CHAPTER SIX

ENCOUNTERS AND FIGHTS

DEPARTMENT OF GRAPHIC DESIGNING, 7 AM.

Leaving the Calculus 108 lecture room, Robin sighted John Davis Stacks from the Stacks family, popular for making designer shoes and bags, the only friend she had in the entire school.

They had been classmates in a prestigious high school, where she studied as a scholarship student, Jack had always been nice and they became friends when he transferred from his previous school to hers in senior high. He had done a lot for her in the three and half years of them knowing each other.

He was a tall, slightly tanned, handsome and muscular guy, a fashion designing student in his first level. He had on a blue, long sleeved shirt which he rolled up at the sleeves and white jeans  with white sneakers, which was one of the shoes designed from his family's shoe line."

"Hello John, how are you doing?" she asked from behind him.

"How am I doing? You've got to be kidding me. I just saw the post Rob, how could you not tell me about something like that? You know what? Let's go to the son of a bitch, and I'll surely beat the crap out of him. He'll surely be in The Braves Club now, let's go," he said while grabbing her hand.

Rubbing her brow and taking her hand out of his, Robin let out a sigh, "Calm down John, I know you wanna beat him up for me, but would you please calm down and let me at least tell you exactly what happened. You know how everything is always blown out of proportion on social media, don't you? It's all a lie."

"Well I know there's no smoke without fire, if nothing actually happened then what were you doing pointing at him in those photos? You don't have to be scared, I'm a member of the wealthy society and I know how rich people like him behave, he might have threatened you to keep silent, but you don't have to do it. What exactly happened between you two for God's sake?" He yelled.

"You know what John, let's go to Penny's Cafe to discuss this, people are already looking at us. Come on let's go," she said as they walked down to the cafe which was a few buildings away from her department.

As much as she appreciated John's protective behaviour, she didn't like how he was shouting at her, which brought everyone's attention to her and had them gossiping. Some with a pitiful look and others with a judgmental look and so much hatred.

Back at the lecture room, it had been no different and was actually worse with even the lecturer giving her a pitiful look.

She wondered how Andrew would have been treated then, if even she, the victim had a very hard time in class, then he who they assumed to be an assaulter must have faced worse treatment.

They got into the cafe and sat a one of the few tables left as the cafe was a bit crowded that morning. John, taking her left hand in his said, "Robin, I'm really sorry for shouting at you like that, but you should know I'm only worried about you. I'm the only person you really know in this school and I don't want to see you get hurt, so if you say you're fine and nothing happened, then I'll believe you. We've known each other for almost four years now, I'm not simply a high school classmate anymore, I'm your friend and you can trust me with anything, okay?"

"Thanks John, do you remember I told you Jack was coming to visit me for the week?"

"Yeah, I do. He sent me a text regarding that, is he back? Does he know about everything?"

"No, John had just arrived really late at midnight and needed me to show him the way to my lodge room. I got out after hearing a loud bang from outside and saw him lying unconscious on the road, Andrew Grey and his friends were drunk driving and knocked him down accidentally."

"What?" He screamed. "Keep it down John, do you know what's the worst part of it all? He didn't even care to help us and just flung a cheque at me, claiming that I was just a social climber who staged the entire thing, though with the help of a neighbor, he was rushed to the hospital and now he's still in unconscious. I'm just so sad, what if something bad happens, what if Jack never wakes up again?" Robin broke down in tears.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry Rob. Don't cry, Jack's really strong he'll be fine. I used to think that guy and his friends were just a bit too proud, but now I'm sure they are just a bunch of insensitive bastards. What did the doctor say?" He said while running her back to comfort her.

"He said under normal circumstances, Jack is expected to come around at the end of the week and that's in two days time. I'm just so stressed with everything and I don't even understand how the post came out saying something entirely different from what actually happened. The worst thing is that, Andrew thinks I'm the one who did it and he has vowed to destroy me."

"Oh no, I'm really sorry, but you need to let everyone know the truth about what happened."

Robin told him all about the plan to find out the real culprit and as they were talking about it, she perceived the strong cologne of Andrew before she saw him storm into the cafe in white trousers, putting his toned thighs on display and a black long sleeved shirt, which clung to his slightly muscular physique, he looked really furious and she wondered why she was taking his features in details and then noticed a girl beside him, probably another lover of his, she concluded. He was just a real babe magnet and had the looks and money for that lifestyle, he probably saw no reason to smoothen the rough edges of his unpresentable manners, she thought to herself.

The girl, she assumed to be around her own age, a gorgeous blonde with a slim and graceful figure. She had on a light pink sleeveless crop top with a short pink patterned skirt and her long toned legs glowing in the light of the sun, her outfit was complimented with black heels and though half of her face was shielded by the sunglasses she wore, Robin was she was very gorgeous.

They both appeared to be in an argument and John's voice brought her mind back to the conversation they were having. "What is it? What are you looking at? I've been trying to get your attention for some time now," John said as he looked in the direction where she had been staring at earlier, she also looked at Andrew and noticed he and the blonde had taken a table across from them, just next to the window. He could easily sight she and John if he looked straight ahead.

"It's nothing."

"It's Andrew Grey and Jenna Lincoln right, the most powerful couple on campus. I'd like to know how Jenna feels about her dear boyfriend, running a guy over and fleeing from the scene," he scoffed and she noticed an edge to his voice when he mentioned Jenna's name.

"He has a girlfriend?" Robin asked, surprised.

"Of course, they've been together for almost a year now, though rumour has it that they have an open relationship. He's just wasting Jenna's time, he simply loves anything with the genetic make of a girl. Come on, let's go over to their table and talk to him, he can't just get away with this easily," John said as he drew her to her feet.

★★★★★★

ANDREW'S HOUSE, 6:30 AM.

"I just don't trust this Robin girl. I'm sure she staged everything, but it's no worry, I think I like this challenge of hers. She is probably trying to get my attention in a way different from the other girls I'm used to, don't you think so?" Drew asked as he put some bread into the toaster to complete making breakfast for he and his friends.

"Don't think about it too much man, life's not all about you. I think she's just of victim of fake news uploaded in social media, just like you are," Joe answered as he took a bite of his bread.

"Yes, Joe is right. Robin has done nothing wrong to you so far, you were the one who ran her brother over and now he is in a coma, if she really was as bad as you've been making her seem, then she probably would have gone to the media or the police with the news and even the cheque as evidence, but she didn't. If anyone's supposed to be apologizing, then it's you, Drew. Have you thought of what would happen if he doesn't come out of coma or worse if he dies, then you'd become a murderer," Evans added, he seemed really serious and annoyed at Drew.

"Take it easy guys, we don't wanna fight over some girl who we don't even know. I honestly think a simple apology and a visit to see her brother would have been enough," Miller said, while eating an apple.

"What? Your opinion has changed just because you've seen she's pretty and just your type? What am I saying, you don't even have a type do you? You were the one who told me to leave them there when the accident happened!"

"This has nothing to do with Robin being beautiful, but everything to do with you thinking you're always right. Dude I don't want us to raise voices over this little issue. I already know who put up the post, all we need now is to put the plan in place, okay?" Miller replied.

"What? Are you guys seriously putting all the blame on me now? We were all drunk, how the heck would I have known that the guy would run into us? Don't forget the status of that girl, I made a research on her background, she is poor and wants to make money out of me, but she has definitely made the wrong choice, I'll make sure she regrets meeting me. I'll see you guys at the launch, I just need to meet with Harry to discuss some things related to the party, bye."

"That's the problem with you, when did you become this vain. You sound just like Jenna right now and you're always running away from the truth. Robin being poor doesn't make her less of a human," Joe added which had Drew letting out a groan.

"So Robin has bewitched you guys? Anyways thanks for telling me the truth, I really appreciate knowing where your loyalty stands," he said as he grabbed his bag and car keys and stormed out of the apartment.

He got into the elevator while fuming and thought of how much his luck had changed since the appearance of Robin Jane Stevens in his life. He had lost Jenna, though he had to say he knew they were going to break up regardless of whether that issue came up or not, he was sick of her demands. He had his father angry at him, had argued with his friends for the first time ever and had been labeled as a sexual assaulter by everyone on campus.

Getting into his car, he made a call to Harry, asking him to meet him at Penny's Cafe, where he usually had his morning coffee. Driving down to the university, he was halfway there when he got a text from his father's secretary, Mr. Hudson Keller.

He tapped on the notification and read the text: "The chairman is really angry at you, he got the news about what happened and you are expected to clear this mess as soon as possible. You have been given a time limit of 24hrs or else, the chairman would have to resort to drastic measures to clear it up for you. Have a nice day Andrew Alexander Grey. Hudson Keller, Personal Secretary, Grey Business Empire."

After reading the text, he let out a forced laugh, he trusted Mr. Hudson, under the instruction of his father to first deliver the bad news before wishing him a good day, as if he could have one after getting that text.

He drove into the parking lot of the cafe and just as he was about to enter, he heard the chirpy voice of Jenna from behind him. She was in her usual short skirt and halter top attire, there was something about her beauty that always shocked him each time he looked at her, but that face was definitely not fooling him this time, "What is it Jenna? We broke up yesterday remember, so why are you here, calling my name?"

"I thought about everything when I got home yesterday and I think I was a bit too rash and didn't believe you, Drew. Could you please forgive me? I have some people working on the case and we'll find out who put up that post."

"Jenna, this was the same thing that happened with Jenny last semester, I am from a wealthy family and obviously someone planned this whole thing just to make some money out of me. You should know that I'd never do such a thing, but you don't trust me and that's why this relationship is impossible!" He yelled as he got into the cafe with Jenna following after him.

Taking a table he watched as she carefully spied the entire cafe and wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Your taste has seriously gone so low. How could you come to this sort of local place? There's too many people in here babe, let's talk elsewhere," she said as she took his hand in hers.

"No, I'm going nowhere with you Jenna, it's over between us and it's not just because of that post, it's because I'm tired of your constant nagging. You are really obnoxious, you weren't like this before or maybe I was simply blinded by your beauty, but now I can see you for who you truly are. Not only did you come to disturb me, you've come here to degrade my taste in cafes too. I will talk to your dad and tell him that it was all my fault for us breaking up, if you're scared to tell him, but it's over and if I were you I'd leave here now. I'm really not in a good mood and just how did you know I'd be here?"

"I called Harry and he told me you'd be here and honestly I've never heard of this place until today, I feel disgusted having to stay here, its just too crowded. Don't worry Andrew, I know you will come back begging for me, this isn't the first time that we're breaking up, just so you know, when you do I'll be ready to take you back in open arms," Jenna said as she rose to his feet and sashayed out of the cafe.

Andrew combed his fingers through his jet black hair and looked around for the waitress, he was in serious need for a drink. Jenna was extremely annoying to be around and he felt like he had run a marathon rather than just talking to her.

Looking ahead, he sighted the reason for everything happening to him at the moment, Robin Stevens and she was being dragged to her feet towards him.

"Andrew Grey, can we have a word with you?" The guy whom he recognized as John Stacks, famous for his shoe line asked, but Drew's attention was on the redhead with ocean eyes, today she had a black long sleeved crop top with blue ripped jeans on and to complete the look a pair of black and white sneakers. She was probably trying to look unappealing and tomboyish, but it was quite the opposite, as her attractive figure was still visible.

He quickly took his eyes off her and answered, "Stacks, have a seat. What can I do for you today? Just so you know, I don't have time for a long chat, so whatever you have to say has to be quick."