Elara Sinclair learned on her first day at Ashford Academy that there were two types of students: those who belonged, and those who served.
Here the children of presidents, tech moguls, and royalty came to prepare for their already planned bright futures. The scholarship students, fifteen out of three hundred, were supposed to feel grateful for the opportunity.
But to the elite students, they were nothing more than servants.
Elara had noticed it in the little things first. Professor Hartwick would call scholarship students last, the cafeteria staff would serve the elite students first while the scholarship kids waited until the food turned cold. Their dorm rooms were in an abandoned wing on the campus, while students like Seraphina Whitmore had suites with private bathrooms and balconies with the lake view.
Even after three years, Elara could remember her first day at school so clearly that it still made her angry.
She'd stood at the school gates with her single suitcase, staring up at the academy's building with stars in her eyes. The acceptance letter had been clutched in her hand. It had felt like winning the lottery.
She'd worn her best dress, she'd bought at a thrift store. Her hair had been pulled back in a ponytail.
"You must be one of the scholarship students."
Elara had turned to find a girl standing behind her. She was looking beautiful with her perfect hair, and designer clothes looking like a royalty.
"Yes! I'm Elara. Elara Sinclair." She'd extended her hand with a bright smile.
The girl had looked at her hand like it was trash.
"I'm Seraphina Whitmore. Crown Princess of Aldovia. A word of advice for you- don't touch things that don't belong to you including people."
Before Elara could respond, a boy had walked up beside Seraphina. He was tall with sharp features making him look like a celebrity.
"Is she bothering you, Sera?" He'd asked.
"Not at all." Seraphina had linked her arm through his. "Caden, darling, let's go. I need to make sure they put my things in the right suite."
Caden Blackwell.
Elara had heard his name whispered by the other scholarship students waiting by the gates. He was heir to the Blackwell fortune, one of the wealthiest families in the country.
He'd started to walk away, then paused and turned back. He looked at Elara and for a moment, she'd thought maybe he'd be kind.
"Hey." He'd called out. "Scholarship girl."
"Yes?"
"My bags are in the car." He'd gestured towards a black car. "Take them up to the North Wing, room 501. And be careful, some of that luggage costs more than whatever orphanage you came from."
The other elite students had laughed.
Elara had stood frozen, her face burning with shame. She'd wanted to say something, to defend herself, but the words didn't come out. She was afraid of losing her scholarship before her first day even began.
So, she'd picked up his seven bags, and carried them to his room while other students had watched and laughed.
That had been three years ago. Three years of carrying, and fetching their things, cleaning up their mess and enduring "accidents" that left her covered in food or drinks.
Fourth year had just started, and the pool party was a ritual at the beginning of every year. For the elite students, it was just another excuse to show off their designer swimwear and expensive watches. For the scholarship students, it was another reminder that they didn't belong with them.
Elara stood in the corner of the pool area, trying to blend into the wall behind her. The party was in full swing with music blasting from speakers, students laughing and swimming in the pool.
"This is torture." Marcus muttered beside her.
Marcus Chen, her best friend in the academy was also a scholarship student just like her.
"Only two more hours." Elara said.
She was wearing a simple one piece swimsuit under a cover up. It felt shabby compared to the designer bikinis around her, but it was clean and it fit. That was enough for her.
"I don't understand why we have to be here." Marcus said. "It's not like anyone wants us here."
"Because it looks bad if the scholarship students don't attend." Elara had learned how this worked.
"Elara." Someone called her, and she recognized the voice immediately.
She turned and saw Caden Blackwell standing five feet away. His hair was wet from the pool, water droplets were sliding down his chest. Seraphina was sitting on a lounge chair behind him, watching with a predatory smile.
"Yes?"
"Get me a drink and make it fast. I'm thirsty." He ordered with a smile.
Marcus's hand tightened on her arm.
"She's not your servant, Caden."
Caden's eyes moved to Marcus.
"Am I talking to you?" He looked back at Elara. "The drink. Now."
"It's fine." She muttered to Marcus.
She pulled away from him and walked towards the bar. She ordered the drink and carried the glass back at the pool deck.
"Here." She said extending the glass to him.
He took it. Then suddenly, he pulled his keys from the pocket of his swim trunks and dropped them into the drink.
"Oops." He said. "Hey, could you get my keys out for me? They fell in the pool."
He hadn't dropped them in the pool. They were in the glass. But before Elara could point that out, he turned and threw the glass into the pool.
"Go. Get the keys for me."
"I can't swim."
"What?"
"I can't swim." She wasn't lying.
Caden's smile faded.
"That's not my problem. I need my keys."
"Caden, I really cannot swim. I'll drown."
"Then I guess, you better be careful."
"Are you serious right now?" Marcus said. "She said she can't swim. Get your own keys, assh*le."
Caden didn't like being challenged, especially not by scholarship students, and especially not in front of his friends.
"You know what?" He stepped closer to Elara. "If you don't do what I say…"
His hand moved in a blur and grabbed the chain around her neck. Elara felt her pendant pull against her skin. She grabbed his wrist.
"Don't…"
But he'd already grabbed it. He held up the pendant. It was a small and very old silver locket.
"What's this? Family heirloom?" He mocked her.
"Give it back. Please."
It was the only thing that was with her when she'd been found abandoned at a hospital fifteen years ago. The nurses had said it was tucked inside her blanket.
"Give it back?" Caden repeated. "Like you're in a position to make demands?"
Students around them were pulling out their phones to record the scene. Seraphina was laughing behind Caden.
"Caden, come on…" Elara reached for it.
He pulled back.
"You want it? Then swim for it."
"No…"
Then he threw the locket in the pool. The crowd erupted in laughter and cheers.
Everyone started chanting "Swim! Swim! Swim!"
Elara stood frozen. She stared at the pool. The locket was her only connection to whoever she'd been before she arrived at the orphanage. Something inside her broke.
She looked at Caden. He was grinning, his arm was raised in victory like he'd won something.
Her hand moved before her brain caught up, and she slapped him.
The slap echoed across the pool deck like a gunshot. Caden's head snapped to the side. The laughter died instantly.
Caden turned back to her. His cheek was red, her fingerprint was already there on his cheek. His eyes were widened.
"You just…" He couldn't finish the sentence.
"I hate you." Elara said. "I have hated you since the moment I met you. You're cruel and heartless and you think you're better than everyone because your father's rich and people are afraid of you. But you're just a bully with money."
Seraphina stood up from her lounge chair.
"Do you have any idea what did you just do?"
Elara did. She'd just ended her life at Ashford Academy, and maybe ended her future as well. But she didn't care.
"Stay away from me, Caden Blackwell." Elara shouted.
Then she turned and walked away, leaving Marcus calling after her, crowd murmuring in shock, and Caden standing with his hand on his cheek.