Chapter 2: The Harringtons
1051 Words
Alexander
"What happened?", Dad asked sharply.
"One of the school laboratories burnt down," the maid said, her voice trembling. "A teacher and a student were... killed."
"Jesus is Lord!", Mum exclainmed, clutching her chest.
"The school said students are advised to resume before the end of this week," the maid continued.
"So they can pay respect to the victims.
"You may go," Mum said cutting her off.
"Today is Thursday," Mum said, turning to me and Ana. "You two will be resuming tomorrow. I can't take you on Saturday because your father and I have a function."
Ana groaned loudly.
"Mum, can't we go on Sunday?"
I hissed, Everyone knew Ana loved holidays too much.
"No, honey. You're going tomorrow and that's final," Dad said as he stood, reaching for his suit jacket.
"I am off."
"Bye", we chorused.
I kept eating, even though the food suddenly tasted like sand.
Do I really want to go back to school right now?
Well... I have to, I told myself.
"Alex, why are you picking at your food?" Mum asked.
"The food is tasteless", I muttered.
Mum immediately turned to the chef. "Make him something else."
"Mum, it's fine. It's me. The food is okay."
"Are you sure?" she asked worried.
"Yes. I'll be upstairs." I stood and left the dining room.
Later that Evening - Luxury District, New Jersey
Mum never did simple shopping. Of course not.
Our chauffeur stopped in front of Galleria Elite, a private luxury mall reserved for billionaires, celebrities, and political families.
Ana squealed. "WE'RE FINALLY HERE!"
Gold-plated doors opened automatically as we walked in.
Crystal chandeliers. Velvet carpets. Perfumed air.
And staff bowing like we were royalty.
We entered Dior, and Mum bought:
- New school uniforms(custom tailored)
-Signature shoes
-Limited-edition perfumes
- A diamond-studded wristwatch "for punctuality,: according to Dad
- Personalized dorm bedding embroided with A.A.
Ana dragged me to Guchi, LV, and Saint Laurent until my hands were full of bags.
Then Mum handed the final shopping bag to me.
"For your room," she said.
A gold-plated nameplate reading:
ALEXANDER ANDREW
Room 117 - East Wing
Room 117.
Fine.
At least I wouldn't have a talkative roommate.
Or so I thought.
Somewhere in New Jersey
The Harrington House
Rose
"Mum, we're resuming earlier than planned," I said, walking into the living room. "One of the laboratories at school burned down. A teacher and a student died. I just saw it on my class group chat. It's so sad."
Mum gasped softly. "Oh my goodness... that's terrible. When do you want to resume, sweetheart?"
"Friday," I replied. "I want to settle in early and rest my brain before classes start."
"Then let's go shopping honey", Mum said with a smile.
I couldn't help but smile back. My mum is the best mum in the world.
Anyway.... I should properly introduce myself.
My name is Rose Harrington, the only child of the Harringtons - a multibillionaire family known across New Jersey. And yes, I attend Glittering Diamonds School.... the same school where trouble never sleeps.
Later - Galleria Elite
The moment we stepped in, Mum grabbed my hand.
"Sweetheart, pick anything you want."
Music to my ears.
We swept through Prada, Chanel, Miu Miu, and Aritzia like we own the building.
I picked:
- Pastel suitcase sets.
- Silky pajamas
- Customized stationery
- Rose-gold jewelry
-New school shoes
-A soft cream duvet with R.H. stitched in gold
At the last boutique, a staff member handed me an envelope.
"Your dorm assignment, Miss Harrington."
I opened it.
ROSE HARRINGTON
Room 117-East Wing
I blinked.
Room 117?
But that room number felt... important.
We finished shopping, and Mum hugged me tightly.
"You'll be fine, sweetheart."
"I know," I said, smiling gently.
But my heart thumped strangely.
Like something-somewhere- was waiting for me.
FRIDAY - ARRIVAL AT GDS
Students filled the corridors.
Lights were dimmer than usual.
The school felt... cold.
I dragged my suitcase toward Room 117.
My heart raced.
I reached out...
Turned the golden doorknob....
And froze.
Because standing inside - arms crossed, gaze cold, and aura filling the entire room-
Was Alexander Andrew.
The heir of the Andrews Empire.
The boy whose eyes pierced my soul.
The academic prodigy who stole my throne.
He looked at me slowly, darkly.
"You," he said.
My breath hitched.
We were roommates.
For the whole session.
My Suitcase handle slipped from my hand and hit the floor with a soft thud, but I couldn't move. Couldn't talk. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't even blink.
Alexander's eyes - cold, sharp, and unreadable studied me like I was unfamiliar equation he planned to solve and destroy at the same time.
"This must be a mistake," I whispered, my voice barely existing.
He raised a brow. "Glittering Diamonds doesn't make mistakes."
My heart hammered in my chest. The room felt too small.... or maybe he was just too big for it. Why is all this happening right now.
His presence filled the room like air, every corner, every breath, every inch of air I tried to calm.
My rival.
My nightmare.
The boy I find attractive.
The boy that stole my academic throne.
Now standing three feet from my bed.
I stepped inside the room slowly, and the door clicked shut behind me, a sound too final, too loud.
The kind of sound that warned you that there was no turning back.
"The left side is mine," he said, turning away as if the universe hadn't just flipped upside down.
He began unpacking his things with calm precision, each movement arrogant and controlled. Expensive colognes lined his shelf.
Neatly folded designer shirts perfectly arranged. His presence clearly dominated the room.
I swallowed hard.
"So, we're actually doing this?"
He paused, turned slightly, then looked at me from over his shoulder with a slow, dangerous smirk.
"Oh, Rose Harrington" he said, voice low enough to sink into my bones.
"You have no idea what you've stepped into."
A chill crawled across my skin.
Before I could respond, the hallway lights flickered once... twice...
Then the school alarm blared loudly, echoing through the entire building.
Students screamed. Doors slammed. Footsteps thundered in the corridor.
My heart jumped. "What is happening?"
Alexander's expression darkened instantly, colder than before, sharper than fear itself.
He stepped towards me.
- Writer
