I like her

Vincent POV

I could tell by the look on Max's face that he wasn't going to let this go easily.

After telling him the note I received yesterday.

"Well, I don't," he said slowly, moving closer to me “That girl isn't meant for you."

I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my voice calm. "You’re not the one dating her, Max. It’s me."

Max’s eyes widened in disbelief. "What? You wanna date that bitch?"

That was it. "She isn’t a bitch!" I hissed, stepping closer to him. "She’s my queen, and I want you to stop this hateful attitude toward her!"

Max just stared at me, his face mixed with shock and something else. Something darker that I couldn’t quite place.

We walked to the classroom, our hands tucked in our pocket.

During the lecture I tried to focus but my mind kept drifting back to Max’s words. Why did he hate her so much? Was he seeing something I wasn’t?

…

"Hi," Anna greeted as she sat beside Kara.

Kara looked up from her phone, her eyes lighting up. "Babe, what’s up?"

"Not good," Anna replied with a down tone.

Kara frowned. "Why, darling? What happened?"

Anna rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with disdain. "Vincent came up to me and said he likes me. Can you believe it? If I had..." She didn't finish her statement when Kara jumped in excitement.

"What?" Kara’s face turned a bright shade of red. "He said that? OMG, I’m so happy for you!"

Anna stared at her friend in disbelief. "Are you okay? Well, I’m not because I don't like him."

"You what? don't like him? Why?" Confusion was written on Kara's face.

 "I mean, he’s good, hot and handsome."

Anna crossed her arms, her scowl deepening. "I just hate him. Ugh!"

Kara tried to laugh it off. "Well, chill, girl. You’ll soon like him." Kara reassured but Anna wasn’t having it. "Kara, are you my friend or an enemy?".

Kara just shrugged, trying to brush it off. "Whatever."

...

Later that day, during break, Anna was wandering in the school garden, she seemed lost in thought when I appeared out of nowhere.

"Hi, darling," I said, trying to catch her attention.

She shot me a glare that could freeze lava. "I’m not your darling."

I smirked. "Okay, my queen."

"What’s wrong with you?" she snapped at me. "I’m not your queen, and stop stalking me."

I held up my hands in mock surrender. "I’m not stalking you. But, baby, why are you so cold toward me?"

She laughed, a short, bitter sound. "Cold? You have no idea. Get the hell out of here before I lose it." She practically yelled the last word.

My heart raced at the challenge in her voice. "Wow, I think I might like the other side of you," I teased. "Anyway, Anna, please be my love."

She looked at me like I had grown another head. "What? You must be out of your mind! What makes you think an unromantic guy like you could ever date me? You don’t even know how to ask a girl out properly. 'Please be my love'? To hell with you!" Her words were venomous, and before I could say anything else, she turned and ran off.

I stood there, stunned. “What just happened? Why did she run away like that? Wait, is she running from me?

what a funny girl” I laughed. A slow smile spread across my face as I realized something. Maybe, just maybe I was starting to fall for her even more because of her attitude towards me.

But as I laughed to myself, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wasn’t the only one interested in Anna.

 Later that day, in a dark corner of the school, Lorna and her gang were plotting.

"Hey, Ruth," Lorna said, her voice low and dangerous. "Heard Vincent is getting close to a new girl recently."

Ruth looked shocked. "What? I can’t believe it!"

"I saw them today at the flower yard," Hara added, her eyes narrowing.

"What were they doing there?" Ruth demanded.

Lorna’s face twisted in anger. "That girl... how dare she think she can come between us? Even Clarice wouldn’t dare. How dare she flirt with him?"

Sani tried to calm her down. "Chill, girl. No one crosses our path and gets away with it. We know what to do, like always." She let out a smirk.

"Yeah," Ruth agreed, her voice full of excitement. "We’re going to deal with that girl."

Lorna’s face lit up. "She’ll regret it. Girls, let’s go."

"Go where?" Hara asked, confused.

Ruth smirked. "We’ve got business to take care of."

"But... what business?" Hara’s confusion only deepened as the others walked away, leaving her behind.

Anna was strolling through the school’s flower yard, the scent of blossoms doing little to calm her nerves. She wasn’t expecting company, but suddenly, four girls approached her, led by none other than Lorna. Anna gave a polite greeting, but her words were met with a hot slap across her face. Anna was shocked.

In a twinkle of an eye, the other girls grabbed her, pulling her hair and beating her without mercy.

“Stop,” Lorna commanded, her voice cold and sharp.

 “Stay away from Vincent, or this will be nothing compared to what’s coming.” She spat at her, and they all left.

Anna managed to walk to the restroom clean up and headed to the cafeteria for some food. 

Determined to avoid another encounter with those girls, she rushed her food and left.

She was trying her best to avoid Vincent, so she passed another way to the classroom but fate had other plans. Vincent was there, and before she could flee, he held her by her wrist.

“Hi, pretty,” he said with a smirk.

“Let me go! Stay away from me!” Anna snapped, yanking her hand free.

“Why, wifey?” Vincent teased, his tone playful.

“What the heck? I’m not your wife! Leave me alone!” she yelled, then bolted from there.

Breathless, she almost collided with Kara in the hallway.

“Whoa, watch where you’re going! Who’s chasing you?” Kara asked, startled.

“It’s Vincent!” Anna blurted out, her heart still racing.

Kara’s eyes widened. “Vincent? Wow…”

Anna didn’t let her finish. “You won’t believe it, Lorna attacked me.”

“What? Are you okay? Why?” Kara asked with her face full of worries.

“Because of Vincent. But I know what to do.”

Kara frowned. “What are you planning?”

“I’m reporting it to the principal.”

“The principal? Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Kara questioned.

But Anna was already on her way to the principal’s office.

In the Principal’s Office, Anna knocked and went inside.

“Yes, how can I help you?” the principal asked, looking up from his desk.

“Sir, a boy keeps bothering me, saying he likes me. And today, some girls attacked me because of him,” Anna explained, her voice trembling with anger.

The principal’s expression darkened. “What? Is all this happening in my school?”

“Yes, sir,” Anna confirmed.

“Give me their names. I’ll see to it that they’re punished.”

Anna took a deep breath. “Lorna, Vincent, Sani, Hara…”

The principal’s face tightened as she listed the names. “You mean these students?”

“Yes, sir,” Anna replied, sensing something was wrong.

The principal sighed, his tone softening. “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do. You’ll have to bear it alone. Don’t worry, the Lord is your strength.”

“What? I should just keep facing these bullies?” Anna’s voice shook with disbelief.

“The Lord is with you,” he repeated, standing up. “ They are not bullies, they are probably playing with you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting to attend.”

“Please, sir…” But before she could finish, the principal dismissed her with a wave.

Anna left the office downcast, her heart heavy with despair. Kara was waiting for her outside.

“What did the principal say?” Kara asked.

Anna’s voice was flat. “The Lord is your strength. Bear it.”

Kara tried to laugh but controlled herself.

“HaHa! Seriously?”

Anna’s eyes narrowed. “You think this is funny?”

Kara shrugged, still chuckling. “A little.”

Anna frowned, turning away. But as she walked off, a plan began to form in her mind. She couldn’t rely on the school, and she wasn’t going to let Lorna and her gang win. 

She had no idea how, but she was going to turn the tables. And maybe, she’d find an unexpected ally in the one person she least expected…Vincent.

The real battle was just beginning.

***

Mrs. Lou’s voice echoed through the room. “Darling, get up. Aren’t you going to school?”

Anna rolled over in bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. “No, Mom,” she mumbled.

“Why not?” Mrs. Lou’s voice was laced with concern.

Anna hesitated, then lied, “I’m in pain... it’s my period.”

Mrs. Lou sighed. “Alright, dear. Rest up. I’ll see you later.”

“Bye, Mom.” Anna waited until she heard the door close. Relief washed over her. "Thank God, everyone is gone now." She stayed in bed for a moment, but then the reality of the situation hit her. She was hiding from that jerk Vincent and his awful girlfriends. But what was she doing? She couldn’t stay at home forever. Something had to change.

Vincent POV 

***

At School, I scanned the classroom frustration building up inside me. “Hey, Kara.”

Kara looked up from her phone. “Hey.”

“Where’s Anna? I can’t find her anywhere.”

“She’s not in school today,” Kara replied, a hint of suspicion in her voice.

“Why not?” I asked, trying to keep my voice casual.

“No idea,” she shrugged.

I needed to talk to Anna. “Okay, can I get her number?”

Kara shook her head. “Nope.”

“Please?” I pressed. “I’ll give you whatever you want.”

“Really?” Kara's voice suddenly cut in, mocking.

“Yeah,” I said, not missing a beat. “Money, dresses, diamond jewelry, name it.”

Kara’s eyes narrowed. “I already got all that.”

“ So, what do you want?”

“Leave Anna alone, and I’ll give you her number.”

“Huh.” What an expected request, why will I leave her alone when I want to collect her number.

 “You know that’s not possible.”

“Then no number,” she said firmly, crossing her arms.

I sighed, realizing I’d have to play along. “Okay, I promise.”

Kara studied me, as if deciding whether I was sincere. “Really?”

“Yeah,” I nodded, though deep down, I knew I wasn’t giving up on Anna that easily.

***

Elsewhere in School, Clarice sat with her gang, her fingers idly twirling a strand of hair. The conversation around her was buzzing with rumors.

“Hey, did you hear?” Pretty leaned in, her eyes wide. “Vincent’s following that new girl around now.”

Pink nodded. “Yeah, her name is Anna.”

Clarice rolled her eyes. “That’s just a rumor. She’s probably just another one of his crushes.”

“I don’t think so,” Pink countered.

Pretty shrugged. “When I saw her, I thought she was a good girl.”

“Everyone is bad.” Pink said darkly. “They’re just good at pretending.”

Clarice’s eyes narrowed. “By the way, who is Anna?”

“That new student who bumped into you a few weeks ago.”

“Ohhh, her,” Clarice said, her lips curving into a sly smile. “She’s new, huh? Probably just has a crush on Vincent. She’ll forget him soon enough after we deal with her.”

Pretty looked uncertain. “You think so?”

“I heard Lorna, and Sani beated her up.” Pink added.

Clarice bursted into laughter. “This will be so interesting.” 

Clarice’s smile widened. “Yeah. Come on, girls. Lecture starts in ten minutes.

…

Back at home, Anna paced

her room, her mind racing. She knew she could not avoid school forever. She was stronger than this, wasn’t she? But just as she resolved to return to school the next day, her phone rang.