<b>Chapter </b><b>78 </b>
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<b>MathWhiz</b><b>: </b>Jade Morgan? That girl who took the SAT and got a perfect score on everything except the essay, which she didn’t even attempt.
<b>CodeMaster</b>: Wait, seriously? That’s insane. Why wouldn’t she just write the essay and get a full perfect score?
Lily Chen<b>: </b>@Jade_Morgan why didn’t youplete the essay portion? Everyone’s curious.
Then the conversation shifted when someone named Jennifer posted six heavily filtered selfies to the group.
<b>Julian_S</b><b>: </b>Looking good, Jennifer!
<b>Math Whiz</b><b>: </b>Princeton’s future CS department flower right there!
1 snorted. Before I could put my phone down, a new message appeared.
<b>Julian_S</b><b>: </b>Though our new freshman Jade might give you a run for your money.
My finger hovered over the screen. Julian was drawing attention to me, which was exactly what I didn’t need.
<b>Jennifer_T</b>: Her features are pretty refined, I’ll give her that. But isn’t she like almost 200 pounds? <b>I </b>saw her in that news clip outside after the SAT.
1 set the GroupMe to “Do Not Disturb” and closed the app. My notifications were still flooding in- friend requests from half the male poption <b>of </b>my ss, several girls I hadn’t met, Dr. Thornton the university president<b>, </b>and Emily.
I epted only Dr. Thornton’s request. Almost immediately, a private message appeared.
Dr. Thornton: Wee to Princeton, Jade! If you need anything at all, my door is always open. Perhaps we could meet this evening? I’d like to introduce you to a couple of friends who would <b>be </b>very interested in meeting you.
Me: Thank you for the warm wee, Dr. Thornton. I’m still settling in today, but I appreciate <b>the </b>offer. Perhaps we could schedule something forter in the week?
…
<b>12:32 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>21 </b>M.
His reply came quickly:
461
61
<b>Dr. </b><b>Thornton</b><b>: </b>Of course! Just let my office know what works for you. Enjoy orientation week!
I put my phone down and stretched out on my newly imed bed<b>, </b>enjoying a brief moment of quiet after the earlier confrontation. It didn’tst long.
The door swung open, and Megan returned with two girls in tow. She deliberately turned up the volume on her phone, sting some generic pop song as she tossed her designer bag onto her bed.
“Oh, you’re still here,” she said, feigning surprise. “I thought you might have transferred to another room after our… misunderstanding.”
I didn’t bother looking up from my phone. “And I thought you might have learned your lesson about
boundaries.”
Sheughed, high and fake. “The housing office said they couldn’t move me. Something about all rooms being assigned.” She turned to her friends. “Can you believe I have to share with someone who attacked me on my first day?<b>” </b>
“I didn’t attack you,” I said evenly, finally meeting her eyes. “If I had, you wouldn’t have just bruised
wrists<b>.</b>”
Her music seemed to get even louder, the bass vibrating through my bed. A deliberate provocation.
“You know,” I said, my voice dropping to that quiet, dangerous tone that had made cartel leaders sweat, “it seems you not only want to lose one hand, but the other one as well.”
Megan’s face paled slightly, but she maintained her bravado. “Are you threatening me? Again?”
“Not at all.” I smiled, the expression not reaching my eyes. “Just making an observation.”
She stared at me for a long moment, then grabbed her purse. “This room is toxic. Let’s go, girls.”
As they filed out, I caught snippets of their whispered conversation:
“…personally recruited by the president…”
“…heard her family has connections…”
“<b>…</b><b>not </b>worth <b>the </b>trouble…”
<b>12:32 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>21 </b>M…
By evening, I was hungry enough to venture to the dining hall.
The dining hall buzzed with excited conversation, new students forming tentative friendships over shared meals. I grabbed a tray and selected a simple pasta dish<b>, </b>then found an empty table in the corner. No sooner had I taken my first bite than I noticed the whispers and nces.
“Look!”
“Who is she?”
<b>61 </b>
“Damn, she’s gorgeous<b>.</b><b>” </b>
I ignored them, focusing on my food. From the corner of my eye, I spotted several students discreetly lifting their phones, taking photos.
Author’s POV:
In her dorm room across campus, Emily Morgan stared at her phone in disbelief. Her roommate had
just shoved it in her face, bubbling with excitement.
“Have you seen what’s blowing up on Tiger Board? Some freshman beauty is breaking the inte!”
Emily scrolled through the Princeton campus forum with growing horror. The top post, with over three hundredments<b>, </b>was titled “Who is the mysterious new beauty in CS department?” Beneath it was a slightly blurry photo of Jade sitting alone in the dining hall, her perfect profile captured in the golden evening light.
‘I don’t believe this,” Emily muttered, her fingers frantically scrolling through thements.
“<i>New </i>campus queen right there.”
<i>‘</i>Does <i>anyone </i>know her <i>name</i>? Asking for research purposes…”
“The way she just showed up <i>and </i>dethroned <i>Aurelia </i>as the campus beauty without even trying<i>? </i>Iconic.”
Emily’s roommates crowded around her, reading over her shoulder.
“There’s even a poll!” one eximed, pointing to another trending post. “Who’s hotter: Jade Morgan vs. Aurelia Hayes (current campus flower)? <b>And </b>Jade’s winning by andslide!<b>” </b>
<b>12:32 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>21 M…
Emily’s <b>face </b>contorted with a mixture <b>of </b>disbelief and envy. <ul><li>?)) </li></ul>
Meanwhile, Jade remained blissfully unaware of her new campus celebrity status as she headed back
to her dorm. Tomorrow would be the start of Freshman Orientation Week, and she needed to
prepare. Sheid out simple athletic clothes for the physical challenges and team–building exercises.
Her phone pinged with a text from Ethan Haxton:
<b>Ethan</b><b>: </b>How’s Princeton treating you? Ready for the infamous Freshman Challenge tomorrow?
Jade smiled despite herself.
<b>Jade</b><b>: </b>Fine so far. And yes, I’ve got my running shoes ready.
<b>Ethan</b><b>: </b>I’m surprised you’re participating in those team–building exercises. Seems beneath someone of your… particr skill set.
<b>Jade</b><b>: </b>If I chose to be a student, I should act like one. Complete immersion is the best cover.
<b>Ethan</b><b>: </b>I can’t quite picture you following rules and ying nice with others. The deadly assassin
turned model student.
<b>Jade</b><b>: </b>You’d be surprised what I can adapt to when necessary. Goodnight, Ethan.
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