Unveiling Samantha by Veronica Wright
Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Next morning, Samantha was zonked out in her bed, looking as peaceful as some high-end doll on display. She was so picture-perfect, no one would dare wake her. But the sun had other plans, beaming right through the window onto her face and nudging her awake. Samantha squinted and stretched, grabbing her phone to check the time. She had a good hour and half before school. Shuffling out of bed, she got dressed in some cool threads and popped on a trendy coffee-colored hat.

Heading downstairs, she spotted Kathleen checking her phone from time to time. Kathleen looked up, spotted Samantha, and lit up. “Sammie, c’mon down for breakfast. Your bro’s gonna drive you to school,” Kathleen called out.

Samantha grinned and made a beeline for the table, sliding into a chair beside Kathleen.

Adrienne was already at the table, doing her best to play nice with guests. But Adrienne couldn’t help but glare at Samantha, her hands tightening on her cutlery.

Samantha, sipping her milk, caught Adrienne’s stare but just shrugged it off and went back to her cercal.

That royally ticked off Adrienne. Here Samantha was, getting the royal treatment, and she felt left out in the cold. ‘Can’t believe Samantha’s still kicking after that major drama at school, Adrienne mumbled to herself in shock

When Bailey spotted her sulking, Bailey just had to roll her eyes to herself, thinking, ‘Adrienne really thinks she’s a Vanderbilt. Dream on, girlf

Samantha wolfed down her breakfast, ready to bail with Conrad, but Kathleen was like, “Hold up, Sammie. If anyone’s giving you trouble at school, you gotta tell me, alright?”

Samantha didn’t say a word, but with one look at Kathleen’s worried face, she gave a little nod. Enough to calm her mom’s nerves, then she booked it to Conrad’s car.

Kathleen sighed, giving Adrienne, who was still moping around, a once-over. She turned to Bailey and said, “Take Adrienne and Brennan to school, will you?” Kathleen felt a bit of guilt for losing her cool and grounding Adrienne-it was a first for both. With nothing much left to say, she peaced out.

Everyone else seemed relieved to bounce too; nobody really wanted to hang with Adrienne, especially now that she wasn’t seen as a true Vanderbilt. Only Brennan was stuck with her now

Hansel just exhaled a tired sigh following Kathleen out, feeling the tension.

Vanderbilt dinners were usually a small affair, so once Kathleen and the squad left, it was just down to Adrienne, Brennan, and Bailey rattling around the main hall.

Bailey, always the proper one, was like, “Ms. Adrienne Vanderbilt Mr. Vanderbilt, barely an hour left before school. Pick up the pace.” Bailey was pretty much furniture in the Vanderbilt residence-been there for thirty years since she was a youngster. Aside from Kathleen and Hansel plus a few others, she really ran the show.

Brennan was scared to death of her, so he scrambled upstairs to snag his backpack.

But Adrienne, still glued to her chair, got a nudge from Bailey, Yo, Adrienne, waiting for a VIP invite or something?”

With the hall empty, Adrienne lost it, launching a knife Bailey’s way in a fit. Bailey, not even flinching, watched as the knife stuck in the wall and was like, “Adrienne, you do know we got cameras in here, right? Just caught you trying to pull a stunt. Careful, or that’s gonna look like assault,” Baily said, all cool. Bailey plucked the knife from her shoulder and plunked it back on the table as if nothing happened.

Brennan, who’d been peeping the whole scene from upstairs, kept his mouth shut. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Since when

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Chapter 22

did sweet Adrienne go all WWE?’ he wondered, totally over it. Tm set to jet, Brennan announced to Bailey, eager to skip out on the drama.

“Cool, you’re fast. Let’s roll and not kill any more time,” Bailey responded, giving a little sideways bow, prompting them to

head out.

Brennan stormed off without a backward glance. Adrienne was so ticked off she felt like she could throw Bailey down right then and there. But first things first she had to get to school. No way she was gonna let on that she wasn’t really one of the Vanderbilts – she had to keep that on the down low. Adrienne bolted upstairs, threw on her school uniform, and hustled back down. She saw Bailey’s car, yanked open the back door, and hopped in. Bailey checked the time and hit the gas.

Samantha, who’d left earlier with Conrad, rolled up to Meadows High School and spotted a familiar face. ‘Is that Jasmine? She looks… different, Samantha mused to herself.

Jasmine was rocking a chic, light green dress that hugged her curves – total glow-up from her usual look. Her hair was straightened and Her makeup was on point. She was straight-up stunning.

Conrad, his window rolled down, couldn’t help but do a double-jake when he caught sight of Jasmine. His heartbeat cranked up a notch, big time. He was so caught up he didn’t even hear Samantha say later. By the time he snapped out of it, all he caught was the sound of the car door slamming.

Jasmine was scoping out the campus gate, feeling a bit self-conscious about her new getup – she was not sure if Samantha even recognize her. “Sammie! Over here!” Jasmine called out, spotting her.

When Samantha stepped out, Jasmine gave her a wave full of pep. Conrad, still near, saw that smile and his heart did a little dance. What’s got into me?’ he wondered. Kinda seemed like he was crushing on her… big time. He rolled up the window and drove off with Jasmine’s smile stuck in his head. Conrad shook his head, trying to stay focused on the road.

Samantha met up with Jasmine by the gates and couldn’t hold back her props for Jasmine’s look. “Like, if you were on mute, this style would be so your thing,” Samantha quipped.

Jasmine played coy, looping her arm through Samantha’s. “I can rock any look. It’s a bit snug, but no biggie,” she boasted.

“So, what brings you here? You finish what I asked?” Samantha prodded.

Jasmine just scoffed, “Duh. Piece of cake. I could do it in my sleep! Wrapped it up last night so we could hit up school together.”

“Hit up school? Wait, you teach here?” Samantha was confused. She hadn’t checked her messages since last night.

“Yep, I’m teaching literature at your school, in Class Two. We’ll be like, seeing each other every day. Pumped?” Jasmine beamed. Poor Samantha didn’t know what to make of it she just nodded, sorta dazed. “But Jasmine, I mean, Ms. Sullivan, class is gonna start. Shouldn’t we book it?” Samantha urged.

They started for the building when Jasmine blurted out, “Oh snap! We gotta motor – less than ten to the bell. Stick with me, will ya?”

Samantha couldn’t shake the thought that if she didn’t know better, she’d wonder if Jasmine was… well, it didn’t matter- Jasmine was just being Jasmine.

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