The Scholarship Girl & The Rich Young Master

verly Hills. I walked through the big iron gates of Rosewood Academy again. Same fountain. Same staring. But something was different. Madison was not at the fountain with her ponytail girls.

floor. Old marble floor of Rosewood that costs more than my mom's one year rent. "He said, 'Be careful, Jace. At Rosewood, photos become story even if story is fake.' Then he said I can't see you outside class." "Oh," I said. That's all I could say. Oh. We stood in hallway. Students passing, whispering. No one stopping, but everyone listening. "So detention team is over?" I asked. I tried to sound not sad. Failed. Jace looked up. Blue eyes angry again, but not at me. "No. My dad donates, but he doesn't own my friends. He can't tell me who I eat lunch with." Bell rang. We went to class separately. Lunch. I went to old art room again. Old habit now. I brought Jace's notebook to return. Door opened. Jace again, with two brown bags from cafeteria. "Mama T's Bakery doesn't deliver here," he said. "So I brought Rosewood cafeteria. Chicken wrap, but not fifteen dollars bread." I laughed. He remembered my mom's joke. We ate on art tables. He told me his dad wants him to apply to Stanford early, but he wants UCLA so he can stay in LA and not be far from his grandma in Santa Monica. I told him I have to work at Mana T's Bakery until 8 PM every day after school, because rent in Inglewood went up. "My mom works double shift at clinic," I said. "So sandwich you gave was our dinner Saturday. Thank you again." "You don't have to thank me every time," he said. "I want to. No one ever gave my mom Erewhon." He was quiet for second, then said, "Can I come to Rosie's? One time? I want to try your cupcakes. Chloe says you make best chocolate." "You? At Mama T's? In Inglewood? Your Range Rover will be scared." He laughed loud. "My Range Rover is brave." We laughed. Art room dusty sun again. Then he went quiet. "Mia," he said. "About photo. The stolen kiss photo." "Yeah?" "It bothers me that first time everyone thinks we kissed, we didn't even kiss." My heart started beating very fast. Like before falling off ladder. "What do you mean?" I said, looking at my chicken wrap, not at him. "I mean," he said, slow, "if they already put #StolenKiss, and we already got in trouble, and my dad already saw... maybe we should have a real one. So rumor is not lie." I looked up. He was red. Not just face, ears too. Rich boy blush. "Jace Carter, are you asking to kiss me because of gossip logic?" I said. "Not good l