Kat

Kat's POV

I was walking towards Tessa's dorm room. Thinking to what Clara said kind of hurt. "The more punishments you have, the harder it gets." What did that say about me? I think I only had one punishment that was still active. And unlike Tessa, I didn't have to talk to my mother about the modeling. And, Tessa had been doing this longer! Not only was she still resisting, but she did it so easily. It just made me think about the game. I was going to lose wasn't I? I cried thinking about it.

"Oh hey there," a voice said. Turning to look I saw it was Bianca from earlier. "You okay?"

"I..." pausing I looked around. No one else was around. "Can I talk to you in private?"

She nodded and we walked over to Tessa's room since I was heading that way anyhow. Once the door closed I just broke down.

"You played right? That is why you said you'd take it easy on us! How did you find the strength to win!" I asked.

"Where is that coming from. Who said I won?" she asked looking at me.

"You seem happy, that means you won?" I asked.

She noticed the yearbook and picked it up.

"Tessa said it's gross, don't-"

She opened it. She flipped near the middle of the book before asking me to come look. "#92 Bianca Fiore, me."

I looked. I noticed two pictures. They hardly seemed like the same person. The first was a girl in all black, short hair, facial piercings. The girl next to it had long hair, blonde and lots of color.

"That was you?" I asked.

"Yeah, before the game," she said. "Samuel will crush you, win or lose. That's just him. Winners have his respect, that's the only difference in my opinion but that doesn't mean you can't be happy."

"You're happy?" I asked.

She nodded. "In my own strange way I am. I have a loving husband, and wonderful kids. I really enjoy my job too. Without Samuel I wouldn't have any of it."

"So your saying, he isn't that bad?" I asked.

"Hell no. He is a monster, no doubt," she said. "I hated helping him today, but the thing is. If you think of him like that, as a monster, or a natural disaster, I think it makes it easier. Imagine if you were in a car wreck and couldn't walk anymore. Your life would be way different. But you could grow and adapt and became happy still. There are those that don't manage that."

I looked up at her. "Can I have a hug.... please?"

"Oh yeah. Of course," she said opening her arms.

We just sat there for a few minutes and I felt mildly better. "Thanks."

"I will say, if you can't win and you know it. Like truly know it. You may as well tell Samuel. He stops punishing you once you give up," she said.

"Can I have your number?" I asked.

"Course sweetie," she said.