Jennifer and Adrian stepped out of her home, to go to school together. Initially, Adrian was being awkward but Jennifer gave him the confidence that she was not angry at him for following her. Adrian smiled like a puppy at the statement. They both reached the school in a very jolly mode, laughing and smiling. At the school gate, Adrian met James. James wanted to talk in private, so Jennifer left them alone and started walking towards her class.
"Look where you are walking loner." Debbie said as both of their shoulders bumped accidently. Jennifer looked at her with a straight face before rolling her eyes and walking away. "Watch you attitude, you bit-" before she could complete her sentence, Jennifer turned around with a hard glare. "Complete it. I dare you." There words came out husky which scared her a bit.
"How dare you try and talk back to me?" Debbie raised her voice, an octave higher which caught the attention of some students in the corridor. "Someone need to tell you that your breath stinks. No?" Jennifer said which made the kids snicker. "I will rip your hair off. You bitch." She gritted and her hand moved to grip her hair which she twisted behind her back.
Jennifer pushed her off with a little force but not too much to harm her. She was careful enough not to get caught in such a mess. But Debbie's foot got caught in her shoe lace making her trip and fall down. She groaned and sat up only to look around at the people who were laughing at her. She clenched her fingers and ran away.
A silent scoff left Jennifer's mouth as she walked back to her class. Before she could enter her class an announcement was made. "Ms. Jennifer Williams, freshman year, please reach the principal's office. I repeat Ms. Jennifer Williams, freshman year, please reach the principal's office." The sound of the announcement rang loud and clear in the entire school. Heads turned to see Jennifer' reaction but she merely started walking towards the principal's office with a straight face.
"Was the embarrassment not enough for her?" She mumbled as she walked to the principal's office. Jennifer entered the principal's office, as expected Mr. Suarez was sitting on his chair and Debbie was standing there.
"Ms. Williams, your behavior was reckless and unacceptable. Please call your guardian, this needs to be discussed thoroughly." The principal said even after all attempts made by Jennifer to explain to her that Debbie tripped over her own feet and broke her nose. Jennifer groaned and eyed Debbie who was smirking and pretending to break her nose. Jennifer was about to get up and call her parents but then Adrian entered the principal's office followed by James.
"Mr. Rains, please leave. We are discussing a delicate matter here. I shall call you when I am free." The Principal said, her eyes not leaving Jennifer unattended. Jennifer looked at Adrian with pleading eyes. Suddenly, he had become all the hope she could clung to. "Principal, you should let Jennifer leave. I was there and I witnessed their fight. It was Debbie's fault."
The expression on Mr. Suarez's face turned confused. "What do you mean?" He removed his glasses and blowed into them, while looking for a cloth to clean them. "Please let her leave. I'll explain." Adrian said. Principal nodded, indicating Jennifer to leave his office. Before leaving, the last line she heard Debbie rambling about how this was unfair and she was interrupted by Adrian's low grumble.
Jennifer waited outside the principal's office for her verdict. While waiting, she was contemplating what would be happening inside. It was funny that a girl as fake as Debbie was trying to act and get sympathy from the school authorities. She was the one chasing Adrian since the moment he had set food in this school. Jennifer knew that the repercussions could not have been very severe. Her father literally owned this town. But it was still fun guessing what would Adrian say and what Debbie would counter for.
When the gate opened , Adrian's head became visible. He tilted his head indicating her to come inside. When Jennifer came inside, she noticed that Debbie was almost crying. Her eyes were shining with tears unspilled. The principal said, "Ms. Williams, you have been pardoned this time. Please be careful in your conduct next time." Debbie stormed out of the office, within a second these lines were said. Jennifer thanked the principal and exited the office with Adrian and James next to her. "What did you say to him?" Jennifer turned around to look at Adrian. "What he said doesn't matter. You are free now." James interrupted them.
Adrian smiled and patted James chest, "Relax buddy. Now, she is familiar to my not so good ways of dealing with stuff. We made a promise last night, no more secrets." James was in shock. No more secrets? Was she admitted to the den? Did she know? James zipped his mouth in a thin line waiting for some time alone with his buddy. "I told the principal that my father would destroy his entire career if I told him to. Easy. He was scared."
Jennifer was now officially pissed off. She definitely needed some time to adapt to Adrian's 'not so good' ways. Jennifer's father was more rich and influential than Adrian's. Her father hit the Forbes list every year, for the last 5 years now bit Jennifer never even thought of using his name or his clout for her own benefit. Primarily because she had seen her father make sacrifices to reach this level of success.
When Jennifer was born her father was just a middle class man, who loved his wife and daughter. Sacrificing his dreams and life to make his family's life better. Jennifer had seen him suffer endless torment to set up this business and maintain it. She had seen him work day and night, tirelessly to bring it to stand where it is today. Unlike, Adrian's father who inherited his empire from Adrian's grandfather. His father too was a workaholic person. One cannot say that he hasn't put efforts in it. His business is considerably larger than before but still the base was all set to work upon which made his task easier. Probably, that is the reason Adrian takes his father's position so lightly.
"Adrian, that is wrong!" Jennifer said. Before Adrian could state his argument, Jennifer stormed off. James grabbed the chance to have some private talk to with him. "Adrian, does she know?" James blocked Adrian from running after Jennifer. "What?" Adrian's eyes were still lingering on the girl that was stomping her way to her class. Her ponytail swinging wildly as she went away in anger.
"Does Jennifer know about the den?" Adrian suddenly tensed. "No. Of course not." "Didn't you promise her something about no more secrets?" James asked. "That one is an exception." Adrian kept is voice low afraid of letting anyone hear them. "Thank god. I thought you…." James sounded relieved. "Don't ever think about that. She's too innocent to be dragged into such a hell place." Adrian's voice was grave by now. Without another word exchanged, they both went to their respective classes.