I enter the classroom I had only ever read about and instead of the feeling of primal excitement and the giddiness of a fanboy, all I feel are eyes upon me and a latent sense of dread swimming in the corners of the four bland walls. It's highschool, all over again, but that's not what I am worried about.
It's highschool school with a derogatory system where humans use other humans as their Playthings along with an evil mastermind just righ— ah!
I spot him, sitting in the very back of the class, legs spread wide, taking as much space as he can. His uniform is fitted, the pants rise just so they could expose his pale ankles before the chunky shoes hide them away. His hands are slotted in his pockets, hidden underneath the crisp white shirt and navy blazer. An amused smirk graces his face. He's leaned back, looking relaxed after messing up my mental peace.
If Evander Blackwell of the books cherished anything more than the female lead, it would be his reputation within the school. The gentleman, the rich and popular, people's icon.
But unfortunate for him, he challenged the wrong soul. I, the reader, have all sorts of life damaging dirt on him. I am on my lowest anyway, how much more can they ruin me? Ha.
Instead.
Watch me ruin you, Evander-selfish-narcissistic-bastard-Blackwell!! I'll put you down, find the woman who made me sign whatever inhumane contract and put an end to this miserable universe!
A flurry of happiness courses through me; sudden excitement bubbling in my stomach as I walk further inside the classroom. Someone places their hand on my shoulder and calls out my name, but I shrug them away and stand in front of his seat. Curiousity rides the tide of whispers as I kick the desk of Evander's scrawny looking deskmate, "You, get out, this is my place now."
His big eyes widen and he frantically looks between Evander and I. To say Evander was shocked would be an understatement. His face doesn't betray, but his eyes are widened with a scandal brimming in them. It makes my soul dance in mirth.
"Move, I said," I kick his chair this time, pulling my best mean girl glare as 'Oooh's and 'Aahhhh's resonate around us. Cameras pull up as Evander holds the student down by the back of his collar and threatens him with his eyes.
Evander barely tilts his head to look at me whilst speaking, "Fallen so quick?"
"After the night we spent together," I sniffle, "you must take responsibility."
The crowd gasps, "Woaahhh," and "So fast!!" along with a few derogatory remarks, for both of us, are thrust in the open field. He might have won the bigger battle yesterday, but I was the winner of all the mini wars.
It isn't all that obvious, but I can see the strain in his brows and the controlled breathing escaping his inflated nostrils.
"Are you disrespecting my sense of sight right now? Or has your delusion gotten to your head? I would never even look at someone like you," Evander seethes, finally looking me in the eye.
Brilliant. I stare back, cold and hard as I pull the hair tie off my head and thrust it in his front pocket. "Too bad, I only have eyes for you now," I say, batting my lashes. "You weren't like this day before yesterday; we held hands, went on a walk..." I bite my lower lip, before whispering, "We even used handcuffs. I bet you have some marks lef—"
Someone swore loudly.
A hand was pressed against my mouth and Evander's very enraged dark eyes pierced daggers into my being. The student caught in between gets up and scrambles away as Evander growls, "Not a word more from you. Come with me."
There's giggles and smirks as Evander brings his hand off my face and holds my wrist instead. I give everyone a celebratory smirk as he's about to drag me out of the class.
"What is the ruckus all about? Settle down!!" Our teacher shouts from the centre of the class. Students scramble away as we come to a standstill. "Blackwell, Beckett, seats! Now!"
Quite begrudgeingly, Evander lets go of my hand and chooses to glare at me instead, as I follow him back to his seat. His dirty glare insinuates, 'Go back to your seat or you'll be dead by sun down.'
My crass middle finger in his face insinuates, 'Try me, green tea bitch.'
Hm, I wonder where the female protagonist is? There's one too many blondes in this class. I wonder if she's being jealous because of me right now...? Ha! That would be a sight!
I shove my backpack on the table, a little too loudly as the teacher turns to glare at me.
"Too much passion after yesterday's retreat, huh Beckett? Why don't you channel it into something productive? Come here!" He gestures for me hand out the pile of papers on his desk. "Society forms to be filled, duties to be assigned. Will you volunteer or should I pick?"
The female protagonist would be chosen as the class president in the cannon storyline. She doesn't raise her hand though, Evander sets her up to volunteer and she initially struggles in the role before growing into it.
"Come on now! Eighteen is hardly the age of being shy! Raise your hands!"
Our teacher is tall and muscular, almost like a gym bro back on Earth. It makes a shudder run down my spine as he picks up his glass bottle and chugs down some strange concoction.
"Teach! I'd like to volunteer as Class President!" I turn to see if its the female protagonist — but no, it's some brunette.
"Hm, anybody else?" Teacher looks around for more volunteers.
I pick up the papers and start distributing them around the class. The volunteering girls looks a bit familiar with her brown curls and sharp features. She speaks with intense gesticulation, "I think I'll be a great choice because I'm always on top of the class and know how to lead people!"
I place a paper on her desk.
There's a name on her book covers and it reads, "Trinity Bridge."
She flings her hands in my sight and a hazy memory rebirths in my mind. Those hands pulling me to a chair, holding my head down by my hair. Ah, I remember her now.
"That's all good, Miss Bridge, but you've been the class president for the past four years now! Let's see, if there are no fresh faces, we'll consider you again, okay?"
"Sure Teach!" Trinity chirps before sitting down.
I continue passing the papers until I reach the cornermost desk, my seat with Evander's. I dangle the sheet just a bit out of his reach. Taking bait, he flings his hand up for the paper.
"Teacher! Evander wants to volunteer for President!!" I call out at just the right moment when half of Evander's body and hand is raised for grasping the paper. "He's being very enthusiastic!" I exclaim as he quickly recoils back into his seat, masking panic with a suave smirk and spreading his legs to take more space.
"Why that's brilliant! Would you like to make a speech, Blackwell?"
"No, not really," he coughs, voice deep for some reason.
"Even better! You're appointed!"
"Bu—" Trinity begins in the slightest whines but relapses quick. She presses her lips in a line and joins the congratulations chorus Evander's classmates had begun chanting for him.
She's smiling and clapping but her eyes look miserable, blue and wide.
"Ah, thank you, thank you. It's our last year at school so here's to new opportunities, I guess," Evander breaks my reverie, slouching even more in his seat. Every next second, his eyes would stop by mine to narrow in a glare before widening in kindness for everyone else.
Fucking hypocrite.
"Good good, settle down now! Let's take volunteers for other posts and be quick with filling that form! I want it by this weekend!"
I take my seat again as Evander stabs a compass' needle in his desk. "You're welcome," I whisper, batting my lashes at him.
"Live while you can," he growls vehemently. Almost making me tickle with all the laughs I was trying to control.