Read Online Luxe by Ashley Antoinette - Free Book Online Page A

climbed into the front.
    â€œI’m Eddie, by the way,” he introduced himself.
    â€œBleu,” she replied as she stared out of her window. The city was so alive. There were lights everywhere, and people were out walking and talking as if it were the middle of the day.
    â€œSo what’s your story, Bleu? You a runaway?” Eddie asked.
    She furrowed her brow but didn’t answer as she continued to stare out of the window.
    â€œNo offense. I’ve been driving cabs for ten years. A lot of young girls with one suitcase have come out of that bus station. This city is like a magnet for girls with stars in their eyes. What do you do? Act? Sing? Or dance?”
    â€œI’m a student. I was accepted to UCLA,” she answered somewhat boastfully. She wasn’t the average birdbrain with a talent that would probably never blossom into a career. She was smart; she had aced every test she had taken since grade school. Her brains had been her ticket out, not some pipe dream.
    â€œOh, well, you’re a little late, aren’t you? Classes started a while back,” Eddie stated as he shifted his eyes from the rearview mirror to the road.
    â€œYeah, well, I got held up,” she responded vaguely.
    She crossed her arms as they made the trek across town. When he finally pulled onto Sunset Boulevard she peered out of her window in amazement.
    â€œThis is it,” Eddie said. “That’s Royce Hall.”
    She sat, slightly intimidated, as she stared at the empty campus. It was massive. It appeared to be larger than her entire hometown at first glance.
    â€œYou going to get out?” Eddie asked with a chuckle.
    She turned to him and said, “Thanks for the lift.”
    â€œNo problem. Good luck,” Eddie replied. “Hey, if you’re ever in the mood for some good Mexican food, my wife owns a restaurant.” He handed Bleu a folded menu and gave her a wink. “It’s good eating.”
    She smiled and answered, “I’ll have to come by then. Thank you for the free ride. Have a good night.” She stepped out of the cab, lugging her suitcase behind her, and she made her way down the red-brick path. Royce Hall was beautiful. Surrounded by a lawn the size of a football field, with a beautiful fountain, it was larger than any building she had ever seen in Flint. It had character, and she could only imagine the type of genius minds that had been lucky enough to ever grace its halls. “I made it,” she whispered. She took a deep breath and walked over to one of the large trees before setting her things down.
    Even if she had the money to sleep in a five-star hotel, she would still prefer this very spot. She took a seat in the grass, leaned her back against the large tree, and looked around. She was in love. She belonged here. This massive institution with its green grass and beautiful architecture would be her new home, at least for the next four years, and it felt right. Bleu had always been a big-city girl trapped in the surroundings of her humble upbringing. UCLA. Los Angeles. This was where she belonged. As Bleu closed her eyes, she fell asleep completely comfortable under the night sky. She had no idea what this city had in store for her, however. The change of pace and scenery had seduced her upon first sight, but she had stepped into a whole new world. Wealth and status ruled this city. While she was used to dealing with hoodlums and hustlers, she had never encountered the privileged and pretentious. This was an entirely different league and she would need more than street smarts in order to play in this game.

 
    7
    â€œHey!”
    Bleu felt a nudge as someone kicked the bottom of her shoe, awakening her from her sleep. She frowned as she placed her hand above her eyes to shield them from the sun while staring up into the face of the security guard before her. “You’re not supposed to be sleeping here. Unless you want to be arrested for