NEVER GONE SEASON 1

CHAPTER 10

BRITTANY'S POV:

So far, my days at Dashville High have been surprisingly peaceful, no major drama, no cliques targeting me, and no stressful encounters. I’ve been cautiously optimistic, hoping this streak of quiet would last.

It was a quiet Monday during recess. The hum of chatter filled the classroom as students grouped together, laughing, whispering, and flipping through textbooks. I sat at my desk, flipping open my favourite novel - Where’s Theo? The mystery in the book always helped me escape reality for a while.

Dwayne had gone to the library with her sister Dawn and James. As much as I enjoyed their company, sometimes I treasured the solitude of a good book.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice broke my focus.

“Hey, miss!”

The voice was sharp and commanding. I turned around to see a girl towering over me. She seemed way bigger than me, not just in height but in presence. Her confident stance was bolstered by the smaller girls flanking her, who looked more like her followers than her friends.

Is she in my class? I thought, scanning her face. How have I not noticed her before? If she was, then I must be smaller than I thought because this girl was... intimidating.

“Uh... Hello,” I replied cautiously, trying to keep my voice steady

“Keep your greetings to yourself,” she snapped, her tone laced with disdain. “I don’t want to see you near my guy, any day. I hope you heard me! Or else you’ll regret it dearly.”

With that, she spun on her heel and walked away, her entourage trailing behind her like shadows.

What was that all about? I thought, sitting frozen in my chair. My palms had turned clammy, and my mouth suddenly tasted sour. My heart raced, and the butterflies in my stomach seemed to have started an intense aerobics class.

Who the hell is she, and what guy is she talking about? I tried to piece it together. What have I done to her? I wasn’t ready for any drama. I didn’t come to Dashville High to make enemies, I just wanted to blend in and focus on my studies.

The classroom felt suffocating all of a sudden. I needed someone to talk to, someone to help me make sense of this. I spotted Dwayne walking back from the library and immediately rushed to her, hoping she could calm my nerves.

“Hey, Britt! What happened? Did they hurt you?” Dwayne asked, her brows furrowed in concern. She must’ve seen the confrontation.

“Not physically,” I replied, my voice shaky. “But they really scared me. She told me not to go near her guy, or she’d deal with me. Who’s her guy?”

Dwayne’s eyes darkened for a moment before she sighed, lowering her voice. “There’s only one boy that b***h is concerned about, and that’s Mycseen.”

“Mycseen?” I repeated, confused.

“Yes,” she said firmly. “But listen, Mycseen doesn’t like anyone. She’s been trying so hard to get his attention, but it’s not working. That’s why she’s angry. So cheer up, girl. Nothing’s going to happen to you.”

Mycseen? I thought back to my first day at Dashville High. The only interaction I’d had with him was a brief exchange of pleasantries when I was with Dwayne. Since then, we haven't spoken. Why would anyone think there was something between us?

“Okay,” I said hesitantly. “But I haven’t even spoken to him since my first day.”

“Yeah, I know,” Dwayne said, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. “I’ll handle her.”

“Please be careful,” I said, grabbing her arm. The last thing I wanted was for Dwayne to get into trouble because of me. “That girl looks dangerous.”

“Uh-huh,” Dwayne replied nonchalantly, brushing off my concern with a wave of her hand.

“What’s her name?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

“Alia Camroll,” Dwayne said, her tone neutral but her expression sharp.

“Thanks, Dwayne,” I said sincerely. As she walked out of the classroom, I returned to my seat, though my heart was still racing.

What is Dwayne going to do? I wondered as I watched her disappear into the hallway. Alia had been intimidating, and the last thing I wanted was for Dwayne to get into a confrontation. But knowing Dwayne, she wouldn’t let anyone mess with her friends.

I couldn’t shake the unease that settled in my chest. Why had Alia singled me out? Did she really think I was a threat? The thought was almost laughable. Mycseen and I barely knew each other. The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed.

But fear lingered at the edges of my mind. Alia wasn’t just big, she carried herself with a confidence that hinted at trouble. I could still feel the weight of her words: “You’ll regret it dearly.”

I picked up Where’s Theo? again, but the words on the page blurred together. My thoughts kept drifting back to Alia, to Mycseen, and to whatever Dwayne was planning.

I just hope everything will be okay.