Page 19 of Palm South University: Season 2

“Tell you what. You bring me at least another five-thousand by this time next week, I’ll make that your last payment.”

Wait, did I hear that right?

“Oh my God.” The tears finally fall, but I’m smiling. Relief — that’s what I feel. “Are you serious? One more payment?” I have no idea how I’m going to come up with another five grand, but it sounds a hell of a lot better than twenty-three thousand.

Just five-thousand.

Five-thousand dollars, and then I’m free.

My heart squeezes.

“Now hang on a second,” he interrupts, holding one hand up. “That will be your last payment, but your debt is still far from paid.”

Sniffling, I adjust my purse on my lap. “I don’t understand.”

A slow grin spreads on his face, and the relief I felt moments ago instantly fades.

“You’re going to sell for me, pretty girl.”

“Sell?”

He nods. “During Spring Break. Weed, coke, Molly. You’re going to be a one-stop-shop, my dear. I’ll give you enough stash to settle the rest of your debt and then we’ll be even.”

“No. Absolutely not.” I stand, hands shaking, bile rising. “I’m not getting anyone else caught up in the shit that ruined my life.”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” he snarls, rolling his eyes. “Besides, what other choice do you have? You either take me up on this offer, pay me in full by Friday, or dance four nights a week at my club for the next six months.” His face is stone cold, his jaw set. “I don’t make exceptions like this, Ashlei. You should be fucking grateful. If you’re not, we can take the route I usually take. Ask your friend Hayden how that worked out for him.”

The mention of Hayden’s name makes my jaw drop open. “What do you mean? Did he come back?”

Xavier’s grin is menacing, his yellow teeth on full display. “He didn’t have to, sweetheart. I have my ways of finding even those who try their damndest to stay lost.”

I swallow. “What did you do to him?”

“Refuse my deal, and you’ll find out.”

Blinking, I let two more silent tears stain my cheeks.

And the helplessness sets in.

JESS IS DEVOURING HER PIZZAlike she hasn’t eaten in seventeen years as I pour the dressing on my salad in Pie Heaven. Moaning, she licks extra sauce off her thumb and mumbles around the cheese in her mouth.

“Do not tell the other girls I’m eating this. Erin would kill me.”

“Why? It’s your love handles you’re risking, not ours.”

“Yeah but you know Erin. Sorority image and all that shit. She’s serious about her Spring Break diets.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “My lips are sealed.” She throws me athumbs upbefore folding her next slice in half and taking a huge bite. I blanch. “Even if yours aren’t.”

“Eat me.”

I chuckle.

Pie Heaven is a small pizza joint across from campus, usually packed between the hours of midnight and 3 a.m. with drunk students. I’ve been holed up in my room most of the day, running over the conversation I had with Xavier on Monday, debating my options. It seems surreal, to sit here eating fast food with Jess, knowing that if I don’t make a decision soon, I could get hurt. Even worse – Jess could get hurt.Bocould get hurt.

I feel like a weapon of destruction, harming anyone who touches me.

“So,” she starts, chasing her last bite with a large drink of the extra-large Mountain Dew she ordered. “You never did tell me how your twenty-first birthday was.”