Though Mia was stunned to find her pictures around the school, she didn't have much time to go and tell whoever posted it to bring it down because she was late for her class. She ran down the school hall to attend her class while making a mental note to get Carlos later for taking her pictures.
When Mia arrived at the classroom, another student was stepping out and Mr. Bennett was the one teaching. She cursed under her breath when his piercing gray eyes snapped towards her. He looked more professional today than he was last night, he was dressed in a black suit that emphasized his tall imposing figure. However, he wasn't wearing a tie nor was he wearing the suit jacket to complete that professional look, a few buttons on his button up white shirt was even left unbuttoned and if one looked closely, they could see his tattoos peeking out. His lazy gray eyes swept over her before he said,
"Harrison, I can see you have the habit of always arriving late to my class. Get to your seat." He said nonchalantly. If it wasn't his fault that she arrived home late last night, he wouldn't have allowed her inside the class and would send her out.
However before Mia could even take any step forward to find a seat, the student who was walking out when she entered barged into the classroom."The fuck, Mr. Bennett, I arrived late and you send me out, but Miss plain jane arrived late and you tell her to have a seat. You must be fucking kidding me!" Said Alaric Blackwood, the school's popular boy, with good looks and a haughty attitude, he rarely attended school but always had good grades because of his family's influence. He was also Diane's ex boyfriend.
Alaric had arrived to the class a few minutes before Mia, however, Neil had snapped his fingers and ordered him to scram. He had wanted to argue and let the damn professor know who he was in school, but the young professor had looked into his eyes with that overwhelming eyes of his and said if he didn't get out, he would show him who the superior was. However, one thing Alaric wouldn't let happen, was being chased out while a plain girl like Mia Harrison would be allowed in.
Mia looked at the popular boy of Ivy Grove, who had never spoken to her before nor spared her any glance. He was glaring at Mr. Bennett as if he would hit him if he allowed her to sit down while he was thrown out.
The classroom was suddenly filled with murmuring of the students.
"Alaric was here before Mia, it is unfair for Mr. Bennett to throw him out while allowing her to sit in class."
"Yeah, she doesn't even deserve to be attending classes after stealing Diane's story. I hope she loses her scholarship."
Neil silenced the murmuring with just his eyes before he looked at the student glaring at him. His lips twitched in irritation as he stared at Alaric, unfazed by the student's daring behavior. If he wasn't being in disguise of another person's identity, Neil thought, he would have long broken some bones this morning. Because one thing he disliked, was when someone questioned his orders.
With the corner of his lips pulled up, Neil challenged the student sarcastically, "Well, Mr. Blackwood, if you're so keen on staying in my class, feel free to take a seat. But let me warn you, you will only be taking a seat in my class with a broken limb."
He turned to Mia and added, "Harrison, go ahead and find your seat."
Mia did as she was told and gingerly walked towards the seat Rayne was reserving for her beside her.
Alaric's anger mounted by the plain Jane being allowed to sit. It seemed this new professor had no idea who he was in campus. Not to mention the professor was too young to command him around and believed he could do whatever he pleased in the class. Nonetheless, he decided to leave the class not because the damn man ordered him to, but because he wanted to. He asserted the professor with a defiant look before exiting the room.
"Woah, that was unexpected." Rayne exclaimed after they were done with the morning class and were heading outside. "For a moment there, I almost thought Alaric would fight Mr. Bennett."
Mia couldn't help but laugh nervously at Rayne's remarks. With the way Mr. Bennett had beaten up eight men last night, she doubted Alaric was a thing to him when it came to strength. She was still finding it hard to even believe Leo Bennett was qualified to be a professor with such temper and looks. However, she didn't mention her encounter with him last night to Rayne as they headed to the shed behind the library.
As they passed by the poster of the participants pictures, Mia recalled she wanted her picture down.
"Rayne, can you believe that Carlos dared to add me to the participants of the year? I have told him to delete those pictures he took the other day, but it seems he went ahead and signed me in while also putting himself as my personal photographer for the event." Mia complained to her friend in displeasure.
"Relax, Mia. Joining the contest won't kill you. I also think it's a good idea for you to be a part of it. Besides, you will gain a lot from it if you took part." Remarked Rayne as they sat down under the shed. She wouldn't have supported Carlos to add Mia if she didn't think her friend was beautiful enough to be a part of the contest.
Mia scoffed, "If it's not going to add to my grades, then I don't want to be a part. I will go and remove my name from the participants later." She said.
"No you won't. The contest might not add to your grades but it will give you recognition in Zen city, because it will be a live show on the news channel. I even heard from the senior year students that the last contest, the winners were gifted with cars. If you know what's good for you, don't remove your name." Rayna advise as she took out her tablet from her bag to show Mia the pictures of the cars gifted to the king and queen of the last contents.
Mia looked at the brand new cars in disbelief. Though she knew Ivy Grove was top one most expensive institution In the country, she hadn't expected them to spend this much on events that had nothing to do with the academy activities. But then most rich folks do like to spend money on unnecessary things.
Mia was going to shrugg and still insist on removing her name as she thought she had nothing to do with a car when she lived in a place like Whispering way street where it would be stolen right under her nose even if she won by chance. However, remembering the loan warning document that she'd seen last night, she realized she could try her best to win the car then sell it off to assist her mother.
Before Mia could tell Rayne her decision to participate, the devil's spawn and her lackeys approached them. It was Diane and her two friends. As usual, Diane Foster was overdressed as if she came to school to club instead of studies, she catwalked towards them in her long high heels, with her pink dress swaying with the gentle wind, her blonde hair tied to the side of her head.
When she stood before Mia and Rayne, she looked down at them as if they were some ants she could step on. She crossed her arms against her chest and chuckled in amusement. "I can see you didn't heed my warnings, Miss plain jane. You didn't only go ahead to dare want to compete with me in the contest, you even purposely came late to Leo's class so he could notice you and take your side over Alaric's." She accused.
To Diane, Mia had purposely came late so Leo could notice her, but what the plain jane didn't know was that she had marked the professor as hers. Even though Leo had walked out on her in the restaurant, she knew he would soon come back to her just like every other man she'd dated before. But she wouldn't sit still and let some plain poor girl from the slums compete with her with the man she'd set her eyes on. She would break whoever tried to get her man.
Mia exchanged glanced with Rayne before they both laughed out loud. "You are the most delusional person I have ever seen, Diane. First, you have no right to tell me not to join the contest, and second you think every girl on earth is like you who throws herself at any dashing man that catches her attention. Go and rest you pretty face, because I have no energy to bark with you today."
Diane's pretty face turned ugly by the insult. "You've got some loud mouth there, plain jane, but let me tell you something, it won't be for long. I will make your life a living hell in Ivy Grove. And stay the hell away from my man."