Class Act

Summary

Move-in day, first day of freshman year. I’d brought welcome gifts for my new roommates.

“Oh my god, is this a Tom Ford lipstick set? This has to be, like, two hundred bucks!”

“Seriously, this is way too much.”

“It’s fine, really. My family’s in retail—department stores. It’s nothing.”

I waved it off, just as our last roommate pushed the door open. I smiled and held out the same gift box to her.

She glanced at the box, and her face went cold.

“What is this? Trying to buy your friends?”

She crossed her arms. “Look, just because I’m on financial aid doesn’t mean I take handouts.”