I sat in that room feeling like my world was crumbling, telling them everything I knew for the next three hours. Going all the way back to the first day I met Mandy and how she became my closest friend, also my roommate.

I showed them pictures of when we first met, and when we went shopping together. How she changed after that.

I told them about meeting Trevor that first day of class and how the three of us went to the coffee shop after class together. We had the study sessions twice a week and we started having them at the same place before that. I told them we were all just friends to that point.

I showed them the text from when Trevor started asking me out during spring break and all my replies as I shut him down. I couldn't help but look at Professor Moore during this next part as if it was his fault somehow. I told them after spending so much time with him alone for our Economics project, I finally agreed to go out with him.

I showed them text, pictures, even Facebook check-ins for Trevor and I over the next few weeks after that. As proof we were the ones in the relationship, not Trevor and Mandy. I even pulled up the Facebook messenger where Trevor told me not to tell Mandy we were together. He didn't want her to feel awkward around us in our study group which is why I never told her.

For the final accusation, I pulled my laptop from my bag and pulled up all the times it was worked on. All my research, notes, and anything more they needed proof on. I told them to check my student ID so that they could see if I wasn't in class last week. I was in the library until it closed every night of the week. Paper in my bag, ready to be handed in.

By the time I had finished, the pits of my shirt were soaked in sweat. My stomach was on a continuous roll. These four people held the fate of my dreams in their hands.

Professor Moore was the first to speak after I laid my case out for them to see. "I believe you, Abby. The way the paper was written sounds like your work for me already. Definitely not up to Mr. Davis's standards."

I breathed and gave him a genuine smile. "Thank you, sir."

"Be that as it may, Miss Black, the school has a zero tolerance for this type of thing. Since it looks like the paper originated from you, you will be allowed to stay at this time, but because this will go on your record as a disciplinarian matter, your scholarship will be lost. You will be able to finish the last few days of the year, but next year you must find an alternate means to find your education. Any questions?"

I couldn't answer Dean Harlow, my brain was unable to grasp all the words he just said. My tuition was $82,126 a year. Where the hell was I supposed to get that type of money? I didn't even ask what happened to Trevor and Mandy then. After staring at Dean Harlow for five minutes like a fish out of water, he was called into another meeting and left the room. The other two people who didn't say a word followed behind him. Professor Moore got up as well, came around the table and put his hand on my shoulder giving it a squeeze. "You okay, Abbie?"

I turned my eyes from the empty chairs in front of me up to his face. He must have seen the tears edging to come down my face and took pity on me.

"You stay in here as long as you need. I'll come to check on you in a while."

My brain didn't even process what he said by the time the doors closed behind him. Once I was finally alone the tears started. I sat there, crying my broken heart out as quietly as I could. My dream is getting further away from me with every tear that fell from my eyes. There was no way I would be able to get a loan for school, I tried that before I came. What was the point in even coming next year?

I sat in that room crying for an hour, wondering what to do next. I had nowhere to go. I didn't know anyone in this city who would let me crash at their place for a few days. Maybe I could stay at Joss's place, but we hadn't talked to each other in weeks! First, I had to go back to my dorm and pack some stuff. No way would I stay there as long as Mandy was there.

Finally, with step one of my still-evolving plan in place, I gathered all of my belongings and went back to my dorm. The tears had stopped, but my eyes were still red and puffy. When I walked in the door, Mandy was sitting on her bed reading a magazine. I was so wrapped up in my own troubles I hadn't given a thought to Mandy until I saw her. Then the anger I felt came barreling out.

"How could you? I thought we were friends!"

The evil bitch just laughed. "Oh honey, we were never friends! Trevor and I played you. It was all my idea at first, and you played right into his hand! I told Trevor we should have posted the pictures I got of the two of you fucking but he made me delete them. Said we'd already done enough or some shit like that!"

Holy fuck! Who is this girl? Did I ever really know her?

"Why me? What the fuck have I ever done to you?"

"I never liked you! You're perfect, smarter than everyone in class. Perfect body all the guys want to fuck, but I am the only one that gets to fuck Trevor, not some backwoods hick like you!"

I bit my tongue to keep the insults in my mouth. I didn't even glance in the crazy bitch's direction as I grab some clothes and belongings and threw them in my bag. I was running by the time I left our dorm room. Down the stairs and out of the building until I got to my car two blocks over. When I got in the driver's seat and locked the door, I took my anger out on the steering wheel of the car.

My car swayed violently side to side as the horn kept going off from my crazy moment. Two guys were looking at me on the street wondering if they should try to come to the crazy lady's car and try and stop me. I finally quit when one of them reached for his phone. Not sure if he was going to record me and make me go viral on YouTube or call the cops on me.

I started my car and pulled onto the road, grabbing my phone from my purse. I called the only person who has been a friend to me in this city so far. I was praying she'd answer the phone.

"Is this my best friend actually calling to tell me she's alive?"

"Joss." I barely got out at just the sound of her voice I wanted to start crying.

"Abbie? What's wrong?" Her instant concern almost pushed me over.

"Can I come over? I really need to talk."

"I'll be on the steps waiting with a full glass of wine." She ended the call, not waiting for a reply.

When I pulled up in front of her apartment 10 minutes later, she was exactly where she promised. I ran up to her and wrapped her in my arms. The tears I thought I had been able to hold back started falling. She took me inside and set me on the couch, not pushing me to talk until I got everything out. When the tears finally slowed, she pulled back and wiped my face.

"What's wrong, Abbie?"

"You were right Joss. You were so right about Mandy and I should have listened to you."

I spent the next hour telling her everything that happened earlier today. To the meeting, losing my scholarship, and seeing Mandy in my dorm room. I didn't leave anything out. By the time I finished, I drank three glasses of wine and started feeling good for the first time since this shit went down.

"Want me to have them killed? I got a cousin in the Bronx that owes me a favor." Joss asked me with a straight face.

I, on the other hand, cracked up. "As awesome as that sounds, I don't wanna go to jail, Joss. But where am I gonna stay? I can't go back to my dorm until that bitch is gone!"

"Well, that's easy, you can stay here. The couch pulls out into a bed and I don't mind. Tess, my roommate won't mind either. You've met her remember?"

"Spring break in the Hamptons?"

"That's her. Stay here as long as you need. I'll help you find a way to get the money for school. I promise. Get some rest for tonight and we'll talk about it more tomorrow."

Joss helped me pull the bed out of the couch and put sheets on it. She gave me a kiss on the forehead before leaving me for the night. I was emotionally drained from everything that happened. My brain couldn't take much more. I was out as soon as my head hit the pillow.
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See! I told y'all this story picks up quick!
Let me know what y'all think about everything so far!!

Edited by: CrystalTheMatron

© 2018 Copyright by Callie Sumner. All rights reserved.