Dread tightens my stomach as I force myself to return to the classroom. I stand a few paces away, already palms sweating and fingers fidgeting.

As much as Nathan's offer was intriguing, I can't imagine the outcome. Not to mention, I've most certainly lost Brian's friendship. I sigh and rub my brow.

To say I'm confused would be an understatement. I quite literally have no idea what's happening, nor do I have a single clue over how I feel about everything that's going on.

With a sharp inhale, I push aside my racing thoughts and compose myself before hesitantly approaching the half-open classroom door. I lightly knock on it. Wright and the entire class' eyes, except Brian, fall on me. But the glare that Wright fixes on me makes me want to shrink until no one can see me.

"May I come in?" I ask with a weak voice and Wright gives a curt nod and continues writing on the board, his voice sharp and clipped. His movements are quick and jerky.

With my head held low, I hurry to my seat. Brian promptly leans away from me, his jaw clenched, lips pressed into a thin line.

I fiddle with my pen, avoiding the girls' quizzical looks and the sense of the entire class watching me until Wright wraps up and ends the class. Without a glance in my way, he marches out of the classroom and my heart sinks.

Brian abruptly gets up and strides out too.

I groan and pack my things.

"What happened?" Anushka asks, turning fully to me.

"What's going on?" Meilin tilts her head in confusion, her black hair falling over her shoulder.

"Are you dating someone new?" Ashely jumps from her seat, eyes widened with excitement.

I sigh. "I don't know. I have to go to Brian, I'll talk to you guys later." I sling my bag over my shoulder, and without waiting for their response I bolt out of the class, leaving the stupid bouquet of flowers behind, hoping to catch up with Brian, and thankfully I do.

I reach him in the middle of the hall. "Brian, wait," I call out as he picks up his pace.

He halts and spins to me. "What?" he barks.

I rub my brow. "Can we talk?" cautiously I near him. An ugly bruise has formed over a side of his jaw from yesterday's fight with Alex. His lip is torn too.

"About what?" he yells and I flinch. The chatter around us comes to a halt. Everyone turns to us.

"How about we go to a place a bit more private?" I suggest in a low voice.

A humorless laugh escapes him. "What is there left to talk about?"

"It's not what it looks like," I say at last. "If you'd give me a chance to expla-"

Brian interrupts me, "Explain what!" he thunders and I instinctively take a step back.

I blink a few times as I gape at him. What the fuck! I point my index finger at him and fix a harsh glare on him. "Do not raise your voice on me," I warn him.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" He takes a step towards me, invading my personal space. "Just because you were once rich doesn't entitle you to play with everyone around you, do whatever the fuck you want to do," he snarls, baring his teeth at me. A vein appears on his forehead.

"You ha-" I start but he cuts me off.

"First, you're with me, then you fuck another guy and pretend like it's nothing and then your ex shows up saying you're only his. You're a disgusting slut, three guys at the same time! Wow, just wow." He shakes his head, face crumbling with revulsion.

"Watch it," with a low voice I warn him.

"Or what? You don't even have money to cover up your true face and ugly truths now, do you? I can't believe I fell for your act. You might be good or whatever from the outside, but from the inside, you're aw-"

Okay, that's fucking it. I interject, "Jeez, shut up. How dare you talk to me like that?" I raise my voice and take a step towards him. "Who the fuck do you think you are, huh? Just because I was nice to you and hung out with you a few times, doesn't give you the fucking right to call me names and throw whatever bullshit you want at my face. You don't know anything, and I don't give a flying shit about you think and I do not owe you an explanation."

He looks taken aback, jerking his head backward, eyes widening with surprise.

Without caring once again everyone is staring at me, I rage on, "Yeah I slept with Nathan but I can't see how that concerns you? For the record, I'm not your girlfriend, we're not exclusive. You kissed me, and unfortunately, I kissed you back and that was it."

I pause to draw a breath before fuming, "Just because we kissed, it doesn't give you the fucking right to talk to me like that! I made the mistake of being nice to you and you forgot your place and limits. As long as you're not my boyfriend, as long as we're not officially dating, you do not have the right to judge or intervene in my decisions and actions. Who the hell are you to call me a slut? Six months ago, you would've died for my attention, you were less than the dirt beneath my shoes you fucking asshole. You never deserved my attention."

I narrow my eyes and snarl, "I pitied you, that's why I hung out with you, but you clearly didn't even deserve that. Stay the hell away from you dickhead."

I storm away, pushing past Anushka, Meilin, and Ashely's stunned faces. I hurry up the staircase, breathing heavily as I go on cursing Brian in my head. My muscles quiver from anger, and my mouth and throat are dried up. I grind my teeth, my heartbeat pounds in my ears as I stump up the remaining steps, reaching to the floor that Wright's office is placed.

Panting, I pace the hallway, receiving few curious gazes from students scattered around. Fuck them too.

I fist my hands, nails digging into my palms as Brian's stupid words replay in my head. How dare he! The audacity! I shake my head. It's my fault, I never should have given him the impression he has the permission to talk to me like that.

He doesn't know anything and yet goes around, calling me names.

I inhale sharply and close my eyes, trying to calm my ragged breathing. He's not worth it. I chant it in my head.

Finally, when my breathing evens, I open my eyes and wipe away the sweat gathered on my brow.

As my mind clears up, the sad truth that no one will ever respect me the way they did before dawns on me. Another harsh reminder that I'm nothing without my money.

I frown, my bottom lip trembles. Is this how Dad felt? Every time he went on an interview for a job and got rejected? If so, it sucks.

I wet my lips with my tongue and head to the washroom. In the small mirror, I take in my reflection.

The reality crashes down on me once more. Though a realization follows it this time. I cannot live like this. Beyond anything, I loved being rich, adored, and respected.

At that moment, holding my reflection's sharp gaze, I swear to myself, I'll do anything to get back to the top. No matter the cost. Mom, Dad, and Mason can help and support me if they want, if not, I'll do it by myself.

The money I'll win from showcasing the solution to the world will be my starting point. If only I can find other ways to earn money too, it'd be great. And I know I will.

I open the faucet and splash cold water to my face to make the redness go away. I wipe my face and push my shoulders back, straightening myself.

For now, I have to get on Wright's good side again.

I stride out of the washroom and prep myself to face Wright.

∞ ∞ ∞

Okay, a couple of stuff I need to say are:

I know I was supposed to update yesterday, but I kinda ended up binge-watching Handmaid's tale's latest season and forgot to update, oops xD  which gets me to the point, I realised I want to spend my Sundays binge-watching series (it's summer after all), so I won't be updating this story on Sundays from this week onwards [Also, feel free to recommend any series you think are worth watching (because I probably haven't xD)].

The second thing I want to say is... this story was not supposed to get this long smh, but the reason it did is... I don't know if I should be saying this or not, but just know I have plans =) These side plots being added to the story are not plotholes =)) But if you're into short stories... Yeah this is not going to be one of them xD

Last but not least, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY STORY!!! You don't know how grateful I am ^.^ 

Next chapter will be up tomorrow, (I hope, 'casue I have 7 hours of classes tomorrow, let's hope I can pull it off lol)

That's it! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, tell me your thoughts on it, if you did enjoy don't forget to vote! ^.^

Stay safe, lots of love, happy reading <33