THE ICE-COLD CEO IS OBSESSED WITH ME

CHAPTER 4:BACKSEAT GOSSIP

ANGELA'S POV

I and the girls made our way to our lockers, chatting and laughing, the familiar hum of Royal Woods High filling the hallways. The morning sun streamed in through the tall windows, catching in the dust particles that danced lazily in the air. Lockers slammed, shoes squeaked against the polished floors, and the scent of freshly sharpened pencils and paper filled the air.

I had already grabbed my books and was heading over to Sarah's locker. I needed to fill her in about the latest scandal in school. Lucy, a girl from the science department, had her heart completely shattered by one of the star players. Lucy's heartbreak had become the talk of the school, a hot topic swirling through whispers and giggles in every corner.

Apparently, she had been dating one of the players, a guy with the kind of charm that made people fall for him instantly, and he had dumped her for a cheerleader. Honestly, what did Lucy even see in him? He was just another player, flexing his charm to get what he wanted. Poor Lucy. she deserved someone better than that shallow, grinning face.

I caught up to Sarah, and as always, she was the perfect person to spill this gossip to. She might seem cold to outsiders, but I knew better. There was a soft heart tucked beneath that cool, unreadable exterior. She always listened, even when our drama was completely irrational. Sarah's presence had a way of calming everyone around her. Even when she pretended not to care, we all knew she did.

She had this way of making you feel understood, heard, and somehow, not so alone. Her patience was endless, and her advice, even when she delivered it in that deadpan tone, always hit the mark. I swear, I don't know what we'd do without her. She's the glue that holds our group together. By the time I finished explaining Lucy's heartbreak saga, Sarah had finished packing her books. We all made our way to literature class, where Rosella and Raphael were already seated.

They had saved our usual spots at the back, the perfect vantage point to avoid the prying eyes of teachers while still keeping an eye on the chaos around us. We slipped into our seats, Rosella on one side and Raphael on the other. Sarah sat next to me, as always, quietly organizing her notes, while Raphael, true to form, leaned back in her chair, already half asleep.

That girl could sleep anywhere. On a desk, on a chair, in the middle of the hallway, she is a sleeping prodigy. I envied her ability to completely ignore the world when she wanted to. The class was unusually rowdy. Normally, our literature class started earlier, but Mrs. Lewis, our teacher, was late today. That was strange. She was never late unless she was sick, or something major had come up.

The anticipation made everyone whisper and fidget, trying to guess the reason for her tardiness. Finally, the noise died down as Mrs. Lewis walked in. And wow, she looked absolutely stunning, as always. There was something so effortlessly elegant about her. Her slender figure moved gracefully across the white-tiled floor, her heels clicking softly but commanding attention.

Her bright grey eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, her pink designer top perfectly complementing her black skirt. Her full lips curved into a warm, inviting smile, and her hair was flawlessly styled. Mrs. Lewis had that rare ability to make anyone feel seen and important.

"Good morning, class," she said, her voice calm but carrying authority.

"Good morning, ma'am," we replied in unison.

"Hope you all had a wonderful night," she added, genuinely curious.

"Yes, ma'am," the class murmured.

This was what I loved about Mrs. Lewis. She cared. She didn't just teach; she nurtured, she connected. Her class wasn't a chore, it was an experience. Her passion for Shakespeare and literature made even the dullest lines feel alive, and she had this knack for pulling you into a story without you even realizing it. "Sorry I'm late," she said, "I had a meeting with the director. Hope you all aren't upset with me for keeping you waiting." "No, ma'am," came the chorus, with some murmurs of approval.

"Alright, settle down," she said, smiling. "Open your textbooks to page 126. But first, submit the assignment I gave you last class." A collective groan went up, but Mrs. Lewis wasn't fazed. She had this way of commanding respect without raising her voice. "No noise, please. Once everyone's submitted, we'll begin today's lecture."

And begin we did. Mrs. Lewis had a way of making Shakespeare feel like a live performance rather than an old, dusty text. The class flew by, with laughter, insightful commentary, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting. Before we knew it, the bell rang. "Well, my time is up. That's a wrap for today," Mrs. Lewis said, her smile softening. "See you all next class. Goodbye." We filed out of the classroom, the usual chaos of Royal Woods High waiting for us.

Our usual spot by the window in the cafeteria was already buzzing with energy. Students were chatting, laughing, and sharing stories about their mornings, and the smell of food, pizza, fries, and fresh sandwiches, wafted through the air. My stomach rumbled, and I knew I wasn't the only one feeling the hunger pangs. Rosella and I headed to grab food while Sarah and Raphael held down our spot.

"I'm so down for some pizza today," Rosella said, scanning the options. "You getting the same?" "Yeah, sounds good," I replied. "And don't forget Raphael's crispy chicken, strawberry milkshake, and fries, and Sarah's burrito with chocolate milkshake." We grabbed our trays and returned to the table. Raphael, of course, was whining like a child. "What took you so long? Were you fighting a war there? I'm so so so hungry!"

"Quit being a baby and eat your food," I shot back, rolling my eyes. Just as we started digging in, Timmy, the most annoying boy at Royal Woods High walked in with his gang. He was the type of person who didn't just enter a room; he announced his presence. He usually goes out to eat In one of those fancy and expensive restaurant with his friends. What's he doing here today? Girls immediately flocked around him, giggling and swooning like he was some celebrity.

I glanced at them and muttered, "Flock of sheep. No, ducklings." His gang followed, trying their best to mimic his swagger. Rosella's eyes, however, had drifted elsewhere. She was staring at Alex, one of Timmy's friends, and I could see her zoning out completely. Her cheeks flushed pink, and I instantly knew she had it bad. Alex had that tall, dark, and handsome aura that made it impossible not to notice him.

His piercing brown eyes, strong jawline, and messy silk-brown hair were seriously distracting. Sarah nudged me, following my gaze to Rosella. We exchanged a mischievous look, knowing exactly what to do. "Rose!" we chorused, clearing our throats to snap her out of her trance. Her cheeks went from pink to bright red, and she snapped back to reality, embarrassed. We burst into laughter, and she tried to cover her face, but it was hopeless.

"Rose, you got it bad," Sarah said, teasing. "Shut up! I do not!" Rosella protested, though her voice betrayed her. "Spill the tea, Rose. Since when do you like Alex?" Raphael chimed in, grinning. Rosella glared at us, but we all knew she was busted. I felt a protective pang. Alex was fine, sure, but he was Timmy's friend. Trouble always followed him around. "Not Alex, Ros! Anyone but him!" I muttered under my breath, half to myself. But the mischief in the room overpowered any concern.

Meanwhile, Timmy smirked, clearly aware of the chaos his presence caused. Sarah muttered, "Ugh, why does he have to be so annoying?" "Because he's Timmy Trevedy, the king of annoying," I replied, rolling my eyes. The cafeteria continued buzzing with energy. Conversations overlapped, trays clattered, and laughter erupted from every corner. Our table was filled with a mix of teasing, laughter, and genuine friendship.

We were the kind of friends who didn't hold back, who could call each other out, tease each other mercilessly, and still have each other's backs. Rosella tried to play it cool, but every glance at Alex betrayed her. We kept the teasing going, finding new ways to make her squirm. "So, Rose, when did this happen? Did he steal your heart at the last school assembly, or was it during biology lab?" I teased, making her nearly choke on her drink.

"Shut up! I… I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered. Sarah rolled her eyes, a small smirk playing on her lips. "Sure, Rose. Whatever you say." Raphael, still half asleep, tilted her head, looking at Rosella with genuine curiosity. "C'mon, spill it. You can trust us." "I… I just… I don't know…" Rosella muttered, her face turning an even deeper shade of red. We all laughed, but it was the kind of laughter that came from a place of comfort.

We knew each other inside out. We knew when someone was lying, when someone was nervous, and when someone needed a friend. That was the beauty of our group. Chaotic, messy, but always there for each other. As the lunch period drew to a close, we gathered our trays and headed out, still giggling and whispering about Rosella's crush. The hallways were just as loud as before, but our little group felt like its own world, a bubble of friendship, laughter, and chaos amidst the high school storm.

Even as we walked, my mind kept drifting back to the morning gossip about Lucy, the Shakespeare class with Mrs. Lewis, and Rosella's obvious crush on Alex. Royal Woods High was a place of endless drama, heartbreak, friendship, and moments that made every day feel like an adventure. And honestly? I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Because here, in this chaos, with these friends, with all the teasing, laughter, and occasional heartbreak… life felt real. It felt loud. It felt ours. And somehow, even in the middle of all this high school madness, I knew one thing for sure: we had each other, and that was more than enough.