Between Rivals

4

Chapter 4: Introducing The Alpha Duo

On noticing how frightful I was, he lifted his gaze and focused them on Liam.

I stood in between them, confusion drooling over my head.

Liam stood still, his expression calm, like he was void of problems in his existence. His hands were stuck carefully inside his pocket, his ball tugged carefully in his armpit.

“I thought I asked a question, I should have gotten an answer by now,” he blurted.

“And why don't you mind your business?” Liam snarled. Everyone gasped. I was surprised too, he looked too calm to raise his voice.

“I wasn't talking to you, bastard,” Adrian brawled and edged closer, till our bodies almost touched. “My question was for the green horn.”

“She's with me, so you have no right to interfere.”

Silence ensued. The class stared quietly. I stood still, completely lost on what was happening, and the next step to take.

“You've been a lot lately, Liam,” Adrain's voice cut through the silence. “You're just everywhere, trying to be seen, working so hard to be noticed.”

Liam smirked, then cackled.

“You have a problem with that? Or are you just angry that my team came with the hockey award last week?”

Adrian’s face turned pale like he was about to collapse. Liam's utterance seemed to have stirred something in him.

He threw a fist at him, which he dodged like he was expecting it, then Liam retaliated and threw his, which landed carefully on Adrian's face.

The whole class erupted into chaos.

Adrian staggered back, caught himself and made to retaliate.

“What is going on here? What is the fight for?”

A masculine voice came from the entrance of the classroom.

The whole class went numb immediately. Everyone turned to the door.

From the look of things, he was a male teacher.

“Why are you people trying to bring the school down?” He asked again, but no response came.

Everyone pretended like nothing had happened.

He pointed towards us who were standing.

“You three, come with me. You will explain yourself in the principal's office.”

What?

Goosebumps ran loosely through my skin, and I shivered vigorously.

Principal's office? On my first day? Why was I so unfortunate?

I only wanted to thank Liam for being kind earlier. But was thanking him really necessary? Or was I just trying to make him notice me more?

Liam dropped the ball and without saying a word, went after the teacher.

Adrian gave me an awful stare and followed suit. I turned to the rest of the class, their gaze were just fixed on me, they seemed to be enjoying the whole scenario.

I ran after them, and in a few minutes we found ourselves in the principal's office.

The principal, an elderly man, adjusted his glasses when we entered.

“What's wrong Mr Williams?” He asked.

“These two were causing trouble yet again, Sir,” he said, bowing slightly before the principal.

“You told me to bring them whenever this happens, but a girl was involved this time.”

“No!!” I cut in immediately, their attention shifted towards me.

“I was not part of it, I was only trying to say something to Liam, when Adrain barged in and started trouble.”

“She's right”, Liam added, “I think she shouldn't be here. She is not part of this in anyway.”

“Alright. You can go, young lady”, the principal said.

I muttered a ‘thank you’ and hurried out, inwardly thanking God for saving me automatically.

I ignored the stares I got on entering the classroom and crept into my seat.

“What really happened, Nina?”

It was Clara, curiosity boldly written all over her face.

“I can't really tell, Clara”, I whispered, making sure my voice wasn't heard two inches away.

“You mean you don't know why you were torn in-between the elite duo?” This time she lowered her voice too.

“Liam was kind to me earlier on my way here, I just wanted to appreciate him, Clara. I don't know what the other guy’s problem is,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Well… if you must know, Nina, those two are not just the most handsome,” she whispered. “They are the richest in this school, their families control the school’s finances.”

I gasped.

What!? The richest?

“Are… you for real? I stuttered.

“Yes. Their Dads are very wealthy, very much wealthier than yours, they run multimillion companies, and are into politics too”, she continued.

“Oh s**t! It's crazy how I haven't thought about this before,” I blurted.

“Adrian is arrogant, don't mess with him. Liam is cold, he doesn't associate with anybody apart from his teammates”, she continued while I listened with rapt attention.

“And you know the hottest of the gist?” She asked as she drew closer.

“Tell me everything, Clara”, I whispered.

“Their dads are enemies, and it extended to their sons. And here, Liam is the best in almost everything and Adrian isn't comfortable with it.”

“Oh… that was the reason for the fight earlier?” I asked.

“Yes, Adrian is always instigating fights between them. I would advise you to stay away from him, and stay far from Liam too, Lottie wouldn't want you near him.”

“And who is Lottie?”

She looked up and I followed her gaze.

My heart sank.

It was the hottie girl, who was asking me questions earlier. She was scribbling something into her notes, oblivious of the facts that we were staring at her.

She was extremely beautiful.

“She is the school heiress, her dad owns the school,” she let it out.

“You mean the principal?” I asked, inwardly shocked by the revelations.

“The principal is more like a manager, her dad owns it, with few other prominent schools.”

I was about to say something when someone tapped me roughly from behind, I turned, it was Lottie.

“Hey! See me outside,” she brawled.

Her voice sounded harsh, it was a perfect opposite of her looks.

She walked fast, like she was pursuing something and left the classroom.

“Follow her, Nina, but don't let her intimidate you. Don't.”

What's all these? I asked inwardly. I was here for studies, not to put up with rich kids.

I gave her a brief nod, and left for what I would call the class goddess.

Lottie stood under a pine tree, not too far from the main building, waiting impatiently for me.

“I thought you would follow me immediately,” she snapped.

“It doesn't matter, I'm here. What do you want?” My words came out clean, completely void of fear.

She gave me an anxious look. A look that screamed; Where did she get the audacity from?

But then, I'm still James Hemsworth’s daughter.

“Fine. You know Liam before?” She asked.

“No.. I met him here, earlier today,” my response came quicker than I could imagine.

“Good to know, stay clear from him. I'm the only one allowed to like him,” she said, and eyed me rigorously.

“I don't remember saying I like him,” I snapped back, quite amazed by her level of daftness.

“You might want to start in the future, just felt to let you know he's mine,” she dropped, and without waiting to hear from me, she turned and left, swaying her hips vigorously.

“Holy s**t!” I screamed when she left.

This girl is perfect. Why would anyone choose me over her?

And to think of someone like Liam.

I was clearly surprised when he spoke to me earlier, he was probably being nice because he hit

me with his ball.

He wouldn't speak to girls like me on a normal day.

“Hope she wasn't a bother?” Someone asked gently behind me, jolting me back from my thoughts….