Author's point of view... After finishing her meal, Thea stood up to leave when Aaron held out his phone to her. She looked up at him raising one of her eyebrows, a bit confused. “What?” she asked, puzzled, as he flashed a gentle smile. “Can we exchange numbers?” Thea hesitated for a moment, surprised by his request. After a brief pause, she took his phone and entered her number. Then, as if it had started a trend, Kevin and Mark did the same, adding her contact as well. Thea was still processing the scene. Were they friends now? How had this happened so quickly? She hadn’t anticipated forming friendships just by coming to the cafeteria, and that, too, the friends she just made were none other than the famous unreachable three. The three most handsome and rich boys. This was quite unusual, isn't it? And this is definitely going to attract attention. But later, she noticed they'd added her on social media as well, which only confused her further. Though these three ha
Author's point of view... "Sidekick...!!" Thea heaved a sigh, looking up again. Britney looked pitiful. Is she willing to be my sidekick?? Thea wondered internally. "This trouble maker never did anything serious other than occasionally bullying Thea, it's not so bad to have more friends. Besides, Thea didn't have any elves to serve her in this life. It's never so bad to have someone" Thea thought to herself before mumbling out casually. "Fine...but I don't want a dog with a wagging tail. We can be friends though" Britney, bursting with excitement, called out, “Sure!!" This was more than what she had expected. She instantly grabbed Thea's hand so tightly but Thea wasn't used to this kind of behaviour. She smacked her hand slightly and was about to push away that bag as well but the allure of the treats was tempting. Instead, she nodded to Britney, managing an awkward smile. “Thanks for this. I will keep this as your good intentions. Class is about to start. Go ahead
Author's point of view... Aaron pulled a folded paper from his pocket and waved at her. "What is that?" Thea exclaimed, puzzled. That couldn't be a love letter or something, right? There was no way a boy like him would ever like an ugly girl like her. She thought to herself before coming to any conclusion. He slowly unfolded it and showed her the last question on it. Of course...! What else can anyone expect from a bookworm like Aaron, it was a practice sheet. “I’m working on this math problem, but the final question is tough. I couldn’t finish it,” he said, pursing his lips. He did find the answer but he wanted to test if Thea could solve it. After all, she had come up with many different and complex solutions to that question earlier. He was just curious about her knowledge. Thea heaved a sigh, this was good. At least he doesn't have anything weird in his mind. She glanced at the paper and gave a quick answer, "Oh...isn't the answer to this a zero??" Aaron stared
Author's point of view... Right after the long bell, Thea walked out and spotted Aaron waiting by the entrance. He stood in a corner with his hands crossed, looking as handsome as he usually does. His presence was enough to gather a crowd. Girls from school, juniors or seniors, all of them circled him in no time at a distance, though no one dared to come near him. He was so annoyed. Thea walked slowly to him and he waved at her. The girls around him stared at her with disdain. Why would he wave a hand to an ugly girl like him? Is he blind? But then they saw Lily exiting the campus. "It must be Lily...!" they concluded and left in a hurry. Everyone knows that Lily is a psychopath, a troublemaker, and is so possessive about Aaron. Who would dare to mess with her?? Thea reached him looking anywhere but him. That felt so awkward. He grinned at her. She hated being the center of attention, and with this boy beside her, she was the center point, of course. "Hi," he said smili
Author's point of view... When Thea left Amelia's house, her mind was full of all sorts of thoughts. She never thought that a rude and introverted girl like him would belong to such a poor and humble family. While walking back earlier, Amelia's granny told Thea that Amelia's parents died in a road accident and they both were alone. Thea felt so bad. Though Amelia never treated Thea as a friend, she never bullied her either. Deep down, Thea wanted to help Amelia and her family. She took out her phone and checked her bank account. Though her parents weren't so rich, they both had jobs and earned a good amount of money every month. Her father sends a hundred dollars per week for her pocket money and credits her meal card every month. In other words, through a middle-class family, Thea lived a comfortable life in terms of money. She looked at her phone and saw that she had more than five hundred dollars in her account. Should she go back to the granny and give that mon
Author's point of view... Uncle again... Dave managed to keep a straight face as he heard Thea call him “uncle” again. He was just twenty-four years old this year, and she might be sixteen or seventeen. Besides, he looked younger than his age because of his breathtaking appearance. How could she probably call him uncle...?? This girl...! he muttered to himself. Wasn't she trying to ask for his help? Why would she annoy him if she truly wanted his help? While part of him was amused by her audacity, another part found it slightly irritating. Still, he said nothing, leaning over to sign the register as her “guardian,” his handwriting firm and swift but his eyes never left that round and bubbly face. She was laughing at him for the faces he was making. The more time he spent with Thea, the more intrigued he became. She was unlike any girl he’d encountered, caring yet defiant, and mature beyond her years. "Okay then. See you next time, officer...oh... I mean, uncle..."
Author's point of view... Their teacher announced about the school weekend trip that evening. He wasn't that interested but he can use that as an excuse. Taking his phone again, he typed a message. Making it as casual as possible. "Hey, did you find any other friends to team up with for the weekend trip? Or will you group up with us?" "It felt casual enough," he assured himself and sent it. But as the seconds ticked by and no reply came, he started overthinking. "Is she ignoring me? Did I mess up?" Breaking his thoughts, Kevin looked up and announced, “Oh, by the way, don’t call anyone to join us for the weekend trip. I already invited someone.” Aaron froze, immediately frowning. “No way, Kevin. I already have someone in mind. Just tell whoever you asked to find another group.” Kevin and Mark turned to Aaron, startled by his serious tone. It was rare to see him invested in teaming up with anyone outside their small circle. They exchanged glances before Mark spo
Author's Point of View... Every year, Morning Star High organizes a field trip for the students instead of traditional cultural activities, believing that kids are more excited about excursions. This year, they planned a hiking trip to the nearby hills, and all the junior classes were invited to participate. Since it was a hiking trip, the boys were particularly enthusiastic, while the girls had their own plans for an outing. The Blue Ridge Mountains, known for their stunning natural beauty, boast over 130 species of trees and 1,600 plant species, making them a crucial part of the local ecosystem. Just a few hours from Virginia, the Blue Ridge is a popular tourist destination where visitors can witness breathtaking sunrises in the morning and a sea of clouds at night. The mountains are dotted with hotels, gaming spots, as well as camping and hiking opportunities, attracting many young adventurers. Everyone in the class was excited—except for Thea. She would have preferred to
Author's point of view... Thea stood up and strolled towards the nearby stream, seemingly bored but her eyes widened as she looked down on the wet ground nearby."Oh my..." She had noticed something alarming, a set of fresh foot marks of the same beast that she saw earlier, near the water’s edge. Unlike the other one, this print was clear and fresh. It was clear that something was present in those woods and that animal was in the area, possibly even close to their planned route. She slightly bent over to take a better look. "It must be a Leopold or a Panther...! It's huge..." Thea mumbled while studying the print. "What are you looking at, Thea?" Kevin asked, coming over with his plate, still in his hands. She jolted awkwardly and frowned. "Can't you be normal just for once...!" she smacked. Kevin grinned. He couldn't...!! "Are you looking for fish? There's probably no fish in this stream, right?" he said peeking into the stream, oblivious to what Thea was truly o
Author's point of view...! "You are really something." Thea scoffed, "You actually mistook a plastic bag for a giant beast or cat or whatever?? Lily, are you so bored or really that scared, or were you just looking for an excuse to jump into Aaron's arms?" Thea taunted. Lily’s cheeks turned bright red, and she glared at Thea furiously. "What are you implying, Thea?" Thea casually threw that plastic cover aside and brushed her hands. She didn't say anything else but that look on her face gave it all. "Exactly what I said," Thea responded calmly, meeting Lily's angry gaze without flinching. Kevin started giggling. Lily’s embarrassment deepened, and she quickly tried to defend herself. "So what if I thought it was something dangerous? It was dark inside those bushes and I was genuinely frightened. Who wouldn’t be scared of a wild animal?" She threw a glance at Kevin, who was equally rattled earlier. "Didn't you see that. Kevin was scared too," she added with a smirk.
Author's point of view... "Help!" Several cries for help came from the forest, that sounded like women. What the hell...! Who is that? Could it be some animal chasing after the other students? Everyone thought except for Thea, who was busy arguing with Mike. "Did you just say cat? Then why are people shouting out there?" "You'll get to know soon"Mike replied casually. Thea rolled her eyes in irritation. He never gives a reliable explanation. But if that was a wild animal as what she thought, this would be dangerous. Thea stepped forward, ready to attack whatever was coming but Aaron rushed to her and stood right before her as if shielding her from any danger coming their way. "You all stay here, I'll go check it..." Aaron stood ahead and was about to go take a look. "Help..." "Help...!" someone cried again. Kevin immediately grabbed a stick from the ground. "Who's calling for help?" Mark tensed up as well, looking around with wide eyes. "I don't have an
Author's point of view... “Don’t fall too far behind, okay? And if you need help, just call us... We will be slow to keep up with you...” Aaron said while wearing his own backpack. Thea was amused at how much Aaron underestimated her but played along. Is that because she was a girl?? she scoffed internally. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep up.” She didn't want to show off but it didn't mean she wasn't offended. Soon the school buses arrived at the first camping spot after them. Though the same mountain, there were several routes to hike. Aaron had planned a special way to go up, different from the other usual one that the school authorities had planned to take. The group began their hike. Kevin, full of energy, kept darting around and calling out, causing Thea to stifle a frustrated laugh. He had been picking up small pebbles and throwing them at Thea and Mark. He was getting on her nerves. Heaving a sigh, she stopped. She wanted to play with him. “Stop yelling, Kevin!” she
Author's point of view... They drove in silence for sometime and soon Mark, dozed off, his head soon resting on Kevin’s shoulder and on top of him lay the trouble maker's head. Finally...! Thea felt her ears were in peace. When the car was finally peaceful, Aaron turned to Thea. He had been glancing at her sneakily, his hand travelled through his hair. He wanted to talk to her but didn't know what to say. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Have you been camping before?” In his mind he sighed. What kind of idiotic question did he ask...! How could a simple girl like her go camping?? Thea was staring out of the window, looking at how beautiful this world was. She turned around and thought for a while before replying. Aaron was sure about the answer. She wouldn't have been to the places like these. It must be her first time. “Not more often but sometimes, I do,” she said with a hint of nostalgia, her mind roaming back to her memories. Aaron was shocked. Did she?? “I’ve
Author's point of view... "What the hell...!!" Kevin almost jolted from the place where he was standing and started rubbing his eyes. Aaron was annoyed. Kevin was an expert in creating a drama. "Is that really her or my eyes are playing games with me...?" Kevin mumbled in disbelief. Aaron rolled his eyes, he was sitting opposite Kevin and couldn't see what he was gawking at, but the way Kevin behaved, Aaron was sure he was exaggerating about something useless. "Will you stop this," Aaron groaned. "I am not seeing things, am I?" Kevin ignored Aaron's words. Aaron's mouth twitched. "Did you see a ghost, Kevin?" he mocked irritatingly. "No...but it's more unbelievable than seeing a ghost. Look at her..." Kevin replied, pointing at someone behind Aaron, still in shock, but Aaron had no intention on getting into his crab. He sighed, shaking his head. "A girl, right?...Are you serious, Kevin?" Aaron smacked and Kevin immediately added, "Just look at her and I am sure y
Author's point of view... For a long time, Thea hadn’t gone on outings with her classmates, not since an unlucky incident that happened when she was still in junior high. Diana and Nick had worried about their daughter’s social life, not knowing if she was avoiding invitations or simply wasn’t invited. Seeing her go on this trip filled Diana with relief. She almost couldn't contain her excitement. Thea was taken aback by her mom's enthusiasm. She chuckled. "No Mom, it's all set. I won't need anything else. A friend of mine has taken care of all the preparations." "That’s so kind of them!" Diana's ears perked up and she slightly blinked, asking further, "Is it a boy or a girl? What’s your friend’s name?" Diana asked with a playful curiosity that only mothers seem to have. Thea casually walked into her room and removed the towel wrapped on her head and started drying her hair. She replied casually, "It’s a group of us going together. There are many top students in m
Author's point of view... The group of thugs fled as quickly as they could. Logan had never witnessed such ruthlessness, especially coming from a girl. He was ashamed and more than that, he was still in a shock. They had been thugs for so many years and he never once encounterd such a strong person with such tiny body. He felt as though he was facing a war lord not a sixteen year old girl. But wait...! Isn't she the strongest monster in that magical land? Of course, she can easily hit his ass. Thea walked out and slowly stood behind her parents, looking at the trembling man with all bruises on his face. She smiled coldly and Logan felt shivers all over his body. Logan didn't dare look up at her. He rushed away as he still needed to get his injured men to the hospital. Even while walking away, he didn’t dare to look back. His only instinct was to escape from that very place as fast as he could. "He's really odd," Diana said while closing the door behind her. Looking at the
Author's point of view.... "Hand over the money." "What?" Logan, strong in appearance but weak inside, was stunned. He kept glancing at the sky, trying to figure out where she had come from. "The money. You just extorted $15,000. Give it back." Thea’s gaze was cold and piercing. She was far more intimidating than a muscle-bound thug. "Are you trying to rob me? I’m calling the police." Logan tried to regain his composure. He didn't recognize the girl at all. Even though he was afraid, he wasn’t about to hand over his ill-gotten gains, especially not to a girl. He gathered his courage, "You think you can rob me? You are just a girl..." Thea didn’t waste time responding. She landed a punch to Logan’s temple, sending him crashing to the ground, dust flying. "You..." Logan’s men were frozen in shock. A few aimed their knives at Thea while the others raised their fists, but no one moved. They were street thugs, not fighters. Their strength was in scaring people. Faced with som