CHAPTER 20
EVE
Spring break is now over. We only have eight weeks before the semester is finished, and then Vincent leaves for Nevada, and hopefully, I’ll have transferred to a school out in California. Stanford is my top pick. I know some people would scoff at the idea of transferring schools for a man, but I don’t see it that way. Vincent is my life, and if I can have both a great education and be closer to him, why shouldn’t I try to do that?
I pour myself a hot cup of coffee from the dining hall, trying to stay calm—despite the fact I’m scared to death to bump into Daniela. The gossip mill says she went away with Chi Omega girls to Mexico. But now that she’s back in the city, I’m not sure what to expect— especially after the club fiasco. Did she see Vincent run out of the club after me? Claire’s warnings about her ability to ruin my life pound in my chest. Taking my coffee to go, I try to relax while walking to my first class of the day.
I take a seat in the center of the large lecture hall, pulling out my spiral notebook and a blue pen from my backpack. Strangely, a few students turn toward me before whispering to each other conspiratorially. I hope that it’s my imagination, but I open up the mirror app on my phone anyway. Doing a quick scan of my teeth and face, I see nothing is out of the ordinary.
When class is over and I head out into the hallway, I bump into her. My gaze starts at her high-heeled black boots that tie up to mid-thigh, a short black skirt, and a beautiful cream-colored cashmere sweater; the color is bright against her perfectly tousled red hair. It hurts to admit it, but she looks like a million bucks.
My heart thuds as she looks down at me mockingly. “You poor thing.” Daniela shrugs a bony and tanned shoulder. “You were totally wasted at the club before break. And the fact that it was photographed...”
“Photographed?”
“Well, you were dancing like a stripper. Do you even remember?” Her eyes move from my feet to my face disapprovingly. And then she lets out a little laugh as if I’m nothing but a joke.
“I—”
“Well, even if you don’t, you should check High and Low. You’re all over it. And let’s just say, it isn’t exactly flattering.” She lifts a perfectly manicured hand up to her lips. “But then again, I guess you are who you are, right? I just hope the school doesn’t find out about your behavior. I know they take scholarships away from kids like you who try to party with the rest of us.”
Sweat breaks out on my forehead, but she continues, “It would be a shame if you got thrown out, wouldn’t it? And after how hard you worked to get out of the ghetto you were raised in! What would your sister Janelle think if everything she sacrificed for you was all lost? Would you have to move back into the Blue Houses with your mom? She’s a stripper too, right?”
My mouth drops open. How does she know? Cold terror moves straight down my spine and into my feet. Seemingly content with my obvious fear, Daniela struts off. I want to move, but I can’t. I can barely breathe.
With a shaking hand, I manage to take out my phone and open the browser. I hear whispers in the hall, but I’m too focused on my task to pay attention. I quickly type in HIGH AND LOW in my Google search. I know this is what Daniela hoped for, but I need to know. I can’t even think about anything other than finding out what is on the internet about me.
I click on the link, and there I am. Pages of photographs of me, dancing. My super-tight red dress leaves almost nothing to the imagination. A random guy stands flush behind me, his face slightly blurry. Every feature of mine is perfectly visible, though. As if the photos weren’t enough, there’s an article accompanying it.
Will Bitches Never Learn?
This freshman, Eve Petrov, was spotted before spring break at the hottest club in the city, Marquis. Word on the street is she tried to hook up with THE Vincent Borignone, who completely ignored her pathetic advances—obviously.
Bystanders at the club all laughed while she pounded shots, got completely wasted, and then slutted herself up to any guy who would give her attention. Ugh, gross!
When will this freshman girl learn more than just math? It’s called self-respect. And by the way, no one told us here at High and Low that the drinking age was lowered to nineteen.
XOXO,
High and Low
I lift my head while mortification filters through my senses. I quickly type out a text to Claire. She responds right away, telling me to meet her by the no-smoking sign in front of Grant Hall—right now.
I run out of the building, not caring that people are watching. I burst through the front doors of the mathematics building, wanting to collapse in relief when I see Claire waiting by the tree.
She starts, “I read it. Everyone has. So, swallow your pride and let’s figure out how to deal now, okay?” I nod my head. We’re in crisis mode, but she’s in control. It almost feels as if I’m an outsider looking in. My mind hasn’t caught up to the fact that this is all happening to me.
“First thing you do, is a lot of really good stuff so when your name comes up in a Google search, the newer and more positive stuff about you comes up first. That means getting your name out wherever possible in conjunction with good things. Like, charities. Or, donating your time to a good cause. We don’t ever want a future employer seeing this!”
The tears well up in my eyes. “Employer?” I gasp. This is my future. My life! What if one of the schools I plan on transferring to sees this?
She puts a hand on my shoulder. “It is what it is, Eve. Another thing you need to do is to speak to Vincent. Maybe he can find a way to erase it.”
“B-but how?” I stutter.
“People have connections. I have no idea who is behind High and Low, but you never know. Girls would lick the dirty gym floor if Vincent asked them to do it. If he knows who wrote it, I bet they’d take it down if he asked. It’s worth a try. At least your friendship can help you in this way, right?” She looks at me accusingly, but I drop down on the grass, bringing my knees to my chest.
She sighs, sitting down next to me. “Text him now, Eve.” I look up to see urgency in her face. I can tell she knows I’ve been lying, but she has the decency not to mention it right now.
Pulling out my phone, I text Vincent, asking him to call me when he can. Three minutes later, my phone rings.
“Eve?” His voice is soft and warm, how it gets in the morning right when he wakes.
I start before I lose the nerve. “I’m on High and Low. Can you find a way to get it taken off?” My voice comes out in a rush. I’m not just mortified. I’m also ashamed.
“They wrote about you?” He sounds furious.
“That gossip site. They said…” I pause. I want to tell him everything, but I’m too upset to speak. I swallow the dryness in my mouth, willing myself to hold it all in until I get to the privacy of my dorm room.
“Give me a few hours. It’ll be gone.” He hangs up the phone. I’m sitting on the ground with Claire by my side. She takes my hand.
“Vincent to the rescue, huh?” Her smile is relieved, but also sad.
“Do you really think he’ll get it removed?” My desperation is making my head pound, the tears finally starting to fall.
“Yes. I do.” She’s nodding, the hopefulness written all over her face. “But Eve, please stay away from him. If Daniela is out to get you, this is likely just the tip of the iceberg. Getting her angry is a really bad thing. She’s so connected, Eve. I tried to warn you, and I hope it’s not too late.”
“I’m gonna go back to my room. I can’t be out on campus right now.”
I run-walk directly to the quad with my head down, swiping my key card to get into the building. After climbing the steps, I bump into my Resident Advisor. She’s about to say something, but I quickly run past her; I can barely look up. Has she seen it? Has everyone?
I sit at the desk in my room, opening my computer and checking out High and Low. Tears of relief fall down my face when I see that the article and all the photos about me are gone.