Chapter 2

Brianna smiled, a saccharine, practiced thing.

"Hi! I'm Brianna, your new roommate. Love your jacket!"

She gestured to my genuine AllSaints, draped over my desk chair.

Then she held up her own. "Look, almost twinsies!"

I stared at her, then at the flimsy imitation in her hand.

The polite, accommodating Ash would have smiled, said something vague.

The new Ash didn' t.

"That jacket's a pretty bad knock-off of my AllSaints one," I said, my voice even.

"Mine cost over a grand. If you're going to copy me, at least invest in better fakes."

I paused. "Or, you know, don't copy me at all."

Brianna' s smile faltered. Her eyes widened, then narrowed.

Chloe Davis, our other roommate, was unpacking boxes by her bed. She stopped, looking from me to Brianna, her expression surprised.

"I... I don't know what you mean," Brianna stammered, her voice suddenly shaky. "I just thought it was cute. I saw it online."

"Right," I said, my tone flat. "A coincidence."

Tears welled in Brianna' s eyes. "Why are you being so mean? I just got here."

Chloe shifted uncomfortably. "Ash, maybe she just liked the style."

"Maybe," I agreed, holding Brianna's gaze. "Or maybe she has a thing for other people's things."

Brianna let out a small sob. "I can't believe this. My first day, and my roommate is already attacking me."

She dropped her bag, the fake jacket falling to the floor, and fled the room, tears streaming.

Chloe looked at me, a frown creasing her forehead. "That was a bit harsh, wasn't it?"

"You have no idea, Chloe," I said, my voice tired. "You really don't."

An hour later, I got an email. Dean Peterson wanted to see me.

Immediately.

Brianna hadn't wasted any time.