“I can help.” Kellan touches my arm, a gentle gesture that has my eyes widening and my pulse spiking.
My breath hitches, he removes it quickly, but the warmth of his touch remains. His eyes become hooded. I swallow and he watches my throat. He’s your teacher Everly, get a grip.
Giving myself a mental slap, I move back, “I fine, I can handle it all.”
His face falls, but what he doesn’t understand is that I could have eyes on me, something else to be used against me. I don’t want him to lose his job.
“I can help Everly.” He pleads.
“No, you can’t. I have dealt with it before; I can deal with it again.” My stubborn nature leaks out. Even though I would love him to help me, I can’t risk it, I can’t risk getting close to him.
My phone pings, I know the difference from a text to an alert. I groan as I lift my phone. Kellan goes to stop me when his phone alerts him, his face a mask of horror when he sees. I pull away, looking at my phone. What I see has my heart beating so fast, I feel dizzy.
The pictures that leaked to the press of my mother swinging from the rafters. Her eyes bulging, her face grey comes back to haunt me. How did they get the pictures, how far are these fuckers willing to go? And why? What have I done to deserve this?
I turn and run from the room, Kellan calling out to me as I go. I run through the halls, seeing the faces of the students as I pass. Some have the same horrified look, some smirk, they are fucking smirking. Then there’s the three, the fucking kings of Silverlake Prep. Their eyes follow me, only one looks ashamed.
I race past them, but Bethany steps out, blocking my path. She sneers at me.
“I didn’t know how your mother died, guess she couldn’t hack having you for a daughter, or was it, daddy issues?” She laughs, she actually laughs.
I see red. Blind fucking rage take over. My hand balls at my side and I’m shaking so bad I drop my bag. When she looks at me, her eyes widen. I swing my fist with such force that I hear a crunch. My fist makes contact with her botched-up nose job. The crack ringing through the air, her cries music to my ears. She clutches her nose trying to stop the bleeding. I step into her space, making sure only she can hear me.
“Don’t fuck with me Bethany, you might not like it if you do.” The old me seeps out. Yes, I was an absolute bitch in my old school.
I calmly move back, turning and walking away. Everyone moves out of my way. I hear Bethany wailing behind me, telling me I will pay for breaking her nose.
Bring it on bitch.
Of course, I get detention. Somehow, the pictures came from my server. How they did it, I don’t know. But the blame for them leaking those photos landed on me. I mean, why would they think I would send out those pictures. They got removed pretty quickly, but not before the whole school saw. A few girls tried to talk to me in the dorm, but scampered when Bethany’s friends walked in. I had a note under my door, saying they were sorry for that happening. Then I had drawings, those I burned. They didn’t stop there, they printed out the picture and pinned them everywhere over school. I ran around tearing them down in floods of tear. Some of the other girls took pity on me and helped before being barked at by Sin to stop. His cruel eyes watched me the whole time. I did notice that Lawrence and Roman weren’t with him.
It got quiet after that. It put me on edge, but the school pretty much left me alone after I punched Bethany. I think Sinclair had something to do with this. Whenever I see him, he smirks. I ignore him, which seems to piss him off more. What, did he think I would go running to him? I think not. I am not that desperate and especially after he didn’t help me with the pictures.
It didn’t last long. A few days later it all started again. I got fed up with people trying to trip me, or wave blown up pictures of me or my mum in my face and laughing. Mostly it boys or Bethany’s friends. So, I would arrive dead on time to my classes. I get fed up with the pity looks from my teachers too and them letting me off on homework. Kellan tried talking to me, but I avoided him, embarrassed with what happened and how I dealt with it.
I came here, wanting to start a new life, a new me, even if I was forced to come here. I guess, the old me is still in there, wanting to come out and play.
My father called me, I ignored him. He has started sending me new things, which confuses me. Upping my allowance and even sending someone to change my locks with a sensor only I can use. He never spends money on me, so I wonder if they are from him or someone else.
After a week, Bethany came back, her nose redone, bruises all across her eyes and cheeks. She avoids me when she is alone. When she is with Sinclair, she tries to rile me. I ignore her.
I have an email from the principal telling me that I need to socialise more. So, he had the fridge from my room removed. I think that was Sinclair’s doing.
Being forced to eat with the vultures turns my stomach. I grab and go most of the time. I was never like this. I was the queen bee, now I am nervous wreck. I know Bethany will pay me back, it’s the when, that’s bothering me.
Today though, I decide to stay in the canteen. Why I have no idea, but I guess I am annoyed at myself for letting these assholes get to me. I have already lost weight and it’s bothering me. I grab my food, more fruit with a yogurt and a juice. I sit in the back, sighing when I see Sinclair coming towards me.
“Go away Sinclair.” I bark, before he even has a chance to sit down.
“Now, now. I only came over because you have been avoiding me. I don’t like that.” He sits and smirks when I growl at him.
I roll my eyes, “do I look like I give a shit what you think?” I carry on eating, ignoring the murmurs around me.
My neck prickles and when I look up, I see him staring at me with cold eyes. I shiver, moving my eyes away from his. Why is this dude so freaking scary?
“You ready to ask for our help yet.” His tone is calm, but deadly.
My eyes snap up. “What are you talking about?” Glaring his way only fuels the frosty attitude in him.
“I can get the pranks to stop you know.” There is no emotion in his voice, so I know he doesn’t care and wants something that I will not give. “All I have to do is say the word and it stops.” He snaps his fingers. I snicker, making him frown.
I frown back, standing to leave. “You think posting pictures of my mum or nudes of me is a prank? You are just as deranged as the person who posted them.”
I move from, but his stare stops me. I shiver at the intensity, but not in a good way. Is this how I use to act? The girls at my old school were terrified of me. I lived a double life, the bitch at school that got the best grades and the one I had with my mum.
“Sit back down and eat your food.” He barks, showing a little emotion for once. “You are no good to me half-starved to death.”