NORAI found myself sitting in the principal's office, my heart racing as I stared at the stern-faced administrator. Next to me sat Cassidy, looking smug and self-satisfied. Across from us sat the teacher and two of Cassidy’s friends, all of them looking at me with accusing eyes. I felt like a criminal, even though I hadn't done anything wrong. I knew I was innocent, but I wasn't sure how to prove it.“Cassidy, lay an explanation first.” The administrator began. I instantly knew I was already doomed by the lies Cassidy is about to tell"Principal, I saw her with the makeup kit!" Cassidy exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at me. "She stole it from my bag!" I could feel the color draining from my face as I heard her words. I knew that no matter what I said, she would twist the truth and make me out to be the villain. I was at a loss for what to do, and I felt completely powerless. I could only hope that the principal would see through her lies.“Is that true?” The administrator i
NORAI could feel the nerves bubbling up inside me as my mother stared at Jordan, her face unreadable. I held my breath, waiting for her to make a decision. Then, to my surprise, she nodded her head in approval. I exhaled in relief, and Jordan’s face lit up with a smile. I took his hand and walked us together towards the next corner, where we turned right and headed for the front door. As we walked, I felt a sense of anticipation. Whereas, a big part of me was at least relieved Mom doesn’t seem to recognize him. My heart sank as Jordan showed me the front page of the school newspaper, with a photo of me next to the headline, "The Secret Daughter of the Prime Minister." I couldn't believe it. My whole life had just been exposed to the entire school, and there was nothing I could do to change it. I felt like my privacy had been violated, and I didn't know how to handle the situation. I just stood there, frozen, as Jordan stared at me, waiting for my reaction.“I should have stayed
NORAAs I entered the school, I felt the weight of everyone's stares. It was as if they were all whispering behind my back, talking about me, judging me. I tried to keep my head held high, but it was hard to ignore the feeling of being watched and analyzed. Every step I took felt like a chore, and I just wanted to escape. But no matter how much I tried to run away from it, the stares and whispers followed me like a shadow. I felt like a bug under a microscope, exposed for everyone to see.I hurried to my locker, desperate to escape the crowd. I shoved my books inside and closed the door with a bang. I leaned my head against the cold metal, breathing heavily. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I could feel the sweat beading on my forehead. I tried to calm myself down, but the anxiety was overwhelming. I had to get out of there. As I turned to walk away, I heard someone call my name.I turned around slowly, already knowing who it was. There stood Jordan, his face a mixture of con
NORA"What did you just do?" the basketball captain demanded, his voice low and dangerous. Jordan said nothing, his eyes still locked on the other captain. I was frozen in place, my heart pounding in my chest. "You need to calm down." I said, my voice shaking and coming out muffled. "There's no need for this." But my words fell on deaf ears, and the tension in the air was palpable. I could feel a storm brewing, and I didn't know how to escape it.In a sudden movement, Jordan turned and stormed away. The basketball captain took a step after him, his fists clenched, but I threw myself in front of him, blocking his path. "Please, just stop, this isn’t worth it." I pleaded, hoping he would heed to my persuasion. He looked down at me, and I could see the rage in his eyes, but something about my plea must have gotten through to him. He slowly lowered his fists, and I could feel the tension in the air begin to dissipate. I picked up his phone, and I could feel him watching me.I handed
JORDAN I couldn't help but smirk as I watched Nora frantically try to put her phone away. She thought she was being so sly, but I had seen the flash from her camera. I snatched the phone from her hand and stared at the image on the screen. It was a photo of me, taken without my consent. My face darkened, but I kept my expression neutral. I handed the phone back to her, my gaze steely. "You shouldn't take photos of people without their permission, it’s a violation of privacy." Was all I said even though I so much would like to delete it, I didn’t. That would be the first photo of me I’ve ever seen; the exact reason I shouldn’t have left it off the hook.I could tell Nora was about to protest, but before she could say a word, I got up and started to walk out of the classroom. I didn't want to hear any of her excuses. I knew what she had done was wrong, and I didn't need to hear her try to defend herself. I put my hand in my jacket pocket, my heart humming silently from the adrenalin
NORAI was so relieved when Jordan showed up. He was my only hope of getting out of this mess. But I couldn't help but feel worried. I knew he was a good fighter, but these guys looked like they meant business. As the punches started flying, my heart sank. I could only watch in horror as the blows landed. It was like watching a car crash in slow motion. I wanted to look away, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the scene. I just hoped it would be over soon.As the fight progressed, I could see that Jordan was starting to tire. The men were relentless, and he was beginning to slow down. I bit my lip, my hands clenched into fists. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to help, but I was terrified. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something glinting in the shadows. I turned to look, and my breath caught in my throat. A gun. I had to do something.Instead of reaching for the gun, I planted my feet and kicked one of the men in the stomach. He doubled over in pain, and I used th
NORAI walked out of the classroom immediately the class came to an end, my strides as confident as ever. Meanwhile Natalie kept on grinning from ear to ear behind me, which had me rolling my eyes almost every second. That was the first time I shoved Cassidy back to her lane, in the presence of everyone so I guess, it has surprised everyone also, not only Natalie.“Did you see the size of her eyes? They were so widened by shock to the size of a saucer pan.” She continued to buttress as we walked out of the gate. “Can we please get something to munch on? Or am I the only exhausted one here?” I threw her a questioning brow and she pointed towards the opposite direction where I behold a small restaurant. Never knew that was there.“I must say, you have such a great sight.”As I stepped into the small restaurant with her, I'm immediately hit by the smell of delicious food. It's making my mouth water, and I can't wait to order something to eat. The waiter greeted us with a friendly smil
NORAImmediately he took that startled step back, we sprinted out of the school gates, our backpacks bouncing on our backs. Our laughter faded as we ran, panting for breath as we rounded the corner. We stopped and leaned against a wall, our chests heaving as we tried to catch our breath. We looked at each other, eyes wide with shock and adrenaline. "That was close." I said, my heart still pounding in my chest. "Way too close," Natalie agreed, her face flushed with exertion. "I can't believe we did that."I was about to call my driver when I saw a familiar car pull up in front of us. My shoulders sagged with relief when I saw the limousine service logo on the side of the car. The window rolled down, and my driver's surprised face greeted us. "You're late." I said, trying to laugh off our antics. He most definitely has some explaining to do. "Sorry about that, Miss. I got caught in the traffic. Is everything alright?" his face apologetic, he asked, looking a bit flustered as he ma
Third Person’s Pov{Seven Years Later}“Do you know who my mother is?” Sky blue-eyed golden curls, Caily leapt on her feet, screeching.“No, you! Do you know who my father is?!” Aged five deep brown-eyed Nico with a mass of tousled dark curls boomed across the field, running unscathed to shelter the door. “Do you know who my daughter is?” Spencer challenged the two kids, stepping out of his car to squint his eyes at them, taking their sights in. Their resemblance was what alarmed him first. Nora had informed him at the jail five years ago she gave birth to a baby boy and four years ago too, that she’s already pregnant with a baby girl just a month after giving birth. It was risky but he remembered giving her his blessings. These can’t be his daughters bearing. They look too handsome and pretty for a child— the girl taking after her mother and the eldest, the boy taking after the father. “Who’s your daughter here, sir?” Caily’s pouty face turned serious. “We happen to know our pa
NORA {College, Three Years Later} Stony Brook University. Just the asignsment alone drives me crazy. I don’t have a choice. I became pretty much popular after my father’s scandal three years ago and luckily, people didn’t treat me bad because of that. Instead, they placed burdens on my shoulders. No events comes without me been among its planners, and you don’t speak of the teachers’ favorite without including me. I never thought I was going to experience such privilege in my life, even though it was so exhausting. Somehow, I have managed through three of my years here, left with just one year and I will be free. The fact that mostly half of the school would miss me not enough to encourage me to fail my last exam, and lag behind just to continue staying with them. “How are you able to read and write in such a noisy atmosphere as this?” When my roommate, Alice, came in, that was the first thing she asked me. “The fear of failure kept me going. Then again…” I hit my pe
JORDANAfter the night spent with Nora two days ago, I told her we should schedule our next meeting for when I have spoken with my mother. I want to introduce them to each other. I want my mother to see the girl that captured my heart. My mother and her boyfriend are somewhere around New York, and ever since she told me of their address, I never had the chance to visit them. Until now. The taste of calling him my mother’s boyfriend remained bitter on my lips. They better get married, being her husband would make far more better meaning. “You didn’t tell me beforehand you’re coming.” Was the first thing my mother said when she saw me at her doorstep. It’s a rented apartment meanwhile she gave me an owned bigger one, bought in my name. Where would I have been by now? At my friends’. Embarrassing. “You want me to go back?” I carefully asked before stepping insude. She shook her head and let me in. She walked me around the house and the only impressive thing about it was the big
NORA‘He’s leaving the country.’ Early in the next morning after I barely managed to sleep, the text woke me up. I don’t step out of the house without taking my bath but it was so tempting to do it for the first time. What stopped me was the bad smell drifting from me that would discourage Jordan even if he eventually decide to take me back. I took my bath but it was snappy, the shortest I have ever spent inside the bathroom. I didn’t get to make choices from my closet. I opted for the first one my hand reached. I knew first impression was everything but this wasn’t the first time Jordan would see me and then, I still remember him telling me how beautiful I look even without trying. “Where to?” It caught me by surprise that Liam was at home then it dawned on me it's Saturday. I wanted to turn around and just go back to my room but it's more scary not trying.“Jordan’s.” I responded. I waited for him to stop me from moving or even go as far as locking the door. I won't put it p
NORAA Month LaterI haven’t even applied to any college. It’s been a month of me constantly locking myself in my room, each time I go out only happening because I need to take my meals. My life has been upside down. A month of heavy changes in our family— my father no longer being the prime minister, my mother still forming enmity with us and her children. And above all, Jordan still not wanting to see me. Or should I say I don’t even know his whereabouts? Theodore kept checking up on me, not understanding I don’t want him here, not anywhere close to me. I don’t want to see anybody. I have tried chasing him off but he won’t leave. I know it’s Liam’s handiwork, thinking Theodore can get me to leave the walls of my room. He's a good guy though. He's not considering my behavior though I am trying to change towards him. If I don't want to remain a loner.Over the month, I went to the jail to check on my father and unlike what I expected of him, he didn’t chase me away. I told him o
LUCAN“No, you’re staying here with us.”I’m instantly on edge, tensed beneath my parents probing gaze. My decision to corner them before leaving for work, failing woefully. “I have nothing doing here.” I again try to persuade. “No, you have school here. Your resumption is barely two weeks away.” My father interjected this time, again turning the dice on me. Cassidy’s burial was just yesterday, and I am already fed up staying at New York. Everything reminds me of her, her memories too disturbing for me to live with.I don’t even get myself. If I ever want to, I need to vacate to another country. The problem now been my unyielding parents. If I ever want anything from them, what I know so far was how I have to work my way for it, by persuading then like there's no tomorrow.“You are capable of transferring schools for me. I’m tired of NY, I just want to change location. Nothing else, I promise.” I’m being wise. Staying here, I won’t even be able to mind my studies, everywhere I g
Third Person’s Pov{Feelings At The Burial}Mere looking at the casket being lowered to the ground almost had Jordan tearing up. The fact that ought to be him and not Cassidy, has his brain on a pause, discarding every other thoughts. If only he was in the right sense to chase after Jasper that day. With his own very hands, they would have killed him away, accepting to live the rest of his lives in jail. Then he saw his mother. The person who has been long murdered by the two devilish husband and wife. He wanted to go to her, to check if he was seeing the reality but the dead body in his arms was much more worthy than running after the woman who abandoned him. If she wasn’t dead, she should have came for him but that was a now. She left him with her heartless ex husband to witness nemesis. And when he saw Nora at the Ford’s, the fear of rejection once again appeared before his face. He’s still dealing with a loss, having her come to tell him they can’t work would be another bruis
A Week LaterNORAThere’s going to be a burial, for Cassidy. The burial is going to take place at the Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn.Together with Natalie, we are going to be visiting her family first to offer our condolences before we all head to the Cemetery. The school announced her death about five days ago through the school news portal, since the school has been on break. A few were saddened, most were gladdened receiving their freedom. I almost felt like punching holes in their faces whenever one or two of their disheartening comments popped up but I’d just injure myself by punching my phone. It would have been better face-to-face. How can people be so cruel? A little sympathy even if they don’t mean it most definitely won’t hurt a fly.The Ford’s family are rich, even if it looks average. The security guard must be having a tough time opening and shutting the door, for the numerous visitors. “They’re inside.” He directed us and I gave him a nod. A little more and I’d for
NORAYou want to know that one time I feel like jumping over a cliff? The moment I ran to the scene, and got there only when the deed was done. Fate didn’t even give me the chance to be in her stead. You think I wouldn’t in a blink? I would. What use was life to me before? Nothing. The guy I want, I can never get. I got him, I must not stay. Now what? If anybody doesn’t, I’m going to make sure Jasper regrets the ruin he caused. I’m angry, I feel annoyed, I want to drag my nails over my face. Cassidy fucking died! She was murdered. I saw her being rushed into the ambulance in cold blood and my body lost all blood. How can a father be so insane to go as far as killing his own son? If not to get out of prison, then I wonder what his motive was. And my father? I don’t know how else to say he’s in trouble.To be frank, Jordan didn’t even want to speak with me. I remembered running towards him, where he was on the floor wailing, and it was unexpected when he totally ignored me befo