Elijah #1

CHAPTER 1

“I heard the Elite are returning this year.” Allison Lavender was a gossip through and through, but she was the rich gossip that people believed she befriended me as her next charity case. And for the past three years, that was all I’d ever given anyone to think. Being the only one not wearing designer clothes, with no labels and very little jewellery, one ring and earrings, that was it. That and I didn’t wear make-up, and my hair was always up.

“They could bring entertainment back in town.” I shrugged, considering this town had enough shit in it to pollute the Atlantic ocean. I removed the glasses and plopped down in my usual class desk, she dropped in next to me, flicks her curly hair behind her shoulder.

“You don’t think we have entertainment here? You know, with your boyfriend and all.” She giggled, pointing over to the boy I said yes to, but sometimes slap myself for ever saying yes to. Vince Carter, hockey player and a real charmer. He has girls looking his way and following every masculine step he takes. If the elite were here, they’d take back their celebrity status, but for the past year, Vince was more popular than his own captain.

His grand smile took most girls breaths away, whereas I wasn’t sure if it was really him, or the fake smile he gave every onlooker that does a double take his way, that and he called me—

“Baby girl, there you are.” He pecked my cheek and dropped down next to me, arm around my shoulders. His cologne was giving me a headache, making me drop my head against his chest with an inward groan. He chuckled, rubbing my back.

Allison sighed, “You two are like Romeo and Juliet.” She said. I inwardly scoffed.

I sat up and gave her a dry look, “Not only do they die in the end, the real story shows how young they both were and how stupid they both were. Why are you comparing that to me?” I asked her while Vince’s buddies cracked up laughing, each of them had something good going for them. All were athletic and all of them were unable to hide their amusement regarding the number of girls who looked this way.

Vince curled his arm around my waist then, he was heated in terms of temperature, not attraction. I crossed my legs on the bench. Vince Carter had a lot riding on his goals to become an NHL player, move to America and change the world. However, I wasn’t so clueless as to not know what happens in the gym lockers when women are spoken about by the animalistic likes of men. While Vince was asked about me and my spontaneous side, if the typical nerd had one, he kept his mouth shut, however the person who didn’t keep their mouth shut, was Loral Jasmine. The girl he fucked for release behind my back. And the guys around the table knew all about it.

Vince offered to buy me sushi, I shook my head, saying to hold my stuff while I went to the bathroom. I glanced around, removing a bobby pin and gliding towards the principal’s office. It wasn’t guarded at all and I had the cameras under control, moving towards the desk, I opened the drawers. Clenching my jaw, I found nothing.

I huffed and took a seat on the desk, “What’s your passcode, misogynistic moron.” I muttered to myself, sliding the USB in and typing in his wife’s name. It doesn’t open. Next I try his children. Before I tried my name and then I froze when it unlocked. Fucking disgusting.

I moved through his files, before copying and pasting everything. Hearing the sounds of footsteps, I stared at the loading before quickly pulling it out once it loads and I ripped towards the closet after closing the door with a rush of adrenaline when I heard and saw just who stepped in.

Elijah Mitchell, heir to a prestigious number of schools, hotels, businesses that are booming just by name alone. He stepped in with his parents, two people that looked almost unearthly. His mother had platinum blonde hair, and she was tall, about five eight and has modelled for multiple magazines, while his father looks like a wrestler in his suit. A Harvey Spector look-alike if anything else.

Principal Dominic Norris takes a seat at his desk, salt and pepper hair gelled back, “Charleston, it has been a long time, old friend.” Norris said to him, studying Elijah, not just Charleston or Moira Mitchell.

“Dominic, I trust you have my son’s interests at heart. Enrolling back into this school to complete his senior year before any distractions and we need to set him up before the arranged marriage with Elara Rivendell by the end of the year. It’s imperative that he show his academics, I need to know what troubles he may potentially have, if any at all, especially at this school.” Charleston’s tone of voice was set to business. I press record on my phone and listen closely. Arranged marriages were almost unheard of nowadays, so this was a bit harsh, restricting and surprising in the least. Press would want to get their hands on this.

Dominic frowned, “Elara Rivendell? I don’t recognise the name, however, I can assure you both that Elijah can safely finish his senior year here. Any investigations were dropped within the school, no discredited or discriminating behaviour was found to slight any of our professors.” Poor choice of words, and entirely inaccurate. There had been far more shit in this school than this bitch-ass principal would ever like.

“She is of old money, we have business deals with her companies as well. An alliance between our families benefits this family more than I will say now. The press however can’t get ahold of this information, so I trust your discretions here, Dominic.” Moira made sure of, studying him.

“Understood. The press will not hear word of it from these walls. I want to thank you both for your generous donations towards the school. It means a great deal. Elijah here has shown top grades in all his classes, while he is not runner up for valedictorian, he is showing great potential. Though it is difficult to beat one of our star students.” He chuckled.

Moira frowned, “Who is this star student?” She wondered.

Dominic fastened a stoic look, “I am afraid that is confidential, Moira. As is your son’s indiscretions from the year before last, his aid in the drug ordeal has been removed from our social services, however I do want promise from Elijah that he won’t go looking for trouble while he and his prestigious peers are present here.” He explained.

“Who’s the star student, Dominic?” Charleston asked more forcefully.

“Probably Evangeline North.” Elijah’s tongue rolled over my name. I tensed and studied closely. His facial expressions—I couldn’t see, but Dominic intertwines his fingers, not confirming or denying anything while he contains himself.

“If there isn’t anything else, I’ll trust you can find your classes, Elijah. Nice seeing you both Charleston and Moira.” Principal stood and moved towards his door. I froze once they got out and Dominic locked it before moving back around his desk and loosening his tie.

He leaned his hands on the sill of one of his windows and stares out, before he grabbed his phone, “Robinson, please give Evangeline North a detention during fifth.” He ordered.

I tensed, knowing that I’ll be ditching that class and headed straight for the nurse when Dominic ended the call, moved towards his chair and lowered his hands underneath before the fucker was moaning out my name. I blocked my ears and prayed not to gag when I heard the receptionist knock before stepping in and Dominic is quick to try to look normal, only for her to know exactly what was happening.

She rounded the table, cleavage out, “Need help with that.” She offered, seductively.

“Kneel.” He muttered before she does just that and he was a rough arsehole about it. I hurriedly move through the hidden doorway of the closet after getting proof of his indiscretions. I texted Vince after he’d clearly sent me a message asking where I was.

I sprinted for class, knowing I was definitely late and tense when I found the corner to find Professor Maisie raising an eyebrow at me, “Almost after the second bell, Miss North.”

“It won’t happen again, Professor.” I breathed out, stepping into class and hurriedly moving towards my seat next to Allison, she was on her phone while I pocketed mine and glance over when I saw Renata Fleming, the wealthiest girl in the school sitting between Travis Whitcomb and Nathaniel Williams. Then I saw Elijah Mitchell who whose silver eyes were on my shoes, he trailed up and looked at me. Normally there was a grin, a smirk, like there was two years ago. Right now, he just looked like the face of a blank canvas page. But I knew it was far deeper than that

Renata looked me over, “Cutting it late for such a high-tailed student here, don’t you think?” She commented, slyly. Allison glanced over and I saw that she’d been secretly shedding love glances all over Elijah like he’s eye Candy she can’t have. Because he didn’t give this bitch a second glance

I didn’t answer any comment, simply shrugging, not feeling it as I grabbed my textbook and follow the economic questionnaire Mrs Maisie had set, “Vince wants to know what happened? I checked the bathroom, girl. You weren’t there.” Allison whispered to me.

“I went to the third floor to my locker as well. Thought I left my ID card in there, but it might be at the dorm. Did you see it in our lounge or something?” I feigned worry, “I have a test fourth.” I told her.

She flashed her eyes, looking back to her textbook, “No, I haven’t seen it. It’s probably just near your desk. You leave that thing so messy anyway.” She waved me off, though I wasn’t dumb. She’s been using my ID card to get into the library after hours and take the tunnels outside to go clubbing most nights.

I faced back to the front, before wincing when the door opened, revealing the one fucking man I hate with a passion, his eyes found me, “Miss North, can you come with me for a moment?” He asked of me.

I stayed tense, the students were quiet, Mrs Maisie frowned, looking from the principal, “We’re in the middle of a test, Dominic.” She stated, confused. He looked to her with narrowed eyes and I stand, grabbing my stuff before Allison freaks out when Dominic held up my student ID card.

I looked at it, frowning, he held it out to me, “This was found in the library, Miss North. In the restricted section. Please come with me.”

I pursed my lips and moved around the bastard. He closed the door behind him, I folded my arms, he raised an eyebrow, “Don’t worry, there are cameras in the library of who is sneaking out after curfew and we both know it’s not you. You’re not in any trouble. Follow me though, I have a few things I want to run over with you.” He explained, walking in front of me while we were not headed to his office, but the terraces that overlook the fields instead. It was raining heavily as he took a seat around the rose vines and poured two cups of tea, grabbing his and leaving mine. He eyed me closely.

“Not thirsty?” He asked me.

I folded my arms and leaned back, “Why am I here if not for being falsely accused of going out outside past curfew?” I asked him, stoically.

He tilted his head at me, “I’d like you to oversee some paperwork of mine. I’m working on a speech, it could bring up your credits if you require incentive—” I cut him off right then and there.

Leaning forward, “I don’t have time to read over a speech for a principal when I have to overlook my own. I understand, each time you shove my scholarship in my face to use me for your gain, but I will make one thing clear, I’m not your assistant. Get them to do the work for you and if I receive one more goddamn letter from you, I’ll file a police report.” I spat at him, feigning anger, there was no letters from him, but this would be interesting.

He stilled.

Before leaning forward, “What. Letters?” He asked lowly, his tone of voice harbouring on cold-hearted serial killer vibes.

I gave him a dirty look, “They’re signed by you, you disgusting freak. The whole ‘I want you screaming’ bullshit—why are you looking at me like that?” I asked, frowning.

He lowered the cup quickly, “Do you have the letter on you? I swear, Evie, I haven’t sent any letters.”

“It’s not on me. I rip them up, they’re in the garbage.” I growled at him, standing and he clenched his jaw, I stepped away from him and toward the doors. He reached around and holds the door.

His eyes penetrated mine, “I swear to you on my job, my life, I never sent anything. I’ll look into who’s doing this, I promise.” He sounded determined. Reaching over, I leaned back and look at him with disgust. He flinched and pursed his lips, opening the door for me. I hurried out and ran quickly back down the stairs, the letters were nonexistent, but it will allow me to survey him.

I get back to class, opening the door with ten minutes left, all eyes move back up to me. Professor Maisie smiles at me, “Everything alright, Miss North?” She asked me. I nodded, moving back to my seat. Allison stared at me worriedly.

“What happened?”

“I have detention for a week.” I lied to her, sighing.

She tensed where she sat, before the bell rang and I moved out, headed towards art. Vince texted me and said he heard about the detention thing and said he needed to talk about something. I didn’t allow the text to be on read, instead ignoring it and waiting till the day was over to head straight out of the school and towards the buses, even if I lived at the school in the dorms.

I didn’t need to ditch fifth, while Robinson is Dominic’s lapdog, it’s clear Dominic called off his plans to give me a fake detention just to be a perverted creep. I get on the bus and head for central city, using my retail job as a cover. I work till seven.

Closing up at a local bookstore, I take the bus back to the school, in time for dinner.