Scholarship Only Chapter 4

Chapter four1

Two days later, a suspicious-looking limo pulled up to MacKay Academy. It was a long and white Porsche limo, with dark windows. Inside, a short, tan brunette with a heart-shaped face sat on the buttery-soft leather seat, her stomach gurgling. 2

“Um, Ross? I think we can turn around now.” Shelby Brixler held her hands to her stomach dramatically. Luckily she went to a performing arts school for her first seven years of school, not counting kindergarten, so it was likely that her own personal driver would be gullible enough to catch on.3

Ross looked at her in his mirror. “Shelbs, are you sure you’re not faking it? I know you. Are you just scared because you arrived two days late? It’s not your fault, you know. It was just a little flight delay.” Shelby rolled her bright green eyes. Ross was notorious for rambling on.4

“Weelll…” Shelby thought for a millisecond about lying, but she couldn’t fib; it was the one characteristic she hated about herself. Suddenly, in one breath, she shouted, “Whatiftheothergirlsdon’tlikeme! I’matotalmisfitandeveryoneknowsit!”5

Ross, who drove Shelby around virtually everywhere, understood. “They will love you, Shelby. Trust me.”6

“But I’m not famous for myself! My life SUCKS!”7

Ross gave her a knowing look. “Shelby, your mom is a make-up artist and your father is a talent agent. I don’t think your life sucks.”8

Shelby pouted. “But…I don’t have a name for myself. Except for a few articles about myself in magazines, I’m infamous.”9

Ross rolled his eyes. “There are a million girls in the world that would kill for your life, and you know it.”10

Shelby shrugged and nodded. “We gonna go in now?”11

Her driver jerked his head in a swift movement that was supposed to be a nod. He came around to Shelby’s door and opened it for her. Quickly, she smoothed down her outfit – a short-sleeved lavender angora sweater, dark Paige jeans, and silver Prada flats. She wore two bright purple tangly necklaces around her thin neck, and two silver bangles around her tiny wrist.12

“Ready?” Ross asked patiently, even though he so wasn’t.13

Shelby took a deep breath and stepped out. “Yes.”14

*15

“ARE YOU KUH-IDDING ME?” Shelby shouted. She was in the office, where she was currently being told that there were no rooms available by the horrid Ms. Jarina.16

“No, I’m not kidding.” Ms. Jarina shrugged. She whipped out a leather book and scanned through it. “Unless…”17

“Unless?” Shelby repeated quick as a flash.18

“Unless you would like to room with two other girls.” Ms. Jarina looked up with a flip of her red Victoria-Beckham crop-style.19

“Anything,” Shelby exhaled.20

“All right…you’ll be rooming with Hazel Halliwell and Acacia Rue.”21

Shelby’s eyes widened. She’d seen them in Teen Vogue, COSMO! Girl, People, and Us Weekly. Their parents were MUCH more famous than hers, and a lot richer. Still, she peeped, “All right.”22

*23

Hazel and Acacia were sitting on Hazel’s bed, painting their toenails and giggling over the newest Star. They had done a small article about their moms, Gia and Edie, about how now they were best friends. They had also included a snippet, with the small headline, “Where Are The Little Ones?” 24

Acacia snorted and read aloud, “Not so little anymore! Fourteen-year-olds Hazel Halliwell and Acacia Rue are off at a private boarding school, says a source. But that little birdie won’t tell us where! ‘All I can reveal is that many kids of the famous have gone there, and it’s to the east,’ chuckles our source. ‘Also,’ they say, ‘I have no idea if they’ve even met yet.’ More details soon!”25

The girls looked at each other and burst out laughing. 26

“Puh-freakin’-lease, of course we’re already besties,” Hazel giggled.27

“And I’m still thirteen. Humph. That musta’ been my grandma – she thinks I’m, like, nineteen cause of these boobs!” Acacia exclaimed, pointing down at her tank top.28

“Yeah, I know. Well, I don’t know, but—”29

Suddenly, Hazel was interrupted by the swift opening of the dorm door. A petite brunette walked in, looked around the room, and gestured to the floor. Her driver laid them down, whispered a quick message into her ear, and was off.30

“Hi,” she peeped.31

“Who. Are. You?” Acacia stated calmly.32

“Oh. Um, Shelby Brixler.” She smiled.33

“And why are you here?” Hazel narrowed her stony brown eyes.34

“Well, uh, I’m your new roommate.” 35

Acacia and Hazel’s eyes widened in shock. 36

“What’s wrong? Am I – am I not supposed to be here?” Shelby asked in a confused tone.37

“Uh, um, hold on.” The girls turned to each other and started whispering in each others’ ears. Shelby bit her lip nervously. They were obviously talking about her, which made her pretty uncomfortable. 38

“Okay, we’ve decided. You’re in.” Acacia said.39

“Uh, wait, what?” Shelby stammered. She self-consciously patted her poof on top of her head. 40

“You’re in. Like, our circle.” Hazel clarified.41

Shelby blinked. “Oh, oh, um, like your clique?”42

“Exactly!” Hazel and Acacia smiled.43

“Cool.” Shelby grinned. 44