Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

On Tuesday, I made my first friend. Her name was Skye Goldstein and she simply plopped down in the chair next to me in Government class. Suddenly, she was my friend and I nearly cried in relief because the negative part of my brain was convinced I would go four years without anyone to talk to.

Skye was pretty, but not so pretty that I felt ugly in her presence. She was one of those 50/50 girls. Fifty percent was pure luck in the genetic lottery. The other fifty was maintenance. Short, curvy, blonde, and tanned, she looked like a tiny Barbie doll. While Skye never said she came from money, she lived in the dorms and I knew that wasn’t cheap. Plus, she mentioned having a single room and that really wasn’t cheap.

The best thing about Skye was how she talked a lot. Like she sat down, started talking, and kept talking whenever the instructor wasn’t speaking. I never had to say anything to keep her interested. Instead, I sat back and listened as she explained why she was at New Hampton.

“My parents know people here and they didn’t want me going anywhere without someone spying on me,” Skye said, giving me a wink.

After we left class, I planned to eat a P&J on the quad before my last classes. Skye frowned at the sandwich then shook her head.

“I might have a peanut allergy. I don’t know for sure, but you shouldn’t eat that around me.” Frowning at my sandwich, I assumed I would eat alone like I planned. Skye brushed hair away from her sweaty neck and continued, “I’m really into tacos right now. There’s a truck by the senior hall entrance. Let’s pig out.”

There were times in my life when I lost the ability to react. I froze in the moment, unable to respond. This moment was the first one since arriving in Ellsberg. I didn’t have money to blow on a taco, let alone on however many tacos were necessary to pig out. While I wanted to have fun like everyone else, I also needed to save up enough money for Tawny to join me. If we were both working and careful, we could schedule pig out days. Yet, I sensed Skye didn’t consider the prices of food.

“I didn’t bring cash,” I finally said after she stared at me, maybe realizing my brain was broken.

“Oh, I’ve got it.”

Even wanting to say yes, I felt guilty for pretending. “I can’t pay you back,” I blurted out as she tugged me towards the senior hall. “I have a lot of expenses for school and my parents aren’t helping me much.”

Skye snorted. “Parents are so lame sometimes. Mine think I’m a virgin. They also think I’d never drink beer because I’m a calorie freak. No one is that much of a calorie freak.”

Frowning as she yanked me along, I wondered about the calories in those tacos. Skye must have sensed my concerns because she snorted again.

“The freshman fifteen is expected. If we don’t pack on a little weight, people will think we’re full of ourselves. Those girls over there,” she said, waving her hand in the direction of a bevy of pretty sorority girls. “They’re obsessed with being hot. Unfortunately, while you can snag a man by being hot, you can’t keep him. To keep them, you have to be confident and I am. I’m just confident enough to pack on a few pounds from eating tacos. I’m a keeper while those bitches are bang and hang girls.”

“Bang and hang?”

“Guys bang them then hang up when the girl calls for a second date.”

“So they’re sluts?” I asked, not sure what the hell Skye was talking about anymore.

“Oh, we’re all sluts. I’m liberated enough to cut me some notches on my bedpost, if you catch my drift? No, those girls are shallow. It’s why they have to work in a flock. They can’t go solo because their fragile egos can’t handle the stress. I have no patience for weak girls.”