Chapter 11: Kickback
1035 Words
Elara's POV
“See you at the cafeteria later today.” Draven whispered. He
leaned in closer and kissed me softly on my forehead.
His action earned a resounding gasp from the onlookers around. I was now a celebrity and I expected this everytime. Their level of surprise each time they see us together makes my skin crawl because they have seen us together a good number of times but each time they see us, it's like they are seeing us as a couple for the first time.
“Okay, bae.” I replied, my lips trembling slightly.
He had requested that I call him by a pet name whenever we were together in public.
Another gasp erupted from the students as they watched Draven take the stairs to his class.
I could feel their eyes burning into my skin as Draven walked away, leaving me standing there, my feet frozen beneath me.
My heart was still racing from the warmth of his lips on my forehead. I knew I shouldn't be feeling that way towards him since everything was just platonic but I couldn't help but feel butterflies.
Maybe it was because my heart still ached after the betrayal and heartbreak I suffered from Maddox.
Whispers like wildfire spread so quickly across the hallway that the moment Draven disappeared, students began to turn their head to stare and gossip. Some looked shocked, others jealous. Most of the girls would die to be in the position I am right now and that's why I was willing to make them feel pain.
No matter how I tried to act normal,deep indeed in me, there was a storm of emotions ... .confused, nervous, and strangely happy. Happy that I was making all my bullies gnash their teeth.
Why did his simple touch make them look at me with so much disdain?
I took a deep breath, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, and walked towards my locker pretending not to care about their insignificant commentary while my heart fluttered happily.
With my head lowered, I made straight to my block and just when I wanted to yank it open, a force grabbed a handful of my hair, pulling it with so much vigour I thought I would go bald.
The force jolted my head backward and there was Kyla and her besties ,Cleopatra and Sophia smirking, their eyes laced with hatred.
“Ouch! What the hell, Kyla?” I yelled, my hand flying to garb my head as pain shot through my scalp like wildfire in hamatharn.
I forced her hands off of my hair, my eyes filled with fury.
“What the did you just do?”.
Kyla smirked, her shoulders squared. She tilted her head with that same cruel smile that I had grown to hate. “You think you are now some freaking celebrity? Huh, Elara? Acting like some queen because Draven is supposedly dating you?” she spat, Cleo and Sophia laughed behind her.
“You must be a fool for thinking you can rise from being beneath everyone's feet to being above everyone."
I glared at her, my heart pounding. “Why the sudden attack? Are you jealous? Did Maddox send you? That coward.,” I said sharply, my voice trembling but firm.
Kyla pointed her fingers at me, her eyes darkening.
“Don't you dare drag Maddox into this, you snitch.” She warned.
“You’re embarrassing yourself. just by dating my left overs” I uttered, my tone , mocking. My eyes scanned her over, a sly smile perched on my lips
Kyla's eyes were dark with envy. “You don't know s**t about what embarrassment it is. For your information, you are an epitome of embarrassment.” she hissed loudly.
Cleopatra chuckled hilariously, stepping forward.
“You really have the guts, Elara. Standing in the same space with Kyla. Spitting on her face and yapping all sorts of nonsense.”
I folded my arms, my head held high as I maintained eye contact with Cleopatra.
“I’m not scared of any of you. In your dreams I might be scared but In reality, I know you are scared of me.” I said, meeting Cleopatra’s mocking gaze with a feisty one.“If you think pulling my hair makes you popular or make those onlookers like you more, you all are more pathetic than I thought. Y'all are art of bullying is so last decade, Look for something meaningful to do and stop going around causing troubles.”
Kyla’s jaw tightened and I swear I saw her eyes tear up for a second. Her face turned red with anger and she took a step closer to me.
“I don't know what's giving you guts but you've got to know your place, Elara. No one humiliates me and gets away with it. It doesn’t matter who you are dating. You'll pay if you mess with me.” she threatened.
I gave a small laugh, tilting my head around to make sure the spectators had not vanished.
“Y'all listened to what she just said? Did you all pick out the key points? She just agreed that she was humiliated……embarrassed yet she calls me the epitome of embarrassment.”
A roar of laughter erupted from almost everyone. Kyla glared around and those who were loyal to her, shut their mouths up, a few stifling their laughter.
“You make an accusation and yet you are the one who is exactly what you say I am. Grow up Kyla. We are in college, not high school. You need to get wiser and stop behaving like a three year old.”
“Shut up, Elara. How are you calling Kyla a three year old?” Sophia ranted, her fist clenched.
“Shut up Sophia. I wasn't talking to a balloon.” I uttered, mocking her plus size.
“Yo are going to hear from me, Elara.” Kyla threatened, through gritted teeth.
“Then start planning your revenge,sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere.”
I said and brushed past them, my heart racing but my mind was made up. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me scared.
- Writer
