MEANT TO HATE YOU; FALLING FOR THE ICE KING

H'S

nk I can tak

er up, and tossed it straight into

ut of the bin, and shoved it back into my hands with tha

ve got real debt. The kind that keeps you up at night. I'm not telling you to j

y mom just died. Everything's already falling apart. What if this

n it won't magically pay the bills or stop Mrs. Smith from banging on your door

muttered, though we

out our cranky math teacher until I laughed twice, and even had the housekeeper pack me snacks "for the ro

home with me anyway, bu

ed the second I got home

t stupid reality shows or mystery money,"

anded face-up on the floo

y bag, zipped it shut, and kicked the whole thing under the bed. Then I took the l

g a normal senior - not some desperate girl

h started pounding on the door at six in the

en! I'm not playin

my head. Useless. Her v

now or so help me I

ad spun. Rent day. How

oor open. Mrs. Smith stood there, arms

. Now," s

"I don't have it yet. Things have b

ised me today! Those were y

y, I just need a

is evening. If that money isn't in my hand, you're

off before

d against it, heart pounding

grabbed my phone

st ring. "Hey, what's wr

ool. "I need you to lend me a thousand dollars. Just until I get a jo

ar

I had any other choice. Mrs. S

n't be calling me right now," she said, voice ste

unched. "Cal, come on! Don't do th

n you've actually signed. I love you, bu

hung

alista had my back through everything - Mom's illness, the video nightm

, pulled out the bag, a

s. Safe.

vorite hoodie, grabbed my stuff, and headed out, h

had a feeling

ing way too relaxed for someone abo

I felt. "I'll do the show. But I have

an eyebrow

the show starts. Not after. I'm not stepping in front

hin, then nodde

across with a pen. "S

fast, before my brain could scre

e shook my hand, his grip f

an I at least meet my co-star first? J

ou'll both be revealed on day one. It's

his isn't some teen pr

mething on his desk - another file, half-

tract?" I asked,

htning-fast. "We're done

ut not before

in bold i

oor, hand on the

ooke

is

then stood and held the door op

ou tell me? Is he someone from sch

're getting today." His v

clicking shut behind m

a

make my stomach twist like I'd just walked int