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it took one second. one opened door that was meant to stay shut. three pairs of eyes meeting when it was only supposed to be two.

a forgotten assignment.

just a few things to ruin my life.
the life i had made for myself, anyway.

maybe i was being insensitive to ruby. she had to see it, she had to live with the embarrassment, and she had to deal with the tension that had come from the beaufort family for a day or two.

but i had to deal with the consequences much more than she ever did. i had to reap the "benefits" of the underdog student walking in on the it-girl of the school making out with a maxton professor.

you would've thought the shame would land on ruby.
you would've thought her reputation would've been changed forever.
that she'd be hated, or worshipped. the drama at this place was just that unpredictable.

but turns out, it was much more unpredictable than i had ever thought. because ruby's status at this school barely changed at all.

it had been someone else.

and ironically, the only person who want it less than ruby bell did.

me.

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ruby just about bumped into me the day it had all started. actually she had done so twice.

the first time was before first period even started. ruby and i were a part of the small group of pupils here that actually had to walk to school, not get driven in by a limo.

apparently the mile long walk from the bus stop hadnt slown ruby down by the time she had gotten to the front doors, and i had felt the impact of the petit teen.

"did you hand it in?" i raised a brow at her, knowing it was a very important day for her.

ruby bell and i had a few things in common. not really deserving to be at a school like this, having to fight our way here, and being basically invisible to our senior class. i didnt really try to have many friends here at maxton, but ruby was nice. and innocent.

another thing we had in common - we were complete opposites of those around us.

she smiled, and i could feel the nerves radiating off her body, "yep. mr sutton has everything he needs to write me a recommendation for oxford."

where we differed was why we were here, and how we were using a place like maxton hall to steward our futures.

ruby clawed her way to getting her at maxton, herself, in order to have a chance at oxford university next fall. her family poor, also living out of town, she was extremely driven and self sufficient. she had a goal and a purpose.

for me, my father had clawed his way to just get me here, never mind saving up his own money beforehand. it had taken lots of convincing and begging. i wasn't driven, or determined, or had any idea what i wanted to do with my life. my father had all done that for me, quicker than i couldve stopped it.

so no, i wasnt here because i dreamed of going to oxford or wanted to be rich and wealthy one day with my husband and crew of maids. i was here to satisfy my parents, nothing more.

"well, i feel like out of the litter, he's the best pick." i gently tapped my shoulder onto hers, "good luck." she smiled softly at me, and we walked to class together.

i sat in the chair behind ruby, and diagonally behind her good friend, lin. lin was also one of "us", an underdog, a labeled "nobody". after her parents divorce, and the family business crumbling, she had left the dark side.

"back to kant," mr sutton redirected the teens to ponder what our latest writer had fought in his article, and lydia beaufort spoke up first.

lydia beaufort. brother of james beaufort, and only daughter of the richest family in this school, and town. the dream siblings, the heads of the it-crew, and the hottest students in the entire school. public opinion, not personal.

"i think kant's categorical imperative tries to tell us that we should ignore the consequences of our actions, if it feels right to." her words and the way she sat taller as she spoke made me roll my eyes.

students like lydia would say things like that.

people who were so rich they didnt have to deal with the consequences of their actions. maids could pick up spills and lawyers could pay off crimes. they didnt have to worry about peoples feelings or moral good.

mr sutton didnt seem happy with that answer, but ruby's head perked up, and he asked for her thoughts.

another difference between ruby and i; ruby would entertain her differences of thoughts and morality with the elite here, i wouldnt bother wasting my breath.

"reason was at the core of kant's philosophy, not feelings." mr sutton looked pleased.

"well then maybe kant is less relevant than we think." lydia spat back, making ruby only cower a little, "humans are able to reason but usually act based on their feelings."

"hence the reason for all of their faults." i muttered under my breath. the fact that people like lydia saw it as more effective to act off of emotion is the reason why her and her click had made it around the entire senior and junior class (if you know what i mean), and probably why i see a girl crying because of a late period in the halls once a week.

my remark caught mr suttons attention and eager eyes, but i shook my head, uninterested.

he had gotten used to that signal from me, by now.

"thats whats so fascinating," i also knew that, in a much kinder way, ruby would say my thoughts for me, "that we can decide differently, against our feelings, and that is what defines our moral fortitude!"

mr sutton snapped his fingers at her, "yes! well said."

ruby smiled, proud, and lydia glared. i rolled my eyes once more.

the perfect classroom scene to sum up life at maxton.

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"ruby," i said cautiously, as her shoulder bumped mine as we passed ways on the staircase.

for being such a preppy school, they couldve afforded to build wider staircases. but we had learned that in order to stay out of cocky students ways and comments, keeping one shoulder against the wall was a sacrifice worth making. ruby had taught me that, during my first week here.

but now she had seemed to have forgotten it.

"you look like youve seen a ghost."

her wild eyes met mine later that same day. we had diverged ways after first period, and i sat through countless more classes and useless debates, and was finally on my way out. the best part of my days here at maxton.

well, not home just yet, but to after school activities. which was second best.

ruby and i both had an event committee meeting to attend, then it was homeward bound.

"i-i-i" the girl could not speak clearly, and she had been turning more pale by the second.

"relax." i shushed her as i brought her to the next floor down, and took the mess of papers from her arms.

another warning sign coming from ruby - she was always neat. efficient. one track minded. this stack of loose papers and a half opened notebook screamed anything but her usual appearance.

i finally got the girl to calm down and get enough oxygen in to fill me in on what she had saw.

"you WHAT!?" i said louder than i shouldve, but i hadnt really cared.

lydia and mr sutton. making out in his office. now that was unexpected.

but at the same time, and after a second thought, i shrugged it away.

"classic maxton elite," i ruffled through the papers and binders in my hands, asking which one mr sutton needed, and told her id deliver it for her. she sighed loudly and thanked me, gathering her stuff from my arms and running off like a startled puppy.

i watched as lydia was doing the same thing, but further down the hallway, in the opposite direction.

i huffed, and walked over to mr suttons door.

"mr sutton," i made sure to knock before i turned around the door, and a slight cough and "come in" told me it was all clear.

i tried not to show everything in my eyes.

"ruby wanted this to get to you," i handed it to him, also trying not to notice he hadn't flattened out his shirt or hair yet.

i must've stared too long, because he did so quickly before grasping the paper in my hands, "thank you cassie."

"of course." i smiled with tight lips, and spun to walk out of that class as fast as i could, "see you in five."

outside in the hall, a group of boys stood as if they were in a huddle in the middle of a football game, whispering and snickering.

one of their eyes caught mine, and before i knew it, a phone was raised and a flash blinded my eyes.

"hey!" i barked, marching my way over to them.

a few cuss words and hushed remarks sent the boys barreling down the hallway, and i tightened my jaw.

idiots.

why had they wanted my picture anyway?