Chapter 143

I walked into the main cafeteria that doubled as a store and grabbed a basket. I took my time going through the store first. The mini fridge I brought should be down to temperature and needed to be stocked. I grabbed an array of drinks: water, sodas, chocolate milk. Then I moved on to snacks. I had already decided to turn the top shelf of my desk into a small pantry for shelf snacks. I grabbed crackers, chips, sweet cakes, and a few apples and bananas.

I moved onto the cafeteria portion for food. I saw something that caught my eye, and I rushed over. They had small refrigerated dinner boxes: sushi and teriyaki chicken that looked absolutely delicious. I grabbed a few boxes, some for tomorrow and a few for dinner tonight. I was starving. Shifting takes a lot of calories to do, and Nix is on edge. Protein would help with that. Once I was full, I headed to the cashier.

I stood behind a few people and zoned out until something caught my ear. “I can’t believe you gave us ten thousand dollars.”

“You are my friends. I couldn’t allow you to be broke like last year.” A soft chuckle sounded, and everyone joined in.

“Nina, you have always been so amazing, and doing this for us is just amazing.” I couldn’t stop it. I snorted. Nina again. She had a real problem claiming things that didn’t belong to her.

The girls all turned and faced me, and I just smiled and waved. I watched Nina scowl at me, and the others just looked confused. “Who is that?” one whispered.

“And why did she laugh?” another asked.

One of the original girls I saw widened her eyes and leaned in. “That is the girl that Professor R told us to stay away from.”

The others turned and looked at Nina, who was still scowling. “What’s funny?” She crossed her arms and glared at me.

I just shook my head. “Nothing.” I didn’t give everyone the money to be liked. I did it so that people would have food, which is something everyone deserved.

“No, tell me. I gave my friends money on their food card, and you laughed.” Nina strutted closer to me. “So what is funny?”

“You. You gave them money?” I tilted my head. “You don’t seem to be the type of person who gives money away for no reason.” I turned to the girls. “How much money did you have on your card before you started the semester?”

The tiny, pixie-looking blonde pointed at herself. “I had nothing. Last year I worked at The Howl to feed myself.”

I turned back to Nina, who was still glaring, but her eyes held a little fear. “And now, how much do you have?”

“Mrs. Sandlewood gave me a card yesterday and told me an anonymous donor had gifted me ten thousand dollars for the semester. I was so excited I told everyone here.”

“And Nina told you she was the anonymous donor?”

She nodded and looked at Nina. “You said you gifted everyone.” She turned back to me. “There were a few of us that got the money. Why?”

I turned to Nina. “You must be from a rich pack. How much did you fork over?”

She tilted her chin. “Why are you asking? Are you jealous?”

I laughed. “No. I’m not jealous, just confused.” I turned back to the girl. “Did you ask Mrs. Sandlewood if Nina was the donor?” She shook her head no.

“I don’t think she will tell me who it was.”

I nodded. “Smart, she probably wouldn’t. But maybe she would tell you if Nina was the donor. Or, here is a thought: Nina said she donated just to your friends the money. Ask Mrs. Sandlewood how much was donated.”

“She wouldn’t tell us,” Nina shot back.

I lifted a shoulder. “Maybe not. But why are you so worried about your friends asking?”

Nina bit her lip and then rallied. She glared at me and stepped closer. “You think that just because Professor R told us to leave you alone that you can make me look a fool? But you’re wrong.” She pointed at all of her friends. “I gifted my friends money, and you can’t come in here and convince them I’m lying.”

Her friends furrowed their brows at her words. She said something that wasn’t sitting well. I covered my mouth and just shook my head. This girl isn’t the smartest in the bunch. I raised my hands. “Goddess forbid I give them any information that makes you look bad. All I was saying was before they go out of their way thanking you, feeling like they owe you, maybe, just maybe, they check the facts. The anonymous donor wanted to be anonymous for a reason, probably so people didn’t feel like they owed anyone for basic rights, like food.”