falling for my hot highschool bully

3

Chapter three

Zane POV

My father's driver was already waiting for me outside school. Every student on my path moved away in fear, and I loved that feeling of being in control.

Walking into the car, Priya was already seated in the back seat with her iPad. "Girl, what are you drawing".

I swung the door open and slid into the leather seat, pulling the door shut behind me.

I straightened my tie and glanced at Priya still working on her drawing without replying to me. "So we plan to play dumb huh?"

Priya finally looked up and giggled at me. "Nothing brother, just your little embarrassing moment. What is a one-minute man, Zane?"

I stared straight ahead, my jaws locked tight. I crossed my arms and let out a deep breath. "You are fourteen, Priya. Don't tell me you don't know. Moreover, are you mocking your brother?"

"Oh come on," she lets out a loud sigh, eyes dragging up towards the ceiling before dropping to meet his. "You are not a baby, you were the one hunting for the insult."

My mind went back to the embarrassing moment I had with that Collins girl. She really is outspoken but no one talks to a Hartwell that way without any punishment following.

I will definitely deal with her.

The car rolled through the tall wrought iron gates, its tires crunching in the gravel driveway. Priya jumped out of the car and rushed into her room.

I followed behind and went into my room. I picked up my phone to play some music when a flood of messages appeared on it. My phone buzzed nonstop with clips from the hallway.

People tagging me. Laughing at the way she shut me down. I forwarded a couple to Mark to take down the videos and comedy shots of it. My mind could no longer rest as I had to prepare dinner before my father came home.

I took a rushed bath and left for the kitchen. After working about in the kitchen, I decided to go for roasted chicken, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, and salads.

I rummaged through the cupboards and pulled out the tray. Place the chicken on the tray and slide it into the oven.

Priya came into the kitchen and watched me cook before leaving after spending less than an hour.

A strong aroma filled the air, and an image of my mom flashed through my mind. My mom always jots down every dish she makes and calls it her cookbook.

That exact book was what I used to cook this meal. It was already past 8 pm, and Father would soon be home.

Not quite long after I set the dishes up with the maid by my side, my father's car honked. Priya rushed out, she clenched and unclenched her clothes.

"Priya, don't worry he won't beat us today." I tapped her shoulder as an encouragement while my own heart started racing.

My father walked inside the room smiling, he looked at the prepared dish and inhaled.

"Hmmm....I see your skills are already improving. You are pardoned for now."

I drew the head of the dinner chair and motioned for him to sit.

The seat creaked as he leaned back. He crossed one leg over another and stared at the plate in front of him. "Serve it."

I picked up a few dishes and served him. Also placed the bowl of corn on the cob and salad beside the platter.

He picked up the fork, took a bite, and set it down. "Manageable, you should sit down and eat too."

Priya and I sat at his right hand, and we ate in silence until our father's phone buzzed. He looked at it and stared at me before continuing to eat.

"Did you have any skirmish with anyone today?"

My heart skipped at the question he asked,my brain was already ringing an alarm. "I..I...I.."

I could barely form any words from my mouth, and my hands began to tremble at the very thought of him hitting me. My food was already stuck in my throat.

He took another bite of the chicken. "Answer the question."

I bowed my head low and replied. "Yes sir, it was not really a fight. Just a friendly bout."

He wiped his mouth clean with the napkin. "Did you win?"

He hit his hands on the table and shouted. "Did—You—Win!?"

She went still as Dad spoke, her knuckles white around her phone. When his tone turned cold, her eyes welled. She looked away, tipped her head down, and one tear slipped free.

She dragged her sleeve across her face afraid of her father finding out. "Dad he didn't fight with anyone, he...he just had a talk with her."

"When I tell you to speak, you speak. Don't speak out of turn, do you understand?" His tone was still cold, and he turned to me. "Zane, I will ask you one more time, did you win?"

"No.." I swallowed hard, my words fumbling out of my mouth.

"Get me my stick." He turned to the maid at his side. The maid hurried off and came back in no time. In her hands was a long thick stick that our father used in beating.

She handed it over to him and came to Priya's side, trying to get her to leave the scene. "Father, brother did win, he has already planned to deal with her."

"What did I say about talking out of turn? To your room now!"

Priya's eyes welled up in tears, and she grabbed my hands and shook them. "Why are you not saying anything. You know the truth Zane, say something."

What can I say, when he is hell bent on beating me? "Priya go to your room, I will come to check on you later."

The maid successfully led her away as she freed my hands. I knelt on the floor and bowed my head. "I'm sorry, Father. I will do better next time."

"Do better, Zane? I gave you an instruction, you were to put Blackwall under your control. And you let a deranged thing spoil my plan, Zane." He hit the stick on my back.

The pain ceased in my breath and ribs. My fingers clawed at the floor as my vision blurred. I couldn't think past the thick stick tearing up my spine. "I'm sorry, Father. I will work harder to satisfy father."

He threw his head back and a sound rough as gravel in a tin can came out. "You can never satisfy me, not even your dead mother satisfied me."

The thick stick cracked against my back again and again. I bit down on my lips tasting blood and tried to stay still.

Only when my knees buckled and I slumped to the floor did he lower the stick. He looked at me, breathing slowly, then tossed the stick aside.

"Whoa....that felt good." He said. "Go to your room and reflect on your actions. I need to see a different headline tomorrow."

He dragged my tired body and walked out of the dining room. Running into the bathroom I threw out all the food I just had.

Someone creaked my door open and I turned around to see the maid standing there. She was holding up a tray, on it was some stomach medicine and a glass of water.

She placed it on my table opposite the bathroom. "Are you okay, young master. Is..is there anything I can help you with?"

I shook my head and dismissed her, she left the room. Slowly I dragged myself out of the bathroom to the men and lay on the bed. My mind already drifting to how I will deal with that Collins girl.