Overachiever (Slumming It Book 2) Read online

  Overachiever

  Slumming It: Book Two

  S.M. Shade

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Where to find S.M. Shade

  More by S.M. Shade

  Copyright © 2021

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Cover art by Ally Hastings

  Formatting by Pink Elephant Designs

  Chapter One

  Remee

  Today started like a perfectly normal day, but apparently I got out of bed and climbed straight into a handbasket. Bound for the obvious place. My version of it, anyway, filled with hammers, nails, and days spent outside doing manual labor.

  My summer was supposed to be similar to my last one, filled with extra college classes and parties with my roommates and friends. No such luck. My sulk is broken by a brief smile as I steer my car into our apartment complex and drive past the vandalized street sign. Someone has changed the street name from Violet Circle to Violent Circle. The sign was replaced last week and that ‘N’ has already been scribbled in again. They never learn.

  It isn’t a violent neighborhood. Eccentric, I suppose, though I’ve never lived in low income housing before this so I can’t say for sure it’s all that different from others.

  A few extra cars take up the parking spaces around our place, but I manage to find a spot. Yesterday was the last day of classes and I’m not surprised the guys are here to celebrate our first day of summer freedom. The scent of charcoal wafts over me when I round the corner, following the smell.

  “So, there I was, naked, with ranch dressing all over my tits when…” My roommate’s words stop short as I approach the impromptu gathering taking place in our backyard.

  “Don’t let me interrupt you.” I plop down in a vacant chair. My other roommates, Zara and Kelly, sit in a half circle of lawn chairs, along with a couple of our friends, Owen and Graham.

  “I was just telling them about Tanner.”

  My attention is temporarily averted from my shitty day. “The guy with the food fetish? You’re still seeing him?”

  “Not after today. Things took a really weird turn.” Serena pauses a moment. “Wait, what are you doing here? I thought you were signing up for summer classes.”

  “So did I. Are you guys drinking already?”

  Owen grins at me, digs into a cooler beside him and hands me a beer. “Yes, and you are too.” I’m not much of a drinker, much less a day drinker, but why not?

  “Wow, no argument?” Zara says, her eyebrows raised when I accept.

  “Today kind of sucks.” It’s a bit of an understatement. I really wanted those classes to help me graduate as early as possible. After all, that’s what I’m here for, to work hard and get ahead. Unfortunately, they aren’t offering summer classes this year, and instead, I got roped into something I’m dreading.

  The first sip of beer makes me grimace but the second is much better. “I couldn’t get any summer classes.”

  “You have the summer off? That should be good news,” Owen points out.

  Kelly nods and flips the hamburgers frying on the grill. “You could use a break. You’re always studying.”

  My friends don’t always understand my drive to succeed, but they’re supportive. It’s not out of the ordinary for them to reel me in occasionally when I get too obsessed, and I’m not surprised they’d see this as a good thing.

  “It’s not just that. My advisor pointed out that I don’t have any non-academic based volunteer experience to put on my resume. He suggested I take a job for the summer that would remedy that. It’s way outside of my comfort zone.”

  “Are you going to work at the breastaurant with Serena?” Owen teases, and I roll my eyes. Serena works at a restaurant called Glitties that requires her to wear a skin tight crop top and booty shorts. She likes it there, but I’d be a self-conscious mess.

  Serena throws an empty beer can at him as I reply, “No, the university is offering a special grant program. They’ve partnered with a non-profit that revitalizes run down neighborhoods and builds houses for low income families. I’ll be working for them all summer.”

  “Building Hope?” Owen exclaims, nearly bouncing out of his seat. Owen’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, but he seems to think if he sits still for one moment he might explode.

  “Yeah, you’ve heard of it?”

  “I signed up! Do you know where they’re sending you? There are two groups going from our area. Did you get Virginia or Florida?”

  “Florida.” I dig the folded papers out of my bag and hand them to him.

  “Wait? You’re moving to Florida?” Serena exclaims as Owen scans the paperwork with a wide smile.

  “I’m not moving. They put us up in a motel and pay for meals and stuff while I’m there. I’m not sticking you guys with my part of the rent, don’t worry.”

  “We aren’t worried about rent, bitch! You’re leaving for the whole summer!” The way Serena, Kelly, and Zara look at me makes me want to cry. I’ve never had friends like them and every now and then I realize how lucky I am.

  “Hey,” Owen pipes up. “So am I!”

  Serena waves a hand at him and turns back to me. “What do you know about building houses?”

  “Not a thing. Experience isn’t necessary. Hammering nails all summer isn’t my idea of fun either, but I need it for my resume. I’ll miss you guys, but I’ll be back in August.” My response is much more flippant than my actual feelings about missing out on the summer with my friends.

  “When do you leave?”

  “In a few days.”

  Graham, always the quiet one, smiles and speaks up. “It sounds like a good opportunity.”

  Owen sits up and leans forward. “Hello? I said I’m going too! Isn’t anyone going to miss me?”

  Kelly reaches over to pat his leg. “Of course we will.” Her diplomatic tone of voice sends laughter around the circle. As much as everyone here likes to give each other a hard time, you don’t get much closer than our little group.

  “That’s fine. Remee and I will be spending our summer in Florida, hitting the beaches and partying while you’re stuck here on the circle. Maybe you’ll get lucky and they’ll open the fire hydrant again this year.”

  “Okay, enough about us leaving.” Draining my beer, I reach for a second and turn to Serena. “Back to the food fetish guy. What happened?”

  Serena shakes her head. “I’m the last to kink shame, but lying still as he licks salt and ranch dressing off of me while I roleplay as a fre
nch fry was too weird even for me.”

  “Where do you find these guys?”

  “I attract weirdos. It’s a curse.”

  My mood lightens as the evening erases the afternoon. It’s been a while since I had any amount of time without some responsibility breathing down my neck. I’m not going to spend the next few days dreading my upcoming job. I’ll have a friend with me. Maybe it won’t be so bad.

  The next day, I receive an email from Building Hope informing me of travel options—the bus—and laying out how the room and board situation will work. They’ve arranged a motel right around the corner from the project we’ll be working on. Continental breakfast is available at the motel, lunch will be provided at the job site on work days, and we’ll have a meal allowance to cover the rest.

  Dread fills me at the sight of the paragraph explaining how we’ll be sharing a room, until I read down the room assignment list and realize I have a room assigned only to me. A second scan of the list helps me realize why. I’m the only woman. Our crew, as the email describes us, is made up of eight men and me.

  “That’s it. I’m quitting my job and coming with you,” Serena says when I tell her the situation.

  “Only you would think being stuck in a cheap motel and working out in the sun all day would be a good time.”

  “You aren’t seeing the big picture here, girl. You’re going to be in a different city, near the beach, with college guys for the whole summer. It’s like spring break on steroids. Do you have condoms? You need a king sized box of condoms.” Serena starts digging through my half packed suitcase, and I slap her hand away with a laugh.

  “No, I didn’t pack condoms.” Although, it’s not a bad idea. I haven’t been laid in a while and since I’m not searching for any kind of relationship that might get in the way of my goals, a summer fling might not be a bad idea. It’s destined to be temporary.

  Serena strides out of the room and returns, dropping an unopened box of condoms on the bed.

  “Just had those handy, huh?”

  “A girl has to be prepared. You can’t count on guys. I also have a box of colored and flavored ones, but I didn’t think they’d be your thing.”

  “These are good, thanks.” Laughing, I sit on the bed, and Serena sprawls beside me.

  “Seriously, I hate that you’ll be gone all summer, but I think this could be good for you if you let it. You work so hard, and I know the only reason you’re doing this is because of your resume, but you could make it more, Remee. You’re going to Florida for the summer. Live it up. We both know you can party when you want to. You aren’t being graded or judged for this. Take the opportunity to have some fun.”

  “I will. We only work four days a week. There will be plenty of time for the beach.” I survey my clothes with a frown. “I really need a few things though. A swimsuit, for one.”

  A smile leaps across Serena’s face. “Shopping! Let’s go!” Before I can respond, she’s headed out of the room and calling out to Zara to join us.

  I’m not exactly drowning in funds—clearly, from my living situation, but I’m more fortunate than most of the people around me. My father, or sperm donor as I often refer to him, may not care enough to want a relationship with me, but he did dump money into an education fund over the years. It pays my tuition and enough is deposited into my personal account each semester to cover my rent and expenses as long as I follow his rules. I’m not supposed to work unless it’s school related or do anything that might cause my academic standing to falter. Between my tendency to be thrifty and how much less I pay in rent with three roommates, I have a pretty good amount in my savings account. I can afford a little splurging shopping trip.

  Despite my reservations over this job, the girls’ enthusiasm and excitement rub off on me as we make sure I have everything I need for the summer. New swimsuits, a couple of cute beach towels, a few new outfits.

  It dawns on me how much I’ll miss them. “I wish you were coming with me,” I groan while I sort through my new purchases back at home. I need to start a list to make sure I don’t forget to pack anything.

  “Not as much as I do,” Serena says, flopping back on the bed and closing her eyes. “I’d kill to spend the summer lying on the beach.”

  Our conversation is interrupted when Owen calls out from the front door.

  “In Remee’s room!” Zara replies, and he pokes his head around the corner a second later.

  “Ooh, girl talk, what did I miss?”

  “Just bitching about spending the summer without friends,” I reply, and his hands slam onto his hips.

  “Excuse me? What am I?”

  “You’d need a team of biologists to answer that question,” Zara says, and he flips her off.

  “I’m glad you’re going to be there too,” I assure him.

  He sits on the edge of my bed. “Of course you are. That’s what I came by to talk to you about. Taking the bus sucks. We’d be stuck all summer without a car and have to blow money on Rideshare.”

  It hadn’t really occurred to me that I’d be stuck without transportation, but he’s right. It doesn’t matter because I wouldn’t trust my car to make it all those miles there and back. It’s not the safest of vehicles.

  “I want to drive,” Owen continues. “If you go with me, we can take my truck and take turns driving. We’ll make it there faster.”

  It does sound far better than being stuck on a bus overnight. “Okay, but you have to let me pay for half the gas.” Owen struggles to get by like most college students, and unlike me, he’s doing this for the tuition money, not a line on his resume.

  “No arguments here.”

  Chapter Two

  Owen

  “Dude, I can’t believe you’re leaving all summer just to get laid by a girl who lives in the same town,” Marty says, hovering in my doorway.

  Tossing some socks into my suitcase, I head to my closet to grab my shirts. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have a job in Florida that’ll cover a year’s tuition.”

  Graham silently watches our conversation from my desk chair.

  Marty snorts and throws his head back—his go-to move when he doesn’t want to hear what he’s being told. “And it just happens to be with Remee, whose name makes you pop a boner.”

  “First, stop thinking about my dick. It’s not for you. Second, this has nothing to do with Remee. I didn’t even know she was going. We’re friends.”

  Marty folds his arms and a taunting smile crosses his face. “Uh-huh. Drunks tell no lies, and what was it you said? Oh yeah.” His voice raises in a falsetto. “Remee is so fucking hot and sweet and sexy. Oh, if only she could look beyond my unfortunate face and sugared up toddler ways.”

  Graham’s laughter is barely audible over the scuffling sounds when I tackle Marty. “You’re like a plunger. Always bringing up old shit,” I grunt, trying to get Marty’s arm behind his back. “All I said was she’s hot.”

  Considering I don’t even remember the conversation they both insist happened a few months ago, I have no idea what I actually said. It’s unnerving because I don’t doubt I would’ve gushed like a middle schooler with a crush. Remee is beautiful and smart.

  I’m no weakling, but Marty has at least four extra inches of height and a lot more muscle than me. Wrestling him never ends well and he has me pinned on my back in a few seconds.

  “Quit it, idiots,” Graham sighs, pulling Marty off of me. “We don’t need another hole in the wall.”

  Marty sits beside me on the floor, leaning against the wall. “Max was willing to hire you again this year.”

  Marty works as a roofer, and I joined him as a temporary worker last summer. It was decent money, and I would’ve jumped at the opportunity if this job hadn’t come along. “I appreciate it, but this grant is worth more than I could save working there again.” Before he can answer, I add. “Wait. That’s why you’re giving me shit.” I lay my head on his shoulder and blink my eyes at him. “You’re going to miss me. Th
at’s so sweet.”

  “Get off of me,” he laughs, shoving me away.

  Not that I’d be willing to say so, but I’ll miss them too. We have a lot of fun together, especially in the summer, but this is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Remee taking the same job is just a cherry on top of the whole situation.

  Who knows what could happen with a whole summer away from our friends?

  Graham and Marty hang out for a few more minutes while I finish packing, then I have to go to bed. It’s a long drive and if we’re going to make it straight through without stopping at a motel, we have to leave early.

  It’s still dark out when I drag myself out of bed. A quick text to Remee is returned by a few garbled letters which tells me she’s awake if not completely coherent yet. Coffee will be our first stop. I toss my luggage into the bed of my truck and pause to listen to the rare sound of silence and look at the fading stars. It’s going to be a good summer. I can’t remember when I’ve looked forward to something so much. Not only because of Remee, despite what the guys might think. She’s never been particularly interested in me. It’s the adventure of it, spending months somewhere completely unfamiliar, meeting new people, learning new things. It’s exciting.

  The sight of Remee’s bleary eyed shuffle out to the truck makes me laugh. Clearly, she isn’t as enthusiastic about the trip. Or maybe it’s just because it’s the ass crack of dawn.

  “Ducky pajamas. Nice choice.”

  Confusion furls her brow for a moment, and she glances down. “Ugh, I forgot to change.” She hands me her suitcase and retreats back inside the apartment.