Maya stood in front of her closet, staring at the black dress.
"You have to go," Elena said from Maya's bed, coffee in hand. "It's a scholarship obligation. They specifically requested tutors who improved team GPAs."
"I know." Maya's voice was flat. She'd already read the email from Financial Aid three times. Strongly encouraged was university-speak for mandatory if you want to keep your funding.
It had been five days since she'd overheard Jake's conversation with his teammates. She'd been taking the long route across campus to avoid the psychology building, sending Riley's calls to voicemail.
Now she had to stand in a ballroom with him for two hours and smile at donors.
"I'll be right there with you," Chloe said from the doorway, already dressed in a deep burgundy dress. "The second you want to leave, we leave."
"Can't." Maya pulled the dress from the hanger. "Scholarship renewal is in December. I can't give them any excuse to question my commitment. My 'fit with university values.'" She made air quotes.
She dressed quickly. The black dress was sleeveless, fitted through the bodice, the skirt loose from the waist. Nothing that would draw attention.
Elena pinned her hair up in a simple twist while Chloe handled the makeup.
Maya looked at herself in the mirror.
"I want to look like myself," she said.
"You're allowed to look good, Maya," Chloe said. "It doesn't make you any less real."
"I know."
"You look beautiful," Elena said softly.
Maya studied her reflection. Pale face, tired eyes.
"I look like a mistress at a funeral," Maya said.
"Jake's funeral," Chloe muttered, checking her phone. "If I get anywhere near him it might be literal. I've been watching Dateline. I know how to make it look like an accident."
Maya's lips twitched. "No homicide. I need you outside of prison."
"Fine. But I can't promise anything."
"Just don't get arrested."
They walked to the Student Union together, Maya already regretting the three–inch heels, pinching with every step.
The cold cut straight through her dress. She didn't mind it.
The ballroom was exactly what she expected.
Crystal chandeliers. White tablecloths. The room smelled like prime rib and old money.Classical music floated through the air, barely audible under the low murmur of conversation. Donors in expensive suits mingling with athletes in formal wear that fit them.
Maya signed in at the door. The student worker checking names off the list looked just as miserable as she felt.
Two hours.
She could do two hours.
I see him," Elena said, close to her ear. Her hand found Maya's elbow. "Three o'clock. With his dad and — oh, you've got to be kidding me. Is that Brianna?"
Maya didn't look. "Where's Mrs. Patterson? I need to check in."
Get through the conversations. Smile. Then leave.
She found Mrs. Patterson near the donor tables and made polite conversation about her classes and tutoring work. Mrs. Patterson introduced her to a donor, Kenneth Yamamoto, Class of '98.
"The improvement in team GPA has been remarkable," Mr. Yamamoto said warmly. "Students like you are exactly why we fund these scholarships. You're proof that investment in first-generation students pays dividends."
First-generation students. The label that followed her everywhere.
Maya thanked him and answered his questions politely — ambitious but careful, grateful but not desperate.
When he moved on, she exhaled.
One hour and forty-seven minutes.
She found a wall near the back and leaned against it, half hidden behind a ficus.
Chloe appeared beside her a minute later, plate of appetizers in one hand, sparkling cider in the other.
"Eat." She thrust the plate at Maya. "You didn't have dinner."
"Not hungry."
"Don't care. Eat."
Maya took a stuffed mushroom. It tasted like cardboard. She chewed and swallowed anyway. "Happy?"
"Very. Now eat the cheese thing. It's got spinach — that's basically a vegetable."
Elena appeared beside her. "He keeps looking over here," she said quietly.
"His problem."
"Do you want to leave?" Chloe squeezed her hand. "We can say you felt sick. Food poisoning. Sudden-onset bubonic plague. Whatever you need."
"No." Maya straightened. "I'm not leaving."
She worked the rest of the room. More donors, the same performance over and over again.
Be pleasant. Be grateful. Be invisible.
A few times Maya caught jake in her peripheral vision, moving in her direction, only to get pulled back by either teammates, coaches.
And always his father beside him
A server passed and she took a water glass. She had just lifted it when she heard Brianna laugh.
Maya glanced over.
Jake stood near the center of the room, his father on one side, Brianna on the other with her hand looped through his arm. Jake stood slightly apart, shoulders tight.
Maya turned toward the exit, that's when she noticed the only clear path to the exit ran directly past them.
She could go the long way around. Slip out through the kitchen.
Or walk past with her head up.
Maya chose the latter.
She was ten feet away when Brianna's voice cut through the room.
"Oh, Maya!"
Maya slowed.
Ignoring her wasn't an option. A few heads had already turned.
She turned.
"Brianna."
"I didn't expect to see you here." Brianna smiled. "Are you enjoying the gala?"
"It's been nice."
"I'm sure." Brianna's hand tightened on Jake's arm. "You know Mr. Richard, don't you? Jake's father. Richard, this is Maya, a tutor part of the tutor–athletes program."
Richard looked her over slowly, from her shoes to her dress to her face.
"I see," Richard said. "And you've found my son receptive to tutoring?"
Maya kept her eyes off jake "Jake is capable of excellence when he applies himself."
"How nice." Brianna said sweetly . "Although I suppose that's what the help is supposed to say. Always supportive. Never honest."
The help.
Maya's fingers tightened on her water glass.
"I'm not the help. I'm a peer tutor and a scholarship student. There's a difference."
"Of course there is," Richard said, like he saw none. "Though I'm sure my son appreciates your assistance. Don't you, Jake?"
Maya looked at Jake.
His jaw was set tight. His eyes moved between her and his father.
"Dad, this isn't—"
"Isn't what?" Richard cut in. "I'm simply acknowledging the young woman's service to the athletics program. Surely that's not inappropriate."
Jake's mouth opened, then closed again. For a moment, no one spoke.
"Excuse me," Maya said. "I'm done for the evening."
She turned and walked toward the exit.
Behind her, Brianna said, "Well. That was uncomfortable. Jake, you really should be more careful about your associations—"
"Maya, wait—"
She didn't stop.
Her heels clicked across the marble as she pushed through the ballroom doors and out into the cold.
That's when she felt the sting of the cold, she rubbed her bare arms.
She stood there a moment, looking up at the stars. She could still hear the muffled music from inside.
Her vision became blurry, she blinked hard fighting against the tears.
Maya pulled out her phone and texted Elena: Can you bring my coat? I'm outside.
Jake
Jake watched Maya walk out of the ballroom.
She had stopped at the doors before leaving. Turned back and looked straight at him.
He stayed where he was.
"Well," his father said beside him, adjusting his cuff. "That was awkward."
Jake didn't answer.
Richard's tone stayed light. "Next time, try to be more careful about the company you keep."
Jake turned slowly. "What did you just say?"
Richard raised an eyebrow, giving Jake a condescending look.
"I said—"
"I heard you." Jake stepped away from Brianna. Her hand slipped off his arm. " Why do you think you get to talk about her like that?"
"Jacob." His father's voice dropped. A warning.
"She's brilliant," Jake said, his voice rising. "She's worked hard for everything she has. She earned her place here."
A few people turned.
"And I just stood there," Jake went on, "couldn't even support her."
"Lower your voice." Richard's hand closed around Jake's elbow. "You're embarrassing yourself."
Jake looked down at the hand, then pulled his arm free.
"Maybe I should've done this a long time ago," he said.
Richard's expression hardened. "This isn't the place for one of your little rebellions."
"No," Jake said. "It probably isn't."
His father leaned closer .
"You want to make a scene in a room full of donors who've known this family for years? Go ahead."
Jake laughed without humor.
"You're emotional," Richard said. "You'll come to your senses tomorrow."
Jake shook his head.
"You know what Dad?" Jake said quietly. "I'm done."
"Done with what, exactly?" Richard's expression cooled. "Because if you think you can stand here and embarrass this family and still expect everything waiting for you—"
"I'm done with this." He gestured around them.
Jake turned and walked toward the exit.
Behind him, Brianna called his name.
He pushed through the doors into the cold.
The path outside was empty.
Of course it was.
He took out his phone and opened Maya's contact.
After a moment, he locked the screen and slipped it back into his pocket, then sat down on the cold stone steps.