Chapter 3

Two days later, Sarah was at Ms. Peterson's cozy, book-filled apartment, finalizing the scholarship paperwork. It felt like the first time she could breathe freely in years.

Ms. Peterson had even planned a small outing for them, to a local fair, a rare treat for Sarah.

Then Sarah' s old, pay-as-you-go phone, which Ms. Peterson had helped her reactivate, buzzed. It was Ethan.

"Sarah? Mom's got a terrible migraine. She's asking for you. You need to come home, now."

His voice was urgent.

A final pang of duty, a deeply ingrained reflex, made Sarah' s stomach clench.

"Okay, Ethan. I'll be there."

She apologized to Ms. Peterson, her heart sinking. "I have to go. Family emergency."

Ms. Peterson looked concerned but nodded. "Of course, dear. Go."

She rushed back to the Harrison estate, abandoning the fair.

The house was strangely quiet. She found them in the main living area.

"Surprise!" Ashley shrieked.

Before Sarah could react, a bucket, rigged above the doorway, tipped. Icy, green slime poured over her head, drenching her, dripping into her eyes.

Laughter erupted. Ashley' s friends, a gaggle of spoiled teenagers, were all there, phones out, recording.

Ashley clapped her hands, her face alight with malicious glee.

"Oh, Sarah, you look just like a drowned rat! It's my fun surprise for you!"

Sarah stood there, slime dripping from her hair, her clothes ruined. She tried to maintain her composure, her face a blank mask. She turned to leave, to escape the humiliation.

Ashley' s expression crumpled instantly into one of theatrical distress. Tears welled in her eyes.

"Sarah, don't you like my fun surprise? I worked so hard on it!"

David stepped forward, his face thunderous. He slapped Sarah hard across the face. The sound cracked in the suddenly silent room.

"You ungrateful brat! How dare you embarrass Ashley in front of her friends!"

Ethan, her brother, the "golden boy" who had sometimes shown her small kindnesses in the past, rushed to Ashley' s side, putting a protective arm around her.

"Sarah, what's wrong with you? It was just a joke! Apologize to Ashley. Your attitude is terrible."

Victoria, far from having a migraine, emerged from the kitchen, a champagne flute in her hand. She looked at Sarah with disgust.

"Honestly, Sarah. Always such a disappointment. So ungrateful. Ashley tries so hard to include you."

Sarah said nothing. The sting on her cheek was nothing compared to the coldness in her heart.

Later that evening, after Ashley' s friends had left, Sarah was changing into a simple, new dress. It was a gift from Ms. Peterson, bought for her after the SAT day ordeal, a small gesture of kindness that had meant the world to Sarah.

Ashley sauntered into her room without knocking, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Ooh, a new dress, Sarah? Where did you get the money for that? Did you finally find a rich old man to buy you things?"

Sarah ignored her.

But David and Victoria, drawn by Ashley' s raised voice, appeared in the doorway.

"What is this?" David demanded, his eyes fixing on the dress. "Where did you get that?"

Victoria gasped. "Sarah! Are you... soliciting? You're shaming this family!"

"It was a gift," Sarah said, her voice quiet but firm.

"A gift from whom?" Ethan sneered, stepping forward. "Let me inspect it. Make sure it' s appropriate." He reached for the fabric of her dress.

Sarah felt a surge of revulsion, a violation. Without thinking, she slapped his hand away, hard.

Then she slapped his face.

A stunned silence filled the room. Ethan stared at her, his cheek red, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Sarah looked at their shocked faces. A strange calm settled over her.

"Don't you ever," she said, her voice shaking slightly but clear, "touch me again."

She felt a tear, hot and solitary, trace a path down her cheek.

"Why?" she whispered, looking from David to Victoria. "Why do you hate me so much? What did I ever do to you but try to be what you wanted?"

Her words hung in the air, an accusation they couldn't, or wouldn't, answer.