CHAPTER ONE
Life is pretty hard, if you notice.Actually, no—life is brutal.
"I can't come tonight, Lula. Just tell Jake I'm sorry, and I'll make it up to him somehow," I said into my phone, balancing it between my shoulder and ear while pulling my hair into a messy bun.
"Wait, can't you at least come for the after-party? Just thirty minutes! It won't be long, I promise. He'll be really pissed if you don't show up to his birthday," Lula begged, her voice doing that dramatic whine she uses when she's about to pull out the guilt card.
"Lula, my shift starts in ten. Can I call you back? I've gotta go."
"Fine," she sighed, long and exaggerated, "but think about it, okay?"
I hung up and let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. Life really is hard.
You're probably wondering why I can't just go for thirty minutes. Or who Jake even is. And while we're at it—who am I?
My name is Semi. I'm eighteen, and I was born in Avaiton, Seattle. I lost my parents in a plane crash when I was five. My uncle and aunt took me in, but they threw me out the second the government's child support stopped.
At sixteen, I dropped out of school and worked odd jobs—waitressing, cleaning, babysitting—anything that paid enough to keep me alive. After two years of saving every spare cent, I re-enrolled myself in high school.
Now I attend Maple High, one of the most prestigious schools in the city. It's where the rich, spoiled, bratty kids come to play—and where the insanely rich compete for something called Maple Royalty.
The Maple Royalty is a six-member club with privileges that would make teachers jealous: a private lounge, special parking spots, unlimited hall passes, and more. Each month, the spots are refreshed, and the six students who pay the most become Royals. If a Royal can't cough up the cash next month, they're kicked out—no mercy.
Some students treat the Royals like celebrities. Me? I couldn't care less. I'm not a people person, and I wouldn't want to be in their world anyway. And honestly, even if my parents were alive, I doubt I'd be anywhere near Royal material.
Not every student at Maple is obsessed with being a Royal. Some just care about wearing the latest designer clothes, flaunting expensive accessories, and posting their lives online—kids like Lula.
I said I'm not a people person, but Lula is the one exception. Not because I wanted her to be, but because she's relentless. She chased me for two whole months, begging me to be her friend. She'd buy us matching outfits, shoes, even earrings, with little notes saying, "Be my friend." Eventually, I gave in.
Jake was like a buy-one, get-one-free package. He and Lula are both rich—though Lula's family has a little more money—but neither of them has ever treated me differently because I'm not.
Sometimes they've offered to help pay for my projects or even my rent, but I always refuse. I'm not a charity case. I want to be independent.
After school, I work part-time at a small restaurant. On weekends, I work at a library, and on Sunday afternoons, I'm a waitress at a fancy restaurant. That last one pays the most—more than the other two combined.
So yes, Sunday is Jake's birthday, but it's also my shift at the fancy place. I can't afford to skip it. He'll be mad, but I'll make it up to him. I'll get him a gift… maybe even write him a song. He loves it when I sing.
Oh, did I mention? I'm a really good singer. One day, I'll be a global star. I'll sing in front of crowds so big, Maple Royalty will look like a small-town talent show.
But for now, my reality is a messy bun, an apron, and the sound of my boss yelling my name from the kitchen.
I grabbed my bag and rushed out, thinking about how tomorrow would be just another Monday at Maple High.
It wasn't.
The moment I stepped into the hallway, something felt… different. Students huddled in small groups, whispering like they'd just seen a celebrity. Heads turned toward the entrance.
I followed their gaze.
A tall figure stepped through the doors, sunlight spilling over his shoulders like the opening scene of a drama. His presence alone seemed to pull the air tight in the room.
Who is this masterpiece??