CHAPTER THREE

ELLA’S POV

“Ow! What was that for?”

I yelled, rubbing the back of my head where it had cracked against the linoleum floor. The whole classroom laughed except Susan of course who was fuming as I struggled to detangle myself from the upended chair.

“Quiet down class, quiet.” Mrs kings yelled, her voice almost breaking. “There’s been more than enough excitement already.”

The laughter died down as she turned to face trent who was failing miserably to look innocent with that insufferable smile on his face.

“Trent, did you just trip Ella out of her seat?” I could tell Mrs kings was already tired of his nonsense – she only addressed him by his first name when she was fed up. I looked up at trent from my spot on the floor and I knew he would never admit it.

Trent leaned back casually in his seat, running a hand through his hair.

“Of course not, Ella just had a little accident.” He flashed an annoying grin. “Or maybe she’s just falling for me.”

A few snickers arose from the back row where his stupid friends sat as my mouth dropped open in disbelief. Little accident? Is he crazy? He fucking sent me flying and made me a laughing stock. I wanted to scream the truth, but held my tongue. This time Trent as gone too far.

“That’s a lie.” Susan suddenly shouted, jumping up from her desk. “ I saw him stick his foot and trip her. He thinks it’s funny, but he’s just a jerk.

“Enough susan.” Mrs kings said firmly before turning her glare back to Trent. She frowned, clearly not buying his story.

“Ella, what really happened? Did Trent have anything to do with this?

I hesitated, biting my lips. Of course he caused this. But if I told Mrs Kings, Trent will just charm his way out of trouble like he always does. His father being an influential politician and major school donor gives Trent a free pass. He’ll be back tomorrow grinning like the jerk he is, while I’ll be labeled as a tattlehead.

“Um…. I just lost my balance, I guess,” I lied, avoiding Trent’s smug gaze. It pained me to cover for him, but I didn’t see another choice. “ No big deal.”

I turned back to see Trent flashing me a grin and I dug my nails into my palms, fuming. I will get my revenge somehow. Maybe I could “accidentally” spill my lunch tray on his precious jacket. Or loosen the valves on his fancy Car tires. Ooh, I bet that would wipe the smug look off his face.

“I see,” Mrs Kings said slowly. “But please be more careful dear. And Trent, I’ll be keeping my eye on you. So let’s continue our discussions on metaphors. Everyone turn on page 394…..”

As if that would stop him. Trent just winked cheekily back at Mrs kings before turning to whisper with his idiot friends. I rolled my eyes, standing up and righting my chair. My moment will come.

*********************

When the lunch bell finally rang, I jumped up, more than ready to be out of Trent’s presence.

. Susan and I made our way to the cafeteria grabbing our usual table. I stabbed moodily at witted lettuce leaves with my fork , replaying Trent’s smug grin.

Susan touched my arm gently. “Hey don’t let that jerk get to you. He’s not worth getting worked up over.

“I know,” I sighed aloud, dropping my fork. “ I just hate him.” I wish I could be as calm and unbothered as susan but he just makes me red!

Susan opened her mouth to say something when she glanced up and closed it abruptly. I followed her gaze to see our friend Amelia walking towards us, attention fixed on phone as always.

Even from a distance, Amelia’s perfect features and hourglass figure were striking, her long sleek hair swung behind her back as she walked gracefully in her fashionable clothes.

I noticed a few guys from the basketball team eyeing her up.

“Ugh, here comes little miss sunshine personality again,” Susan muttered under her breath.

“Susan, be nice.” I held back a smile.

Susan always pretended to get along with Amelia when we hung out, but privately she thinks Amelia comes off as fake and attention seeking. And ever since Amelia started tutoring Damien in maths, she has had suspicions. She once told me the tutoring sessions can’t be strictly academic. As if my Damien would ever cheat on me………..

“what are you two lovely ladies chatting about?” She said breezily, glancing up from her phone to grin blindingly at us.

I opened my mouth to vent about Trent, but susan cut me off abruptly. “Oh nothing important,” she said lightly.

I shot Susan a puzzled look. Why was she brushing me off?

Then I realized - if I complained about Trent, gossipy Amelia would likely tell Damien all about it. And that could spell trouble since Damien and Trent have a long-standing rivalry.

Their competitive, alpha male egos have clashed ever since middle school sports. Not to mention the drama between their powerful fathers as political opponents.

I bit my tongue and shot Susan a grateful look.

Just then, I noticed Damien heading through the cafeteria towards our table. As my tall handsome boyfriend ran a hand through his dark curly hair, flashing his cute dimples, I instantly felt better.

He flashed a grin and went over to pull Amelia into a quick hug. Something about it felt oddly…. Intimate? I shifted in my seat, feeling a small pang in my stomach.

I’m sure it was innocent though….right? Ugh, now susan has me doubting too with her comments.

“Sweetheart.” Damien leaned down and captured my lips in a soft kiss that left me breathless. No matter what, his kisses remind me what we have is real.

When he pulled away, I could see Amelia watching us with a slight frown on her perfectly glossed lips.

Damien slid into the seat beside me, draping a muscular arm around my shoulders. "How's your day going, babe?" he asked. Before I could respond, Amelia chimed in.

"Oh I'm sure ella's day has been fab as always! Nothing interesting to talk about, right girl?" She flashed her dimples at me in a dazzling grin.

Susan's eyes flashed angrily at Amelia's interruption. "Actually, Ella was just about to respond before you cut her off," she said tightly, giving Amelia a thin smile.

Uh oh. I know that look on Susan's face. She's about to stir up trouble. I shot her a pleading don't-make-it-worse look.

But Susan barreled on. "Oh and Ella had a little run-in with the walking egos aka Trent earlier..." she said .

I cringed internally. Why couldn't Susan just let it go? The last thing I wanted was for Damien to know. Now who's being the gossip.

"It was nothing..." I interjected quickly, trying to change the subject. But of course, the damage was already done. One look at Damien's stormy expression told me it was too little, too late.

"What did that punk do?" He growled. Before I could respond, he slammed his first on the table, plates clattering. I flinched at his sudden anger. He's always like this especially with Trent concerned, it's like he turned into a whole different person - cold, cutting and scary.

"What happened with Trent?" He demanded again.

"Damien please......." I placed a hand on his arm pleadingly. "It was nothing, just forget it."

But Damien roughly shook me off away, his voice rising. "Nothing? Don't fucking defend that jerk Ella."

I bit my lips anxiously. Across from the table, Susan shot me an apologetic wince. She knew she caused this by running her mouth.

Amelia slid closer, laying a perfectly manicured hand on Damien's shoulder.

"Shh now, handsome," She purred, lightly trailing her nails along his shoulder. "Save all that aggression for the bedroom later......."

I froze, a sick feeling pooling in my stomach. What did she mean by that? Surely, just an innocent comment, right?

But Damien's shoulder loosened under Amelia's touch. As her fingers gently massaged his arm, the anger seemed to melt down from his face. I stared between them in disbelief. All my pleasing had done nothing, yet one touch from her calmed him down.

Amelia gave me an innocent doe- eyed look, "What? I just mean you and Damien get alone time."

Susan caught my eye across the table, her lips parted clearly about to tear into Amelia. But just then, the cafeteria doors slammed open with a loud bang.We all jumped, heads swivelling to see.......