FIONA's POV

I froze for a second before turning back

"No thanks, thank you for your kindness I'd be fine" I nodded slightly.

"Okay, same time tomorrow?"

"Yeah"

"Don't be late"

"I'd try"

His car zoomed past me and I watched till it was out of sight, a sigh escaped from my mouth as I remembered how far my house is from this place. 

The sky was already dark and I couldn't see any taxis on the road. 

When I got home I was so exhausted, it seemed like a journey I wasn't going to make, hurriedly I prepared for the night.

On Sunday morning I finished with my part-time job and in the afternoon I walked to the meeting place, I looked around but didn't see his black car.

 With a satisfactory smile, I wrapped my hands on my chest waiting. A gasp escaped as my phone rang.

"It's just a call" I rolled my eyes then checked the caller, it was Louis, a smirk appeared on my face before I answered.

"Hello, where are you? I'm already waiting"

"Behind you"

I looked around before I turned to see Louis dressed in black joggers leaning on a white car with a hand in his pocket.

"I've been waiting thirty minutes ago" he smirked and cut the call.

"Why is he always first?" I sighed inwardly as he walked towards me.

"You know, we have to complete this project today because I won't be able to make it after today"

"Okay we will"

I led the way to the flower field and we started. I painted the ground and the field, he painted the trees behind and we both did the sky and the sun together. We finished early in the evening and I laid on the grass waiting for it to dry a little.

Louis on the other hand was looking at either the trees miles away or the sky stretched across the horizon.

When it was time to go I asked Louis if he would like to keep the project and bring it on Tuesday but he told me to keep it instead so I carried it back.

Monday went smoothly, the only part that I found unnecessary was when Mrs. Eva, our history teacher, announced the scores of last week's test. She started from the lowest to the highest which was me.

She said some things that may sound offensive to others. I was disturbed by it too because of the type of classmates I have. Before the day ended I was already waiting by the school door, then took to my heels when the bell rang.

Tuesday came, Mr. Edward told us to submit the project. I found Louis next to me when I was about to submit it.

Female partners had more paintings of tea parties, ballrooms, shopping malls, and the rest.

While male partners had paintings of game control, arcade games, cars but Dylan and Jack made a rocket in space.

Mixed pairs did mostly the combination of both, like Tommy's and Susan was cars in a shopping mall's parking space.

The teacher seemed to like the rocket in space best, I took a deep breath then handed him the project. His eyebrows wrinkled and he slowly raised his head to look at me, then Louis.

"Miss Cinderblock, did you do this alone?" his focus moved to me.

"No, Louis and I, he did the trees and we did everything together except the flowers"

He nodded, this time looking at the painting, I like this one too.

"Thank you Sir" I grinned in excitement then looked at Louis who didn't show a sign of joy, suddenly my smile disappeared and we moved away for others to submit.

Before break we had Mathematics, Mrs. Jane stomped into the class with her cheeks puffed.

"Sit down!" she commended before the class could stand up to greet her

"Guess what I'm holding" she raised her hand firmly holding a bunch of papers

"Last week's test which none of you could get at least fifty out of hundred" she slowly moved around sharing the papers

"Except for Fiona of course who got a clean hundred," her frown turned to a smile when she looked at me

"Congrats dear, you always make us teachers proud"

"And as for the rest of you, if you don't make up to fifty percent for the next test you will be reported to the principal and your parents"

I couldn't think straight during maths class, first, it was the history teacher now the maths teacher who made it a lot worse. I was prepared for anything now.

I was busy arranging my locker before I heard the bell for break, I heard someone clear their throat but I ignored it, internally shaking because I already knew.

"I don't like when I'm kept in suspense" my locker made a slamming sound, I raised my head and glanced at them.

Susan and her minions Gerda and Marie were in front of me, I tried to hide my fear by keeping my indifferent look.

"Can I help you?" 

"Help me?" Susan chuckled following that of her friends, she looked over her shoulder and they stopped.

"Look at you now, so bold and confident because of the comments you get from teachers, well let me remind you that you don't belong here, you just got lucky that's all"

"Okay" I replied and turned to leave. Within a second she pulled my hand and slapped me. I froze, still trying to figure out if her hand was made of steel.

"Show some respect!" Susan raised her hand again but I gripped it before it could land on my face again.

"Oh...Oh!" she gasped with a chuckle.

"Gerda! Marie!" They seized my hands quickly and Susan used the opportunity to slap me from all corners of my face.

"Hey stop it, that's enough" Susan was shoved off me then her minions ran to help her up and so was I by my savior.

"Thank you" I rubbed my eyes before I started seeing clearly

"Louis! What brings you here?" Susan was grinning behind him, he turned to her and then to me.

"What happened?"

Before I could open my mouth to explain Susan spoke quickly

"She was too disrespectful because of her grades so I decided to teach her a lesson"

"By bullying her?" his eyebrows creased.

"Not exactly" Susan faked a laugh

With my head bowed I felt an intense stare from my side

"Don't you ever bother this girl again, only I can bully her" I inhaled sharply as I stared with my eyes widened, people around stared murmuring.

Susan smiled at the crowd like it was to her advantage.

"Louis, you are a well-known global superstar and she's a pauper. What's your relationship?" she smirked with her arms folded

He averted his gaze to me, it was like he was feeling sorry or just thinking about what to say.

"Fiona is my best friend...yeah, one of my best friends, we were very good pals in the past" he nodded with a grin.

I nodded too with a faint smile.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know. Anything you want Louis" Susan giggled as she arranged her hair.

Louis hurriedly pulled me out of the crowd until we were far from them.

"Thanks again for helping me"

"Oh, it was nothing"

Jack and Dylan popped out of nowhere and stood in front of us beaming with smiles.

Louis returned their smile and asked what they were doing but they threw it back to him. He arched a brow staring at their faces, they lowered their gaze and Louis and I followed the direction to our hands laced together which we quickly separated.