Fight Fire with FireChapter 2

"Aria, how could you hit Mark!"

Sophie immediately threw herself in front of him, her eyes welling with tears. "It's all my fault, I'm the one who wanted the card. Please don't be mad at him. If you have to hit someone, hit me."

She was a picture of tragic beauty.

I let out a cold laugh and, without hesitation, slapped her across the face.

"As you wish."

"And save the act. You’re not fooling anyone."

Sophie clutched her face, her eyes wide with shock.

Mark’s eyes went bloodshot. He lunged forward and shoved me, hard.

I stumbled back, the corner of the metal bed frame digging into my lower back, a searing pain that made me break out in a cold sweat.

"Aria! Don't push your luck! What right do you have to hit Sophie? She's the kindest person I know!"

I clutched my back, staring him down. "She was asking for it!"

Our other roommates gathered around, their voices a chorus of condemnation.

"Aria, that's so out of line. Sophie was trying to do something nice, and you attack her just because you won't lend her a card?"

Sophie was sobbing hysterically, clinging to Mark's arm. "Mark, don't blame her. It must be because she's poor… it makes her insecure. But I swear, there's nothing going on between us."

Mark was completely taken in, pulling her into a protective embrace. "Sophie, you're just too pure. That's why vultures like her take advantage of you."

He glared at me, his gaze dripping with contempt. "Aria, drop the ghetto attitude. Give Sophie the card and apologize. Now. Or we're done."

I almost laughed. How had I been so blind?

"Done? I'd love nothing more!" I announced. "Mark, consider yourself dumped!"

Sophie feigned shock. "Aria, don't be rash! You two have been together for three years, you can't just throw that away!"

Then her expression shifted to one of magnanimous charity.

"How about this, Aria. You lend me the card, and all the loyalty points from tomorrow's shopping spree can go to you. I heard VIP cards like this can rack up enough points to redeem for rare collectibles. You could sell one for tens of thousands. See? It's a win-win for you."

Mark chimed in, "She’s giving you a way out, Aria. Don't be an idiot. Hand over the card."

I smirked. "My card. My rules. And I'm not lending it."

A flash of venom crossed Sophie's eyes.

"Aria, I just really want everyone in our class to have a Labubu they love. If you just lend me the card, I'll even throw in one of the newest blind boxes for you, personally. How about that?"

The other girls in the room started to pressure me.

"Come on, Aria, that's a great deal. You get points and a freebie."

Mark added snidely, "You just wanted a bigger piece of the pie, didn't you? Take the deal and stop being pathetic."

I scanned their greedy, foolish faces. In my past life, every one of them had lied to seal my fate.

"Are you all deaf? I said no."

A murderous glint flickered in Sophie’s eyes before vanishing.

The next second, she was wiping away tears and turning to a group of students from another class who had just walked in. Her voice was the epitome of heartbroken innocence.

"I'm so sorry, everyone. I promised I’d treat you all to Labubus tomorrow, but… Aria won't lend me her VIP card, so we can't use the priority access. I've broken my promise."

With that, she covered her face and wilted into Mark’s arms.

Mark, burning with righteous fury, looked at me as if he wanted to kill me.

He stormed over and slapped me viciously across the face.

"You bitch, Aria!"

He followed it with a sharp kick to my stomach.

I crumpled to the floor, pain exploding in my abdomen.

Mark stood over me, snarling, "You did this on purpose, didn't you? You can't stand that Sophie is popular! You've always been jealous that she has more money and more friends than you!"