Thirty Eight

CHAPTER 38

"I don't think there's anything strange.

Alicia and Brittany walked hand in hand with the other students to the sports stadium--which was in another building--at the Golden High dormitory that morning. Mr. Louis was the Golden High official who would be leading the fifty students in the gym that day. And let's just say that luck was on Alicia's side, because Brittany was also in the same class as her.

Alicia and Brittany sat down in one of the stadium seats as soon as they arrived. "Are you sure? Why do you think James had to take that cocaine?" Alicia asked curiously.

Mr. Louis seemed to have arrived late that morning. So Alicia and Brittany had more time to talk before class started.

Brittany frowned. "To be honest, I didn't know he did drugs either. James has never done anything stupid in his life, other than putting an orange in his cereal bowl."

"I see." Alicia nodded in understanding. Brittany seemed distracted by the question, so Alicia took her best friend's hand and held it gently. "We'll find the culprit as soon as possible," she promised Brittany.

Brittany's face turned sad. "James is strong, ambitious and really knows what he wants. He doesn't even give up when times get tough," she said in a sad tone. "But James also had his flaws. He was someone who panicked easily, especially when under pressure."

Alicia narrowed her eyes and mumbled, "You mean, James might do things under pressure?"

Brittany looked away and looked down sadly. "Actually... James removed Jake from the first team because he heard the news that James was going to be replaced. He's been keeping up the good work and being so generous to the core basketball team all these years. So I guess, that's the reason why James kicked Jake out so rudely back then. James felt threatened by Jake," she said carefully.

Alicia swallowed the information Brittany gave her and began to speculate. Now Jake had a motive. "Do Ace and Luke know about this? Considering that they're both James' closest friends," Alicia added.

Brittany nodded weakly. "I think the whole dorm knows about the rumors. Jake beat James up right away at lunch. They all witnessed the two fighting in the cafeteria."

Alicia pondered for a moment, imagining how in such a crowded place-because it was lunchtime-two such popular male students were fighting;attacking each other. They would attract so much attention. Wouldn't one of them suspect Jake when James died?

Suddenly, Ace and Luke appeared before them and stood there as if to show off their presence to the two girls. "Hello, Britt," Luke greeted, even flashing a big smile when Brittany saw him.

"Oh, hi, Luke," Brittany replied awkwardly. "What are you doing here?" That hazel-eyed girl immediately looked at Ace and then at Luke in turn and realized that both of them were wearing gym clothes at that moment. As if she understood the situation, Brittany hurriedly added, "You guys are in the same class as us?"

"Yeah, isn't that great?" Luke looked enthusiastic and then turned to Alicia. "How are you doing, crazy girl?"

"Why are you calling her 'crazy', you idiot?!" snapped Ace irritably. He even hit Luke on the forehead in front of the two girls.

Luke scowled and rubbed his forehead lightly. "She's a crazy girl, but cool. The new kid managed to sit in the same car as Ace!" he exclaimed excitedly.

Brittany widened her eyes in disbelief. Her beady eyes then looked at Alicia and Ace in turn. "Are you guys dating?"

Ace was silent, as if waiting for the girl named Alicia to open her voice first. But the girl, Alicia, seemed to have a flat expression and glanced at Ace for a moment before answering, "No."

Of course, the only son of the group's CEO was taken aback by Alicia's reaction. He chuckled and snorted in amusement. While Brittany and Luke watched the two with puzzled looks there. "Did you just forget about our 'day together' that just happened?" he asked in a scornful tone. "Are you playing me, Alicia?"

The atmosphere between them suddenly turned serious. But Alicia was cold and unperturbed. She just stayed silent and looked at Ace, as if she was letting him talk until he was satisfied. And Luke, who felt that he was the instigator of all this awkwardness immediately cleared his throat loudly;breaking the atmosphere. "Ah, Ace, I think we should join the others. Mr. Louis is here," he said as he pulled Ace's hand.

Ace's black-brown eyes looked straight at Alicia. Deep and intimidating. "Is that how you play me, Miss Perth?"

"Ah, we'd better go now!" Luke urged. He then wrapped his arms around Ace's body and forcibly led him away from Alicia. "Sorry about the situation, Alicia!" he called from a distance.

And the defensive attitude Alicia had shown earlier suddenly dissolved as they moved away. Alicia even breathed a sigh of relief and shook her head. "Are you...," Brittany asked hesitantly. "Dating him, Alicia?"

Alicia turned her head. "I went into town to buy a new cell phone... with him."

Brittany froze in place. Even her hands reflexively went up to cover her own mouth after she said oh my god with an expression of shock. She then bit her lower lip hard and grasped Alicia's hand. "This is impressive!" she exclaimed. But a moment later, Brittany's face turned confused. "But why are you being so mean to him?"

"It's because--"

"Because Alicia would never date Ace," interrupted someone from the other direction.

Alicia and Brittany immediately turned around and found Amanda as well as Selena standing not far from their seats. Amanda even raised her chin haughtily and crossed her arms over her chest, while Selena glared sarcastically and acted like a loyal servant to her master behind Amanda. "Ace will never make you his lover. So, I suggest you stop dreaming," Amanda told her firmly. Meanwhile, Selena just nodded her head in agreement.

Brittany snorted sarcastically. "What's your problem?" She even got up and raised one eyebrow defiantly. "It's none of your business if those two are dating or not!"

Amanda chuckled scornfully. "Did you think I would just give up?" The brunette girl with red paint on the ends of her hair even gave Alicia a sharp look as she said,

.

.

.

"I'll have Ace and won't end up like Elena."