CHAPTER 2 - YOU'RE HARD TO IGNORE
1168 Words
Camila's pov
The next morning, I arrived at the academy feeling more comfortable than I was the day before.
As I walked through the hallway, I spotted Isabella at the end.
Our eyes met, and she let out an excited squeal. "There you are!" She exclaimed before running over and hugging me.
"I was starting to think you were lost again."
I laughed softly. "I've gotten lost only once."
Isabella glared at me. "Only once?" She retorted, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow.
I laughed out loud. "Okay, maybe twice, or thrice. Who's counting?"
After the second day, I had already decided that this school was one of the most mentally exhausting places on earth, not because of the challenging classes, but because almost everyone seemed to look at me like I wasn't supposed to be here.
Some students were even weird to me for no reason.
I lowered my voice during recess.
"Did you not hear what those boys said about me?"
Isabella sighed.
"Camila..."
"They literally called me the scholarship project right in my presence."
Isabella frowned slightly. "Okay, that was actually a very mean thing to say."
She patted my head like I was a toddler, then linked her arm with mine.
"Let's get some food to calm you down."
At the cafeteria, I pushed my food around the plate with little interest.
The cafe buzzed with loud conversations, expensive bags, and rich students who looked like they belonged here. Everything felt intimidating.
And the worst part? I couldn't stop thinking about Adrian, which was weird because I had never spoken to him before.
Yet somehow, every time he walked into a room, people noticed.
Including me.
"Why aren't you eating? Are you still thinking about what those girls said earlier?" Isabella blinked at me. "Don't let their mean words get to you, love."
Before I could respond, someone suddenly stopped beside our table.
"Is this seat taken?" The girl asked politely.
I looked up and immediately recognized her: perfect blonde hair, expensive perfume. Everything screamed rich and fabulous. Natalie.
She placed her Prada bag carefully on the table before sitting down.
"Hi. Scholarship student, right?"
I frowned slightly. "You mean Camila."
Natalie smiled faintly.
"Right, Camila, we met yesterday."
I nodded.
"I'm Natalie Sinclair. I didn't introduce myself properly yesterday."
I forced a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Natalie."
"So, how are you finding Carter Academy so far?" She asked.
I hesitated, unsure of how honest I should be. "It's different."
Natalie laughed softly. "Carter Academy can be difficult for people who are not used to this kind of environment."
What an odd thing to say.
Isabella's face turned red.
Before I could respond, a sudden movement near the cafeteria entrance drew everyone's attention.
Adrian.
Again.
Students instantly moved aside to let him pass.
Then his eyes landed on my table, more specifically on Natalie. Then he walked towards us calmly.
"Hi boo, you disappeared after class," Natalie said sweetly as he stopped beside us. "I had things to do," Adrian said calmly.
Natalie smiled at him. "Sit with us."
Adrian looked across the table before stopping on my side for a second. "There's no space."
"There's an empty chair behind you," Isabella said, blushing.
A faint smile appeared on Adrian's face as he pulled the chair back and sat down across me. I tensed up and suddenly became painfully aware of my surroundings.
"My mother asked about dinner tomorrow," Natalie said, smiling.
I froze.
"They look like a couple," I thought, my heart sinking.
"Tell her I'll be there."
I felt the distance between her world and Adrian's more than ever.
People like Natalie belonged beside him.
Then he looked at me. "Hello, Camila. You're in Professor Benson's class, right?"
I looked up in surprise. I hadn't expected him to remember my name, let alone start a conversation.
"Yeah," I replied, trying not to sound as nervous as I felt. "We're in the same class."
"You answered his tough question earlier. Impressive."
I blinked, caught off guard. "You noticed?"
He looked at me calmly. "You're hard to ignore."
Natalie's smile faded instantly. Isabella's mouth fell open.
Then the school bell rang, lunch was over, and students began leaving the cafeteria.
I quickly stood up from my seat, and Adrian did the same.
"See you around, Camila," Adrian said softly.
I froze for a moment.
He held my gaze with a flat expression.
Before I could think of anything to say, he turned and walked away.
Isabella stared at me with an excited look on her face. "What was that?"
I blinked in confusion, still frozen.
She pointed in the direction Adrian had disappeared.
"He spoke to me," I said, realizing what had just happened.
Natalie let out a small laugh. "You sound surprised."
"I am surprised."
"Most people are usually whenever Adrian graces them with his voice," Isabella admitted.
I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder.
"Well, maybe he was just being polite," I replied coolly.
For some reason, neither Natalie nor Isabella looked convinced.
I barely had time to process what had happened when Isabella grabbed my arm.
"Come on. We're gonna be late again if we don't get to class in the next five minutes."
"This wasn't my fault this time," I protested.
"It never is."
"It really wasn't!"
Isabella laughed as we said bye to Natalie and left the cafeteria.
The hallways were crowded with students rushing towards their next classes.
I adjusted the strap of my bag and hurried after Isabella.
Then, one of my notebooks slipped from my arms and landed on the floor.
I sighed and bent down to pick it up, but another hand reached it first, and I froze.
"You dropped this."
I looked up.
Adrian.
He held out the notebook.
For a second, neither of us spoke.
Then he handed it over.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
He gave a slight nod and continued walking down the hallway as if nothing had just happened.
Beside me, Isabella looked stunned.
Nearby students who had witnessed the interaction wore the same expression.
I hugged the notebook to my chest and watched him disappear into the crowd.
"What just happened?" Isabella blinked at me in disbelief. "What just happened?" She repeated. "He literally stopped to help you."
"He just picked up my notebook," I said.
"No." She shook her head firmly.
"You don't understand. Adrian Carter doesn't stop for people, much less help them."
I frowned. "Isabella, you're being dramatic."
"No, Cam, I'm being so serious right now."
Before I could reply, a group of girls walked past us.
One of them looked at me. Then at Adrian's back. Then back at me, and the look on her face wasn't friendly.
I frowned slightly. "Okay... that definitely can't be good."
Isabella winced. "Nope."
"Why are they looking at me like I stole something?"
"Because in this school," Isabella muttered, "getting Adrian Carter's attention is practically a crime."
I sighed.
"I hate it here already."
- Writer
