Chapter 19: The Scholarship Was Mine

Brynn called my Northfield scholarship a stunt before the guests could settle back into the welcome.

She pushed into the room and looked straight at me.

'You used our family's pain to get attention. Now you want everyone to clap for your scholarship.'

My fingers bent the welcome program until the paper split.

The torn edge pressed into my thumb.

I had wanted the welcome to belong to me for one hour. Brynn had found a way to turn that into another offense.

My aunt stepped between us.

'Don't call Cassidy's scholarship a stunt.'

Brynn smiled at the guests nearest her.

'I didn't say she didn't work hard. I'm saying she knows how to make people feel sorry for her.'

'You called her work a stunt,' my aunt said. 'Don't dress it up now.'

Brynn looked past her at me.

'You all believe whatever she tells you.'

The host lowered the microphone at his side.

My aunt stayed between Brynn and me.

Laurel stood from her chair.

'Cassidy earned that scholarship without Hartwell money,' she said. 'She did it herself.'

I looked at my mother.

She had said it plainly. She had not asked me to make the room easier for her.

Brynn turned toward Laurel.

'You don't have to defend her every time she wants attention.'

Laurel kept standing.

'I didn't say that to defend her. I said it because it's true.'

'You could have said it without making me the villain,' Brynn said.

'You walked in and called her scholarship a stunt,' Laurel replied. 'What did you expect me to say?'

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