Chapter 9: The Welcome Committee
841 Words
Ava immediately decided she didn't like the look of them.
Maybe it was the way they walked into the classroom like they owned it. Maybe it was the way everyone else suddenly found somewhere else to be. Or maybe it was the fact that the tallest one was smiling at her like she was a joke only he understood.
Whatever the reason, her first impression wasn't great.
The three boys stopped in front of her desk.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then the tallest one nodded.
"You're shorter than I expected."
Ava blinked.
"What?"
The boy beside him laughed.
"I told you."
"Told me what?"
"That she'd be shorter."
Ava stared at them.
She had no idea what was happening.
The third boy finally spoke. "Ignore them. They're idiots."
"You're one to talk," the tallest boy replied.
Despite the teasing, something about them felt calculated. Like they were putting on a performance.
The tall one looked back at Ava and extended a hand.
"Liam Carter."
He pointed at the blond boy.
"Noah Reed."
Then at the quiet one.
"Jace Walker."
Ava looked at the offered hand but didn't shake it.
Liam noticed.
His smile widened.
"Smart."
"I don't shake hands with strangers."
"We just introduced ourselves."
"You're still strangers."
Noah let out a laugh.
"Oh, I like her."
"No, you don't," Jace said.
"Fair point."
Ava folded her arms. "Can I help you with something?"
The boys exchanged glances.
Liam pulled a chair from a nearby desk and sat on it backwards.
"No, actually. We came to help you."
Ava immediately became suspicious.
"Help me how?"
"By explaining how things work around here."
Something in his tone made her sit up straighter.
The classroom was nearly empty now, but the few students remaining were paying very close attention.
Apparently, this conversation mattered.
Liam noticed it too.
"Relax," he said. "We're not here to bully you."
"That's exactly what someone here to bully me would say."
Noah laughed so hard he nearly doubled over.
Even Jace looked amused.
For a brief second, Liam looked annoyed.
Then he smiled again.
"You've got a point."
Ava waited.
Liam leaned back in the chair.
"Look, we'll keep this simple. Kingsley has a system."
"A system?"
"Yeah."
"That sounds ridiculous."
"It is ridiculous," Noah admitted. "But it's still there."
Jace folded his arms.
"There are people everyone knows."
"There are people everyone follows."
"And there are people everyone talks about."
Ava frowned.
"And?"
Liam pointed at her.
"Congratulations. You're one of them now."
Ava wasn't sure whether to be happy or horrified.
She chose horrified.
"I'm not interested."
"Doesn't matter."
"Apparently not."
The boys laughed.
Then Liam's expression became more serious.
"You broke Ethan's record."
Ava resisted the urge to groan.
There it was again.
The record.
The score.
The thing she was already tired of hearing about.
"It was one test."
"Tell that to the rest of the school."
Ava couldn't argue with that.
The school had practically declared a national emergency.
Noah sat on a nearby desk.
"You know what people are saying?"
"I've heard enough already."
"No, you haven't."
That immediately caught her attention.
Liam smirked.
"People think you're coming after Ethan."
Ava stared.
Then laughed.
Then realized nobody else was laughing.
"Oh, come on."
"We're serious."
"I'm not."
"Doesn't matter."
There was that phrase again.
It seemed to be everyone's favorite sentence.
Ava rubbed her forehead.
"For the hundredth time, I don't care about Ethan."
The moment the words left her mouth, all three boys exchanged looks.
A strange look.
The kind people shared when they knew something you didn't.
"Noah."
"Yeah?"
"She's definitely new."
Noah nodded.
"Definitely."
Ava was losing patience.
"What does that mean?"
Jace answered this time.
"It means nobody says they don't care about Ethan."
"That's stupid."
"Welcome to Kingsley."
Ava rolled her eyes.
This school needed therapy.
Immediately.
The conversation should have ended there.
Instead, Liam stood up.
The smile never left his face, but somehow he seemed less friendly now.
Less playful.
More serious.
"We're just trying to save you some trouble."
"I didn't ask."
"I know."
For the first time, the classroom felt tense.
Even the students listening nearby seemed uncomfortable.
Liam stepped closer.
Not enough to be threatening.
Just enough to make his point.
"You seem smart, Ava."
"Thanks."
"So here's some advice."
Ava didn't like the sound of that.
Liam slipped his hands into his pockets.
"People come and go."
His smile faded.
"Records get broken."
The room felt quieter.
"But there's a difference between doing well and trying to take someone's place."
Ava's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not trying to take anyone's place."
"Good."
Liam nodded.
"Then stay in your lane."
Silence filled the classroom.
Nobody laughed.
Nobody spoke.
For a second, all Ava could do was stare at him.
Then the three boys turned and walked toward the door.
Noah gave her a small wave.
Jace didn't look back.
Liam paused at the doorway and glanced over his shoulder.
His smile returned.
But this time, it didn't look friendly.
Not at all.
- Writer
