My Prince Charming is a Girl

Between Walls and Windows

Chapter 6: Between Walls and Windows

Cassie dragged herself out of bed the next morning, still exhausted from the hours at Lyra’s house finishing the project. Her uniform felt stiff, her hair messy, and a dull ache pressed at her temples. She didn’t even want to think about school—but she had to.

Her mother sat in the dim light of the kitchen, a cigarette dangling from her fingers. “Where’s my money?” she demanded without looking up.

“I… I still have it for…” Cassie began, her voice trembling.

“คุณไม่มีวันรวยหรอก (You’ll never be rich),” her mother spat, cutting her off. “Give it to me. All of it. School, projects, grades… who cares? You earn, you hand it over. Nothing else matters.”

Cassie handed over the small envelope from her café job, stomach twisting, heart sinking. Her mother snorted and turned away, muttering under her breath, leaving Cassie standing there, aching from exhaustion and frustration.

By the time she walked to Eastvale Academy, the morning sun was bright, and the courtyard was alive with students chatting, laughing, and flaunting designer bags. She felt the familiar pang of inadequacy, the weight of her scholarship status pressing down on her shoulders.

“Cassie! Over here!” Jada called, waving from their usual spot. Malik lingered silently, giving her a reassuring nod.

“Morning,” Cassie murmured, trying to smile.

“You look tired,” Jada said. “Another late-night at Lyra’s?”

Cassie nodded, tugging at her blazer. “The project… it’s finally done. We stayed until almost sunset.”

“Wow,” Malik said quietly, eyebrows raised. “Lyra doesn’t do things lightly. I hope it went okay.”

Cassie nodded. “It did… I think. I just—she’s intense.”

The morning passed in normal school rhythm: lessons, chatter, and the occasional glances from Lyra, who seemed to appear at exactly the right moments to make her pulse race. In economics, their teacher praised Cassie and Lyra for the project results, calling it “well-organized, precise, and thoroughly researched.”

Cassie felt a surge of relief—and pride. Maybe she had earned a little recognition beyond the scrutiny of Lyra’s amber eyes.

Lunch was quieter than usual. Cassie, Jada, and Malik sat in the corner, keeping out of the view of Vanya and her clique, who still lingered with subtle smirks.

“You handled the project really well,” Jada said, nudging her. “I’m impressed. Lyra doesn’t compliment easily.”

“I’m just glad it’s over,” Cassie whispered, picking at her sandwich. “I don’t think I could have handled another hour of her hovering.”

Malik chuckled softly. “It’s not just her hovering. She challenges you. Makes you prove yourself. You passed her test, Cassie.”

Cassie smiled faintly, though the tension didn’t leave her entirely. Outside the school walls, Vanya was likely scheming, and she still had to navigate Lyra’s unpredictable dominance.

By afternoon, Cassie headed to The Golden Bean Café for her part-time shift. The smell of coffee and pastries greeted her as a bittersweet reminder of independence—and reality. Orders came fast: caramel lattes, flat whites, and croissants, each one a distraction from the events at Lyra’s house.

When she returned home that evening, her mother was sprawled across the couch, empty bottles littering the table.

“Where’s my cut?” her mother demanded, voice slurred and sharp.

“I… I used some for food and bills…” Cassie said, voice quiet, careful.

Her mother’s glare burned. “คุณไม่มีวันรวยหรอก (You’ll never be rich). Give me everything!” She snatched the envelope from Cassie’s hands, muttering curses under her breath.

Cassie slumped onto her bed afterward, exhaustion pressing against her chest. The contrast between Lyra’s luxurious house and her own cramped, harsh home life struck her painfully. The project, the praise, the work at the café—it all felt surreal, like a brief escape before the reality of home slammed back into her.

Yet, despite it all, Cassie’s mind kept flicking back to Lyra—the way she leaned over during corrections, the smirk that seemed to carry both challenge and curiosity. And somewhere, in the background of her thoughts, she wondered if Serena, Lyra’s ex, had noticed their growing closeness.

Tomorrow, she thought, school starts again. And something tells me Lyra won’t let me forget that I’m in her world now.

The city lights glimmered through her window as Cassie closed her eyes, trying to forget the tension, the teasing, and the overwhelming dominance she had just survived. She drifted into uneasy sleep, knowing the next day would bring more school, more scrutiny, and more challenges—but also a strange, compelling thrill she couldn’t name.