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six.
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Hated By The Bully King seven.
CoraWhile in the middle of splitting my brain open during the murderous pre-calculus homework, my phone rings. I pluck it off the desk like it's my life savior and scan the screen, nearly crying out in glee when I see it's my best friend, Elissa."Bestie!" I yell."Bestie!" she yells back."Why aren't we on video chat? I'm dying to see your pretty face.""Same, hun, but my phone's broken.""Again," we both say and laugh. She drops the thing so many times, I'm surprised her parents replace them. "Don't freak if the call drops. I think this one has only moments to live."There's a large pang in my chest. I've missed her so much, and it's only been two days. Hearing her voice is like a bright light in a cold, dark tunnel. It uplifts my mood that's been shitty since first period."Your face is still plastered all over the news," she says. "Your interview has so many hits, you're more famous than the queen of England.""Ha.""I'm serious. People love hearing how you saved the handsome fut
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Hated By The Bully King eight.
CoraTwo weeks have gone by. Two weeks of me burying my head in my textbooks and staying on top of my grades. I guess now that I have no friends, it’s easy to immerse myself in nothing but schoolwork. The results have been amazing.As for the bullying? Nothing major. Alessandro hasn’t said a single word to me since that first day in pre-calculus, though he throws me dirty looks any chance he can. The other students have been picking on me with minor things, like trying to trip me in the halls, calling me Peasant Girl, sliding things into my locker and under my door. Notes like drawings of a poor girl working the farm or saying how I need to take a shower because I reek. The first time, I actually thought I did reek. I feel lonely, really lonely.Dad loves his job. Mr. Beckham has even made it his personal mission to make sure my dad is happy and that he has everything he needs. Some people at his job even walk on eggshells around him. Maybe I should save the lives of rich offspring mo
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Hated By The Bully King nine.
Cora“We’ve missed you so much, sweetie.” Mom dislodges me from Dad’s arms and takes me all for herself, yanking me so close to her body we practically meld into one. She once again showers me with kisses, then she pulls back and gapes at my face. “Oh, honey. Marcus, doesn’t she look beautiful. My baby is all grown up.” I’m, yet again, in her arms, my faced smashed to her chest.When she finally lets my dad gift me with another massive hug, we rotate slightly and Alessandro comes in my view. He stands there staring at us with his fists clenched at his sides, that famous, perpetual scowl proud on his face. I notice his eyes. They’re hard, sure, but there’s something in them, something so subtle it’s easy to miss. Longing, maybe? But like all the other times I see a light emotion, it’s gone within seconds.Footsteps on the stairs. My parents and I whirl around to face Mr. Asher Beckham making his way down the exquisite wooden steps. He’s wearing a black suit as well, pressed and crisp,
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Hated By The Bully King ten.
Cora“Cora?”I turn and find the camera guy motioning for me to join my parents on the sofa. Alessandro and his dad stand behind it. I squeeze in between my parents, and Mom slides her hand in mine. I don’t have to look at her to know her face radiates with a large smile. It makes my own smile form on my face, though it vanishes when hostility pricks my skin from behind.The cameraman instructs us where to face, where to place our hands. “Smile wide,” he says.This whole process takes about twenty minutes and by the time we’re done, my jaw throbs from all the smiling.Mr. Beckham thanks the crew before they leave the room, the man hauling his equipment with him.Despite my commanding them not to, my eyes shoot to Alessandro. He stands there with his hands in his pockets, gaze on the man and woman’s retreating forms.His dad sweeps his hand toward the doorway. “Marcus, Lori, Cora. Please follow me to the dining room for dinner.”Dad and Mom trail him, with me and Alessandro lingering b
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Hated By The Bully King eleven.
CoraThe first thing I do when I wake up the next morning is check the news. Sure enough, there’s an article posted online about the Beckhams. Apparently, Asher started a new business venture a few months ago that’s doing very well. The spotlight is mostly on him, but then the focus shifts to his son, who was “miraculously saved by Georgia native Cora Williams, bottom center.”I have to admit, the photo’s pretty good. Mom, Dad, Mr. Beckham and I are all smiles, giving the impression that our families have become the best of friends. Alessandro, though? He looks like he wants to hurl a tomahawk at the photographer. But I don’t think he ruins the photo, because that’s his usual expression.Then there’s a short paragraph mentioning my attending the prestigious Royal Elite Academy, and how Alessandro and I have become close friends. Ha. They didn’t even interview me, which shows how bogus this article is.I send the link to my parents and Elissa before rolling out of bed and slipping into
Last Updated : 2024-11-13Hated By The Bully King twelve.
CoraMy room looks like a hurricane tore through, leaving nothing but devastation in its wake. My hair probably looks like it, too. Where the hell are all my assignments? And why can’t I find my laptop charger? All my assignments are saved on it and it’s dead.I have three papers due, plus the revised answers for a test we took last week. True I only got two wrong, but my teacher promised we’d get the points back if we looked over the test and made the corrections. I need every point I can get if I want to stay on top of my grades.I turn my desk over again, throwing all the papers aside. I fall back on my knees with a huff, blowing some dirty blonde hair out of my face. It’s like they evaporated into thin air.A glance at the time shows first period will start in five minutes. My uniform looks like I slept in it for a week and my hair probably makes me look like a witch. In fact, I probably could pass off for a witch because of the stupid zit that sprouted on my chin this morning. Th
Last Updated : 2024-11-13Hated By The Bully King thirteen.
CoraI get permission to leave campus after school to buy a new laptop charger. I don’t have a lot of money to spend on a cab, but I don’t have time to take a bus all the way to town. Royal Elite Academy is pretty isolated out here near the woods, but it’s only twenty minutes by car. When I return to campus, I reprint my assignments and email the ones that were due today to my teachers, even though they stated they wouldn’t accepted. Still, I’m hopeful they’ll have a change of heart.Luckily, I don’t have any more problems the rest of the week, probably because I’ve become OCD about locking my door. I didn’t think these kids would actually break into my room, but then again, I didn’t think they’d make my life here a living nightmare, either.Speaking of which, when I walk down the hallway this morning, I discover all the kids staring at their phones and chuckling. Whatever the newest piece of gossip, I’m not privy to it.But then they raise their heads to me and snicker. Eyes go from
Last Updated : 2024-11-13Hated By The Bully King fourteen.
CoraWhat a crazy night Friday was. Campus security questioned me again, asking me detailed questions about the knife. By the time I was done with the questioning, I wondered if I imagined the whole thing.As I stroll down the hallway toward my locker Monday morning, I catch many kids throwing me murderous looks. I know they’re pissed at me for calling campus security on an illegal party, and I’m pretty sure I’m herby banned from any future secret party. But I don’t regret it. Things could have ended really badly.Those same looks are shot my way throughout the rest of the morning. When Mrs. Danby asks me to solve an equation on the board while she steps out for a minute, I’m assaulted once again by crumpled pieces of paper. And a few kids even launch spit balls at me. So gross. Looks like I’ve given them more ammunition to use against me. Did they forget that I also got in trouble for being at the party? I can’t leave campus for a whole week.After I solve the equation and walk back
Last Updated : 2024-11-13
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Hated By The Bully King sixty.
CoraOnce Alessandro finished eating, I take his bag and lead him to my room. It's not much, less than half the size of my room at Royal Elite, but the character makes up for it. Years and years of things gathered since I was a baby, and a lot of pink because I had a stage when I was five and was obsessed with the color. I wanted to fix it up, but then Dad lost his job and it didn't seem like a worthy expense."It looks...""Pink," I finish with a laugh. "Thanks to my five-year-old self.""I was going to say like you had a happy childhood."Oh.He takes the suitcase and places it on the bed, unzipping it and taking out his clothes."I'll just remove some of my clothes from the drawers and make room in my closet," I say.I'm not sure if I should leave him to his own devices or offer to help. But when I see he's got a handle on things, I tell him I'll be back later and head into the kitchen, where my parents are sitting at the table, their heads bent, whispering."What's the big secret,
Hated By The Bully King fifty-nine.
CoraAs soon as the driver finishes helping us bring the bags to the front door, it bursts open. "Cora!" Mom flings her arms around me and squeezes me so tight I might pop. "I've missed you so much. So, so much! Let me have a look at you." She steps back and studies me from head to toe. Her eyes shine with love and pride. "Oh, honey. You're so beautiful.""Mom," I hiss, my face flushing. My eyes slide to Alessandro."Oh, Alessandro! What an honor to have you in our home!" She throws her arms around him and squeezes him, too. "Welcome, welcome. You and your father are always welcome in our home."Alessandro stands as still as a statue in Mom's arms. Totally stunned. Like he's not used to getting hugs.Dad grabs me in for a hug, and then I'm back in Mom's arms, and then Dad wraps his arms around the two of us. I might have been embarrassed if I didn't relish this as much as them."Come in," Mom says as she takes Alessandro's hand and leads him into the house. "We prepared some refreshme
Hated By The Bully King fifty-eight.
CoraFinally after a long week, Friday evening rolls around. I'm so excited to go home and celebrate Mom's birthday. It's been so long since I've seen my parents—since the pool incident.Once all my bags are packed, I ask a staff member to help me carry them outside and call for a car. I send off a text to the guys, reminding them that I'm going home this weekend. Colt and Ethan have already said their goodbyes during lunch, but Alessandro wasn't around. He hasn't responded to my texts, either.The staff member carries out the large present I bought for Mom. I know she's going to love it."The car will be here any moment, Miss Williams," he tells me."Thanks so much."I catch sight of Alessandro walking with Henry Miles. They say a few more things to each other before Mr. Miles pats his back and climbs into a waiting limo. When Alessandro notices me, he heads over, his eyes dipping to my bags."You're leaving?" he asks."Going home for the weekend, remember? I texted you twice.""Oh,
Hated By The Bully King fifty-seven.
CoraI'm so wiped when we get back to campus that I collapse on my bed. My head hits something soft. The narwhal. I reach for it and hold it in my arms, smiling as I relive the moment Alessandro tossed it to me. I hug it close to my chest. "The guy who won you is the most puzzling person in the world. Will I ever understand him?"Digging my phone out of my pocket, I tap out a text to Alessandro.Me: I never thanked you for the narwhal. So thank you.Alessandro: Was easy to beat Colt.Me: Ha.Alessandro: He thinks he can beat me, but I win every time.Me: Don't you ever get sick of being the best at everything?I add a laughing emoji to show him I'm just teasing.Alessandro: The only way to be successful in life is to win.Me: It's okay to lose sometimes. It gives you character. Makes you humble. Makes you want to try even harder the next time.He doesn't answer. I stare at my phone, waiting for the text to come. But it doesn't.I fling my phone away and hug my new friend. "I think I p
Hated By The Bully King fifty-six.
CoraEthan climbs onto the bar surrounding the queue line. I hop up next to him. We wait a short while before the guy opens the car door for us. Four seats make up a row. Alessandro is at my right while Ethan is on my left, and Colt is near Ethan."Enjoy!" the guy calls as he starts the ride.We make a turn to the left and then begin our ascent. I clutch onto the handles, kicking my dangling legs, every part of me wound up with thrill. Ethan's wearing a small smile on his lips, his face tilted toward the sun, his hair pushed back from his face.Colt's whooping."Cut that out," Alessandro mutters, his voice...strange. When I glance at him, I find him clutching the handles so tightly his knuckles are white. His eyes are squeezed shut."Alessandro, are you okay?" I ask.Colt chuckles. "He's good. Just a little—""I'm fine," he stresses. But from the way he grips the handles and squeezes his eyes even tighter, I know that's a lie.Ethan's head leans toward me. "Sandro's scared of heights.
Hated By The Bully King fifty-five.
CoraThe rest of the week passes by uneventfully. I've gotten used to the Princes walking me to class, and yes, the mini fridge is still in my room. I've fallen in love with the thing.I'm doing better in my classes, thanks to Ethan, I even nearly got a perfect score on our latest pre-calculus quiz. My lunches and dinners are spent with the Princes and I train every other day with Colt.After an extremely brutal session with Colt Friday night, I roll into bed and plan to sleep until noon Saturday.But someone pounds on my door at nine o'clock in the morning."Go away," I moan.The pounding grows louder and then a voice calls, "Get up, Super Cee!"One of my eyes pops open. Colt? With a groan, I drag myself out of bed and pad to the door, covering my mouth as I yawn. When I pull the door open, I find Colt, Ethan, and Alessandro."Morning, sleepyhead." Colt flashes me a grin.I groan again and march into my room, disappearing under my blanket."No, none of that." My blanket is yanked off
Hated By The Bully King fifty-four.
CoraColt's not only competitive, he's a hardass, too. He works me so hard during our first self-defense training session that I almost pass out. I'm not at all in shape. When we're done, I'm so exhausted and drenched that all I want is to shower and roll into bed. Ethan doesn't let me, though. He spends the whole afternoon helping me catch up with my schoolwork. Truth is, I'm basically holding at the same pace as the rest of my class, and I know he knows it. Does this mean it's an excuse for...what, exactly? To spend time with me? But we don't do anything other than homework, hardly even talk.Later that afternoon, Alessandro sends me a text, asking if I want to join him and the others for a movie. The school has a small movie theater that plays current and non-current movies, but I never ventured over because I didn't have a death wish. Though I've always yearned for it. I quickly tap out a YES! even though I'm sore and so exhausted.Ethan doesn't join us, though, because he's stuck
Hated By The Bully King fifty-three.
CoraAlessandro stands there for a moment, studying the ball and then the lane, the lane and then the ball. He looks totally lost.I walk up to him. "Put your fingers in these holes. And then try to aim for the middle.""I know how to play," he snaps.I hold up my hands and step back.He sticks his hands into the holes all wrong and holds it wrong."Alessandro, you're not doing it right." When I try to reach for the ball, he whips it away."I know what I'm doing.""Clearly not." I go for the ball again but he yanks it away. "Geez, dude, let me show you how to do it.""I said, I can do it.""Who's being stubborn now?" I grab the ball and his fingers slide out. "Like this." I stick my fingers in the right way, then hold it out to him. He once again puts them in wrong. "No, this way." I take his hand and guide his fingers into the holes. His skin feels so warm, and because I'm standing so close to him his smell engulfs me.His body stiffens at my touch. He makes a move to yank his hand o
Hated By The Bully King fifty-two.
CoraI sit down as Colt challenges a few other students. He whips their asses, throwing me a proud smile. After he's beaten every single one, he flops down near me, wiping some sweat off his forehead."I didn't know you were so competitive," I say."And you find it totally hot.""I never said that."He playfully digs his shoulder into mine.Alessandro stands there with his arms crossed over his chest and Ethan studies something on his phone. I can't believe how much fun I'm having with these guys, and I know they're having fun, too. Who would have thought something like this would ever happen?I don't want it to end.Jumping to my feet, I say, "I have the perfect thing to play."Colt raises his brows."Bowling!"They all frown."Come on, it'll be fun!""I don't bowl," Alessandro says.The other two don't look particularly excited, either."Have any of you ever bowled?" I ask."I have when I was a kid," Ethan says."I've had my share of bowling parties," Colt says.Alessandro flips som
