CHAPTER ONE
THE BOY WHO HATED ME
Amara had never been ashamed of where she came from.
Her family wasn’t rich, but they weren’t completely struggling either. They lived in a small apartment where things were sometimes difficult, but there was always love.
Her mother had raised three children on her own. Amara was the only girl, with an older brother, Daniel, and a younger brother, Eli, who was the last child.
That morning, Amara stood in front of the mirror, fixing her school uniform.
Today was her first day at Westbridge Academy, one of the most expensive private secondary schools in the city.
She still couldn’t believe she was going there.
She had received a scholarship because of her excellent grades. Without it, attending a school like Westbridge would have been impossible.
“Amara!” her mother called from downstairs. “Come and eat!”
“I’m coming!”
She grabbed her bag and hurried downstairs.
Her mother was already preparing breakfast. Daniel was sitting at the table, while Eli was eating like he hadn’t seen food in days.
Amara looked at his plate.
“Isn’t that my egg?”
Eli looked at her innocently. “I don’t know.”
Daniel laughed. “He took it.”
“Eli!”
He smiled. “It was calling my name.”
Their mother shook her head.
“You two should let each other breathe.”
Amara sat down and started eating.
Her mother looked at her proudly.
“First day at your new school.”
Amara nodded.
“I’m nervous.”
“You have nothing to be nervous about,” her mother said. “You earned that scholarship.”
Daniel nodded. “Exactly. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you don’t belong there.”
Amara smiled.
“I won’t.”
Eli raised his hand.
“And if anybody bullies you, I’ll deal with them.”
Amara laughed.
“You’re thirteen.”
“So?”
Daniel laughed.
“You’re the one who needs protecting.”
Eli frowned.
“I can fight.”
Their mother sighed.
“Please don’t fight anyone.”
Everyone laughed.
Amara looked around the table and smiled.
They didn’t have a perfect life.
But they had each other.
And that was enough.
She stood up and kissed her mother’s cheek.
“Bye, Mum.”
“Bye, sweetheart. Be careful.”
“I will.”
Amara picked up her bag and walked outside.
She had no idea that her first day at Westbridge Academy was about to change her life.
Across the city, another student was getting ready for school.
Kian had everything Amara didn’t.
Money.
A huge house.
Expensive clothes.
A private driver.
And parents who were rarely around.
His father owned several successful companies, while his mother was constantly traveling for work.
They loved their son.
But they were always busy.
Kian was their only child.
There was no brother.
No sister.
Just him.
Over the years, he had learned that whenever he wanted attention, he only had to cause trouble.
And he had become very good at it.
He was spoiled.
Arrogant.
And one of the biggest bullies in school.
His driver opened the car door.
“Good morning, Kian.”
Kian didn’t answer.
He got into the car and looked at his phone.
Another message from his mother.
Sorry, sweetheart. I won’t make it home tonight.
He stared at it for a moment before locking his phone.
He wasn’t surprised.
His parents always had an excuse.
At school, things were different.
Everyone noticed him.
Everyone knew his name.
And everyone knew not to get on his bad side.
When Kian walked through the school gates, students moved out of his way.
His friends joined him.
“Morning.”
Kian nodded.
A younger student accidentally bumped into his shoulder.
“Sorry.”
Kian looked at him.
“Watch where you’re going.”
The boy quickly walked away.
His friends laughed.
Kian smiled.
He liked being feared.
At least people noticed him.
Amara arrived at Westbridge Academy a few minutes later.
She stepped through the gates and looked around.
The school was enormous.
Beautiful buildings.
Huge sports fields.
Expensive cars lined up outside.
Students wore uniforms that looked almost perfect.
Amara tightened her grip on her bag.
She suddenly felt out of place.
Then she remembered her mother’s words.
You earned your place here.
She took a deep breath and continued walking.
She was looking down at the map on her phone when she accidentally walked straight into someone.
Her books fell to the ground.
“Oh my gosh, I’m sorry.”
She quickly bent down to pick them up.
A cold voice came from above her.
“Are you always this careless?”
Amara looked up.
A boy stood in front of her.
He was tall, well-dressed, and had an expression that immediately annoyed her.
Kian.
She stood up.
“I said I’m sorry.”
His eyes moved over her uniform and then to her bag.
“You’re new.”
“Yes.”
He smirked.
“I can tell.”
Amara frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you don’t know how things work here.”
She looked at him.
“And you do?”
“I’ve been here long enough.”
“Congratulations.”
His friends laughed.
Kian’s expression changed.
Nobody spoke to him like that.
“What’s your name?”
“Why?”
“I asked you a question.”
“And I don’t have to answer.”
She picked up her books.
Kian stepped in front of her.
“You should learn some respect.”
Amara looked him directly in the eyes.
“You should learn some manners.”
His friends went silent.
Kian stared at her.
For the first time in a long time, someone had stood up to him without being afraid.
He didn’t like it.
Not one bit.
Amara walked away.
Kian watched her disappear into the crowd.
“Who does she think she is?”
One of his friends laughed.
“Probably just another scholarship student.”
Kian looked in the direction she had gone.
Something about her bothered him.
He didn’t know her.
He had never seen her before.
But somehow, from the moment she walked into him, Kian already knew one thing.
He hated her.
And Amara had no idea that the boy she had just challenged was about to make her new school life a lot more complicated.
