Carter was jumpy today. Amayra noticed that he paid no attention to what she was saying and kept on scanning the corridor as if expecting the worst. He also didn't leave Amayra's side for even a minute. Carter's this unusual behaviour put Amayra on edge. Also, it didn't help that everyone kept glancing at them whenever they walked together. Amayra couldn't help but be worried about the unwanted attention she was getting.
"Okay...What's up? You are not yourself today. Is everything alright?" Amayra finally confronted Carter during the lunch break, her eyebrows furrowed and a frown on her face.
Carter exhaled loudly and looked at her for a second and when she thought he wasn't going to answer her, he finally said " It's just....just...uh...ughhh....look, you are probably going to be in trouble today and as your friend, I don't want that...okay..?"
Amayra's face softened at the concern laced in his voice. She softy asked " Problem?"
Carter glanced nervously at her and said, "yeah..you probably don't know...but some of the students in this academy are a little different and some are downright scary. One such person is Jessica Harris. She is the leader of our school dance team and heir of Reeva group of industries, a brand famous for clothing and cosmetic range. She is what you can call a Queen Bee of Hope Academy. Every time that a newcomer enters in this academy, her minions and she perform a background check on her and depending on her bank balance, decide if that student is worth our academy or not. I have a strong feeling that she is going to do the same to you."
Amayra was stunned by this. She was silent for some time. She knew that all students here were heirs of big corporations of this country, but she'd have never thought that new comers and scholarship students would be out casted like this.
After deliberating it for some time she finally asks, "What happens if my bank balance is not satisfactory to her?"
Carter's face lost a little color when she asked that question. He finally grumbled, "Then she makes your life worst than hell until you finally break down and decide to leave this academy on your own."
They were both silent after this. Their lunch long forgotten and their appetite lost. Carter kept surveying the cafeteria for possible threats to Amayra and Amayra kept looking at her table blankly.
After a few minutes she raised her head and asked Carter in a teasing voice, "So, how do you plan to protect me from them?"
Carter looked surprised at her question and what astonished him most was the calm and steadiness in her voice. She wasn't afraid.
Carter opened and closed his mouth for a second and then finally said, "Jessica has known me for a long time. I can introduce you as a friend of mine. I can assure you that she would never harm my friend and that way you would be free from her torture."
To Carter's surprise, Amayra just chuckled and asked, "And how do plan to explain that why are you even friends with the daughter of an ordinary accountant?"
Carter was silent at this question.
Nevertheless, Amayra's heart warmed at the thought of Carter considering her his friend and looking out for her. She smiled faintly at him and said, "Don't worry about me. I am a big girl. I can handle myself." She then took her bag and went to the washroom leaving Carter with a quick wave and a slight smile. At that moment, Carter was sure of one thing, this girl would be his ruin one day...!
Amayra was in one of the bathroom stalls when she heard it. The sound of high heels clicking on the floor followed by a smooth deadly voice, "Any information on that girl ?"
"uhh...not yet...just the usual." Someone responded nervously.
There was silence after that for a few seconds. Amayra knew that they were still there as she would have heard the click clock of heels if they went.
"Today...after school. At 4:00 pm. Our usual spot. Ask someone to bring her."
Amayra's stomach lurched as she heard that. She was sure that the said girl would be her and the girl ordering for her presence would be Jessica. She released a breath she was holding in only after she heard them go and the door being shut.
She had to do something before the school ends. She can't avoid Jessica since it would bring her to the limelight more. She also can't ask Carter for help since that too would attract unwanted attention. The only option left was to do nothing and face Jessica and her gang. She decided to call Rakshit. He would know what to do about the bank balance thing. She quickly pulled out her cell phone and relaxed when he found out a solution to the problem and although there were strong chances that their plan may backfire, it would save her from Jessica's wrath for the time being.
Amayra hated feeling like this. She wasn't afraid that they would harm her. She was afraid that she might lose her patience and fight back, which was the last thing she wanted to do.