From Campus Pauper to Billionaire Campus King

Chapter 6

The morning light, filtered through the grimy window of the shared dorm room, did little to dispel the strange weight pressing on Isaiah. He lay in bed, his eyes open, with the black diamond card, a cool and smooth presence, beneath his pillow. He felt light, like he was reborn and yet heavy by the huge responsibility he was now expected to take on. 

The lightness he felt was the sheer, unbelievable relief of never having to worry about money again and the ten billion dollars in his possession. But the heaviness… that was the crushing weight of responsibility and the size of the empire his father had laid at his feet, as well as the intricate and dangerous game he now had to play against his step siblings. Power, he was learning, wasn't just freedom; it was a burden and a target.

A thunderous bang on the door rattled the entire room and jolted everyone awake.

“I got it!” Alan grumbled as he swung his legs over the side of his bed. He yanked the door open. His sleepy eyes grew wide, and his face was plastered with an almost sickeningly sweet smile. “Lucy! To what do we owe the distinct honor of your presence this early in the morning?” He bowed slightly, in a jokingly and theatrical sweep of his arm.

Lucy Lance is the daughter of Professor Lance and a self-proclaimed campus royalty. She stepped into the room with her nose wrinkling dramatically. Dean Daniels, her boyfriend, also followed her in and held his nose in a disdainful expression, his hand pinching his nostrils shut.

“Ugh, it reeks in here,” Lucy said in a high-pitched voice. “Do you people ever clean?”

Jackson, still half-asleep, sat up. “It doesn’t reek, Lucy. You just walked into a dorm room.”

“Oh, please,” Dean scoffed, his voice nasal from pinching his nose. “It smells like desperation and cheap ramen.”

Isaiah pushed himself up, leaning against the headboard. “What do you want, Lucy?” he asked, cutting straight to it.

Lucy dropped her hand; her eyes, sharp and cold, were fixed on him. “My father wants to see you. Immediately.” She crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. “He’s waiting.”

“Right now?” Isaiah stifled a yawn. “I just woke up. I’ll come by his office when I get to school.”

Jackson and Luke exchanged a look. They knew Professor Lance wasn’t expecting Isaiah before classes and even if he was, it was 6:30 AM in the morning. The professor has likely not even arrived at the campus yet. This was Lucy, playing her usual power games.

Lucy’s eyes narrowed, her smirk dissolving into a furious scowl. “Who do you think you are, Fetch-Boy? Deciding when you’ll see my father? If my father wants to see you in the middle of the night, you will crawl out of bed, and you’ll go to him! You have no right to make him wait!” Her voice rose in a shrill and arrogant tone.

Isaiah held up a hand, trying to calm her. “Whoa, whoa, I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant… I’m still in my pajamas. I haven’t even brushed my teeth. It wouldn’t be respectful to Professor Lance to show up looking like this.”

Dean stepped forward, his chest puffing out. “Respectful? You? What do you know about respect, Fetch-Boy? Your singular duty in this school is to run errands and obey instructions like a dog. You don’t get to have opinions.” He spat the last word like it was something foul.

Luke, who had been quietly fuming, shot off his bed. “Shut the hell up, Dean! You don’t get to talk to him like that!”

Dean sneered, taking another step. “Oh, really? What are you gonna do about it, tough guy?” He poked Luke’s chest, a challenging glint in his eyes.

Luke shoved Dean back, hard. “I’ll show you what I’m gonna do!”

Before Dean could retaliate, Jackson was there, pushing Dean further and creating space. “Back off, Dean. We are warning you.”

Then Alan, ever the opportunist guy, pushed Jackson back and defended Dean. “Hey! Don’t touch him.”

In an instant, the small dorm room was a tangle of bodies, not yet throwing punches, but squared up and shoulders bumping with voices rising in a furious crescendo. Unlike Harold and Walter, Dean wasn't from old money, but dating Lucy gave him a sense of untouchability and borrowed arrogance. She was the feared professor’s daughter, after all. 

Isaiah, seeing the brawl about to erupt, moved in swiftly and stepped between Luke and Dean with his arms outstretched. “Stop! Both of you! It’s not worth it.” He looked at Jackson and Luke, his voice low but firm. “Guys, please. It's fine; I’ll go, okay?”

Lucy who was watching the near-brawl with a smug satisfaction, tossed her head. “Whatever, it would be disgusting to have you go to my dad’s office like that, so you might as well take your time, Fetch-Boy. After all, you’ve done more than just disrespect the mighty Professor Lance but also the school's top donors' children. You may have slipped through the Chancellor’s fingers, but my father is… determined to make you suffer.” She smiled, a cold and predatory flash of teeth. “Enjoy your morning.”

With a final, triumphant glance, Lucy turned and sauntered out, Dean falling into step beside her. As they cleared the doorway, Dean leaned in, whispering something to Lucy, and she responded,

“Looks like the plan worked.” They both shared a knowing and conspiratorial smile. Whatever their plan was, it seemed to be working.

“Man, I almost had him,” Luke muttered, still simmering. “What a punk.”

“Thanks, guys,” Isaiah said, genuinely grateful. “Seriously. I appreciate it.” He looked at Alan, who was pointedly avoiding eye contact.

Luke glared at Alan. “You pushed Jackson, man. Do you really think rolling with Dean is worth fighting us?” He shook his head. “You’re gonna regret that.”

Isaiah, ignoring the lingering tension, grabbed some fresh clothes. “I’d better go. Don’t want to keep the Professor waiting.” He quickly got dressed. “See you guys in class. And don’t forget, Jenny’s hosting lunch later.”