The lady with Ambitions

Chapter 6

~ Irene ~ My fingertips touched the smooth fabric of the most costly outfit I had ever worn. I gaze at myself in the little mirror, clothed in my new school uniform of a dark pleated skirt, a fitting black jacket, and a white dress shirt beneath with a properly folded bow.

Unfortunately, my dusty, ripped shoes did not quite match the extravagance of the magnificent cloth, but I didn't worry too much. They were comfy, which was all that mattered to me.

I brush my long brown hair and return my gaze to the clock, which reads precisely 6 a.m. Jumping up from my seat, I grab my purse and phone, which already has the walking directions. It was a 30-minute walk, so I had to prepare ahead of time because I wasn't the fastest walker due to my disabilities.

I already had all of my textbooks in my previous backpack. I was praying that the weight of them wouldn't rip through the delicate fabric of my bag after everything it had gone through.

I take one more glance in the mirror; my bruise has only worsened, and a tiny sigh escapes my lips as I notice the purple and red flesh around my eye. I quietly begin to leave the room. I didn't want to wake anyone up, even though most of the maids had already started work.

How was it possible that I was attending such a renowned school? I hoped there wouldn't be any more bullying, at least not as nasty as in Sydney.

There couldn't be; they all hailed from wealthy homes, and they wouldn't want anything from someone like me.

I considered thanking the house owners for allowing me to attend school, but then I remembered how different we were. I was probably worth nothing in their view, which was true anyhow.

As I walk, I count the number of steps it takes to reach each line of the sidewalk, attempting to distract myself from the nerves that are building up inside of me.

Perhaps if I didn't talk to anyone and pretended I wasn't even there, no one would disturb me.

I never expected anyone to talk to me, and there had to be a reason why no one wanted to be my buddy.

My head shoots up at the sound of a loud horn, and I flick my attention to the side to see a familiar gorgeous blonde sticking his head out of the back seat of an expensive automobile, a wide smile plastered on his face as he waves at me, as if we were long-time friends.

"You work at my house, right? "Why are you walking?" He cries out the window, and I stare at him, my hands clutching my bag straps in perplexity.

Why was Ace Agosti bothering to speak to me? A nobody.

I swallowed the knot in my throat and carefully pointed my finger in the direction I was headed. "S..school," I manage to mutter, parts of my hair flying in the cold morning breeze.

"We can give you a ride; you don't need to walk. It's too far." He says, but I do not move from my place. I shouldn't be chatting to him; Mrs. Carmen would kill me if she realised how inappropriate this was.

Not to mention that if Ace was in that car, Caden had to be there as well, and I didn't want to be near him.

When he begins to get out of the car and opens the door for me, I quickly shake my head.

"I. I like walking, but thank you." I say, waving goodbye to him before immediately returning to my journey. I slightly turn my head back to observe an amused expression on his face.

His eyes meet mine, and his stare softens, but I quickly shift my head back, focused on what was in front of me.

I only wondered what his dark blue eyes would appear like up close...

I disregard my strange ideas, and by the time I come out of my fantasy, I'm already at the school door.

Multiple luxury automobiles lined up in front of the massive gates, with drivers opening doors for children as they entered the tall school complex.

It didn't appear contemporary but more like old money or affluent in general. I wasn't startled when I saw students sporting brand bags and shoes as if they were usual.

I keep my head down as I approach the door, but I am abruptly halted by an elderly woman's hand in front of my face. She was dressed in traditional business attire, her curly hair wrapped in a low bun, and she carried a clipboard closely to her breast.

"Are you sure you attend this school?" She inquires, staring down at my anxious demeanour over her thick-framed glasses.

"I just transferred here, I. I was given admission by the Agosti Estate." I respond. My tone just becomes more tense as others begin to stare at me, notice me, and give me strange, disgusting glances as they examine my injured eye.

I wanted to go, hide someplace away from their judgmental gaze.

When the woman hears the final things I say, her expression pales, and she just nods, stepping out of my path.

Before entering the school, I cast a confused glance at her. Thousands of kids crowded the corridors, talking to friends and walking to class. It was difficult to believe that all of these kids had led such luxurious lives; things must have been so simple for them.

I couldn't help feeling jealous of them.

I should feel grateful, though. Every day, I try to remind myself how fortunate I am to be able to attend school, have housing, and eat.

Mrs Carmen had written out a paper timetable for me yesterday night, and my eyes scanned it. I had gone over it several times, worried about what to anticipate.

I looked for my first period, which was history, with a teacher named Mr. Silas. The room number on my paper was 243, and I tried my best to find it, but there were so many kids that I couldn't make out the digits.

When I found the room, the bell had already rang, and I took a deep breath before opening the door. When I feel everyone's gaze on me, I don't even turn around and head straight for one of the two unoccupied seats in the back.

"Are you new here?" The middle-aged teacher suddenly asks, and I raise my head, nodding in agreement.

The kids' glances in my class were not helping my uneasiness, and I tried to ignore them, but it only became worse when he asked me to identify myself in front of the class.

"Come on up, don't be shy." He says as he sits in his chair, and I swallow the knot in my throat as I slowly stand up.

I stand in front of the class, my hands clutched uncomfortably.

I hear two females in the rear laughing at me, which exacerbates the rising pit in my stomach. I felt like vomiting up, my heart was racing too fast for my good, and I believe I was sweating.

I open my lips, but nothing comes out when the door bursts open, drawing everyone's attention to the sound.

I was happy that their gaze was no longer on me until I noticed the steely grey eyes and black hair of the man who had strolled in.

His mouth was tight as he proceeded towards a desk, dropped his backpack and sat in the chair directly behind me.

No

"Mr. Agosti, late again like always." Mr. Silas grumbles as he registers his absence. Caden offers him a little grin before his frigid gaze falls on my frightened figure standing in the front of the room.

I move in my location while he keeps a careful eye on me, but I don't dare to peek back.

"Continue the introduction, Ms. Hart, we don't have all day." Mr. Silas sighed.

Simply say, "H..hi." I start like an i***t. The giggles just become louder, and I try not to let it bother me, but I can hear everything, and I despise every second of it.

"My name is Irene Hart, and I just transferred here from..." Why did I say that? Why did I keep talking? I wanted to throw up; I wanted to leave this class and get away from him.

" From?" Mr. Silas speaks anxiously.

"Riverford High School," I mutter, and I can already hear the gasps and whispers. Except for his, everyone's attention was drawn to gossiping with the person next to them. He had been looking at me like a hawk might at its prey, as if he was amused by how terrified I was.

"Alright, everyone, settle down already; we still have notes to finish." Mr. Silas says, and the kids let out groans. I take advantage of the opportunity to stroll away from the front, my gaze fixed on the floor as I make my way to my chair.

I attempt to ignore his presence behind me, but just knowing he had a gun that night sends shivers down my spine and causes the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up.

I'm not sure what the teacher was saying; all I could think about was the clock. As soon as the bell rang, I rose and walked out of the class, which had seemed smothering to me.

By the time lunch arrived, I was fatigued. When I saw Caden or Ace in the corridors, I'd turn the other way, hide in a toilet, and return to my class once the situation was clear.

The cafeteria was large, and I could immediately see cliques forming as individuals sat at certain tables. I couldn't take my gaze away from where Ace had been seated, joking with the other football players and the stunning cheerleaders right next to them.

I've never understood how Ace and Caden appeared to be so different. Ace was popular, joyful, and a lot kinder.

His brother, on the other hand, was the polar opposite.

I notice an empty table in the back corner and head there with my lunch in hand. Unfortunately, that wasn't the best idea since before I even got to the table, I ran into something or someone.

My meal goes all over their nice clothing as my grasp on the tray slips, and I stagger back from the force with which I collided with them.

I look up, immediately regretting it, when my gaze meets Caden's enraged eyes. He glances down at the food stains on his clothes and becomes increasingly angrier.

It appeared that the entire cafeteria had gone silent, which it certainly did. Everyone was staring at us, knowing not to mess with him, and as his eyes locked on mine, I knew I was done.

"I...I...I didn't see you there, I..."I am so sorry." I say, fumbling over my words and attempting to speak as rapidly as possible. I could scarcely hear myself over my pounding heart.

I attempt to keep my tears from welling up, just waiting to be hit. It was just usual for me.

"Watch where you're going." He scowls, shoving by.