Blood Money (1) | The Inheritance Games

"What's it like to brag about raking in dollars, and getting bitches and models, and it's all good if you're bad, and it's okay if you're mad. If I was out flashing my dollars I'd be a bitch, not a baller, they paint me out to be bad, so it's okay that I'm mad. I'm so sick of running as fast as I can wondering if I'd get there quicker if I was a man. And I'm so sick of them coming at me again."

Warning: My two main characters fight in this chapter, regarding really serious topics. Both characters come across as unlikeable and unreasonable in this chapter due to outside influences. Whilst their fight is dramatic, they're both justifiably fuelled by their own experiences. One character is intoxicated with drugs and is experiencing somewhat impaired judgement, whilst the other is healing and fuelled by pent up anger. Due to the bias narrative, they may both appear unfavourably. Bear this in mind when reading and try not to despise the characters too much. 

Spencer.

Sitting in Quinn's afternoon workshop, everything feels so different. There are two elephants in the room. One, me. And two, Noah. Since I was assaulted, nobodies looked at me like I'm a human, I'm seen in the eyes of all as a victim now. And Noah still hasn't shown up.

"I guess Noah can write me an essay for Monday." Quinn sighs in defeat after waiting a couple extra minutes to give him the chance to come before assigning the mandatory essay. "Maja, can you do me a favour and let him know?" 

Maja scoffs, sipping her coffee with a mocking shake of her head. "I can let him know. There's no chance he'll do it, though." She says beneath her breath, but everyone can hear.

"That.. doesn't sound like him." She frowns. "That isn't him. He'd probably thank you for giving him an essay." I laugh gently. "Probably not these days." His twin mumbles.

"Is everything alright? I saw him in his car this afternoon. He told me he'd be here." Quinn states. 

"Noah was here?" My ears perk up. "He still is." Tristan speaks up, nodding outside to the dazed and confused looking boy, scrambling around with his uniform practically off.

"Holy fuck." I murmur, pushing to my feet to stare out the window, the others joining me to watch Noah struggle to locate the door.

"Is he high?" Avery laughs slightly. "Noah? Drugs? That's hilarious." I scoff.

"Everyone sit down. We'll give him a few more minutes to make it up here before I assign this essay." Quinn settles, urging us back to our seats.

"So what's today's workshop today, Quinn?" Maja speaks up when we're all seated again. 

She sighs, looking to me awkwardly. "I.. Well I had a plan but given.. no particular circumstances.. I've changed it. We're just gonna.." She scrambles for ideas.

"It was supposed to be about rape, right?" I ask with recollection.

"It.. it was. Yes." She nods with a sympathetic frown. "Do it." I insist.

"Spencer, with respect, I don't believe given the circumstances, this isn't a good idea." She states calmly. "Do it."

She opens her mouth to argue, but then the door is thrust open and Noah blinks in his surroundings as if it's his first day on earth and he has no clue who or what any of us are.

"Sorry I'm late." He coughs out, staggering in and falling into his chair in the circle. I try to catch his eyes to silently ask what's wrong with him, but his eyes are bulged, glued to the ground.

"You alright man?" Tristan speaks up, not getting a response out of the boy as still as a statue. "Noah?" Quinn raises her voice, attempting to snap him out of his haze.