Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Rhea's Pov

I stared at the door blankly after Ginny left, clutching the drug satchel in my palms. With a sigh, I stepped forward to lock the doors, fully intending not to answer anyone who knocks again, and for further measures, I pulled out a new notebook and turned off the light, using only the dim lamp on my table. My eyes had already gotten used to dim lights by this time so it was no problem using it. Placing the notebook on the table, I started writing everything I remembered from my past life.

Despite the situations and miscalculations that I had made in my past life, some had turned out to help me in the long run so I wanted to keep a few of the situations and let them play out but in order for me to do that, I had to take a few hits either to my reputation or to my character like before.

The scratch of my pen against the paper was the only sound filling the small room. Line by line, memory by memory, I poured it all onto the page.

The lamp cast long shadows across the walls and sleep gnawed at the edges of my mind, heavy and insistent, but I refused to give in until I had written down everything I could remember. Until my hand ached and my fingers cramped.

Only then, with a full notebook and heavy eyes, did I crawl onto the thin mattress shoved against the wall. I clutched the small satchel of drugs Ginny had given me close, hiding it under my pillow. It was both a weapon and a reminder.

Tomorrow was already waiting for me.

Morning came far too soon.

The sunlight was weak, slipping through the cracks in the dusty window. I peeled myself out of bed, my body sluggish, my mind already racing ahead. After a long bath that calmed my aching muscles, I pulled out the clothes I had bought yesterday, placing them in my bed and smiling. All the clothes I used to wear were picked out by Ginny. She intentionally picked out dresses that looked innocent, like pure white dresses, frill filled dresses, the kind that she always wore so that people would compare us and due to her body and stature, those kind fitted her the most so I was the one at the receiving end.

“Not anymore though.” I picked out a black Gucci sleeveless dress that showed my curves, along with a matching black leather jacket. I slipped into a pair of sleek, pointed-toe Louboutin heels, the glossy red bottoms flashing like a warning sign with every step. For jewelry, I kept it simple but sharp: a delicate silver chain around my neck, and small diamond studs in my ears. No frills, no soft pastels, no innocent girl image.

I was also going to the club from school so I didn't want to go home to change. I grabbed a small black handbag, tucking my essentials inside along with the small satchel of drugs, hidden deep within an inner pocket. After checking my reflection one last time, sharp, polished, dangerous, I made my way downstairs.

The moment my heels clicked against the marble floor of the sitting room, heads turned.

My mother, standing by the dining room archway, froze mid-sip of her coffee. Jason, who had been scrolling through his phone at the table, dropped it with a clatter. The looks on their faces, wide eyes, slack jaws, were enough to make me want to laugh.

“I'll be taking the second car, I don't want to ride to school with Ginny anymore. I can drive myself.” Grabbing the car keys from the table, I walked out and drove off to school.

The ride to school was a blur. By the time I stepped through the gates, it was like the entire atmosphere shifted.

People actually stopped to stare.

Whispers chased me down the hallways.

“Who is that?”

“Oh damn, she looks so hot!”

“Is that a new student? What faculty is she at?”

“Oh my gosh!”

Whispers filled the hallway as I walked and right in front of me was Ginny, staring at me with her lips wide open.

“R… Rhea?!” She squeaked, shocked.

“No way!”

“That's Rhea?!”

“She looks so different!”

“Hi Ginny.” I greeted, waving my hands playfully.

“Rhea… Why are you…” Ginny trailed off, the corner of her lips twitching.

“I decided to get a wardrobe change yesterday, I always wanted to but I never had the time. I realised that all those dresses that you used to pick out for me never was my style. How do I look, nice right?”

“Y… Yes, you l… look good.” She stammered. I could hear the anger in her voice as she spoke. I wanted to say something else when a very annoying voice cut me off.

“Yo! Is that really Rhea?!” Kevin half spoke, half yelled as he walked up to us. He had a smirk on his face and his eyes observed me lewdly. I frowned.

Kevin whistled slowly, dragging his eyes over me like I was something laid out for his personal entertainment.

“Damn, Rhea.” He drawled, leaning in closer than necessary, his breath brushing my ear, “What happened? You finally realized dressing like an old church lady wasn’t gonna get you anywhere?”

My lips twitched into a cold smile, but I said nothing.

He laughed, the sound grating, “You know, if you looked like this when you confessed to me back then, maybe I would’ve considered taking you up on the offer.” His voice dropped lower, thick with suggestion, “Hell, I would’ve taken you anywhere you wanted... even bent you over right in the backseat of the classroom.”

Around us, a few students who overheard snickered or gasped, some nudged each other and whispered excitedly. Ginny’s face turned an ugly shade of red, but she stayed silent, her fists clenched at her sides.

I tilted my head, giving Kevin a once-over that was all ice and amusement.

“How unfortunate for you then.” I said coolly, my voice steady, sharp, “That you missed your chance.”

His smirk faltered for half a second, but he covered it up quickly, flashing me his most charming grin, the one he used on girls who didn’t know better.

“You’re coming to the club tonight, right?” He asked, running a hand through his styled hair like he thought it made him look cooler, “The usual spot. Drinks on me, babe.”

I let the word babe slide off my back like water.

I gave him a small smile, the kind that didn't reach my eyes, “Of course.” I said sweetly, “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Kevin winked at me and sauntered off down the hall, already bragging to his group of friends about “how hot Rhea had gotten.”

Ginny turned to me, a thousand emotions flashing across her face, confusion, anger, insecurity, but I simply patted her shoulder lightly, like consoling a child.

”See you at the club, Ginny.”