Chapter 3

I stared at Mom's message, unable to move.

"Chloe? Did you hear me?" she asked.

I gripped the phone.

"Mom, Madison never gave me that money."

There was a brief silence.

Then Mom sighed.

"What's going on with you lately? Madison told me you already asked for your allowance early several times this month."

"She's lying."

"Don't say that about her. You've all grown up together. We know what kind of girl she is. Your brother trusts her with his money. Why would she deliberately shortchange you?"

My throat tightened.

In high school, Mom had always worried I didn't have enough spending money. Once I'd complained that the cafeteria food was terrible, and she sent extra cash the next morning.

"Buy whatever you want to eat," she'd told me. "Don't copy your brother and save every penny."

Ryan had grabbed my phone and laughed, "Mom, if you spoil her any more, she'll never learn how to save."

I'd never imagined a day when other people would decide how much of my own allowance I was allowed to receive.

Mom continued, "Madison's trying to help you. You're not great with money. I'll keep transferring your allowance to her."

My eyes stung.

"And what am I supposed to do when I can't afford to eat?"

Mom hesitated.

"How could you not afford food? Don't make yourself sound miserable just because you're mad at Madison."

I hung up. My fingers wouldn't stop shaking.

The following afternoon, I approached Madison again. Ethan, Ryan, and Noah were all there.

Ryan frowned before I even opened my mouth.

"What now?"

I looked directly at Madison.

"Give me my money."

She twisted the hem of her sweater.

"Chloe, I already advanced this week's allowance yesterday."

"That was mine to begin with. I want the rest."

Her eyes filled instantly.

"So unless I hand over everything, you're going to assume I've been stealing?"

Ryan stepped in front of her.

"Enough, Chloe. Mom agreed to let her handle the money. Why are you making trouble every day?"

Ethan put his phone away.

"If you need cash, ask me. You keep chasing Madison around demanding money. She's scared every time she sees you now."

I stared at him.

"I have to borrow my own money from you?"

Noah leaned against the table, frowning.

"Everyone's been okay with this system for two years. You're the only one suddenly claiming something's wrong. Have you considered that you might actually be spending too much?"

I looked at the three men.

One was my brother.

One was my boyfriend.

One had been my closest friend since childhood.

Madison stood behind them, crying harder by the second.

Ryan gave her a tissue. Ethan murmured that she should calm down. Noah wouldn't even look at me anymore.

I stood there for a moment. Then I walked away.

I still didn't have my money.

By the end of the month, my bank account was empty. There was almost nothing left on my campus meal plan.

I started looking for part-time jobs near school.

I had classes by day and bused tables at a restaurant at night. The employee meal saved me the price of one dinner, and a shift brought in a little extra cash.

The first few nights, my legs ached so badly I could barely stand when I got home.

One evening, I took off my shoes and realized my heels were rubbed raw. My socks stuck to the wounds. I gasped when I peeled them away.

Noah once spent ten minutes hunting for a bandage because I'd nicked my finger. Ethan teased him for overreacting, then slipped a tube of ointment into my backpack anyway.

Now I didn't get back to my dorm until nearly eleven every night.

Nobody in our old group asked where I was.

They were busy taking Madison out for dinner and shopping.

On Saturday, I came out of the kitchen carrying a tray.

Then I stopped.

Four people sat by the window.

Madison was in the middle. Ryan was unwrapping her silverware. Ethan poured her water. Noah studied the menu.

They saw me, too.

Ryan stood first.

"What are you doing here?"

I lifted my tray a little higher.

"Working."

His face darkened.

"Since when does our family need you waiting tables for money?"

Madison paled and jumped up.

"Chloe, are you still mad at me?"

Ethan frowned.

"Didn't I tell you to ask me if you needed cash? Why would you go get a job and make everything look this bad?"

I stared at him.

From behind me, my manager called, "Chloe, table seven needs its food."

I looked away from Ethan.

"Move. You're blocking my way."

Ryan tried to grab my arm. I stepped aside and delivered the food to the next table.

After closing, I ate my employee meal beside the back entrance.

My phone lit up.

Mom: *I already sent next month's allowance to Madison.*

A second message followed, this one from Madison.

*Chloe, stop making a fuss. Once you learn to budget, I'll release the money little by little.*

I opened our chat.

*You'd better keep every cent of my money accounted for. One day, you're going to pay it all back.*

I hit Send.

Then I blocked her.