The Scholarship Girl & The Rich Young Master

help, scholarship girl?" I turned. Two girls from my class, Madison and Lauren. Rich, pretty, mean. The kind of girls who followed Jace around like he was a god. I ignored them. I hit

Of course he didn't. He never has to face consequences. Rich boys never do. But after last period, he was waiting for me by the back gate. The one I use to avoid the main entrance where the expensive cars line up. He was leaning against the wall, hands in pockets, looking... tired? No. Rich boys don't get tired. "What do you want?" I said. I tried to walk past him. He blocked me. Not touching me, just standing in the way. "I didn't post that picture," he said. "I know. Your girlfriends did." "They're not my girlfriends." "Then tell them to stop!" "I did." His voice got lower. "I told Madison to delete it. She didn't listen." I laughed. It was a ugly sound. "Wow. The great Jace Carter told someone to do something and they didn't listen. That must be a first for you." His jaw clenched. He does that when he's mad. I was starting to recognize it. "You think I like this?" he said. "You think I want my life to be like this?" "What do you mean? You have everything! Money, friends, everyone loves you!" "No one loves me," he said suddenly. So quietly I almost didn't hear it. "They love my father's money. They love the idea of me. Not me." I stared at him. For the first time, he didn't look like the Rich Young Master. He just looked like a boy. A lonely boy. "Then why did you bet on me?" I whispered. "Fifty thousand dollars to make me fall in love with you. If no one loves you, why do you want me to?" He flinched. Like I had slapped him. "You heard that." "Every word. You said I would be begging you by prom." He closed his eyes. "Mia, I -" "Don't," I said. Tears were coming again. I hated crying in front of him. "I don't want to hear your excuse. I just want you to leave me alone. Is that too hard?" It was quiet for a lon