The Devils

Valenport is the most prestigious academia in town. And also, the most expensive. The only people who have the privilege of being able to attend it are the teenagers from the richest families. Everyone recognized how good the academia was, and how it helped the students to choose the right direction for their future. I didn't belong here, of course. I don't come from a wealthy family, I don't have expensive clothes, let alone a trust fund. And that's not something I can't hide. All the students, and even the teachers, know that I'm just a sheep among wolves. Playing a dangerous game, where in any scenario I end up losing. When I received a scholarship to study at the academia because of my grades, I accepted because I wanted to put as much distance between me and my mother as possible. I still haven't decided who is worse: my mother or the students at Valenport. I walk the halls, side by side with April Owen, a boring girl from my French class. They also offered her a scholarship to study here, so she believes that this makes us friends instantly. The girl never leaves my side, I only have some time alone when it is near curfew. "What did you do this weekend?" she asks, trying to make conversation. Most students go home for the weekend. Not me, obviously. I'm locked in my room with loud music studying, something that's much better than being at home suffering my mother's dramas. There are two ways to respond. The first: telling the truth. That's boring, and uninteresting. The second: to lie. Over the years, I have realized that lying is more fun. It has that danger, excitement. Will the person realize that you made up everything you tell them? "I went to visit my father" I haven't seen him in years. I don't even know what he looks like. "He took me skiing. It was fun, apart from the part where his new girlfriend is almost the same age as me, and her new favorite hobby is getting me out of the picture" I've never been skiing." And you? Anything interesting happen?" "A normal weekend" she shrugged her shoulders as we entered the classroom. The room is empty, since there are still about fifteen minutes left. "But, I managed to catch up with school work." What am I supposed to answer to that? I understand the importance of school and do your homework. However, it is unnecessary to take the whole conversation to that side. I don't care if you understand the subject, if you're sad about your high grade or if you're going to beg the teacher to support you after class. "I managed to do all the homeworks on Friday to make the best of the weekend. My dad hates it when I don't pay attention to him when we are together." she hates it when I do something faster than her, or get a better grade than her. She likes to be the best on everything. It's so easy to lie. I don't need to think much about it, the lies come out quite easily from my lips. And she can't even imagine it. "My mother is the same" she gives a sincere smile. We sit in our seats. In the second row, next to each other. "Are you going to the party today? I was thinking of going." "No way" I won't consciously put me among the popular students. That would be just one more reason for them to make fun of me. "I hate parties. And I hate everyone on this school." "We never go to parties, I wanted at least to go to a party. Try it, to know if I like it or not." she explains, wainting to hear the answer she wants. She can try to convince as much as she wants, it won't happen. "You know, you can go without me." "I know, but I don't want to go alone." "I'm sorry, it's not going to happen." I hear laughter and voices getting closer, and more students enter the room. I look over April's shoulder and find the wonder trio entering the room, as if they owned it. They ignore my gaze. Ivan and Nolan go to their places, avoiding my seat. Damien is different, he passes by me on purpose, stealing my phone when he passes by. And he takes it with him to his seat, right in the back of the room. I roll my eyes and take a deep breath. With all the courage I can muster, I get up and walk to the end of the room. They are sitting in the last row, and they all watch me, not knowing my next step. I cross my arms and stand in front of Damien's table. "Can you give me my phone back?" I already know how to deal with them. I know they like to be in power, in control. They love controlling the whole school. And it pisses them off that they can't control me, and at the same time, they like that I question their authority and I don't follow any of their ridiculous rules. "Maybe if you ask more affectionately. I didn't find that request so sincere" he gives a smile, his eyes shine with the opportunity of a challenge. Damien likes to play dangerous. He is the hardest to read of them all. I can't understand him. From what I've understood, he tries to hurt all people, either with words or his fists, even if he's close to them or not. "Try begging, Aubree." "Do you want me to get on my knees too?" I ask, sarcastically. "I'm not against it" he winks. Damien eventually manages to hold my waist and puts me on his lap. I face Ivan and Nolan. They seem surprised by Damien's action. "One of them has your precious phone" he says close to my ear. My cheeks burn out of anger. His arm surrounds my waist, making it impossible for me to try to get up. "Can you guess which one?" Ivan. "Nolan." "Don't you think you're going too far, Damien?" Nolan asks, bored with this little game. "No" he answers, pulling one of the strands of hair behind his ear. "Do you want to know a little secret, princess?" he asks near my ear. I can feel his warm breath against my cheek. Nolan ignores us and Ivan continues to watch us, in silence. I look into his eyes as I hear Damien's words. "You drive him crazy. He hates you, because he wants you. He makes your life hell, because he believes that in that way, he will forget how badly he wants to be inside you." Ivan seems to know what he's talking about. He looks at me curiously, waiting for my reaction. I turn to Damien, our faces, getting dangerously close. "Let go of me." "Or what?" He loves a challenge. "Let go of me, Damien. This isn't funny! The teacher's must be almost here" As usual, Damien took that as a challenge. He holds my leg and passes it to the other side of his body. I get one leg on each side of his body. He takes his hand to the end of my back and pulls me closer to him. "What if he finds us like this, Aubree?" "Let her go" Ivan's authoritative voice echoes. Only at this moment do I realize how quiet it is. Everyone must be enjoying the show. "Have you seen how protective he is of you? He hates to know that you are on top of me right now and not on top of him." "I didn't give you permission for this, Damien." "So you'd rather be on the ground?" "Everything is better than you." He gives me a smile and without delay, he throws me on the ground. "Son of a bitch." I spit. Nolan gets up from his seat and helps me up. I run my hands over my uniform, adjusting it as I give Damien a furious look. I would love it to put my hands on his neck and just squeeze it as hard as possible. Nolan hands me my phone. "Sorry, Aubree. Damien's just an idiot." Nolan likes to pretend he is better than them, that deep down he is not as rotten and evil as Damien and Ivan. I know that, given the opportunity, he would even worse than them. He just wouldn't like people to know that. "Thanks for the information, I hadn't noticed" I look at the three of them. "You may have power here at this school, but this won't be forever. When you go into the real world, you'll realize that you have no power at all. You're just a bunch of guys playing with the little popularity you've been given. I can't wait to see you fall off that pedestal you believe you are." "That's not going to happen" Ivan talks, confident. "Let's wait and see." I shrug my shoulders and go back to my place, with anger running through my veins.