Chapter 3

Back at school, Tiffany looked like she wanted to murder me. She could glare at me all she wanted, but I kept my head up and studied.

When Earl adopted me, he made me quit school to help him. I resisted, but he slapped me so hard, I never resisted again.

I had to work at the slaughterhouse, hauling meat and walking through pig manure. I came home smelling like, well, you can imagine. I was exhausted.

At night, I'd see Tiffany's posts, her designer bags, fancy dinners, trips abroad. I always wondered how it was like, to have a life like hers.

The first time I touched a book again, the pages smelled so good it brought tears to my eyes.

After class, Tiffany was surrounded by a group of her friends, all with dyed hair. She made friends with these lowlifes last time, and she’d already gotten in with them again.

Whatever. Not my problem.

I had a massive headache after class, so I went to the restroom.

I was in a stall for a while. Then it got quiet outside. When I opened the door to wash my hands, there were Tiffany’s little friends, standing there, arms crossed, looking hostile.

Before I could register what was happening, I got shoved against the wall. They started punching and kicking me.

Finally, I heard Tiffany yell, "Stop!"

She grabbed my hair, forcing me to look up at her. "How did Earl get rich? What happened? Tell me!"

"If you don't, they’ll start up again!"

I looked at Tiffany, so stressed out, with all my bruises, and I suddenly felt calm.

She’d only been with Earl for a month, and she couldn’t handle the bad life. That’s why she was trying to force me.

“Fine. I’ll tell you.” I said.

“On the fifteenth of next month, at midnight, Earl will be walking down the street behind the school.”

“If you follow him, you’ll find out how he got rich."

Tiffany frowned. "Does Earl drink? He never drinks when he’s with me."

“Really?” I asked.

“Yeah. He comes home from work at nine and makes me a snack, warms up my milk, and tells me to go to bed early."