Chapter 3
Amanda walked into the dorm room, when the light cut on. "Where the hell have you been Amanda?" Kim was pissed, "Work." Kim shook her head, "So you tutor until midnight?" Amanda fell on her bed, "No, tutoring fell through, because once you left he bent me over the desk and told me how to get the job." Kim jumped up, "That sick bastard! Amanda are you ok?" Amanda shook her head, "Yeah! I took a bartender job instead. And look at the tip money."
Kim counted it, "How? You aren't 21, so you can't work in a bar." She pulled out the ID, "I can with this." Kim stopped, "Amanda, I don't like this. You can't do this. We can call Detective Benson. She's a cop and maybe she can help. She gave you her card." Amanda snapped, "Kim, wake the fuck up! I'm not you and I don't have mommy and daddy giving me everything. And Detective Benson, she doesn't even know me. What could she do." Kim was dejected, "Kim, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Look, you don't want me gambling, but I need this job to say in school. The scholarships aren't enough."
Kim hugged her friend, "What if I asked my dad for the money. I could say I need it." Amanda shook her head, "No, I don't want handouts ok." Kim looked at her, "Do you work every night?" Amanda said, "Yep" Kim sighed, "Be careful coming home. Maybe me and Nick should walk with you." Amanda smiled at her best friend. "You're always worried about me. I'll call you if I need help."
Amanda worked the job everyday for a month. She took bets on the side and split the money with Michael. It was a good deal, so good that she almost had the money for the next semester already. "Kim at this rate I can get ahead." Kim knew about the job at the bar and lying about being 21, but she didn't know about the gambling. She had her money from the night and it was a lot. The bets came through and the Steelers beat the Eagles and she won big. "Hey, can you run this to the bank for me? I can't be late for the asshole's class."
Dr. Stone had made her life hell. He was pissed, but he couldn't do much because Amanda was smart and knew the material. She was still pulling an A. If she was late or missed class he found a way to dock her grade. "Sure Amanda! Make sure you leave a deposit slip though." Amanda signed it and put it with the money, "Thanks! See you tonight."
Amanda got to class on time and she was sitting with her group. "Hey guys!" Amanda was paired with Gillian, Monique, and Kat for the business venture project. Amanda was the brains of the operation. Being on her own so young had its advantages. She came up with the idea of an app. The app would be a link to an instant tutoring session. Kat and Monique were amazed. "Amanda, this is awesome, we should really create it and make money, we're smart enough. Gillian was really quiet. "Class dismissed. Ms. Hardwicke, I need to see you after class."
Amanda knew that voice and she decided to wait for Gillian after class. "Ms. Rollins, may I help you? This is a private conversation." Amanda smirked, "I can't really hear your conversation over here. Gillian and I are headed to the library. We have a study session for our other class together. Amanda smiled that "beat that asshole" smile. He handed her a paper and dismissed her. "Gillian are you ok?" Gillian showed her the test, "F. I'm not as smart as you. I'm struggling with the material." Amanda thought, "Here take this. I have to get to work, but this has all of my notes. Study everything with the blue tab. It's already highlighted. You'll ace the next test." Gillian grabbed her arm, "Wait! Don't you need this?" Amanda shook her head, "I'm good! Stay away from Dr. Stone, he's a pervert."
Amanda headed for the bar as normal. She always went in and stocked the shelves with liquor and glasses. The only downfall of working at the bar was the late nights. Amanda was tired and she never got a break, but the payoff was huge. When she walked into her dorm room she was met with a surprise. "A fucking 2000 dollar deposit Amanda! What the fuck is going on? And don't you dare lie to me!" Amanda realized she messed up big time. She didn't put the deposit slip in the envelope, she left it on top. Kim would have never looked.
Amanda sighed and knew it was a mistake sending that much with Kim. "I'm pulling bets on sports on the side at the bar." Kim shook her head, "Great! So you lie to me now. That's gambling Amanda and you know it." Amanda felt like shit. "I'm sorry I lied to you." Kim scoffed, "You know how much you mean to me. My life isn't perfect Amanda. You have no idea of the pressure my parents put on me. You are my person, my best friend who lets me be me. But you're so selfish. What's going to happen if you go to jail? You're walking around breaking the law. I get it, you need money to stay in school. I've offered to help, but you insist on doing it the wrong way." Kim grabbed some stuff and threw it in a bag, "Where are you going?" Kim opened the door, "Away from you. Do what you want." Kim slammed the door, leaving Amanda standing there.
Amanda went about her normal routine for the rest of the week. She went to school, work, and made bets on the side. Every night she came home to an empty dorm room. She missed her best friend.
Gillian hugged her outside of class. "Amanda, you're amazing! I got an A. I can tell by the pen mark, he was pissed putting that A down." Amanda smiled, even though she wasn't happy at all. "I'm glad! Hey I'll copy all my notes and give them to you." Amanda smiled, "I've got to get to the bank." Gillian grabbed her arm, "How did you know Dr. Stone was trying stuff with me?" Amanda sighed, "He tried with me."
Amanda walked to the bank and made a deposit. It used to feel good, but it didn't anymore. Her best friend hated her. She hurried to work to have a talk with Michael. She still wanted and needed the job, but the bets had to stop. "Michael, can we talk?" Amanda explained and hoped he wouldn't be pissed. "Well it was fun while it lasted. Hey I understand. It's not going to be pretty if you get caught." Amanda got to work stocking shelves and as people came in she turned down every bet.