Getting the Edge: Betrayed Book 1 Read Free Page A

always kind of thought teachers were underpaid and overworked.”
    “Yeah, I’ve heard that.” Amanda sat on her bed. “It’s just something that I’ve always wanted to do.” That was true, as far as it went. When she’d been in high school, she’d thought she would graduate, go to college and become a teacher. She’d wanted to take time to have fun first, though—so had put off applying. Then, her life had taken a turn that led to the nightmare she lived in now.
    “So, they have a good program here at Vincent for that?” Tracy asked.
    “Sure,” Amanda said. No, Vincent wasn’t one of the best schools, but it was one that was three states away from Brandon Walsh, which she hoped was far enough. “I like it here.”
    “What do you do for fun here?”
    Amanda didn’t know how to answer that. Of course, she didn’t go out and do much of anything. She forced a smile. “I’m not sure what the kids do around here. I know there are a few frats, so I’d guess there are a lot of parties. I pretty much concentrate on my studies.” That was true, she decided. No need to elaborate—not that she’d even consider it. Her life—and more importantly, Brandon’s—depended on her keeping her secret from everyone.
    “Oh, I want to do the whole college scene,” Tracy insisted. “Drink too much. Study and pass my classes. Chase hot guys. Are there hot guys in the dorm?”
    Vincent had co-ed dorms. Amanda wasn’t blind, and knew there were some guys around that most would consider ‘hot’. She was more into tall, dark, and clean-shaven cops. Or she had been. She hadn’t even looked at a man since Brandon. “Yeah, I guess.”
    Tracy nodded sagely. “I take it you have a boyfriend?”
    “No. Why would you think that?” Amanda asked quickly.
    “Well, I think most college girls are looking, don’t you?”
    Hell, she didn’t know what most college girls did. She wasn’t most college girls—and never would be. “I guess.”
    Tracy’s eyes widened slightly. “It’s okay if you’re…um…not into guys.”
    Amanda laughed. Tracy thought she was a lesbian? “I’m straight.”
    “Thank god. I’m not sure what I’d have done if you were…you know…into me or something.”
    Amanda laughed again. It felt good, if she was honest with herself. “No, I’m not into girls, I promise. I just am more concerned with my program here. I want to do well.”
    “Girl, you are missing out. You have your whole life to be mature and responsible. Live a little!”
    “We’ll see,” Mandy hedged. Live a little? Yeah, as if .
     
    *~*~*
     
    By the end of the day, Amanda discovered that Tracy had indeed been assigned here to her room, so she wasn’t worried that someone had sent her—at least not quite as much.
    As much as she wanted to distance herself from the students, she knew that people would also talk if she was a total recluse, so when Tracy had found a party at one of the frats, she’d reluctantly agreed to go with her.
    Maybe if she interacted a bit more, her teachers wouldn’t ask questions she couldn’t answer.
    Tracy brought her out of her musings when she held up a tiny dark blue dress. “What about this one?”
    Mandy looked at the dress. “It’s pretty,” she said. “You should wear it.”
    Tracy giggled and raced to the bathroom to put on the tiny dress as Mandy shook her head. She herself had dressed in a long, black skirt and a purple sweater. Nice, but not obviously trolling, she’d decided. She even put on the glasses she didn’t really need unless she was reading.
    The last thing she wanted to worry about was being hit on at some party.
    When Tracy came out of the bathroom, Mandy had to admit that the girl looked good. The dress wasn’t as short as she’d first thought, and it hugged her curves, as she was sure Tracy knew.
    There was little doubt Tracy would get hit on if that was her goal. “Looks good.”
    “I know, right? I love this dress. It’s my