Chapter Text
She’s cold and she’s cruel but she knows what she’s doing
Knows just what to say, so my whole day is ruined
“There’s the newbie.” Whispers greeted her the first time she stepped through Belvoire University. She looked up at the tall buildings, imposing facades and impossibly white walls. This will be her new home for four years.
“She’s really not that impressive.” She heard a girl whisper.
“Off brands. Disgusting.” Another chimed in.
She walked faster, as she hears different voices finding lots of things that are imperfect about her. “Are they talking about me?” Morgan thought as she walked through the quad. She looked down at what she’s wearing. “Did I get a stain on my shirt?”
Gawks and whispers follow her as she went by.
Her thoughts were interrupted when a girl screamed like a banshee. Morgan looked up startled.
“Where is my coffee? You know I need my coffee.”
The other girl looked terrified.
“You’re a three digit, you serve me.”
Finally, Morgan sees the source of the ruckus. A fuming blonde girl glared and barked.
“B-but Poppy didn’t say to get you one.” The terrified girl stammered.
“I’m second, I always get my coffee.” Miss entitled spat out.
Morgan stopped walking, gaping at the exchange. Her eyes darting back and forth between the two. “Are all the people here like this? Why isn’t anyone paying attention?” Morgan wondered, looking around.
Then finally, the girl noticed her and glared at Morgan. “Why don’t you just take a picture newbie? Why are you staring?”
Frowning, Morgan looked her in the eyes and said calmly. “You know maybe if you’re nicer, people would be more likely buy you coffee.”
The girl laughed, looking at her incredulously. “Do you know who I am little miss nobody?”
“Obviously not. I don’t care for the names of bullies.” Morgan started to turn, showing disinterest in whatever she would say.
Annoyed, the blonde girl grabbed her elbows, fingers digging deeply. “I’m Chloe St. James, ranked second. Don’t you dare turn your back on me farm hand.”
“Let go or lose it, Barbie. Does it look like I care who you are?” Morgan grabbed the assailant’s wrist in a firm grip. All those years of self-defense may come in handy after all. As she prepared to rip the girl’s arms off her elbows, someone cleared their throat.
“Oh sweetheart, she’s not the one you should be worried about.” Another girl sauntered to where they are. Her voice is saturated with confidence and privilege, commanding attention no one dared to deny.
This is getting out of hand. Where are they coming from? Morgan thought as she sees the crowd clustering and slowly encircling them from all directions. The throng have their phones ready to record any altercations between the new girl and the Queen B.
She turned to see the new girl who spoke. Her eyes narrowed and looking at Morgan like she’s nothing but filth beneath her jewel encrusted stilettos, her strawberry blonde hair glinting in the sunlight. She is stunning in every sense of the word, if not for the scowl on her face you’d think she’s an angel.
Finally looking at her, Morgan paused and could only think of one thing. “Oh no, she’s hot.” She’s always had a weakness for pretty girls and she’s beyond beautiful, she’s a goddess.
“Speak up Farmsville. I can’t hear you.” Poppy spat out.
Flustered that she may have voiced thoughts out loud, Morgan countered, not one to back down. “What? You think you scare me?”
“I can step all over you. I’ll be your first and last memory of Belvoire.” Poppy replied smiling devilishly, getting in her face.
“Really? Is that a promise?” Morgan stepped closer as well, never one to be intimidated. The air is beginning to get charged with something heavy and palpable. A meeting of sorts, an unstoppable force versus an immovable object. The crowd back away slightly.
Poppy crosses her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrows in disbelief. Rolling her eyes, she jabbed a finger to Morgan’s chest. “Listen Farmsville, know your place, and I for one know, Belvoire is not it. You will always be poor in places that matter.”
“You don’t threaten me, love. Just because you’re rich, you think your above all of us.” Furious, Morgan got into her face, a little bit of her Midwestern accent seeping in her voice.
“Ohhh! Pop, you finally got competition.” Michael, another of Poppy’s minions spoke, amused at their discussion.
“Shut up, Michael.” She snarled.
Poppy paused, looking Morgan from head to toe. “Don’t make me laugh. I’m Poppy Min-Sinclair, I’m the queen of this school. No one crosses me and gets away with it.” Poppy sent a glowering look in her direction.
“Oh will you look at that, time to go Morgan.” A girl drags her by the hand and before her brain can catch up, they were already running. They leave Poppy staring after them, seething.
They run through the crowd into an imposing building. She noticed this place before, she thinks it’s the girl’s dorm, it’s a lot different from the brochures. It’s an enormous renaissance building, out of place in the masses of contemporary architecture of the university. The girl opens the door and they enter.
“Uhm… where are we?” Morgan finally looks up at her, still breathing heavily. “And who are you.”
“I’m Zoey Wade, your new best friend and the one who just saved you from digging your grave any deeper. I’m a room over.” She points to the room besides the one Morgan assumes is hers. Still catching her breath, she leads her inside the room.
Morgan glances at her saviour. “Thanks, Zoey. But what was that? Is there a caste system in this school? Some girl claims she’s the queen.”
“That’s because she is, she’s the Queen B, look.” She pulls up her phone so I can see the page. “So this is the T, student gossip and ranking page. And right now you are front page news.” Zoey informs her, looking at her with something akin to pity.
She took Zoey’s phone and scrolled through the rankings. Seeing her name at the bottom, her background and home town plastered in the front page.
“There’s Poppy ranked number one.” Scrolling all the way to the top, a gorgeous photo to come with the territory. “And you just crossed her. The ones who did that before either got expelled or dropped out entirely.”
The look of disbelief and a bit of fear crosses Morgan’s eyes. But I just got here, and just when I thought I was going to have a new start. She thinks to herself, a bit wary that she may be already on her way out the exit before she even unpacked her bags.
“You could always apologize.” Zoey grimaces, not even believing her own words.
“I would never. Ughhh… After all I’ve been through to get here… I hate her stupid gorgeous face.” She thumps her head softly against the wall. “I think I need a drink.”