Reyan
Crescent High Boarding School. The only institution in Mumbai infamous for the elite.
Where parties take priority over study sessions. Money speaks for morals. Every weekend becomes a parade of intoxication no one ever really remembers. A never ending stream of alcohol, filled with heavy clouds of smoke. As long as students produce the highest results, no one complains. And they do, after putting every immoral tactic to use. The school could very well be synonymous with deceit and debauchery.
Well, it did, until an unwanted stranger made her presence known.
A round of raucous scoffs had erupted the second our Mathematics teacher introduced her as the only student having entered on a scholarship. After all, the idea of Crescent High offering scholarships to commoners, and granting them no less, was nothing short of bizarre.
“Welcome to Grade 12, Veronica Sampat.” Nikita Jaiswal braced with a sympathetic smile, perhaps telepathically trying to warn her of all the miseries that lay ahead. I wouldn’t blame her. Our teacher had faced a similar fate when she joined the staff two years ago. This place wasn’t for commoners. The sooner they understood, the easier their lives would be. New girl was clearly in luck.
From the second last row of the lecture theater room, I’d spotted her broach steps through the prejudiced whispers, completely unfazed by their sneering gazes. Her hands had tucked deep in the pockets of black sweats, a fitted maroon turtleneck that left almost everything to imagination. Her jet black hair could not have been tied tighter in a ponytail, not a single strand astray as they ended near the small of her back. Her brown eyes had scanned across the rows of seats, before finding an empty one on the far end of the room; diagonal left to me. She’d unloaded her backpack, laying out a notebook and a single pen on the desk in front of her. Her gaze had swiftly turned to the watch on her left hand before reverting her focus to Ms. Jaiswal. Not once had her gaze wavered. I’d doubt she even moved an inch.
That’s how Veronica Sampat spent her first hour. Silent and expressionless.
“Shh. Not a sound.” I order, covering her mouth with my hand while thrusting into her.
Her eyes roll back, eliciting another muffled cry. Sophia’s hands grip my shoulders at the roughness and I keep mine fixated on the skin underneath her skirt. Her moans fill the space between us as I drive deeper into her against the wall behind the Science building. We only have a few minutes before classes disperse. Within seconds, her insides clench, telling me she’s close. It takes one more thrust for her to fall apart, two more strokes before I come.
I lower her skirt as she unwraps her legs from my waist. “Oh, Rye. That was…”
My lips slide into a smirk as I button my pants. “I know, babe.”
With a post-orgasmic haze on her face, I pull her for another kiss, clutching her face in one hand. “See you after class.”
“Your place or mine?” Sophia asks. She knows the answer before I say it. I know she does.
I run one nonchalant hand through my hair and fix the black hoodie in place. Then I languidly whisper. “Always yours.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you.” A blush tinges her face and she gently pecks me on the cheek before scampering back to her class. She’s hoping she’ll last longer than a week. I doubt it’ll go beyond a few days. I’m already watching the lust on her face grow into something more. I don’t do more. I never did, I don’t intend to start now.
I make my way to the school cafeteria to occupy the table reserved for my friends and I. I’ve barely stepped through the doors when my best friend, Akash, calls out. “Dude, where were you?”
“I got held up…” I lazily begin. “By an afternoon quickie.”
A series of cheers laud at me and I smirk.
“Who’s the lucky chick?” Rafe asks, snorting a line of coke.
“Sophia D’Souza.”
Another round of oohs. “Man, she’s hot.” Virat pats my back with a congratulatory whisper.
I find my spot on the table and rest my feet on the bench. Ordering our regular; a plate of fries and milkshakes, I roll my shoulders and stretch my neck, only to find the new girl a few tables away. Unlike ours, her table is a small round one, where she sits alone with her laptop. Her focus is so intense I won’t be surprised to see a hole blast through the screen any second now. She only occasionally sips from her thermos; from what I assume is coffee.
Akash follows my line of vision. “Didn’t she join just today?”
“She’s abnormally weird, if you ask me.” Virat wryly grimaces.
Even if he’s a mere tag-along in our original and much preferred trio, in this moment, I can’t agree more with him. Despite my experience with girls–which is plenty, if I might add–she doesn’t seem to make sense. The girls in our school are fashionable and feminine; with manicured nails and blow dried hair. They aren’t shallow, so to speak, but they aren’t this…detached. She, on the other hand, looks like she has a chest of secrets she’s hidden deep inside. It piques my interest.
“You’re just mean.” Rafe points out, and my brow raises in challenge. He’s never been one to defend girls, forget a commoner like her. “She’s probably just shy, y’know. Maybe she needs a helping hand to show her around.” His smug face is enough for the rest of us to deduce his ulterior motives. He rises to his feet and fixes his leather jacket.
“You might not be her type.” Akash chuckles, clearly amused at his confidence.
“Who says she’s my type?” Rafe scoffs. “That’s not the point, Akash. One look and she’ll swoon. She’s probably never received any attention from the male gaze.” He snickers, lifting his hand to hi-five an equally guffawing Virat.
While Rafe is usually right in his judgment about women, I’m afraid he might be wrong this one time. Veronica Sampat, albeit not glaringly pretty in the conventional sense, has something that draws attraction. That stoic face glimmers with smooth skin. Those pink lips pursed in a thin line are surprisingly free of any lipstick. That bunched up hair glows with the sun flickering through the windows. For a wild second, I contemplate pulling it loose, imagining my fingers drown in their silkiness.
“I’m doing this.” Rafe pushes back the sleeves of his jacket, breaking my train of thoughts. And fortunately so, because this isn’t who I want to think about. Not like that. I clear my throat and usher him on. “Go for it.”
He walks towards her, a smoothness in his confident gait. Pulling the chair in front of hers, he sinks into it, drawing her attention.
One brow raises in question. “Yes?” Her voice is sweet yet strong, her face pressed with a no-nonsense expression.
“Rafe Faridi.” He introduces himself, extending one hand towards her. While we assume for her to slip her hand in his for him to later kiss, she maneuvers it a little to make it a proper handshake. I almost choke at the drink in hand at my friend’s failed attempt. “Veronica Sampat.”
He isn’t one to give up so easily. “What’s a pretty girl like you sitting here all alone?”
“Well, I was working. Now, if you’re done exchanging pleasantries, can I get back to that?” She sweetly passes the fakest smile possible, sarcasm dripping from her tone.
“Man, she’s feisty.” Akash whispers, amused. I can’t agree more.
“Aw babe, I think we’re far from done.” Rafe leans over her. “You work too much, it might be hard on the head. How ’bout we take a walk together. I could show you around campus.”
She takes a deep breath and refuses to relent. “Thank you for your kind offer Rafe, but that’s okay. I’m perfectly fine here.”
“Oh but there’s so much I could show you, babe.”
“Once again Rafe,” She emphasizes on his name. “I’m not interested. Although, I’d appreciate it if you addressed me with my name rather than as some mindless girl running after you. ’Cause frankly, it’s not working.” Watching her rile up and him deflate is too entertaining to ignore.
“You’ve got a fiery mouth.” He smirks. Inching close to her, Rafe proposes. “Why don’t we put it to good use.”
She begins to fume; her eyes begin to glitter dangerously as she stands up to his level and points her forefinger at him in warning. “I’d like your mouth to be miles away from mine. I’ve said it once, I’m saying it again. I’m not interested. So please, leave.”
He clearly doesn’t take the hint. “Aw, you’re just shy. How would you know the feeling until you have your first kiss?” Before he can grasp a response from her, he latches his lips to hers.
Under usual circumstances, the girl in question would melt within seconds, clinging onto him to take things further. Instead, Veronica pushes him back with force, balls her hand into a fist and punches him in his face.
Our eyes widen at the reaction and we gather to our feet, ready to pounce. Rafe, on the other hand, far from sober, falls to the floor instantly. When he lifts his face, I see blood seep through his nose. That’s all it takes for my patience to wear.
I take three strides towards her, ready to pounce. “Who do you think you are?!”
My hands are in fists as I hover over her, a good three inches taller. Her perfume wafts through my nose; something subtle yet addictive. She lifts her eyes to meet mine with equal fervor, the kohl under her eyes accentuating her stare. From up close, I realize her orbs are a shade different from brown. They’re amber. Just as unusual as her.
She grits through her teeth, her eyes spewing fire as they narrow. “Just your worst nightmare, babe.” The callous term comes out like acid, but oh lord does it sound like the hottest thing ever. A bolt of heat shoots within.
“Don’t think so highly of yourself.” I bark. “You’re a random commoner who’s mistaken to think even for a second that you could fit in here.”
“Oh no, how shall I survive without your validation?” She ridicules with a feigned gasp. “Can’t you see I don’t care?! I don’t care about your stupid elite class or how you walk as if you truly rule the world. It’s pitiful, really.” She spits back with bitterness.
It throws me off guard. I’m not used to a girl leveling up to me. I’m not used to a girl being immune to my charms, for her to actually argue with me. It bothers me. She annoys me beyond control.
Twisting one arm behind her back, I launch at her. “Why the hell are you here then?!”
Who gave her the right to judge my world anyway?
“Sitting in one corner, all mysterious and alone, is the very definition of someone who’s desperate for attention. Who wants a guy to hit on her.” Her eyes widen with animosity, her lips form a thin line in anger. When she struggles under my grip, I feel the slight hardness to her muscles.
“Is that what mommy dearest instructed you to do? To play damsel in distress until you lure in a rich guy like us. Life’s sorted for you then, isn’t it?” Her orbs lose their color momentarily and she slackens for a second. I’ve hit a nerve. Veronica Sampat does have a weak spot.
She breaks free from my hold. “At least I came here on my own merit. Not like some wasted, useless brat.” She shifts her gaze to Rafe before locking them back to me. “At least I have some purpose in life.” Her allegation pierces through my chest. It reminds me of my troubled past and even more difficult family. Her twisted smile burns through me. I don’t let it settle within though. “It’s better than being an outsider all your life.” For the second time, her eyes dim in their amber flame.
“I take it acting like strangers won’t be difficult for you then?” She turns her back to gather her belongings. “Stay away from me.” She warns again.
“Babe, that’s hardly a problem.” I smirk at the way she huffs in frustration. “Just make sure you’ve got enough willpower to resist me.” A scoff emanates from her.
Veronica slips on her backpack and grabs her thermos in one swift second. She then delivers another look of threat which is properly retaliated. Every former impression of hers fades away into two words. Self-righteous and uptight. All I want to do is crumble the very pride she boasts with. I want to make her life a living hell for disrupting mine.
My lips curve into a devious smirk. “See you around, Ronnie.” I choose my first weapon of attack.
As expected, she swivels on her heel, a look of disgust etched on her face. “Don’t ever call me that.”
It gives me all the more reason to stick to that nickname.
After all, she’s the one who waged a war. There’s no way I’m backing down now.
