nged into a pair of jeans and a plain sweater. She took a deep breath,

rising in her throat and managed a polite, obedient smile at h

up a piece of whole wheat toast and chewed it slowly. The rep

of concern to ask how Blaire slept last night. Her eyes, however,

ept her voice light as she answered that she slept fine. Then, she droppe

ita's knife screeched against her ceramic plate

r. He frowned deeply and demanded a reason, pl

d to undergo intensive, closed off training to apply for th

rl living on campus would ruin the family's reputation. Blaire knew the rea

uthoritative tone that left no room for argument. He agreed to let her go, but

new this was his absolute bottom line. She clenc

sed a fake, innocent voice to suggest Blaire go see Kamr

violently. She forced a bitter smile and flatl

laire grabbed her backpack, muttered an excuse about

e her tense shoulders finally dropped. She picked up her pace an

r face. Blaire pulled the brim of her baseball cap down low, keeping

helves until she found the small box of Plan B. She grabbed it, but as s

urned their heads to look. Blaire panicked, hiding the

eckout machine. She fed crisp cash into the slot, grabbed h

Her hands shook as she ripped the cardboard box open. She popped the

taste coated her tongue, but a fierce spark of satisfacti

a wooden bench. She pulled out her phone and st

tings. Minimum wage would never be en

to a hidden, underground New York for

vet was urgently hiring premium resident dancer

een made her heart pound against her ribs. It was the only

tfits and softcore, sensual performances. Years of con

aining her blood flashed in her mind. The visceral f

hardened into cold steel. She tapped the a

told her to come to the back alley door at ten o

e reflection in the black glass. She told herself tha