chapter 22: return to school
831 Words
For a week, Sadie had been relentlessly asking Jake to let her go back to school. Every time she brought it up, Jake dismissed her with a simple "No." But Sadie didn’t give up. She kept pushing, knowing that her return would help her regain some semblance of control over her life.
One night, after yet another attempt, Jake finally sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine," he muttered, "You can go back to school."
Sadie’s eyes widened with surprise, but before she could thank him, Jake added, "But there’s a condition. You’ll have bodyguards with you at all times. No arguments."
At this, Sadie paused. It wasn’t exactly what she wanted, but if it meant getting out of the house and back to school, she would agree. "Alright," she said, nodding. "I’ll take them with me."
The next morning, Sadie arrived at school, her bodyguards trailing behind her. As soon as she stepped out of the car, she felt all eyes on her. She noticed the whispers, the sideways glances, but none of it fazed her. Instead, a newfound confidence surged within her, and she walked with a strong, steady stride, her aura commanding the attention of everyone around.
Several girls came up to her, clearly trying to get on her good side. "Wow, Sadie, you look amazing!" one of them said, eyes wide with admiration.
"Your outfit is on point," another chimed in, smiling brightly.
Sadie barely glanced at them, giving only a faint, dismissive smile before continuing her walk to class. She didn’t feel the need to respond much. Everything was different now. She was different now.
Throughout her classes, she could feel the change. Her old self—the one who would’ve sought attention, who would’ve clung to compliments—was gone. Now, she just focused on her studies, silently letting the new power she felt speak for itself.
After class, Anita, one of the girls who used to torment her, strutted up, her face twisted with jealousy. "So, you think you're something now, huh?" Anita spat. "Coming back with bodyguards like you're royalty or something? Pathetic."
Before Sadie could even respond, her bodyguards appeared from behind her. Without a word, they stepped forward, intimidating Anita with their presence. Anita’s smug expression quickly faded, replaced with one of fear. She backed away without another word, glancing at Sadie with disbelief.
Sadie simply watched, her face calm and unmoved. She didn’t even feel the need to say anything. The situation had handled itself.
Later, she made her way to the principal's office. The principal looked up from her desk, surprised to see Sadie standing there. Sadie, however, was filled with a sense of boldness she hadn’t had before.
"Enjoy your time while you're still in that chair," Sadie said coldly, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "It won’t be yours for long." Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked out, leaving the principal stunned.
As the day ended, Sadie found herself sitting on the swings outside, feeling strangely calm. Her thoughts wandered until Benita, one of her few friends, approached with a curious expression.
"Sadie! What’s going on with you?" Benita asked, looking both concerned and intrigued. "You’ve been acting so... different."
Sadie leaned back on the swing, her fingers gripping the chains lightly. "Oh, it’s nothing," she lied smoothly. "My mom’s business is back on track. We’re rich again."
Benita's face lit up. "That’s amazing, Sadie! I’m so happy for you!" she exclaimed.
As they chatted, Benita introduced her to her older brother, who had just come by to pick her up. He was charming, with a gentle smile that made Sadie feel flattered by the attention. For the first time that day, she found herself smiling genuinely, engaging in light conversation with him.
But just as she began to relax, Jake appeared seemingly out of nowhere. His face was tight with barely concealed frustration. He stormed over, grabbing Sadie’s arm with a firm grip. "We’re leaving. Now," he said, his voice low and controlled, though his anger was evident.
Sadie blinked, taken aback by his sudden appearance, but she didn’t resist. She shot a quick glance at Benita and her brother before allowing Jake to pull her away.
Once they got home, Jake was furious. He slammed the door behind them and rounded on Sadie. "What the hell were you doing?" he shouted. "Flirting with some random guy?"
Sadie blinked, and then, much to Jake’s irritation, she laughed. The sound was soft but mocking. "You’re jealous," she said, her tone teasing. "How cute."
Jake’s face turned red, his anger only growing, but he had no retort. Instead, he stormed off to his room, leaving Sadie standing there, still chuckling softly to herself. She knew she had the upper hand now. And the fact that Jake’s jealousy had surfaced so easily only made her feel more powerful.
With a satisfied smirk, she headed to her own room, already thinking of what tomorrow would bring.
- Writer
