PROMINENT STUDENT SYSTEM

Maddox and I storm to the door. I'm in such a hurry that I almost overlook Cassy standing on the side door, crossing her arms around her chest and raising an eyebrow. I only got the hint she sent me to the last second that my foot hit her leg. Cassy did it on purpose.

I trip upon her leg, making me out of balance. Things happen too fast; when I expect my face to hit the hard tiles on the floor, a hand quickly grabs me on my waist and pulls me up. My breath quickens on the sudden, almost tragedy.

"You, okay?" Maddox asks, his hand still on my waist.

"Yes, good, thank you." I tuck my hair on my ears to clearly see him.

Cassy's eyes are sharply looking at me like she wants to hunt me. My blood boils seeing her face, and as expected, the three idiot friends are present. Cassy dares to look angry after what she did.

"What's wrong with you?" I ask; my voice is soft.

"What? Are you asking me?"

"I saw you blocking my way, Cassy; stop acting innocent." I snap. Students freeze, looking at us. I don't mind them watching us; I'm gonna teach this bitch a lesson.

"It's just you; you are such a lame transferee. Admit it."

I snort. "Lame? It's not me who needs three idiots by my side. I can walk on my own, and I don't need anybody to back me up."

"Huh? Really? How about your night and shining armor?" Cassy teases, glancing at Maddox.

"Enough, Cassy, I told you I don't need anybody to defend me," I retort, my voice hardens in conviction.

"Hey, transferee, lower down your voice. Who do you think you are to talk to me like that. Everyone here respects me."

"Is that so? That's strange; a bully like you don't deserve respect from anybody, especially from me."

Cassandra drew nearer; anger clouds her features.

"Cassy, enough," Maddox chime in. He was listening all the while. Cassy freezes in her track.

"See?" Cassy glanced at me. "Your hero is here to save you. You deserve an award for quickly flirting with Maddox. A whore like you and your mom is such a disaster on this planet. Your kind doesn't belong in our kind," Cassy narrated like she has known my mom her whole life.

My ears heat upon hearing her narrative. Cassy smug, an evil smirk on her face, and even the three idiots behind her. Nobody has the right to insult mom; my mom is a good woman and a good person. How dare this petite girl insult my mom?

"Cassy, back off. Angel, let's go; we need to see Max now."

Oh no, my boy. I give Cassy and the three idiots a stern look before I look away. You wait, your time will come, you will pay for insulting my mom. Maddox takes my hand as we squeeze out of the crowd.

"Sorry about Cassy," Maddox says when we are in his car. "She's a brat. I bet you can tell by the way she has acted since the first day of school."

 "I know, but I'm not the kind who takes bullies lightly like she probably expects." I'm gonna teach her and the 3 girls a lesson one of these days. They're lucky I have to attend to my boy, Max; if not because of Max, they'll be embarrassed to death.

Maddox cracks as he shifts on me, his hands on the wheel.

"What's funny?"

"From the moment you introduce yourself in front of the whole class, I know you are different. Even if you are petite..."

"Hey, who's petite?" I ask. "I'm not petite; 5'2 is not petite. Stop that petite calling, okay?"

"You are, and that's okay. It's cute,"  

There you go, he said that again. "Don't call me small, ever again," I said, raising a finger to emphasize that I'm warning him.

"I get it; you don't wanna be called petite. Copy."

"Thanks. And Cassy is not tall either, but regardless of her height and body build, I can take care of myself."

"Oh, you can?" Maddox asks, his voice has a hint of doubt.

Here he is again doubting or trying to annoy me. "Yes, I can, without a doubt or a second thought," I said in conviction, assuring my statement.

"Okay, I believe you," he says sarcastically.

"You don't sound convinced, though," I said, shaking my head.

"Seriously, I believe you can take care of yourself," he said again.

"Fine. Now, going back to your kind of people. I'm sorry to say this, but rich kids are insane, except a few like, you know, Luke, Sam, and you."

Maddox ducks his head upon hearing my confession. "You mean, I'm nice to you? Do you really mean that?"

"I do; you are nice. You are my first friend in school."

"Well, you seem like a nice girl as well."

"Sorry, not sorry, I'm not that so nice as you."

Maddox cracks again. "Stop that; you're too cute. It would be best if you got used to hearing people saying you are nice. Don't be too hard on yourself, Angel."

Shit. Maddox is doing an excellent job of making my heartbeat racing.

"Fine. But what you've said proves that you are a good person. Must be lucky to have you as a friend."

"You are indeed lucky. Don't worry; I got your back even if you can take care of yourself."

"Thanks, anyway. Mad, I have a question. Who are those three girls tailing Cassandra? Those four are inseparable."

Maddox sigh. "Right, they're inseparable. Those fours believe they're superior among girls in junior high. I don't even know what made them think that way, although I have a clue. Cassandra is the richest among junior students. Her dad is a business tycoon based in Manila, and so are the other girls."

"I see, but the other junior students are rich, aren't they? Well, except me, of course."

"Yeah, but they have that kind of ranking based on their financial status. Avery, Scarlett, and Chloe are below Cassandra. I don't acknowledge this kind of shit; it has nothing to do with studying. These people love parading what they got in their bank accounts instead of what they can get and give in studying. Angel, there are things you still have to learn on our campus."

"I know; they're kind of strange to me."

"Yeah, we are on the same page, Angel."

"How about Luke, Sam, and you? What are your rankings, if I may ask."

Maddox stays mute for seconds. "Like I've said, not my cup of tea, I opted to be out of it. Sam and Luke have a good position in the ranking. But neither of them is interested in this shit. The school does not even recognize it; only domineering students founded this kind of system a few years back."

"I see."

"Angel, don't fall for this trap; this is a distraction. Just focus on your studies and ignore these arrogant students."

"I know, so good at it. It's the only way I repay my mom for all her hard work for the both of us."

I stay quiet for a while, and I barely notice we're near Dr. M's Veterinary clinic the next time I glance at the window. "We're almost there."

"Yeah, Max is gonna be okay." His dark black orbs say he is sincere as they stare into my eyes.

He knows how to console an anxious dog owner. Sweet.