Prologue

The bell rang signaling the end of another tiresome class. Evelyn gathered her books and hurriedly made her way through the crowd of students rushing out of their classes like they were being chased by something fearful.

As she strolled the hallways, she noticed girls taking selfies with their iPhones, eager to post them on I*******m to gain likes and attention from boys, but she wasn't like them. Moving to New York from Houston had been a big change for her. Evelyn knew it wasn't a place for her. She was a young girl trying to fit in this new change, but didn't belong anywhere. The more she tried, the more she never truly felt at home.

Father was always too busy for her and would rather focus on his work instead and mother was always consumed with work too, though she gave her little attention anyway. She hated herself the more and felt more pathetic. She had no friends, wasn't pretty, just a pale face covered with freckles. 

Sighing, she opened her locker, carefully arranging my books inside when her thoughts where drawn to the chattering coming down the hall. 

There stood the “Big 3" as they were fondly called. Chatting among themselves, they strolled the hallways with their bags slung carelessly over their shoulders, their hair disheveled and messy like they had just finished a marathon.

Archer Turner is the wide receiver of the school football team, he has gold hair and blue eyes that make girls swoon over him due to his soft features, his family owns Turner’s INC, an automobile manufacturing company. Owen Parker is the midfielder of the football team. Unlike Archer, he had a more mature face and muscular build.

Liam Stark, quarterback and captain of the football team. His name stands out from the rest and sends shivers down people's spine, no one daring to cross his path. Rumors among students suggest he may have a dark side as he is the brutal one of the three. He had both the looks and the physique, making him the terrifying one of the trio. His father owns Stark Industries, the largest company in all of New York. Together, they formed the “Big 3.”

As the trio marched the hallways, everyone bowed their heads in fear. Evelyn peeked up to glance at a guy walking majestically oblivious to the fact that the” Big 3 ”were lurking inside. He became startled once he caught the sight of them, but it was already too late as he had been caught. Owen's voice boomed through the hallway making everyone startled.

“ Tsk Tsk, what do we have here? ” He gazed intensely at the poor soul who looked like he could break at any moment. 

“ I'm sorry, I didn't notice you guys passing by, please forgive me ”. He stuttered, daring not to make eye contact.

“ What should we do with you? ” Archer asked, taking his backpack and tossing it over to Liam whose eyes darkened as though he had won a lottery.

“ Probably make him sweep the school " Liam interrupted, straightening himself from his relaxed position against the headboard. Adjusting his hair, Evelyn caught a glimpse of a scar on his forehead.

What could that be?

“ Leave him alone, " her thoughts voiced out, she silently prayed her voice was inaudible but to her dismay, it wasn't. The sudden silence and the multiple eyes trained on her were evidence that she was wrong. Some looked with pity as though she was fragile and some looked with envy, like she was an attention-seeking whore.

“Little bird, why interfere in matters that don’t concern you ? ” Archer sneered while taking small steps toward Evelyn. “Little bird" was the nickname they had given her. A baby bird is helpless without its mother's protection. 

“ You don't just get to bully everyone," Evelyn said, her heart pounding heavily in her chest as she was able to utter the words she'd been holding back for far too long. 

Evelyn locked eyes with Liam for the first time, and he looked with his piercing blue eyes meeting hers. A.smirk forming on his face.

“I guess last time's lesson wasn't enough for you huh" 

Evelyn snickered, her eyes still trained on him. His smirk vanished and was replaced by a cold glare, approaching her quickly, gripping her neck in the process.

She gasped for air, but he didn't let go. His blue eyes darkened as stared at her intensely.

“ Come on man, that's too much, ” Owen said, rushing quickly to Liam's side and pulling off his hand from where he had gripped her.

“ Breathe " he urged Liam, his voice filled with concern. Liam's features softened after realization dawned on him.

Without another word the “ Big 3 " headed to the cafeteria and she released a breath I didn't know I was holding. 

She closed my locker and was met with the face of the timid boy from earlier.

“Thank you for..for helping me" he stammered, his voice inaudible. 

“It's fine, and you don't have to look down when you are speaking to me".

He nodded firmly and Evelyn headed straight to the restroom. Once inside, she immediately took out her pills and gulped them down quickly with water. Tears streamed down her face as she cried heavily. This was how her life in school was, always getting picked on. Today has gone quite better than she expected. Sometimes during break time, Owen would spill juice on her face in the cafeteria or Archer would stuff dirt in her ocker, while Liam watched, smiling through it all like the mastermind behind.

“ Enough of this crying ” she epeatedly said to herself as she wiped away the tears dripping from her face, heading out of the restroom. As she turned the corner, she bumped into something, more like someone. 

“ Here, let me help," a voice said, as she dropped to her knees picking up Evelyn scattered belongings.

She looked up to see a girl about her age with bright gray eyes and black hair. Her hair was curled down to her shoulders showing off her perfect cheekbones.

“ Thanks " she mumbled, helping her to finish packing the rst of the books, avoiding eye contact to prevent any trouble. 

Standing up, she scanned Evelyn from head to toe. “ We’re in the same biology class, right? " 

As much as she hated to admit it, she nodded slightly. She beamed happily at her.

" We are going to be best friends, " she giggled, extending her hands towards Evelyn.

“ I'm Ava by the way. ”

For the first time in forever, Evelyn felt a flicker of happiness. Maybe, just maybe, she had found her first real friend and high school wouldn't be so unbearable after all.

“ I'm Evelyn,” she replied, shaking her hand.