Chapter One

KIMBERLY

Loud music blasts through the walls almost deafening my ears, i rush up the stairs opening door after door. I can hear my friends shouting my name but I don't stop.

Almost all the rooms are occupied with people either fucking or doing drugs, i don't pay much thought to the naked scenes i've found myself getting free HD view of. I'm a woman on a mission i really need to see through myself.

I take deep breaths when i come face to face with the last door of the frat house. I place my shaky hand on the doorknob, this is it there's no going back. Taking more deep breaths in, i push the door open and my world stops. Nothing and I mean nothing, could have prepared me for the scene I walk in on.

"Ro-Ronan?"

I stutter, his head is thrown back as a blond girl kneels between his legs. Her head bobs back and forth in a quick pace.

His head slowly turns in my direction and his eyes widen when he realises who's standing in the doorway. He just stares at me,not bothering to stop the girl giving him pleasure.

I place a hand on the left side of my chest,feeling an invisible knife cutting through my skin aiming directly for my heart. I turn around and run from the scene. Why her? it could have been anyone else but why her?

I pull at the end of my long sleeve shirt, fisting it as i quicken my pace. It starts raining and my hair sticks to my cheeks and forehead,I can't even hear the sound of my converse on the tarmac.

"Kim!"

"Kim!!!"

"Kimberly!"

I hear my friends calling out to me, it's 10pm but there's no such emotion as fear in me,I guess what they say is true, when you're heart broken, the only thing that eats at you is hurt, betrayal and lots and lots of questions like,

What did I do wrong? what don't I have? and am I not enough?

I shouldn't have come to this stupid frat in the first place, a highschool boyfriend who attends college parties? I'm so stupid. What does he do when I'm not there, if he's so sloppy when he's aware of the possibility I'd decide to change my mind and go there?

I reach home in drenched clothes, water dripping on the floor, mother's speaks from the kitchen.

"Kim honey is that you?"

"Yeah mom,I'll just go to bed."

"Okay honey,don't forget to drink the milk i left on your study table.

"Thanks mother,goodnight."

I try as hard as possible to sound cheerful. I reach my room and shut the door,I slide down against it, hugging my knees to my chest then I cry to my heart's content.

* *The Next Day* *

I stretch and yawn,my eyes feel heavy and swollen from all the crying I did last night. I pat the table next to me feeling for my phone, I wait for my eyes to adjust to the morning light then I light the phone screen. There's eleven missed calls from my friends, four from Sam and seven from Noah.

Oh there's messages too, which I immediately delete without opening, I know it's probably,

"where are you?" and "we told you so."

I throw my legs off the bed and stretch some more, I should get ready for school,whatever happened happened. I can't hide forever,I am not a coward,if people talk then so be it.

Well that's if they know what went down last night.

After taking a hot bath, I look at myself in the mirror,my eyes are still red and puffy from all the crying i did last night, so I conceal them with makeup. It doesn't hide the puffiness much but it'll do.

I catch a ride with Sam,my childhood best friend, the entire ride is quiet except for the good mornings we exchanged earlier. I guess she knows I still need some space, she places her hand on top of mine and squeezes it in a comforting way.

"Just...act normal," she says.

"I'm okay, besides, I won't hesitate to put any nosy person in their place."

She looks like she's about to argue but gives up.

"Sam.." I touch her arm. "it's okay."

She stares at me with worry and uncertainty.

"Am just worried about you Kim, you know how vicious and cruel those people in there can be."

I sigh.

"I know..I can handle it."

"That Bree is gonna be circling and feasting for any small crumbs of information to ruin you with," She folds her hands over her chest.

Bree, aka Queen b of Blackwool Royal High and Blackwool town. A perfect description of a runaway model: blond hair,blue eyes,long legs and silky skin that glows in the sunlight. She hates me, No, loathes me because of Ronan.

She's his ex girlfriend. When I transferred here from a public school, rumors started circulating that Ronan dumped Bree just so he could court me,shocker right?

Well ever since then,there's been whispers every corner I turn.

"What's so good about her anyway?"

"She's nothing special."

"She's not even that pretty."

"I bet she thinks she's now high and mighty because she's dating the star quarterback."

and so on.

The bullying gets worse and worse. Stealing my uniforms in the showers after practice,vulgar words written on my locker,missing books and stupid pranks, it even got to tripping me at cheerleading practice just so I wouldn't participate in the cheerleading squad at the school football year championship tournament.

"I'm used to it,besides, she doesn't scare me, I can handle her just fine."

"Okay, I've got your back, you know that right?"

"Yes I do."

We walk through the doors and into the hallway, we're not even halfway through when the whispers start.

"Just keep your head high and don't pay them attention," Sam whispers.

Right! easier said than done.

I lift my chin up with my head held high,I don't stop or make eye contact with anyone.

Some are not even trying to hide by lowering their voices,they freely speak out loud instead.

"She thought she was the queen."

"Karma is a bitch,what goes around comes back around."

Sneakers,laughs, and more nasty comments but I keep walking. I reach the corner and that's when I realize I was holding my breath, my eyes stare at the bathroom doors and I rush there,heading straight for the last stall, then I lock myself in and cry.

"Kim," Sam knocks.

"Just go, I'm okay."

"Okay, I'll be out here if you need me."

I don't answer,a few seconds later,i hear her retreating footsteps.

* *Later* *

The bell rings and I leave for class, I slip into the desk and place my backpack next to my seat on the floor. Ms Green, the history teacher walks in immediately starting the lessons,the last thing I hear is,

"So embarrassing." Followed by a giggle as I try my hardest to concentrate.

The day goes by painfully slowly, it's lunch time and I'm placing my books in the locker, I don't get to fully retreat my hand when the locker slums shut, smashing my fingers in the process.

"Ouch! What the-"

"Oops. Sorry did that hurt?" Bree smirks at me.

"Definitely like a bitch." Naomi, bitch number two of the school answers.

"No Nao, she's the bitch, remember?"

And that's Jessy, bitch number three.

They snicker.

"Be nice girls," Bree says to her evil minions as she leans against a locker.

"Heard Ron dumped you? Is that true? And in the most humiliating way."

"It's non of your business." Is all I say as I try to move past her but she blocks my way.

"Now listen Kimsy."

I hate it when she calls me that,she knows it so she does it on purpose.

"I told you to stay away from Ronan, he's mine. If you try to worm yourself into his life again, I will destroy you and this time I won't hold back."

She stares at me from top to bottom.

"Are you done?" I ask in a well mastered calm voice, which makes her angry.

"Yes, I won't bother myself with you again,you were just the flavor of a few months. I win Kimberly,I always do."

And then she pushes me against the lockers, flips her hair and walks away, her minions look me up and down.

"Bitch," They throw at me as they walk away.

I force and blink the tears back.

Making my way to the theatre room,I enter and sit in the back rows in the dark corner and cry.

The shield I've build over two years is starting to crack because i'm not only crying for the nasty bullying but the heartbreak too, I wipe the tears away angrily.

No,this is the last time I'll shed a tear because of those people, I'll walk with my chin high and crush every obstacle that will stand in my way.

The last period goes by quickly, I stand to exit the room when I trip, or someone trips me.

Holding myself at the last minute, I gasp and collect myself. I turn and my eyes meet Andrew's, he smirks up at me and his friends laugh. The Elites; cocky,bossy, arrogant and well, unapologetically handsome.

Andrew has always had a crush on Bree, so his cruel behavior right now is understandable, he'd do anything to see her smile, so I being the "reason" for her crying has a lot do to with this.

Who even acts like this for a girl who's in love with someone else and pays Zero out of ten attention to them?

"Careful there blondie, we wouldn't want to ruin that pretty face for the next target now would we?" He mocks in a irritating tone.

I bite my tongue and turn around, leaving the classroom.

"Hey!" I hear Sam's voice and turn around with a smile.

"Hey."

"You walk so fast," She pants.

"No I don't,you just have a hard time keeping up with people."

"You need a ride home? I can drop you."

"Sure," I smile.

We step out of the building and head for the parking lot. Ronan emerges from between the cars,it's like he was waiting for me.

"Hey Kim, can we talk?" He pushes his blond hair back and puts his hands in his pockets.

"I don't have time to talk."

I keep walking to Sam's car.

"Wait...." He grabs my arm but I shake his hand off.

"Don't touch me," I say firmly.

"I just-i just want to talk okay."

"And she said no. Just leave her alone Ronan, you've caused enough damage already," Sam stands at my side.

"Look Sam, I know you're Kim's best friend but just stay out of it okay."

Sam scoffs in disbelief, I know the bomb is about to tick so I rush to say,

"Don't talk to her like that, she's my best friend." My brows crease.

"I know, but can't we talk privately?"

"I said I don't want to talk Ronan!"

I give him a hard stare and bypass him, dragging Sam behind me.

We pull out of the parking lot and I let out a deep breath.

"He's such I jerk. I knew I was right,I don't like him." Sam says.

I don't respond as I look in the side mirror and see his figure still planted in the same spot.