Stealing You

Wrenley was the new class representative, temporarily replacing her twin brother, Ryan who was away for the interschool football match. She did not like this arrangement at all but the homeroom teacher made sure she did her brother’s job during his absence. Because that’s the least she could do to live her school life normally, rather than staying by herself all the time, as per the teacher. All this for nothing, she thought.

She transferred to this school with her brother last year, after they lost their parents at a supermarket fire where their parents worked. Luckily, both of them were applicable for scholarships and Ryan had a football championship title in the state juniors league. So getting into this school was a breeze. But things happened so fast that they could not even get the time to feel the loss. The supermarket owner even offered to help them get jobs when they graduate, and her brother made them sign a legal document so that the owner does not go back on his words.

Ryan was always someone very reliable. He was like their mother. It always left Wrenley surprised because he was born just a few minutes before her and she was not even close to being this smart. But she was good in studies at least, so saved one hassle for her brother. Otherwise...she could not even dare to think about ‘otherwise’. There’s only one way and that’s hard work to achieve success.

The third day as the class representative, Wrenley was trying to put back the ladder that the student council member from her class was using to put up the annual festival banner in the sports hall. She pushed the ladder but could not move it. She tried pulling it towards her. It did not budge. She thought about carrying it when she heard someone say,

“You know this is not how it is done, right?”

She looked up to see the school’s popular girl, wearing the PE uniform, with a volleyball tucked under her arm. Long straight hair, round glasses perched on her sharp nose, dark brooding eyes but seemed innocent, Juniper Draven was the girl crush of almost everyone in the school, popular among both boys and girls, as well as teachers. Wrenley stood there, blinking at the view in front of her, unable to process any words out of her mouth, her hands still resting on the ladder.

Juniper shook her head in disappointment and walked up to Wrenley and extended the ball towards her saying, “Here, hold this for me.”

Wrenley looked down at the ball, then looked up at Juniper, then again at the ball. It was her first time seeing Juniper from this close. Juniper was taller, with a serious expression almost all the time. Which Wrenley justified by the fact that Juniper was 2 years older than her and was about to start college next year. She pursed her lips and hesitated when Juniper said, without any expression, her tone a bit sarcastic, “It’s not poisonous. You won’t die after holding it.”

Wrenley gave a dry smile and finally took the ball from her. Then Juniper folded the ladder in seconds, and picked it up with one hand, ready to carry it herself.

“Where do I need to drop this off? The store room? Or do you need it somewhere else?” Juniper asked, casually, taking the ball back from Wrenley with the other hand.

“Uh...I-I need this at...uh...no, sorry, you can just take it back to the utilities room...” Wrenley said, her last few words turning almost into a whisper.

“You are cute.” Juniper said, raising her eyebrows at Wrenley. Her face, still expressionless.

“Th-thank you...” Wrenley managed to say, her voice almost inaudible.

Juniper smirked and gave a little nod to her before turning away to go to the store room. Wrenley let out a breath after she left and shook her head to throw out all weird things out of her brain. Then she realised that she was supposed to fold the ladder before moving it. She slapped her forehead at her own stupidity and remembered that she had to prepare the flyers for her class’s event for the festival before going home. She hurried out of the sports hall.

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Juniper practiced volleyball everyday before leaving school. That was the only thing that made her happy after everyone left school. Because it was quiet and no one would hover around to catch a glimpse of her. This popularity was not usual, it was new. When her uncle suddenly told her that the dead parents that she had were not actually dead.

Shocking. But it was casual for her. Her uncle had said, “It was for your safety and theirs. And now it’s time you know how things are done in the Draven family.” She was 15 when she first met her supposed father. She simply asked one question to her father,

“Why now?”

“Your life was in danger. If they knew we had an offspring, they would have killed you. But now their empire has ended. I promised your mother to bring you back when I take care of the Westfall family. And I did.” her father said.

She had to live a secretive life, and boom. Now she is the Draven family’s heir and she has fucking no idea how to deal with all this attention let alone managing her father’s investing firm. It’s been 4 years and she still finds it awkward.

But last year she found a reason to come to school everyday. A shy brown-haired girl with a small round face, who always came to school with the same hairstyle; middle-parted hair with two short braids on either side. As far as she heard from the rumours, she was transferred here with her twin brother on scholarship. Juniper wasn’t interested at first but after she bumped into her in the library, and read the name tag on her shirt, she changed her mind. But she couldn’t muster up the courage to talk to her. Because even trying to find her was difficult.

Either Wrenley was attending classes or hiding somewhere when classes were off. Juniper tried to look for her in the library twice but both times she failed miserably because the junior students were eager to help her get whatever book she needed and did not even let her walk around freely.

That was the problem. Unable to get some time alone during school hours. So the after-school volleyball practice with her best-friend April Gorman, was the only best time of her day. But thank God, April wasn’t here yet. Juniper stood for a whole 5 minutes watching Wrenley struggle with the ladder and then made up her mind to face her. It has to be today, Juniper thought and nodded by herself before walking over to her.

Having helped Wrenley with the ladder, she came back to the sports hall to see April warming up by herself. She was wearing her PE uniform like Juniper, but her shirt was pulled up and tied right below her breasts, giving it a crop-top style, leaving her stomach and waist bare. Her blonde hair tied in a high pony tail, she was the normal girl you would ever find. And she wasn’t even popular like Juniper. At first, April did get a lot of hate and was asked to pass on gifts and letters but one day she lost it and announced loudly, “If anyone ever gives gifts or writes letters to my girlfriend, I will resort to violence.”

To be honest, Juniper was thankful for this move. Because it helped her avoid issues. Now people simply admire her from a distance. Better than before. But they were just good friends. Probably each other’s only friend, since elementary school.

“Ayo!” Juniper shouted, her voice echoing in the empty hall, waving her hand at April.

“Someone’s late! Probably for the first time. What happened?” April asked, still warming up.

“Was helping my crush.” was Juniper’s short reply.

“The brunette that ran outside just now?” April asked, halting her exercise and looking back at Juniper.

“Yes. However, you are not supposed to wear your uniform like that.”

“Watch me not give a fuck about it.” April said, walking up to Juniper to take the ball and then running away while dribbling it.

“Don’t tell me. Are you still delusional about making me fall for you?” Juniper asked, with a little laugh, running after her.

“You are the last person I would consider dating in this world”, April said, suddenly shooting the ball at Juniper.

Juniper realised and slammed the ball hard before it was about to hit her, making the ball fly the other way, and said, “Too bad, you are not even my type!”

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First chapter got some edits guys...Will be posting more chapters soon!