Chapter 11
Rhea shot her a side–eye, lips sealed.
What You think I’m bluffing?” Briar asked, smirking.
Rhea turned, her stare screaming. “Please, you expect me to buy that?”
Briar just shrugged. If Rhea wasn’t convinced, whatever.
At the dorm building, Briar leaned against the wall, casually pulling out her phone and dialing
“Hey, Imani. Her voice was classic Briar–honey–sweet with a bite of sarcasm, the kind that could catch one off guard.
Imani’s voice came through, already shaky. “What do you want now!”
Briar gave a low chuckle. “Imani, you’re not exactly a brainiac, and you keep proving it. You pull these dumb stunts, tick everyone off, and end up in hot water. Why bother?”
1 swear, I didn’t post on the forum
Don’t care, Briar cut her off. “You know where the art dorms are? Get over here.”
Rhea’s eyes were full of questions. Briar was trouble–capital T. She might as well have “ready to throw hands” written on her face.
Will Imani actually show she wondered.
Imani wasn’t stupid. She shut that down quick. She knew the chaos Briar could unleash behind that pretty smirk.
Briar’s grin widened. “Imant, I’ve got Grandpa’s will right here. Want it splashed across the school forum?”
If Briar dropped that will, it’d be game over–everyone would know who was adopted and who was legit.
Imani panicked. “Briar, it wasn’t me! You gotta believe me-
Three minutes,” Briar drawled, then hung up.
On the other end, Imani stared at her phone, the busy tone echoing. Her face was pale, but her expression had a nasty edge.
“Imani?” Tiana Clayton asked, catching her friend’s freakout. “Briar stirring up trouble again?”
Imani’s eyes were red, gripping Tiana’s hand like a lifeline. “What do I do! She’s not gonna let this go. I’m scared shitless.”
She wasn’t totally faking the fear. Briar was a wildcard. For four years, her style was simple fists first, talk layer.
Briar’s tone alone made Imani shake
Tiana squeezed her hand. “Don’t sweat it, Imani, Go stall her. I’ll grab some people to reach her a lesson she won’t forger. She’ll back off for good!
Briar said, “But this is school-
“No biggie. First day, place is a zoo. Nobody’s gonna care about a little scuffle.”
Imani’s eyes welled up, like she was overwhelmed with gratitude. Thank you.. I’d be so screwed without you.”
Briar slouched against the art dorm’s wall, pulling a lollipop from her pocket and offering it to Rhea.
Rhea shook her head. “She’s really gonna show!“.
Rhea was clueless about the bad blood between Briar and Imani, but one thing was obvious: Briar had some serious dirt on her.
Briar tore off the wrapper and popped the lollipop in her mouth. The heat was melting it, the sweet strawberry scent clinging to the air.
Her eyes glinted with a sly smirk. “Chill, she’s coming”
Sure enough, Imani appeared, rocking a white dress and a preppy cardigan. She froze in front of the dorm.
1/2
Chapter 11
Briar straightened up, tossing her a lazy grin. “Yo, Imant, over here!
Imani’s face was ghost–white, but she gritted her teeth and stomped over
She shot Rhea a nervous glance before locking eyes with Briar. “Those forum posts–1 swear I don’t know who posted them-”
“Save it” Briar slung an arm around Imani’s shoulder, steering her into the alley between the dorms.
Even in the late afternoon, the place was buzzing with freshmen grabbing boot camp gear.
Briar’s cool–as–ice vibe had Imani on edge. She wanted to yell for help, but Tiana’s words fueled her need to take Briar down. She swallowed her fear.
“Briar” Before she could say more, Briar ripped off Imani’s cardigan in one slick move.
“What the hell!!” in
Imani’s voice shook.
Briar wrapped the cardigan around Iman’s head and slammed her against the wall with a quick kick. Imanis vasion went black, pain exploding in her gut. She couldn’t even scream.
Briar grabbed Imani’s hair, lining her up, and smashed her head against the wall. “Why didn’t I post Grandpa’s will after those forum posts. Imanit Take a gues
Imani was dazed, barely holding on, but she started thrashing. “Briar, let me go”
It took ages for Imani to claw the cardigan off. Her eyes burned red, glaring at Briar. “I’m calling the cops! You’re done, Briar. You’ll rot in jail-
Slap! A sharp smack echoed, leaving a red handprint on Imani’s cheek.
“Go ahead, call ‘em. But if this gets big, they’ll drag our parents into it. And who’re my parents?” Briar’s voice was ice–cold, the threat clear: snitched. and she spilled.
Imani’s eyes widened, the truth hitting hard. She finally got why Briar kept the will hush–hush. This was a power play, and Briar was winning.
Tm the real daughter! Grandpa’s dead! I’m the Shepherd family’s princess!” Imani spat
“Tich, princess of nadal Briar grabbed Imani’s chin, cyca narrowing
Slap! Another hit.
Imani’s ea
ears rang, her strength gone. She couldn’t fight back.
“I told you I’d slap you eighty times. Dropped five last week, two just now. Seventy–three left, Briar said.
“No. Briar, I messed up, okay? I’m sorry.” Imani whimpered.
Suddenly, a frantic voice cut through. “Imand? Hey, where you at?”
Rhea, keeping watch, muttered, “Briar, someone’s coming”
Imani seized her chance, screaming “Tianal Here, help!”
“Imani?” Tiana stormed in, backed by seven or eight rough–looking guys
As she was Imani all messed up, Tiana’s jaw clenched. She pointed at Briar. “That’s Briar. Kick her ass”
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