Chapter 7 Rebecca’s First Strike
Casey POV
I should have known Rebecca would not stay quiet she never does if something threatens her control she fixes it immediately.
The campus event is held in the student union courtyard tables are set up across the grass, banners hanging from poles advertising clubs, internships, and volunteer programs. Music plays from speakers near the stage and students crowd around booths collecting free food and merchandise.
Normally I would avoid something like this because there are too many people and too much attention but my biology professor offered extra credit if we attend at least one campus involvement event this semester so here I am trying to move through the crowd as quickly as possible I keep my head down and hold the small clipboard the volunteer at the entrance gave me. If I collect three signatures from booths I get the credit.
That is all I need three signatures then I can leave. The first booth is easy the environmental science club signs my sheet and hands me a pamphlet about conservation the second booth belongs to a tutoring group agirl writes her name on my paper and smiles politely.
Two down one more I scan the courtyard for the closest table then I see the banner.
Roosevelt Foundation.
My stomach drops of course Rebecca would be here. The Roosevelt Foundation sponsors several university programs, Rebecca loves events like this because they give her an audience and Rebecca always performs best when people are watching. I consider walking away and finding another booth then I realize something there are only a few left and most of them have lines.
Rebecca’s booth is almost empty if I get the signature quickly I can leave before she notices at least that is the plan I approach slowly. Rebecca stands behind the table wearing a fitted white dress that looks like it cost more than my entire semester of groceries her hair falls perfectly over her shoulders and she smiles brightly while talking to two students.
Everything about her looks effortless and everything about her is practiced the two students thank her and walk away for a moment she looks down at her phone this is my chance I step forward and place my clipboard on the table. “Can you sign this for the involvement credit?” I ask quietly.
Rebecca looks up and her smile freezes for a second she just stares at me then the smile slowly returns but it is not friendly. “Oh,” she says lightly. “Look who it is.”
My fingers tighten slightly on the clipboard. “I just need a signature.”
She glances at the paper without touching it. “You came to my booth for extra credit?”
“Yes.”
Rebecca laughs softly the sound carries farther than it should a few nearby students glance over. “Well,” she says loudly, “this is interesting.”
I feel attention shifting toward us and I hate attention. “I only need the signature,” I repeat.
Rebecca leans her elbows on the table and studies my face like she is examining something unpleasant. “You could have asked me at home,” she says.
“I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Oh, Casey,” she says sweetly, “you are never a bother.”
The words sound kind but the tone does not she picks up my clipboard slowly students continue moving through the courtyard but more people nearby are beginning to watch.
Rebecca glances at the Roosevelt Foundation banner above us and then back at me. “You know what this event is for right?” she asks.
“Campus organizations.”
“Networking,” she corrects. “Connections and opportunities.” She taps the clipboard with her pen. “And yet here you are.”
I do not respond Rebecca looks around the courtyard as if she is addressing a larger audience. “My little sister,” she says brightly, “is very shy.”
Several students nearby turn their heads fully now my chest tightens. “She prefers to stay invisible,” Rebecca continues her eyes lock on mine. “But that is understandable.” She pauses dramatically. “Considering she is only here because our family sponsors half the programs at this university.”
A few people laugh awkwardly the words hit exactly where she intended I stare at the table Rebecca signs the paper with a slow flourish then she holds the clipboard instead of handing it back. “You see,” she says loudly enough for others to hear, “Casey wouldn’t even be here if our parents hadn’t decided to help.”
Someone nearby whispers, “What?”
Rebecca smiles wider. “She is basically our charity project.”
Heat rushes to my face. “That is not true,” I say quietly.
Rebecca tilts her head. “Isn’t it?”
Students around the booth are definitely watching now a small crowd has formed without anyone admitting it Rebecca continues speaking as if she is explaining something fascinating. “My parents adopted Casey when she was younger,” she says. “She didn’t exactly come from the same background as the rest of us.”
The implication hangs in the air I feel like the ground has shifted under my feet Rebecca finally hands me the clipboard. “There you go,” she says sweetly. “Extra credit.”
My hands shake slightly as I take it. “I didn’t ask for this,” I say quietly.
Rebecca leans forward slightly. “No,” she says softly so only I can hear. “You asked for Chris’s attention.”
My stomach drops. “That’s not—”
Rebecca straightens and raises her voice again. “You know,” she says brightly to the surrounding students, “Chris has always had a soft spot for people who need help.”
Someone in the crowd murmurs Chris’s name and Rebecca smiles. “Apparently my sister fainting in class yesterday made quite an impression.”
The whispers start immediately. “You fainted?”
“Seriously?”
I step back from the table. “I have to go.”
Rebecca’s voice follows me. “Careful, Casey,” she calls.
I stop walking I do not want to turn around but I do. Rebecca stands behind the table looking completely composed like she did nothing wrong. “People might start thinking you are trying to get attention,” she says.
The crowd shifts slightly someone laughs and I feel smaller than I have in years I turn to leave then a new voice cuts through the courtyard.
“What the hell is going on?”
The entire crowd turns Chris stands at the edge of the courtyard still wearing his hockey practice jacket looking directly at Rebecca then his eyes move to me and to the crowd and to the clipboard in my hand the atmosphere changes instantly. Rebecca’s smile tightens. “Well,” she says calmly, “perfect timing.”
Chris steps closer as the students part automatically to let him through. “What did you say to her?” he asks.
Rebecca folds her arms. “I told the truth.”
Chris looks at me again I wish he would not because everyone else is watching where he looks Rebecca notices it too her eyes darken. “Go ahead,” she says quietly.
“Ask your captain.”
She gestures toward him. “Ask him why he suddenly cares so much about the charity case.”
The courtyard goes completely silent Chris does not look away from me and for the first time since this started he looks angry.
