Chapter 2 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FALL OFF

Jenny's POV

What happened earlier at the assembly still rang in my head like a bell, I couldn't forget it. Probably the worst day of my life, and more to come if my name being on the list wasn't a mistake.

"There has to be a mixup or something, I can't be on that list." I stressed to my friends in the hallway.

"Of course, your dad sponsored our trip to Amalfi coast in Italy, there is no way he couldn't afford to pay 10millions dollars for the semester." Monae said in my defense.

"What if he forgot to pay it, you know." Abby said trying to be positive.

"Or...what if he just doesn't have the money now since he sponsored the trip." Carey said.

"Are you out of your fucking mind? My dad always says, 'Money is like air for us; we'll never run out.' He's invested in so many successful businesses, and our family's wealth just keeps growing. We live in a mansion, travel on private jets, and shop at the most exclusive boutiques. Money is never a concern for us!" I hushed yelled at Carey.

"Well, some people run outta air though," Carey retorted, ridiculing me then she left us. That wench! My mood was dampened and from a distance, I could sight Liam approaching me. My friends left me as he edged closer.

"My love, how are you feeling?" He asked me as he gave me a big tight hug.

"Bad and embarrassed." I said sadly.

"I talked to my mom, and she said there had to be a mixup or something and that she's on it. But for the main time, you should know the drill."

My mood abruptly changed when I heard what Liam said but I knew the drill; Students who's names appeared on the list had to go home that instant.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, but there's nothing I could do about that. I don't want you to leave..." Liam said to me as he grabbed me for a kiss. I turned my face over and sadly said to him, "Of course there's something you could do. Pull some strings, you're the fucking principal's son."

"Jenny come on, my mom's big on equality and impartiality. If she does that for you because of me, how do you think the rest of the people on that list would feel and see my mom?"

"I'm different, I'm Mr. Parker's daughter and your girlfriend." I stretched my hands towards his face and caressed it.

"I'm sorry Jenny, unfortunately, that's not enough." he sadly said as he stopped me from caressing his face. "You should be in your way now, to avoid more embarrassment. I love you Jenny." He said whilst walking out on me.

It didn't take long before I heard my driver honking just outside of school. I exhaled deeply then I said, "Fuck my life!" My dad was going to have it, if any of the theories my friends conjured were actually true, then he was gonna have it coming at him.

"Mr.Pedro, is my dad still at work?" I asked the driver.

"No Jenny, he got back from work few hours ago. He wasn't looking so happy though."

"I don't care if he wasn't looking so happy, my day got ruined too." I said with derision.

"What happened that ruined the beautiful princess day?" He asked me.

"Forget it, I don't wanna talk about it." I mumbled as I looked through the windows.

"Fine, if we're gonna sit here in silence, then at least let's play some music. Your favorite, MJ." He said cheerfully. He was truly a sweet man.

"Okay, you have me now. Play Annie are you okay cause I am definitely not okay."

"Yes ma'am." As Pedro played the song, we both sang along, for some minutes I forgot about all my worries and troubles, MJ was really a great musician.

We eventually got home and immediately I got down from the car I headed up to my dad's bedroom. I knocked real hard on it to prove my anger.

"Who the hell knocks like that?!" He raised his voice as he walked to get the door. As soon as he saw me by the door, his facial expression was astounded. "Honey, why are you back from school this early huh? Confused, he asked me.

"I could ask you the same thing. Daddy, I was embarrassed today at school and you wanna know why? Because someone forgot to pay my tuition!" I yelled.

"Fucking hell, come here my baby girl." He said as he gave me a big right hug causing tears to roll down my eyes.

"Daddy please tell me it was a mixup, please tell me that you paid it so I can go back to school." I said choked on my tears.

"Honey, we need to talk. Just not right now, when your brother and sister gets back from school." He kissed my forehead as he released me from his hug.

"Dad, you didn't answer my question." I said while wiping the tears off my face.

"Honey, please just wait for them to get back, please?" He said then he went back into his room.

I exercised patience, waiting for my siblings to get back from school. "You're back early from school, that's very unexpected..." Danny said confused.

"Yeah, it is. But we're gonna walk away and stop acting like we care." Sabrina jeered.

Shortly, my dad came running down the stairs, "Everyone, family meeting at my meeting room now." He ordered.

Mr. Parker's meeting room

We all sat around a table, waiting for our dad to speak. He hesitated, a lot and I found it annoying. I groaned and then asked, "Dad are you gonna say anything?"

"It's hard okay!" He blurted out. Then he apologized and said calmly, "It's hard because I don't know how to process it myself either."

"Dad if it's about mom, we totally-" he cut me short.

"It's not about your mother sweetheart," he said with his voice trembling slightly. He seemed rather melancholic.

"Then what is it?" Danny asked our dad.

"I lost my job," he struggled to say.

Those words, those four words my dad uttered from his mouth filled the room with silence. I and my siblings exchanged puzzled glances at each other thinking about what this meant for us.

"The company is going through some touch times and they had to let me go." He added.

Danny was the first to speak, " Dad are you really serious?"

Sabrina equally concerned asked, "Is this for real dad? How are we gonna manage without your income?"

My dad nodded somberly. "I'm afraid it's true, kids. I know this is a big change for us, but we'll get through it together. We have to tighten our belts and make some adjustments in our lives."

Devastated I said underneath my breath, "I guess it's true then, Carey was right. Some people do run out of air."

"We're not outta air honey, we just need to-" I cut him short this time and gritted,

"I was sent out of school today, embarrassed in front of everyone at the assembly! We have run out of air if you can't afford to pay the 10 millions dollars that I need to continue schooling at KSA."

"Honey, I get that you're angry and pained and I swear to you, I'm gonna pay that money. I spent a lot of money on your trip to Italy, on your siblings school fees at their school, I just couldn't spare 10 million to pay for your tuition."

"So we've fallen off huh?" I said in disbelief.

"I guess we have," Sabrina said.

What happens when you fall off? I asked myself as I curled up into my bed. Things change, your lifestyle can't be the same anymore, certain privileges stripped and love interest slowly starts to fade. I didn't know how to let my friends know, worse Liam. My fate, my fate depends on what happens next.