Chapter 2 Brittany Hayes, who'd been eating up this whole shitshow, snatched the papers right out of my hands and started reading out loud like she was hosting TMZ. "Skylar West... ALS diagnosis... fundraising campaign?" The second she said it, people started snickering. "ALS? Girl, you look fine. Can't even fake sick right." Brittany looked at me like I was actual garbage. Blake's eyes went wide. He lunged forward and grabbed my medical records, scanning them like he was looking for typos. Brittany let out this ugly laugh: "Skylar, haven't seen you in forever and you're really out here scamming charity money?" If you're broke just say that. Get on your knees and maybe us successful people will Venmo you some change." Hearing that, Blake's whole body relaxed, then his voice went arctic: Skylar, you're absolutely pathetic." watched him rip up my application, piece by piece, panic flooding my chest. The money from my design work was basically gone-medical bills ate everything. f I hadn't run into Principal Rodriguez at Cedars-Sinai that day, I would've already quit treatment. he only reason I could still walk and talk was thanks to the faculty donation fund. d tried telling Principal Rodriguez this disease was like throwing money into a black hole-don't drag the whole school community into this mess. But he insisted on fighting for me. aid I used to make West Valley proud, and they weren't giving up on me now. started shuffling toward the parking lot, my legs getting stiffer and more awkward with every step. rittany suddenly shoved me hard from behind. went down face-first onto the asphalt. ried twisting around to get up but my body wasn't cooperating-just got covered in dirt and gravel, completely humiliating. Blake's hand twitched, but his face stayed cold: "Skylar, faking disabled won't get you shit." You're such a pathetic waste of space. Nobody should feel sorry for your ass." With that, Blake looked at me like I was roadkill. 'Want money? Fine, Hartwell Design is cutting a check to West Valley for ten million." Everyone started freaking out, calling Blake so generous, such a success story. Brittany pressed up against him, making sure he got a full view of everything. Blake acted like she was invisible, just stared me down. "But every penny goes to current students who actually deserve help-better cafeteria, new dorms." "Skylar, you get NOTHING." He stepped on my blazer with his designer shoe, face full of disgust. "Blake, wait, let me explain-" Principal Rodriguez tried jumping in, but Blake was already walking away with half the reunion following him like groupies. Principal Rodriguez looked panicked: "Skylar, honey, let me figure something else out." Your condition... next week's design finals, maybe we should-" veryone knew designing the new academic building was me and Blake's childhood dream. ur old classrooms were falling apart-paint peeling, windows that rattled every time a truck drove by. We used to swear that someday, when we were real architects, we'd build something beautiful and solid for West Valley. very night after study hall, we'd secretly compete, sketching draft after draft, imagining seeing our drawings come to life. brushed gravel off my blazer and smiled sadly: ve got maybe a month left. Blake's right-those kids need that money way more than someone who's already dying." lease thank him for me." incipal Rodriguez's lips trembled before he sighed deeply. Iragged my stiff legs toward the bus stop, California sun beating down till I felt dizzy. ght as I reached the bench, everything went black-I'd forgotten to eat anything all day. ood sugar crashed and I just collapsed. (0) (0)