Chapter3: The enemy king
1177 Words
chapter 3 The Enemy King
By lunchtime, the whole cafeteria keeps talking about the incident.
"She talked back at Damien on her first day"
"She is done for".
"Her life is mesirable already".
Aria sat with Mabel at a far end corner of the cafeteria trying to eat but got no appetite.
"Don't worry Aria". Mabel said softly, "people will soon forget about it"
"No they won't". A sharp voice cut across the room.
Aria looked up instantly and wished she never did.
Vanessa walked in flaking with her were her loyal minions: Isabella, Melissa and Marielle.
"Well, well". Vanessa drawled crossing her arms.
"The scholarship girl"
Aria and Mabel stiffened remembering what had happened in the morning
Vanessa’s smirked “Word of advice? Stay away from Damien. He doesn’t play with… cheap toys.”
Her minions laughed in unison.
Mabel jumped in. "can you leave us alone .”
“Oh, look. The charity case friendship” Vanessa sneered.
Aria’s stomach twisted, but before she could speak, another voice spoke
“Funny, Vanessa. I didn’t realize bullying new students counted as leadership.”
Lucy walked in
“Back off,” Lucy said coolly. “Unless you’re scared she’ll outshine you.”
Vanessa’s cheeks flushed feeling embarrassed but she recovered quickly with a toss of her hair. “Come on, girls. She’s not worth my time.”
Isabella, Melissa, and Marielle followed obediently as Vanessa strutted away, though not before throwing Aria a final glare.
Aria exhaled shakily. “Thanks,” she whispered to Lucy.
Lucy gave a small smile. “Don’t mention it". She sat with them.
The rest of the day blurred by. Aria tried to focus in class, but her mind kept returning to Damien’s smirk, Vanessa’s glare, and the whispers that followed her everywhere she went.
When the final bell rang, she quickly pack her books ready to leave
But fate wasn’t done with her yet.
As she turned the corner toward the exit, she collided with someone—hard. Her books went flying again.
“Seriously?” a familiar voice drawled.
Aria’s eyes widened. Damien.
Daniel chuckled beside him. “Seems you are always in for trouble".
But Damien wasn’t letting her go so easily. He leaned down, his face inches from hers, voice low enough for only her to hear.
“You’ve got guts, Lane. I’ll give you that.” His smirk deepened. “But guts don’t save anyone here. You’ve just become my new favorite target.”
Her breath caught.
Before she could reply, he straightened, tossing his basketball lightly between his hands as he walked away, his friends trailing behind him.
Mabel ran up moments later, breathless. “What happened?!”
Aria stared after Damien, her chest tight.
On her first day in school, so much has happened already.
She had made an enemy of the King.
And she had no idea if she’d survive it.
Aria got home she couldn't tell her mom what transpired in school else the poor woman will be so worried.
She laid down down on her bed staring at the ceiling wishing all this had not happened.
She prayed her stay doesn't continue like that even though deep down she knows.......
The next morning, Aria woke up with a heavy weight pressing against her chest.
She hadn’t slept well. Images from yesterday looped in her head like a cruel highlight reel: Damien’s stormy eyes, Vanessa’s venomous smirk, the whispers that followed her every step.
Her mom had knocked gently on her door before leaving for her shop. “Good luck, honey. Remember, you’re there to learn. Don’t let anyone get in your way.”
Aria had smiled weakly, promising she’d try.
Now, standing before the mirror, she adjusted her ditto and sighed. “Day two. Please don’t be worse than day one.”
But deep down, she knew it would be.
Golden High’s hallways buzzed louder than usual that morning. The second Aria walked through the main entrance, she felt eyes on her. Everyone was staring.
She tugged her backpack closer. “Mabel said meet her by the lockers,” she muttered, quickening her pace.
But then she saw it.
Her locker.
The door was plastered with sticky notes in bold, mocking handwriting.
“Scholarship girl.”
“Charity case.”
“Watch your step, clumsy.”
“Damien’s target.”
Aria stood still.
“She really ticked him off.”
“He never pays this much attention to anyone.”
“She’s done for.”
“Need help with that, Lane?”
She looked. Damien leaned casually against the lockers across the hall, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. Chris and Daniel flanked him, their presence just as commanding.
Daniel said in a low voice.“Looks like you’ve made it on the morning bulletin board.”
Chris didn’t laugh. He stood still, expression unreadable.
Aria swallowed hard. “Did you do this?”
Damien tilted his head. “Consider it… a welcome gift.”
The laughter that followed stung worse than the words.
Mabel appeared through the crowd. “Aria, oh my God"
Aria forced a smile. “I’m fine. Let’s just go.”
But inside, she wasn’t fine at all.
By lunch, the story had spread. Aria had become the day’s entertainment.
“Scholarship girl, want some of my leftovers?” a boy taunted, waving half a sandwich at her.
“Careful, don’t trip on your way to the trash!” another girl sneered.
Mabel tried to shield her, but it was futile
They found an empty table in the corner of the cafeteria, but peace didn’t last long.
Vanessa Bryan appeared.
With her perfect cheerleader’s pride, Vanessa walked onto the bench across from Aria without invitation. Isabella, Melissa, and Marielle sat on either side like soldiers ready for war.
“Well,” Vanessa spoke, twirling a strand of her golden hair. “I see Damien’s taken an interest in you.”
Aria stiffened. “Interest? More like torment.”
Her minions laughed at her
Aria clenched her jaw. “I didn’t ask for his attention.”
“And yet, you got it,” Vanessa snapped, her tone hardening. “So let me make something clear—stay away from Damien. He’s mine. Always has been, always will be. Got it?”
Aria blinked. Was she serious?
A voice cut in.
“Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Vanessa.”
Lucy dropped her tray on the table beside Aria, folding her arms. “Damien isn’t a prize. He’s not even yours to claim.”
Vanessa’s eyes was filled with rage. “Stay out of this, Lucy.”
“Or what? your minions will attack me?” Lucy arched a brow. “Real scary.”
Melissa stomped her foot, but Vanessa raised a hand, her eyes narrowing at Aria. “Fine. But remember what I said, scholarship girl. Stay out of my way.”
She stood, her entourage rising with her, and strutted off.
Aria let out a shaky breath. “Lucy… thank you.”
Lucy gave her a small smile.
- Writer
