3 Chapter 3
The next day proved to be almost the same except that Richie and his friends seemed to avoid Ariana while Brandon seemed to be more mean to her. Everywhere Ariana went, it seemed as if he was trailing her, a steady reminder that he could pounce on her at anytime.
"I heard he's 18 years", Emily said over their lunch break.
The girls were sitting on a table, quite far away from the other students. Nobody wanted to associate with them. In fact, they avoided them like the plague.
"18? Wow, that's a bit old. Not so old though compared to our seniors back then", Leslie said.
"What about his family? Or is he alone?", Ariana asked.
For some days now, she had been thinking about him. She hated to admit it but she felt this strong pull towards him like there was an invisible cord drawing them closer.
"According to my sources... Don't ask me who they are", Emily chuckled.
"His parents just relocated to New York City because of his father's business which crumbled in London. His father had another partnership business in New York and decided to move them here", Emily said.
"So, it seems like Brandon has changed school a lot?", Leslie asked.
"Yes, I think so", Emily said.
"To be honest girls, I think he just lacks love. I mean, from what Emily said it seemed as if his parents don't care about him what with traveling all over the place. A child like that would be deprived of love", Ariana said.
"But that's no excuse for bullying. No matter what, bullying is bad and should be frowned at", Emily said.
"Tell that to Richie and those idiots", Ariana said.
After their break was over, the girls went to their various classes. This was the only time they had different subjects based on their fields. When Ariana walked into the class, she was met with so many of her mates who had already settled down for the class. Ariana searched for where to sit but all the seats were already taken. The only one left was the one beside her archenemy, Brandon.
He smirked when he noticed her dilemma. He knew that she had no option but to sit beside him. Ariana moved steadily towards the seat even as she knew that all eyes were on her. She sat down, placing her bag on her lap. She slipped on her glasses just as the teacher walked into the class.
"Fancy seeing you here", Brandon mocked.
"Of course, it's a class and I'm expected to be here", Ariana said.
From the look on his face, Ariana could tell that he didn't expect her to talk back at him. The truth was ever since that day at the alley, she hated his guts. He was even worse than Richie and his friends and that was saying something. She couldn't understand why somebody she just met hated her so much without any reason.
"I see you're a smart mouth huh? I'll teach you a lesson", he growled.
Ariana ignored him, pulling out her books from her bag. The teacher began teaching, going round the class to inspect the students as he spoke. When he got to their table, he stopped for some time, peering down at their books.
"Why aren't you writing young man", the teacher said.
Brandon sat up, facing the teacher. Up until then, Ariana hadn't noticed that he wasn't writing. She was so engrossed with what the teacher was saying that she paid little to no attention to anything around her.
"I don't have a pen sir", Brandon said.
"That's like you going to the farm without your instruments", the teacher said.
Just then, Ariana remembered that she had an extra pen in her bed. Fishing it out, she handed it over to him. He smirked, pinching her hands a bit unknown to the teacher. Ariana hissed from the sharp pain, trying so desperately to hide it from the teacher. She couldn't understand why she was protecting him, it felt weird.
"Thank you Ariana", the teacher said before walking away.
Ariana breathed a huge sigh of relief. That was very close, one that could have gotten them into trouble. There was no doubt that the school authorities would punish Brandon severely for harming another student. Not that she would feel sorry for him, it's just that it wasn't in her to be intentionally wicked.
"You know, you could have given me the pen earlier to avoid everything you went through now", he whispered.
His breath on her neck had her shivering. She gripped her pen tighter as she tried to fight off the wave of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. For someone she hated so much, she didn't understand what kind of emotions she was feeling.
"Are you serious now, no tell me are you really serious right now Brandon?", Ariana seethed.
Her rising voice got the attention of the students sitting closer to them. Arianna's hands shook as she struggled to grasp what the teacher was saying. Brandon was a bad influence, a drug and a poison.
"Oh, I'm damn serious Ariana and I'm going to make you pay for that. Now, how do you want your punishment. Your head down the school toilet or picking litters in the cafeteria?", Brandon said.
Ariana ignored him, putting all her mind in the teacher's words. She was the best in class and she wouldn't allow anyone disturb that.
"So, I'm going to be giving out an assignment. It's going to be like a group work. You and your seat partners are going to be working on the project together. Get it done before the next class. Have a wonderful day students", the teacher said, walking out of the class.
Ariana could hardly believe what he said. Never in her wildest dreams could she have thought she'd be working with someone like Brandon, someone she hated so very much. Deep down, she knew that this was going to be hard. She had just stood up, ready to inform the teacher that she couldn't work with him when Brandon slammed her back to her seat.
"Where do you think you're going"?,he growled.
Ariana decided to put on a brave front, she wouldn't be scared. Brandon could do anything he liked but she would never work with him.
"A change of partners. I can't.. work with you", she croaked.
She hated how her voice sounded. She didn't want to appear weak yet she was giving every sign of being so.
"That's not going to happen sweetheart. You're stuck with me", he grinned.
Somehow, that grin reminded Ariana of a predator about to pounce on his prey. At that moment, she didn't know what to do. Brandon had her in a stronghold, a place she couldn't get out of.
"Do you even have any idea on what we're supposed to do?", Ariana said.
She had an inkling that he didn't know what they were supposed to do. He was so full of himself and what's more, he never had any idea what they were supposed to do.
"Why then do I have you here. Of course, you'd be doing all the work", he said.
"If you think for one minute I'd be doing all the work then you must be ridiculous, I would never", Ariana vowed.
"Fine. Just because I'm in a good mood, we'll be splitting the work. When do we start?", Brandon said.
"We'll start at the close of school today. Let's meet in the hall, there won't be any disturbances there", Ariana said.
Brandon nodded, leaving the class without another word. Ariana sighed as she made her way towards the locker room.
"Who's the worst nerd in the school", Larry sneered.
"Oh I don't know maybe a little girl named Ariana", Richie laughed.
Ariana decided to keep quiet. They weren't worth her time and she wouldn't stop and argue with people who had no vision whatsoever.
"Too dumb to speak?", Richie sneered.
"Don't you have better things to do, rather than pestering me?", Ariana said.
For a moment, Richie was dumbfounded. He would have never imagined that Ariana could speak to him in such a manner. He smiled, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Ariana fought to keep her's down as she slowly backed away.
She soon got to the locker room, taking her books out of the locker. She still had one more class before the close of the day and she dreaded meeting Brandon. She had no choice though if she intended to pass the subject. It was a sacrifice she was willing to take, one that might not be convenient but all the same, she would manage.
"I just have to get past his stupid pride and hate", she muttered.
As she walked towards her next class, Ariana made up her mind to lead the project. She wouldn't sit back and watch him lord over her. That would be last thing she'd do.
