Chapter 2: Underneath Wings

Blossom's POV 

After doing my business, I had a sight pain in my stomach as I made my way to the sink to wash my hands. 

"That was ugly back there," a voice spoke. I turned and saw Sophia. 

"Oh hey. Yes. It really was." I turned on the tap, wet my hands and caught soap from the dispenser. I washed off my hands and toweled them off. 

"To make it here this senior year, you should know a few things around here. Come on, I'll show you." She ushered me out the bathroom and we walked back into the cafeteria and I sat down with her and another girl. 

"This is Nina. Nina, meet Blossom. She's new and she's from Africa," Sophia introduced. 

"Really, which country in Africa?" Nina asked. 

"Ghana," I answered. 

"That's awesome," Nina replied with a smile and although it was hard to tell, I caught her dimple on the left side of her cheek. She was very pretty overall. She had dark brown wavy hair that ran all the way down her back to her waist. Her dark brown eyes were like a shimmer and her tan complexion screamed perfection. 

"I'm about to tell her the DD's," Sophia cut in. 

"The DD's?" I was in confusion. 

"The Do's or Die," Nina cleared. 

"I'm lost," I told them. 

"At PHS, there's a number of things you should and shouldn't do in order to survive here," Nina said with a serious look on her face.

"You're making it sound like a war-zone instead of an education facility," I said with a smile. 

"It is a war-zone. A war-zone between the power statuses around here." 

"Huh?" 

"Let's bring you up to speed," Nina said and moved herself closer to me so that we were all looking in the same direction- across the cafeteria. 

"In the women's division, there's one group that reigns supreme and you may or may not already encounter them," Sophia explained and her eyes traveled over to the girls that ruined my lunch. 

"But in every power group, there's still a bottom. And at the bottom is Tina Fonty. Her parents are so rich, Tina could practically be a princess if she wants to be. 

Next, that's Amy Price. Amy is the Big Bad Wolf of the pack. Her parents are also very rich. Her father runs a shipping agency and her mother is a fashion icon in all of LA. Celebrities like Ariana Grande had purchased clothes from her mother and Amy wouldn't stop brag about all the celebrities she had met. 

However, at the very top of the pack, you'll find the queen. That's Brooke Elizabeth Diamonds. Even her name sounds expensive, right? Well, her folks owns five jewelries supply stores in the state. You wouldn't find anything there less than five million dollars. 

Brooke is the captain of the cheer leading squad and had won three top competitions in the past. She's worshiped around here so you're lucky you had your run in with her minions and not the queen bee herself." 

"Wow," was all I could say. 

"Now, let's talk about the guys," Nina said with a beam. Sophia playfully rolled her eyes at her. 

"Just like the women, we have the three top guys but at the bottom, it's Connor Holice. His parents are combined millionaires. His mother is an actress and his father owns a helicopter establishment... And Nina got a crush on him," Sophia teased in the end. 

"I do not!" Nina defended and playfully grabbed her but she dodged out of the way in time. 

"In second, that's Nick Markerson. Handsome, rich and already famous in his own way. He's a singer." 

"Really?" I asked. 

"That boy is going to sing his way into my heart one day," Sophia said with a blushing smile and Nina gave her the 'I knew it look'. 

"And, at the top..." Nina said but paused.

"Drum roll please..." Sophia said and started a drum roll on the table top. Nina joined in. 

"That's Jevan Hollen." 

"Jevan Hollen is the most popular boy here and the student with the most 'A's. He excels at everything he does. He's star quarter back of the football team. His father is a billionaire and CEO of Hollen Tower. One of the most successful company in the country."

"No No No. One of the most successful companies in the world since they're international now. The whole family is rich. Jevan's aunt established hotels around the world until she gave it all up and married a Prince. 

His grandfather started the status and handed it down to Jevan's father and now Jevan would have it handed to him when his time reaches." 

The two girls looked like they were spooning in thoughts. I looked over at Jevan and immediately felt a wave of current washed over me. 

He was sitting with two guys next to him with grey hoodies on. 

'Was it him?' I mumbled to myself.

"Was him what?" Nina and Sophia asked in unison. 

"I sat next to one of them in English Lit but he had his head down," I answered. 

"You better hope it wasn't him. There are rules here with the power ups, especially when it comes to Jevan Hollen." 

"What rules?" 

"You're to stay far away from him as you possibly could." 

"Why? Is he evil or something?" 

"No, but his girlfriend is." 

We watched as Brooke got up from her seat and went over to him and kissed him sweetly in front of everyone. His hands circled her waist as he drew her closer to him and pinned her onto his chest. 

"I think I might gag," Nina said and she made vomiting noises. 

"They actually make a cute couple," I said. 

"Looks are very deceiving. Brooke is such a bitch. She's awful, bossy and loud. No amount of money could change a person's ugly attitude and personality," Nina said. 

I watched as Brooke pulled away and left the cafeteria with her clique following in step behind her. My eyes darted back to Jevan and as if he was altered, he was staring right back at me. 

I quickly wanted to look away but it was like I had been captured underneath his trance. His grey eyes were luminous although he was on the other end of the large room. I felt butterflies forming and a heat radiating within me. 

"Blossom!" Nina snapped, cutting off my stare. 

"Huh.. Who.. What?"

"What are you doing?" She asked. 

"Nothing," I lied. 

"You were just staring at Jevan. Are you crazy? Do you know what happened to the last girl who stared at him? Brooke had her beaten up so bad that her parents had to transfer her to another school. 

This isn't a joke here. Things could get very ugly very quickly. Stay away from the power ups. All of them," Sophia warned and the bell rang, ending lunch. 

__________

I had Health and Family Life next and so did Nina so we both headed to class while Sophia went to choir practice. 

"I usually sit here but you can sit behind me," Nina said. There wasn't a chair next to hers so I took the two seats behind her, leaving room in case someone else wanted to sit. 

As class started, Mrs. Smith, the teacher, started talking about teenage pregnancy and how difficult it would be to have a child while in school. 

"Sorry for being late Miss. Smith. Coach wanted to see me," someone said as he came in the door. 

"Please tell Coach that he should meet with you when you don't have classes."

"Yes Mrs. Smith."

"Have a seat Mr. Hollen."

At the mention of his name, my head darted from the book and looked up at him. 

'Please not here. Please not here,' I mentally spoke. 

He sat next to me. 

'Dammit.' 

"For this project, you'll be teaming up with the person sitting next to you. And this is worth sixty percent of your final grade so I expect you to take this very seriously," Mrs. Smith spoke. 

"Take what seriously?" Jevan asked her. 

"I'm so happy you asked " she answered and held up a stuff doll for everyone to see and the class burst into a long 'Noooooo'. 

"Oh yes. You're going to be parents," Mrs. Smith said with a triumph smile.