon was another guy Grey would rather forget. It had been a long day.

“Forget it babe.” Grey whispered.

“You and I both know I can’t do that.”

The door to the dorm room opened and Ela gingerly walked out. Grey’s heart beat spiked. What if Ela had changed her mind and was going to out Grey. Suddenly Grey felt lightheaded.