Rumors spread like wildfires through Lakeside High.

Calista's cheating scandal with James Sommers!

The brainless crowd gossiped between each other with raised eyebrows and spear-like glances towards me at the same time I walked through the entrance. If it was a rumor that turned out to be true, I could have accepted it – but I had no idea what happened yesterday. I didn't have any memory of that night whatsoever, and what was worse than that was the broody bad boy was waiting for me in front of my locker, Jake Hughes, the packed eyecatcher and right next to him was the defiant chaos thrive, Atlas Landen.

I took deep breaths as I tightened my fingers around my backpack with my steady posture, ready to take on the silly high school's rumble. Atlas was the first one to notice me as the warnings in his crimson eyes made goosebumps on my skin, then I was met by Jake's red-rimmed eyes. Underneath all his packs and muscles, stood a sensitive guy that got his reputation hurt.

"If it isn't the whore." Atlas started and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Do you mind?" I gestured to my locker, "I want to go to class."

Jake remained silent as the other bad boy stepped in front of me, his irises challenged mine when I backtracked as soon as his face broke out into a sinister smile.

"Do you really think that you're going to get away from this?" He sarcastically leaned down to me as his cinnamon scent grew stronger, but it didn't faze me at all when I looked at him straight in the eyes.

Nobody was going to tear down Calista Jones, the fierce popular girl in Lakeside High. Keyword, was the popular girl.

"We have a surprise for you, Cal." Jake said with a forced smile. 

The migraine in my head started when sharp nails dug through my scalp, and I realized that I was dragged from behind by my hair as I winced and thrashed. Nobody attempted to help, the school was owned by Jake's family and the students just hooted for Linda Hughes, the girl that was manhandling me, to beat me the fuck up.

"You are a fucking bitch!"

"She deserves it."

"I hope she gets punished through the year."

"Plastic waste."

The last one made me want to laugh through the pain.

Thankfully, Linda's hand was tiny, and she caught me off guard, but she couldn't handle my strength when I grasped her hand and shoved her off me by twisting her wrist. She cried out in pain as she told the other girls to attack me when her knees hit the floor, they were scared and didn't want to come near me when they witnessed the harsh red mark around her hand. Jake and Atlas went to her side to help her up.

"Consider this as a warning, munchkin." I sweetly uttered before I fixed my hair and proceeded to my locker. There were a few strands on the floor, but hers were more, so I didn't care.

"This isn't over, bitch." She screamed through the packed hallway.

The people dispersed after getting a good showdown, they were scared from the principal and didn't want to get any detentions for missing classes. Lakeside High was strict when it came down to the rules, I knew that firsthand because I just got detention after the end of all my lessons, on my first day back to high school from the supervisor that broke out the fight.

If it wasn't for dad's moves, I would have lost much more hair from a stupid rumor that came from a group of airheads. If I didn't do anything wrong, I was going to stand my ground no matter what.

My thoughts narrowed down the alternations of events from yesterday when I grabbed my notebook from the chipped locker before I entered the class with Mr. Renaldi, the math teacher.

Why the fuck didn't I remember anything?

I was certain I had concentration lines etched on my forehead from how hard my attempts were to reminisce anything. My head was banging, and I reached for my skirt pocket to take aspirin. It was a good thing I always got a water bottle to down it quickly when Mr. Renaldi had his back to me.

"She is really dumb to ditch Jake for James, I would do anything to get on his bed." The blonde next to me made it clear that she wanted me to hear her talking to her friend.

"Yea and James is a stupid freak." She muttered as they gave me the side eye and I flipped the middle finger at both. They widened their eyes and pretended to understand what the teacher was babbling about.

James Sommers came in late as he scratched the back of his unruly golden curls, he handed off the pass coolly to Mr. Renaldi and carelessly made a beeline to the end row. Jake's hawk eyes were on me then swerved onto James as if he wanted to threaten us. I avoided them like the plague as my phone buzzed in my hand.

Whore alert: Calista and James getting it on Jake's bed.

Click to open the link.

My throat dried up at the fake picture that had me on James's lap the first time I fell for the bait, it was photoshopped, the whole class erupted with laughter as Atlas smirked towards me.

"Quiet, students. You have a pop quiz on Tuesday." He announced as most of them booed at the innocent teacher.

I calmed down my racing heart as I reminded myself that this was only high school – that none of this mattered to me. As I repeated the affirmations in my head, the ringing sound of the bell was indication for the two jocks that banged their fists on my table as they hunched over to try and threaten me after the rest of them left with the teacher. Their failed attempts were comical, I didn't give them any power as I boringly gazed at them.

James stood beside me with arms crossed. He had poise to him, and he was on the chill side, nobody knew what his thoughts were.

"Leave her out of this." He snapped at Jake, whose veins popped out of his neck as he gave me a look of betrayal that I didn't give him the image he wanted.

He only dated me because I was the cheerleader before the holidays, but that went down the drain because of the rumour.

"Don't tell us what to do, you asshole. We thought we could trust you until your balls were deep inside of my girlfriend at my fucking party." Jake seethed, red faced and nostrils flared at the poker-faced guy.

"And I enjoyed every moment." He retaliated coldly.

I gaped at James when he lied like a professional, he just lit the fuse as Jake bunched up James's black shirt with pure hatred in his eyes as Atlas punched him to the ground. He did that intentionally to let them leave me alone.

I grappled onto Atlas's navy shirt with all my might, but his 6'2 height barely made him move from my grip. He towered over James as crack sounds echoed in the air. Jake held both of his arms as Atlas delivered the blows. The nausea inside of me at the stench of blood made me dizzy for a moment before I collected myself.

My legs hugged Atlas's waist as I jumped on his back, and it was enough to distract him as he got sidetracked and James pinned Jake successfully. He purposely railed my back to the wall to loosen my grip on him as he rotated himself and held me by the legs. The deep browns of his eyes stared into my soul as his nose brushed mine and his forehead was against mine.

"Don't you fucking dare try this on me again," The husky tone of his voice was bone chilling, my arms trembled, and my back was destroyed as tingles rushed through my spinal cord. "You got that, Calista?"

I nodded, finding myself breathless at his pierced gaze.

His quiff fell to his forehead when he pulled away and he let me down harshly before James let go after the artwork he had done on Jake. He got away with a nosebleed only while James was messed up badly with a gash on his eyebrow and a cheekbone bruise.

"I'm sorry about that." I quietly murmured.

"You don't have to be," he spoke, then looked at me in assurance, "nothing happened between us yesterday."

"How can you be so sure?" I egged him on, "I have no clue what happened."

He drew in a breath before he said, "I don't remember either. I wish I did."

"I wish I did too," I thoughtfully muttered, "you should get that checked up." I pointed to the violent gash.

"Yes, see you later."

I waved at him as he gave me a small smile and walked off to the medics.

The long queue irritated me and my stomach, which begged me for food, I didn't have breakfast and I was impatient. The school cafeteria was spacious, and it had stereotypical cliques that had fakes, double fakes, and the list elongated.

"Move over, tramp."

Linda pushed past me to cut the line. I had to put a lid on my anger because the principal lurked around to keep an eye out on his deranged family. Plus, it was enough that I had detention afterschool, I didn't want the extra problem.

Atlas Landen was the kind of guy who thrived on chaos. With a reputation for trouble trailing him like a shadow, he sauntered down the cafeteria hall of Lakeside High with an air of defiance that dared anyone to challenge him. I couldn't resist a few glimpses as he walked towards his table, capturing a few eyes to him.

"What's your order?" The cafeteria lady got my attention back, nothing seemed appealing except for a lonely club sandwich on the side.

I thanked the irritated lady and opened my sandwich to eat it, except it was rammed to my face by none other than Linda. She had a whole newfound audacity after I quit cheerleading as she slyly grinned at me when the cheese sauce was on my nose.

That was it. She was going to get it.

"Hey, dad." She called over when I neared her, her eyes gambled me to do something to her.

I heaved a sigh before I decided it wasn't worth it as she ran to her dad with her skimpy skirt. I wiped off the cheese smear and gave a few glares to the girls around me before I walked away.

The school cafeteria garden was a peaceful corner at Lakeside High, hidden away from the busy halls. It flourished with colorful flowers and green vines climbing wooden trellises. Bees buzzed around, drawn to vibrant blooms in shades of red, blue, and gold.

That was where I belonged with my half sandwich that survived the bullies. I expected them to take their frustration out on me for alleged cheating that they didn't prove yet. It was probably one of Jake's buddies.

I really trashed Jake's reputation and I was somewhat glad I did; I was only with him because I was the talented cheerleader and someone like Jake hit all my list: airhead quarterback, big guns for brains, and striking looks.

The bench that overlooked the cute little waterfall made me breathe in the aroma of daisies in relief. It was just me and myself as I tilted my head back and closed my eyes. I squared my legs to relax my shoulders back on the bench when the sunlight hit me.

A gentle breeze whispered through the avenues, carrying with it the faint scent of spring blossoms from nearby parks and gardens. Birds chirped joyously from their perches, adding a natural symphony to the bustling urban soundtrack of distant car horns and friendly chatter.

Something that didn't match my mood today as I wiped my hands and shoved the plastic wrap in the garbage bin.

It was time for my detention and as soon as I walked in, the familiar midnight black hair came into my vision as he leaned back and smirked at me.