Chapter Eight

Amaryllis Lexington

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"Is it just me or she sounds like a cricket?" Maya nudged me and pointed her finger secretly at the teacher. The fact that I was just thinking the exact thing made me laugh out louder than I wanted, and the teacher halted her speech.

"Any jokes you want to share with the class, Miss Lexington?" Venom laced her voice and I almost asked her what side of the bed she woke up on. Either the wrong side or she's part of those who just hates my guts for existing.

"Nothing you'll find funny, miss." My jaw dropped upon the realization that I was no longer at Halloway where my jokes would not get me in trouble. A hushed silence fell on the class and Miss Terrence shot fiery darts at me through her eyes. If I dared to get suspension, my parents would be so disappointed.

"Why's that? Are you insinuating I have no sense of humor? You rich kids think you can get away with whatever rubbish you do, but I'll have you know I am not a teacher who will kiss your ass." Even though she sounded like a cricket, she was slowly climbing her way to the top of the ladder of people I can tolerate in this school.

"My apologies, ma'am. I honestly didn't mean to be rude." Her gaze softened a little, and I could tell she wasn't used to people apologizing. Well,  what does she expect? The kids of the richest and most influential people in America and some other countries attend here.

"Don't let this repeat itself. Have your seat." I quickly sat down and paid attention to the class till the bell was rung. I could be really playful and wild, but I never take my academics for granted. Not like I'm a straight A student though, but I try.

After three more agonizing classes, it was finally time for lunch. I had a bounce to my feet as we walked out of class. I wonder what the Lexingtons would do if I tabled the conversation about quitting school before them.

"Finally! We can have lunch!" Maya exclaimed, throwing her fists in the air as we walked out. The fact that we think the same things at times makes me wonder if we are really not related by blood.

"Do you think mum and dad will get mad if I tell them I want to quit school?" That halted Maya in her tracks. She blinked at me for about a full minute, then she went into wolf mode. This lady was literally howling and panting and making some inhumane sounds, all in the name of laughing.

"Yeah, I feel so good right now sharing my pain with you." I rolled my eyes and dug into my hoodie pocket to fetch my phone. My bestest friend in the world actually, I'd be lost without my cellphone. Same as ninety-nine percent of all the teenagers in the world.

"No..no. Come on, Lis. I'm not laughing at your pain, it's just....I wasn't expecting that. Damn." She managed to get out, even though she was still shaking from her laughter. Her laughter was so damn contagious, I had no idea when I started laughing too, ignoring the weird looks we were getting from the humans around us.

"I'm serious, though. I don't think I'm cut out for education, you know? I have barely spent a full day in this school and I already want to quit. The fact that I still have four years of college makes me wanna curl into a ball and cry my eyes out." She started laughing again, and soon enough she was hitting me while laughing.

"So what are you gonna do when you quit school?" I stared at her with a duh look. Was that even a question?

"Get married to a rich dude, obviously. What do you think? That I'm gonna get a job? Girl, I am not cut out for stress. Any man should be lucky he's marrying me! I am a total spec and he has to pay me for that." I grinned, popping a cherry flavored gum I fetched out from my private stash into my mouth.

"You are insane. It's official. And to your question, yes. Mum and Dad will get mad and probably get you shipped off to a mental facility." I sighed sadly. Well, there goes the plan.

"Whatever. We've been going on and on, but I can't seem to find the cafeteria in sight. I am starving, Maya. How much longer do we have to walk before we get there?" I groaned. At least if I can't quit school, I should eat something to get through today.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I forgot to tell you. I am not heading to the cafeteria right now. We are taking a quick detour."

"Why? Where to?" I asked as we turned a corner. This school is totally huge! It's like three times of Halloway High. Rose, Jade, and James would freak out if they saw this place.

"One of my friends sent me a message. She needs me to get her out of detention." I raised my eyebrow in confusion. Okay?

"Because?"

"Because the teacher who gave her detention happens to worship mum and dad, and would do anything for me just to get in their good books. Actually, she would do anything for anyone with the Lexington surname, so yeah. Sometimes, I use that as an advantage." Oooohhh, nice! A free pass! Sounds like gold!

"That look in your eyes is scary." She said and I grinned wickedly. Who knew power would be so sweet? No wonder some get power drunk and totally lose control of themselves.

We arrived at the class where the girl was being held hostage, and truly, once the teacher sighted Maya, she let get friend go. The friend definitely looked like someone who would get in trouble a lot. She looked like trouble.

The blue extension in her hair added to the scary appeal, and the mean look in her eyes made me wonder if she had ever smiled in her entire life, but if there was one thing this girl was, it was beautiful. She looked drop dead gorgeous. That kind of gorgeous that makes you do a mental check of yourself.

"Hey, Olive. This is Amaryllis, my sister. Lis, this is Olive, my best friend." I stared wide eyed. This girl and Maya were like opposites! While Maya looked like an angel just stepping out of heaven, untainted by the darkness of this world, Olive looked like something cooked out of the dark, with a sprinkle of light. And then she smiled.

"Hey, Amaryllis. I've heard a lot about you. It's unfortunate we had to meet under this circumstance." Her voice was the direct contrast of her personality, and she had a freaking British accent! Swoon.

"Hi, Olive. Trust me, it's not unfortunate at all. I almost scored myself a detention too, even though it's just my first day." I smiled, and she did the same. Her blue eyes twinkling slightly. She was the exact definition of never judge a book by its cover. She looked so badass, but when she smiles and talks, you could see exactly why she was best friends with Maya.

"Let's hurry to lunch. Kayla would be waiting for us." Maya said and I was confused. I don't know no Kayla, but I am very much interested. Together, we walked off to the cafeteria. I tried my best to engage Olive in a conversation, just to hear that British accent over and over again. Sometimes, I hated the fact that I didn't have a British accent and I once tried to learn via YouTube, but I have a consistency problem.

We entered the beautiful cafeteria, and soon enough, all eyes were zoning in on me. I had totally forgotten that the cafeteria is the hellhole of any newbie. I ignored the stares and followed the girls to the direction they were heading. We finally reached a table where a blonde girl was sitting. She had strawberry blonde hair, beautiful green eyes and a peaceful smile widened to reveal a dimple when she spotted my companions. Are all Maya's friends drop dead gorgeous? I mean, come on!

"Hey, Kay. This is Amari, Maya's sister." Olive introduced and the green orbs zoned in on me. She smiled like she had known me for a while and extended a hand. Wow, professional huh?

"Hi, Amari. I'm Kayla Davies. Nice to meet you." Her voice had that soft and peaceful tone. Like she could talk anyone into giving in to whatever she demanded. On getting closer, I realized she was a chubby girl and that just made me like her more. Chubby people are so cute and comfortable to hug!

"Nice to meet you too. You look really pretty." Just like Maya the first time I complimented her, she looked away shyly and gave me a fake smile. I was enraged by the fact that beautiful people like these were fading away into the background because the people around them were either too blind or too bitter to make them realize it.

"Thanks. So, Olive, I heard you got into detention. What did you do to Miss Love?" she had that scolding look and I quickly analyzed their circle. Olive was the wild one, who was always getting into trouble. Kayla was the motherly one, who keeps them all in check. Maya? Maya was the quiet one who just observes, but has the appropriate attitude to dispense whenever a situation calls for it.

"I only told her she was a direct contrast of her name. Anyone would agree with me! That woman has no love in her life!" That accent. Gosh.

"Can I just say you have like the best British accent I've ever heard?" I couldn't help myself. I just had to say it. She looked surprised by my compliment, but quickly recovered.

"Thank you. But I'll have you know I do not have it. Unfortunately, the person with the best British accent we've ever heard is not exactly the best person we know."

"Carlson Hawthorne." Maya supplied with a venom laced voice and my eyes widened. Oh dear God! How exactly am I supposed to hate this guy?

First, he looks totally unreal with those damnably beautiful features, and now he has a British accent? Come on!

"Rumor has it he's related to the royal family in England." Kayla supplied and my eyes widened even more. At this rate, my sockets would become slack and my eyes would fall out.

"Isn't he American?"

"Dual citizenship." Olive answered and I nodded slowly. Olive happily dug out all the rumors she's heard about Carlson, and rather than make me hate him, it just made me wonder how anyone on this planet could.

"Well, seems like you finally found your place. I didn't even have to do anything before you figured out this is the circle you belong." Oh, I know that voice all right! I knew she wouldn't listen.

"What do you want, Allison?" Maya barked at her. She wasn't naturally like this, but I think the conversation about Carlson Hawthorne already got her riled up, hence the venting out of frustration on a well deserving human.

"Relax, dearest sister. I am not talking to you. I wouldn't waste my breath on you." Oh really?

"I'm glad you would waste your breath on me, but I have to decline. I don't want your stinky breath all over me, so shoo." Kay chuckled at my comment, but quickly covered it up when Allison glared at her.

"The only stinky thing here is you, slum rat. I just came here to offer my condolences. As long as I am in this school and you're sitting with these losers, your social life is dead." Can I just slap this girl?

"I actually like that very much. I don't think I would want to have a social life in a school full of people who actually think you're somebody, cause you know, Allison, you ain't shit."

"And you think you are? You are the one sitting with losers. My circle is filled with respectable people, you know. People of the same calibre as I am!" She laughed and then waved her hand at the girls in a demeaning fashion.

"And who do you have here? Maya, the daughter who will never fit in because she obviously isn't good enough. Olive, a girl from the slums like you, who can only breathe the same air as me because she's on scholarship. And the groundbreaker, Kayla Davies, the pregnant teenager. Even her baby's father doesn't want her." My eyes widened at that bit of information, and my gaze found Kayla's. She had tears in her eyes, and when her gaze met mine, she buried her head in shame.

"What? You're shocked? You should be." Allison said and laughed. By now, the whole cafeteria was silent and staring at us. I wanted to stay silent, oh dear God, I badly wanted to stay silent but one glance at Maya's face and I knew I would rather die than let her get away with it.

"Oh yes. I am shocked, Allison. I am shocked that someone like you actually exists. You think you have the right to insult people? You walk around here acting all high and mighty because you think you're better than everyone else. But you know, it's not your fault. It's the fault of everyone who gave you this power." I faced the crowd staring at me.

"it is the fault of these people who clear the way for you when you walk by. It is the fault of those who cower when you talk. It is the fault of those who make it seem like you actually matter. But you know what? You do not matter. You are nothing! Everything you stand for right now can be taken away from you by burning your stupid adoption papers." The crowd gasped and she turned red, but I wasn't done. Oh, no. I wasn't done.

"Look here, Allison. You are nothing but a replacement, and that's all you'll ever be." I smiled and twisted a lock of her curls.

"You are nothing but the moon, Allison. You can only shine when the sun isn't there anymore. News flash, the sun is back and I can bet you I'm never leaving. You know what that means?" I put my head on her head, and pretended I was carrying something, then I threw it on the floor and stepped on it.

"That's your crown, sicko. Your reign is over, and it's about time you learnt how to serve. 'cause by the time I take the reins, you will either run away or follow my every word." If I thought she has turned red before, this colour was definitely something more. She looked like she would go into a shock at any moment.

"I'll have you know that I don't want you barfing all over me, so if you wanna spill your guts out, I suggest you back off. These clothes are pretty expensive. My parents just got them for me." I smiled in a taunting manner and I shoo'd her off. I guess she was too frozen to talk or act, because she was dragged away by her friends.

"What are y'all looking at? Get back to your sick lives." Olive yelled and everyone went back to doing whatever they were doing initially.

"Damn girl. No one has ever put Allison in her place like that. When Maya texted me this morning and told me all you did to her during the hallway, I thought she was exaggerating. I think I need to join your fan club." Olive gushed and I chuckled. I didn't like the fact that I said all those things to Allison, but I was too mad to care. She didn't fight fair too. She attacked people with their weaknesses, so she had to know what it felt like.

"Thank you for standing up for us." Kayla spoke up for the first time after the incident, and I gave her a small smile. I never knew she was pregnant because the table covered her belly.

"It's nothing... And I'm sorry I gasped when she...um...broke the news. I didn't mean to make you upset or anything." I rambled, hoping I didn't offend her, but she smiled.

"It's nothing. I'm used to the reaction. It's not everyday you see a pregnant girl in high school. My parents pulled some strings to get me to stay." She said and I nodded in understanding. The pros of being wealthy.

"Don't ever let anyone put you down because of your baby. It's a blessing from the Lord, and if anyone has a problem with it, you can shove them out of the way with your cute baby bump." I grinned and she laughed. Soon enough, the tension reduced and the conversation shifted to food.

"So you mean y'all have a chocolate cake stand in this cafeteria? My goodness! I have to go get it. Maya, lead the way." I cried out in excitement. Chocolate cakeeeeeeeeeeeeee, my darling! My love! My everything!

Maya wasn't getting up fast enough, so I pulled her up, to which she pleaded with me not to yank her arm off. I wasn't registering all she was saying because I was lost in thoughts about how many chocolate cakes I should get.

"Here we are." Maya announced, and disappointment mixed with relief dawned on me when I realized there was just one foil of chocolate cake left. Disappointment because I wanted about five, and relief because I managed to snatch the last one before anyone could.

I slipped some coins into the machine and I watched my cake slide out gently. I picked it up and stared at the delicious beauty. I bet it tastes just as amazing as it looked.

"If I were you, I'd drop that." A deep, masculine voice said in the most amazing British accent in the world, and before I turned around, I had a feeling I knew who it would be.

"I'm sorry?" I asked as I turned, and I had to stop myself from squealing. Yikes! What a guy! Damn.

"I said, drop the cake." Okay, he might be cute but bro, you are rude!

"Because?" His eyes seemed to widen at that. I guess he wasn't used to l kind of reaction. Meh!

"Because I said so." He said impatiently, his eyebrows furrowing in an irritated manner. However, his irritation couldn't match my own.

"I don't have time for this. Kindly excuse me." I said and decided to walk past him. However, the plan failed because he dragged me back rather forcefully, and I hit my back on his hard chest. Swoon.

"I don't have time for this, newbie. If you don't hand the cake over peacefully, I'll take it forcefully. I bet you know you're quite petite." Damn that accent. It was making it so hard to focus on being annoyed.

"Well then, no one is having it." I said, and before I could think things through, I smashed the cake on the ground. Watching the chocolate goodness divide into bits that were unsavorable. His eyes caught fire and I could bet he needed that cake just as much as I needed it.

"You didn't just do that!" He growled, pulling me closer to his chest, with his grip on my hand getting tighter. I looked up at him and I found myself lost in his eyes. What was that thing I wanted to say? Oh, right.

"Why? What are you gonna do?"

"Be scared, newbie. Be really scared."