His World, not Mine

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Sleep didn’t come easily, and when it finally did, it wasn’t peaceful.

I woke up gasping, my lungs tight as if I’d been underwater, my eyes snapping open to the unfamiliar ceiling above me. For a second, I didn’t move, I was lying there, staring, trying to figure out where I was. Then it hit me Westbridge Academy. The slap I gave Adrian, my stomach dropped instantly.

I sat up slowly, pressing my fingers to my temples as if that could somehow push the memories away. But they came anyway, clear loud, and unavoidable.

“Why did I do that…” I muttered under my breath.

This was supposed to be a fresh start—a chance to blend in, to stay invisible, to focus on school and nothing else.

Instead, on my very first day, I had done the one thing that made that impossible. I had become known, not in a good way though.

I swung my legs off the bed, my feet touching the cold floor. The room was neat, simple, and far more comfortable than anything I was used to.

My eyes drifted to my uniform, neatly placed where I had left it the night before. The same blazers that didn’t quite match. The same shoes that didn’t quite belong.

I let out a quiet breath and stood up, there was no avoiding it, classes were starting today, and I had no idea how I was going to face everyone.

I got ready faster than I thought possible. When I finally stepped out of my room, the hallway of the female wing was quiet. For a moment I allowed myself to hope that maybe it wouldn’t be that bad, maybe people had forgotten.

The moment I stepped into the main hallway, the hope shattered. It started with whispers, soft at first, then louder, then impossible to ignore.

“That’s her…”

“The girl from yesterday…”

“She actually slapped him…”

I felt it before I fully processed it, the stares, the attention, the way conversations shifted as I walked past.

A group of girls turned, eyes scanning me from head to toe. Someone laughed, not loudly but enough.

“Did you see his face yesterday?”

“He didn’t even look angry…”

“That’s worse. That means he’s planning something.”

My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag, I kept walking, I just needed to get to class, that was all that mattered.

If I could just sit down, disappear into a seat, maybe the day would go by without anything worse happening. I picked up my pace, my steps quick and uneven against the polished floor.

The hallway stretched out like a runway I wasn’t supposed to be on, every squeak of my shoes echoing like a gunshot. The whispers trailed behind me like a bad smell I couldn’t shake. So did the eyes. Then, I walked straight into someone.

“Whoa…”

I stumbled back slightly, my heart did a frantic tap-dance against my ribs.

“Morning.”

The familiar voice made me look up, it was MJ. Relief washed over me so quickly that it almost made me dizzy.

“Morning,” MJ said again, studying my face. “Are you okay? You look like you didn’t sleep.”

I let out a heavy, bone-deep exhale, “Should I have?” I asked, my tone light but edged with something else.

MJ paused, then nodded slowly, “Fair point.”

For a second, neither of us spoke. Then

MJ tilted her head slightly, “You’ll get used to it, you know.”

I almost laughed, remembering the stares, being known as the girl who slapped Adrian. I wasn’t sure I wanted to get used to that.

“Where are you headed?” MJ asked.

“History,” I replied.

MJ’s face lit up instantly, “No way. Me too.”

Something in my chest eased, just a little.

“Come on,” MJ said, already turning. “You don’t want to be late on your second day. That would be a terrible look.”

I followed her, falling into step just behind. The hallway still buzzed around us, the whispers quiet now but not gone. I couldn’t help but feel it again, the strange mix of fear and anticipation sitting in my chest. Because no matter how much I tried to ignore it, one thought refused to leave my mind.

What happens when I see him again?

By the time lunch came around, I was already exhausted, not physically but mentally. It felt like I had been holding my breath since morning, waiting for something else to go wrong.

The cafeteria was loud when I walked in, laughter, chatter, trays clinking but the moment I stepped inside, I felt it again. The shift, the whispers.

“The b***h who slapped Adrian…”

I ignored it, I had to.

I grabbed a tray and moved along the serving line, barely paying attention to what was being placed on it. My mind was elsewhere, on the stares, the tension, the feeling that everyone was watching me even when they weren’t.

Tray in hand, I turned, scanning the cafeteria for somewhere, anywhere to sit. That was when I saw MJ.

She waved me over like nothing was wrong, like I wasn’t currently the most talked about person in school. I let out a small breath and walked toward her table.

“Look who decided to join us,” a voice said the moment I sat down.

I looked up.

A guy sat across from me, leaning back in his chair as if he owned it. His expression was playful, but there was something sharp underneath.

“Welcome, our very own celebrity,” he added dramatically.

I blinked.

“Uh…”

He grinned. “Cash. Try not to forget it. I’d hate to introduce myself twice.”

Despite everything, I smiled a little. “Emma.”

“I know,” he said. “Everyone does.”

Beside him, a girl shifted slightly. She looked… quiet, almost like she wanted to disappear into her seat. “I… I’m Missy,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I smiled at her, “Nice to meet you.”

She nodded quickly, eyes dropping back to her tray. For a moment, we all just ate, or at least pretended to. Because it didn’t take long before the question came.

“So…” Cash leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand. “Why did you slap Adrian?” Straight to the point.

I paused, my fork hovering mid-air. “I don’t know,” I admitted finally. “It just… happened. He said something, and I guess it just…”

“…triggered you?” MJ cut in, raising a brow.

I nodded slowly, “Yeah.”

MJ leaned back. “He said, ‘Wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself trying to fit in.”

Cash blinked, then laughed. Not a small laugh, a full one.

I frowned. “What?”

“If that offended you, you’re not going to survive him,” Cash said, still amused.

I stared at him. “Excuse me?”

“I’m serious,” he added, waving his fork slightly. “That’s just how he talks. Cold, yeah. But that? That was nothing.”

“Nothing?” I repeated, thinking back to the slap, was he hurt? Or did he look… relieved?

Missy finally looked up. “Adrian… caring?” She whispered, her voice barely audible over the cafeteria noise. “I don’t think he even knows what that word means.”

I glanced at MJ. “Did you talk to him? Like you said you would?”

She shook her head. “Not yet.”

Before I could say anything else, Cash waved his hand dismissively. “Relax,” he said. “You’ll be fine. Adrian isn’t exactly easy to get to. Rich boy problems. Untouchable lifestyle. Don’t stress yourself.”

Untouchable, the word sat heavily in my chest. Before I could respond, the light from the window vanished, blocked out by two guys who looked like they were carved out of granite.

They were big, intimidating. That kind that didn’t need to say too much to be taken seriously. They had the school’s football jackets on, which probably cost more than my mom’s car.

The one in front stepped closer, his eyes locking directly on me. “You,” he said, pointing.

My stomach tightened.

“Don’t ever touch my boy again.” His tone wasn’t loud, it didn’t need to be.

Before I could even react, the other one stepped forward, a slow smile on his face. “Stay away from us,” he added. “Don’t bring that knock-off perfume and your food stamps into our cafeteria.”

My lungs burned, I was holding my breath so hard I could hear my own pulse drumming in my ears, a frantic rhythm that said, run, run, run. I stared at my tray, at the mystery meat and the wilted lettuce, and wondered if they could see the ‘poverty’ label burned into my forehead.

“I’m sure you were just lucky to get in here,” he continued casually. “You’re not on anyone’s level in this school.”

The words hit harder than I expected. Then just like that, they walked away as if nothing had happened.

I didn’t realize how tight I was gripping my fork until my hand started to shake. For a second, I couldn’t even look up.

“Hey,” Cash said, his voice softer now, “don’t let them get to you.”

I forced a small nod, even though my chest still felt heavy.

“You’ll blend in soon enough,” he added. “Trust me.”

Before I could respond, a sudden wave of notifications went off across the cafeteria. Phones lit up, and everyone started checking their screens. Everyone except me.

MJ pulled out her phone, her eyes scanning before she let out a small smile. “Oh,” she said. “This is interesting.”

“What?” I asked.

She looked up at me. “Welcome back party. Tonight. 8 pm.”

Cash straightened immediately, “Oh, we’re going.”

“Where?” I asked.

“Jane’s place,” MJ replied.

“Who’s Jane?”

Missy answered this time, “Adrian’s girlfriend.”

My stomach did a slow, nauseating flip, MJ turned to me, her eyes lighting up. “You should come.”

I stared at her. “That’s Adrian’s girlfriend’s party.”

MJ smiled, “Exactly! Come to the party,” she repeated. “It’s perfect. You can… You know, fix things. Or at least distract everyone.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said quickly, “No one even likes me.”

“That’s because they don’t know you yet,” Cash cut in. “Give it time. Right now, you’re just… hot news.”

I frowned, “Hot news?”

“Hot cake,” he corrected with a grin. “Big difference.”

I couldn’t help it, I laughed a little.

“If you hide, you’re a victim. If you show up, you’re a legend. Plus, Jane hates being ignored.” MJ said. “Look, hiding will only make the target on your back bigger. If you show up looking like you don’t care, it takes the power away from them. Plus, it's easier to apologize when there’s music and drinks than in a cold hallway.”

“And,” Cash continued, eyeing me, “you’re actually attractive. Once the gossip dies down? Trust me, you’ll have options.”

“Options?” I repeated.

“Oh yeah,” he said proudly. “And I will personally help you choose.”

MJ rolled her eyes. “Ignore him.”

“I will not be ignored,” Cash said dramatically. “Fashion and romance are my specialties.”

Despite everything, the tension in my chest eased just a little. MJ leaned closer, “You’re coming to the party.”

“That wasn’t a question, was it?”

“Nope.”

Cash snapped his fingers. “And I’m helping you pick your outfit.”

I shook my head, smiling faintly. For the first time since I got here… it didn’t feel completely terrible. I didn’t know if I was walking into a chance to fix things or a disaster waiting to happen. But one thing was certain, Adrian would be there and this time there would be nowhere to hide.