BEAUTIFUL RIVALS

First Day, Fatal Collision

—THE NEXT DAY —

Maya stood in front of her cracked mirror, already dressed up, ready to start a new chapter of her life. Nothing extra, she had her usual baggy jeans on, a big top, a scarf around her head and wrist, and her sneakers.

Yes, the school was a high school, but they had no uniform, students were allowed to dress however they wanted.

She slid her cross bag over her neck and stared at the mirror. Other girls on their first day would dress extra with heavy makeup on, but definitely not her, apart from the money, she was just timed to do that, she doesn’t even use lip gloss.

She stepped out of her room to the tiny living room, and her mother stood by the dining table, spreading butter over the last slices of bread, with Daniel in front of her. Maya walked up to them and pecked them both.

“I’ll be on my way,” she said, moving towards the door.

“Your breakfast!” Mrs Reed said.

“I’m okay, I’m not hungry, Mum,” Maya replied.

“You didn’t even eat anything to bed last night,” Mrs Reed said softly.

“Daniel can have it. Bye, mum,” Maya rushed out

—ROAD SIDE —

Maya stood by the roadside, trying to get a cab, her stomach growled loudly, she pressed her hands against it to reduce the sound but it just got louder.

She was hungry, really hungry, but if she had taken breakfast, the food wouldn’t have been enough for all of them, tears welled up in her eyes, this wasn’t the first time she had made such a sacrifice, and it definitely wouldn’t be the last.

She would be the shoulder of her family, till she makes sure her dad is out of prison and his name is cleared. She’d make sure of that.

She jolted out of her thought at a loud hunk from a cab, she sipped her eyes and flagged down the cab. She got in and the engine was brought to life.

—THIRTY MINUTES LATER—ROYALES HUGH SCHOOL —

The cab stopped in front of the gate in the parking lot, no expensive cars there, just a few cabs like hers. Maya alighted, paid the cab man and walked towards the gate, she looked up to see a WELCOME TO ROYALES HIGH SCHOOL board, interesting.

She took her time to admire the aesthetic of the school, from the beautiful color, the ceiling-to-floor windows, the glass buildings, everything was just magnificent, it felt like another world on its own.

“Wow!” Maya couldn’t help but admire it, “If the outer part is this beautiful, I wonder what the inside would look like,”

She walked to the gate raised her hand to open it, but before her hand could touch it, the gate slid up by itself, revealing a paradise in school settings. Flowers were everywhere, no buildings, just flowers and lights, the sky was covered, and you didn’t know if it was day or night, everywhere was roofed.

“Oh My Fawking God!” Maya gasped

She tried composing herself, but who the hell was she kidding? This place was heaven. She walked further and sighted another gate, “Okay? What now?” Maya questioned.

She got to the gate and stood in front of, the gate looked unreal, the gate opened widely and a voice from nowhere said “Welcome to Royales High School,”

“Crazy!” Maya exclaimed quietly

She walked in to see the full artwork on display, the buildings were all tall, flowers, pathways, a water fountain with blue lights and water lilies, a parking lot, “Wait? A parking lot?” Maya thought, “I thought I saw one outside, I mean the cab alighted there,” she wondered, she looked closely and noticed the type of cars parked there, SUVs, Porsches, different expensive cars that could feed the country at large.

“Oh, so the outer parking lot must be for scholarship students, cabs, while this one must be for the rich students, the beginning of favoritism,” Maya scoffed.

She noticed a crowd gathering but she ignored it, she just wanted to get to the principal’s office and get the things she’d need. Suddenly, someone pulled her from behind.

“Hey! Are you blind? Can’t you see Noah Kingston has arrived?” A sharp voice called from behind.

Maya turned to see the girl, she assessed her from head to toe, she had red extensions on, heavy makeup, a transparent top that revealed her bra, and her skirt barely covered her ass.

Who even dresses like this for school?

What is she? A stripper?

"Don't just stand there staring like an i***t," the girl continued impatiently. "Go apologise to Noah."

“For what exactly? And who the f**k is Noah, and why the hell are you stopping me?” Maya asked, irritation rising.

The girl looked surprised.

“Wait, are you new?” The girl asked looked at Maya from head to toe, her face scowled, “wait a scholarship student, cause the way you are dressed….” She eyed Maya up and down.

“Can’t believe Brittany touched her, ewe,” One of the minions behind Brittany whom Maya hadn’t noticed said.

“Here!” The second said, bringing out a sanitizer bottle which she sprayed on Brittany’s already opened palm. She rubbed her palms together staring at Maya with disgust.

“Well… go apologize to Noah nevertheless,” Brittany said.

“Look, I don’t have time for whatever game you are tryna play, go look for someone else, I’ll pass,” Maya said and walked away.

One of the minions tried following her but Brittany stopped her, “Let her be, she’s new, we haven’t welcomed her properly yet, so we can’t act badly with her, we need to throw her a welcome party,” Brittany said, a meaningful smirk on her face.

Maya cursed under her breath as she kept walking,” These spoilt brats just like to piss me f**k off, uhhh,” She groaned.

Suddenly someone bumped into her, “ Oh perfect, are you blind?” She yelled looking up, her eyes widened, the person who bumped into her was none other than the same boy from yesterday.

“You?” Both yelled, eyes burning with hate and something darker.

“Do they know each other?” The other students around asked one another, looking shocked..