Chapter 14
“Sweet, thank
you two, Briar said. She slumped into a chair, bored out of her mind, scrolling through her phone.
A text pinged at the top of the screen, but before she could check it, a call flashed up.
The name on the display made her grimace. She swiped it away. Two seconds later, it buzzed again.
Briar groaned and picked up. “What’s good”
A voice roared through the phone. “Briar, what’s with the attitude? You hit Imani again, didn’t you?”
Louise. Of course. No one would blow up her phone like this except ber
Briar leaned back, a smirk creeping up. “Yup. And?”
“Briar, you’re impossible! Apologize to Imani now, or you’re toast Louise shouted.
Briar snorted, like she’d heard a bad punchline. “Oh yeah! How you gonna make that happent Let’s hear it”
You-
Before you come for me, ask your precious princess what she dal”
Louise froze for a beat. “Forget the facts. Even if Imani messed up, you don’t get to touch her she snapped,
Briar rolled her eyes. “Wanna play that game! Fine. Your family’s drama ain’t my problem. But if this happens again, I won’t be so nice.”
She hung up, letting out a sharp laugh, and blacklisted the number without a blink.
Her own mom or not, Briar didn’t care. It was almost funny.
These people were dying to grabs what was hers, but they couldn’t even fake being humble. Some nerve
Next day, Lamond University’s freshman orientation
| salad.
It was barely nine, but the September sun was already frying the new kids, leaving them drooping
ng like sad s
Briar, in her boot camp canto, stood at the back, arms crossed, cap pulled low. The dean’s droning speech was a total snooze–fest, and she was half- asleep.
Rhen glanced back, whispering, “Hey, Briar, heardd Imand’s parents swooped in and yanked her outta here.”
“Shocker,” friar said with a lazy shrug. No way a spoiled princess like Imani would do something as embarrassing as a public apology.
“Your folks didn’t come to clean up your mess!” Briar asked, eyebrow raised.
“Me!” Rhea chuckled. “Not worth the hassle. I’d just get an earful.”
Briar smirked. “Meanwhile, Imant’s parents are falling over themselves to fix her drama.”
“Speaking of: Rhea said, leaning in. “what’s the deal with you and Imani“”
Briar’s eyes glinted with a sly grin. “You ever see those cheesy dramas where the rich kid gets swapped at birth!”
Rhea’s jaw dropped. “No freaking way—”
Briar shrugged. “Life’s a soap opera, I guess.”
Rhea just stared, stunned.
Briar’s grin sharpened. I’m not sweating it. I’ve got Grandpa’s will and his cash locked down. If Imani wants to play the Shepherd family’s golden girl, she can have at it”
She wasn’t letting go of a damn thing that was hers. If Imani wanted to cling to that fake crown and choke on it, Briar was happy to let her.
The principal finished his speech, and the art school dean took the mic. “Yesterday, we had a real nasty brawl on campus. Since the kids involved
Chapter 14
are freshmen.”
“Hey, that’s us.” Rhea muttered, nudging Briar. “So, where’s your apology letter?”
Briar grinned. “What, you never heard of freestyling? I’m winging it.”
Rhea was left speechless. We are not here to give a TED Talk–we are supposed to read an apology!
Rhea pulled Briar through the crowd, keeping it sneaky as they slipped to the stage’s edge.
Imani had already been yanked off by Louise and Martin,
First up was Tiana, who’d let some shady outsiders onto campus. Head down, cheeks flaming, she stumbled through her apology to every freshman in the room.
Seeing Briar hadn’t prepped a thing,
thing, Rhea went up next to buy her time. She didn’t care much, so she owned her screw–up, read her apology with a blank face, and bailed
Then it was Briar’s turn.
She strolled onto the stage, adjusted the mic like a rockstar, and cleared her throat. “Yo, what’s good? I’m Briar, animation freshman.
Mr.
Monroe already spilled the tea, but I’ve got a few things to add..”
The crowd, in great surprise, thought, This girl is serving main–character energy.
to a full–on speech vibe.
A simple apology turned into a
Rocking a crisp camouflage fit, hair in a tight ponytail, Briar flashed a chill smirk. Her sharp looks and bold voice almost made you forget she was supposed to be sorry.
Briar leaned in, taking her time. “First, basic physics force is a two–way street. When I scrapped with Imani, she was swinging back. So, yeah, I’m a
victim too.
“Second, Imani and her crew schemed to sneak some randos onto campus to jump me. That’s straight–up attempted assault, planned and plotted.
“Third, that
same morning, Imant’s squad was online, dragging my name through the dirt and messing with my head.”
These lines showed Tiana, Imani’s friend, and the crowd reacting with stunned silence, conveyed through ellipses, to Briar’s bold and unexpected speech.
Anthony snapped out of it and stormed up. “Briar, what’s this nonsense? You’re here to apologize, not play lawyer! “Briar just laughed.
Briar just laughed. She pulled out her phone, held it up for all to see, and played a recording.
“Forget the facts for a sec–even though Imani messed up, does that mean you get to hit her? The mic carried the voice loud and clear.
One line, but Anthony froze–it sounded way too familiar.
Briar, all helpful, said. “That’s from a call yesterday. Imand’s mom, Louise, tried to scare me. Just a snippet”
“One line proves nothing!” Anthony shot back.
“Nothing?” Briar raised an eyebrow. “It proves we’re ignoring facts! If face don’t matter, I’m just a sweet little freshman, a victim of bullying
“I shouldn’t be up here groveling while the real bullies walk.”
Anthony found nothing to say in answer.
Maybe it was Briar’s chill, smirky vibe, but the crowd lost it. Laughter erupted below.
“Whoa, she’s talking pure nonsense with a straight face
is some wordplay magic! Teach me, boss!””
“That’s
“Animation’s got a freaking legend
“Forget the facts? Then what’s the convo even about?”
“Imani’s rolling with off–campus thugs? Yeah, she’s no angel”
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Chapter 14
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