Between Rivals

3

Chapter 3: A Changed Identity

He barged into the classroom like some young King while everyone stared.

I bent my head slightly and murmured some prayers.

“Lord, let this not be, let this be a dream,” I muttered repeatedly. I silently wished he would disappear.

I raised my head, and he was still there, this time, he shoved his hands into his trouser pockets and strolled casually to a seat a few rows from mine.

“Get your ass on a seat, Adrian. You are making the whole class stare,” the female teacher jeered.

“They should, Miss Coker,” he said.

What a nutcase. Who does he even think he is?

I couldn't wait to uncover everything about him, maybe his dad owns the school, school heirs.. this is exactly how they behave.

“How I wish your brain was as beautiful as you look, Adrian,” the teacher, whom I have come to know as Miss Coker commented and everyone laughed.

“Quiet!” She snarled.

The class went cold like there wasn't a roar of laughter earlier, the psychopath had already settled on his desk.

“We have a greenhorn with us today,” she started again, this time, she beckoned on me to come over.

I stood up, adjusted my collar, and walked up to her like the whole world revolves around me.

The uniform was the shortest I have ever had. Mom had taken her time to make sure I looked elegant before leaving the house this morning, she was simply the best.

“Introduce yourself to us darling,” she beamed immediately as I got in front of the class.

I turned to see curious eyes staring gallantly at me, and I lost my courage.

The classroom was filled with elegant-looking young people, I wondered aloud whether I would fit into it.

Liam sat upright, his face expressionless. He was just staring like I was some sort of movie show.

My gaze shifted from him, and fell on the person I dreaded most.

He was staring too, a smirk danced gleefully on his face. Everyone stared with utmost curiosity.

“We are waiting, young lady,” Miss Coker’s voice brought me back to reality.

“Hi….” I stuttered, “I'm Nina Hemsworth. It's nice meeting you all, and I hope to have a wonderful time here.”

“I don't think it's nice meeting you,” the psychopath sneered. He looked around to make sure everyone concurred with him, and they all seemed to.

“Adrian!” Miss Coker snarled. “Stop it right now.”

“I don't mean any harm, Miss Coker, I just have a few questions for her.”

The whole class straightened up, each of them grinning from ear to ear, enthusiastically ready for whatever was about to unfold. To them, this was nothing but entertainment.

“We all know ourselves here. We should know you too,” he folded his arms, relaxed comfortably on his seat, and continued.

“What family are you from? I mean… who is your father, and what does he do?”

My heart pounded nervously. What was going on? What have I gotten myself into?

Dream High seemed to be better than this. Here, students make fun of other students, even in the presence of a teacher.

I had thought I escaped this kind of life. How ironic.

But I wouldn't back down for any reason. I was determined to give them what they so much desire.

“I don’t see how that's your business,” I blurted.

“It is, Newbie,” a girl, who seemed to be the hottie of the class, started, “I don't think there's any harm in telling us.”

I swallowed hard. I knew I had to be swift in whatever move I was taking next.

“James Hemsworth!” I blurted, inwardly shocked by my own outburst, but I made sure to hide it.

“James Hemsworth?” A short girl at the far corner of the class asked.

“Yes!” My voice came again. “He is my dad.”

The reaction I got after my last statement gave me the kind of feelings I have never felt before.

They all giggled in excitement.

“You mean James Hemsworth? The Gold Miner?” The queen bee asked, her eyes wide like her eyeballs were trying to come out of their socket.

Adrain’s expression changed. His face went pale for a second, then he smiled almost immediately, just like someone suffering from bipolar disorder.

“You're most welcomed then,” he uttered, a smirk still dancing arrogantly on his face.

The whole class clapped in excitement. It was a sight I had never experienced before.

An applause for me? Just like that? For being the heiress of a multimillionaire?

The world has a sure way of applauding wealth. I sighed deeply.

“You can go have your seat now, Miss Hemsworth.”

I walked majestically to my seat like a little girl who just won a writing contest.

The rest of the lecture went on, with my body present and my mind absent.

I thought hard about my outburst earlier and fear enveloped me.

Now, I have to live like who I said I was. Miss Coker leaving the classroom brought my drifted mind back to the present.

The class went into a chaos of murmuring immediately she left. The girls formed groups and gossiped.

The girl in front of me turned to face me immediately as the teacher left.

“Hi Newbie, it's nice having you here,” she said in what sounded like an exclamation.

“Hi,” I whispered.

“I'm Clara. I'm the captain of the drama club. Care to join?” she asked.

“I will give it a thought, Clara,” I replied.

“It would be a wonderful experience with you!” She continued, everything about her screamed chatterbox.

Just then, I noticed Liam leaving the class, a ball tugged carefully on his armpit.

“Liam!” I called out.

He turned, the whole class turned, everyone stared, they all went mute. For a moment, I regretted calling him.

I walked up to him regardless of the quiet and cold stares I was getting.

He stood still, probably waiting to hear why I called him, his face still carrying the expressionless look, still the same energy.

“I just wanted to say thank…,” I was midway into my sentence,

when someone cut me rudely from behind.

“You two know each other?”

My heart stopped.

Adrian was standing right behind me.