Chapter 4Saving Grace High

I returned to my new classroom holding the stack of papers. I smelled like breakfast burrito.

The room was chaotic. Like a marketplace.

By the window, a few girls were gathered around Serena. The school queen bee. They were applying glittery gems to her nails. Next to them, two guys were holding their phones, gaming and cursing.

I found an empty seat in the corner and put the papers down. Someone shoved my shoulder hard.

I looked up. It was two of Serena's wannabe-gangster lackeys.

"Yo," one said. "Isn't this the brainiac who got scared into fainting by Jax this morning?"

A girl with green-streaked hair pinched her voice. She looked me up and down sarcastically.

Another girl with short hair poked my arm with her exaggerated acrylic nails. She tsked in disgust. "OMG, why are you so skinny?" "Like a bean sprout." "A gust of wind would blow you away, right?" "My teddy bear eats more meat than you."

I shrunk my neck in fear. Not daring to breathe loud. Trembling all over.

Serena sat there, slowly blowing on her freshly done nails. She winked at the side.

The green-haired girl immediately pulled a carton of milk from her desk. Expensive. Organic. She popped the straw in and practically shoved it into my mouth. "Drink it!" she said viciously.

Someone next to them immediately raised their phone. Started recording. The camera was almost in my face.

The class clown, Richy, leaned in grinning. He was decked out in designer logos. He made a peace sign at the camera, then called his dad on video chat right there.

As soon as the call connected, he yelled. "Dad! Look!" "That organic milk you wanted to promote, I found someone to taste-test it!" "A bona fide Harvard prospect! Number one in the city!" "Look how much she's enjoying it!"

He jerked the camera toward me. Threatening me with his eyes.

The straw was still in my mouth. I was forced to take a big gulp. I almost choked. I could only make a vague "Mmm" sound and let out a small milk burp.

Richy was incredibly smug. "Hear that, Dad! She said it's good!" "Hurry up and send me money. This was hard work, you know." "Oh yeah, by the way, cover her milk for the whole year!" "When she gets into Harvard, this will be 'Harvard Milk'!"

Soon, his dad sent him ten grand. Someone quickly delivered a month's supply of milk.

Richy raised his eyebrows at me. "You must drink this milk every day." "One carton a day." "Otherwise... otherwise we'll bully you!"

Serena finally deigned to speak. She glanced at me. Faintly. "Yeah, you need to nourish yourself." "Your face is sallow." "It's lowering the average attractiveness of our class."