Nick's gaze swept over me, long and deliberate, as if he were sizing me up, trying to figure out if I was worth his time. His eyes lingered a little too long, like he was dissecting every inch of me, and the silence stretched unbearably. I could feel my pulse quicken, but I wouldn't let him see it. I couldn't.
I stood my ground, bracing myself for whatever was coming. I hoped—prayed—that he would just drop it and move on. But if he didn't, I was ready. Ready for the fight. Ready to defend myself, no matter how intimidating he was or how much power he held over everyone else. I wouldn't be another name on his list of people he could push around. Not me.
Nick's lips curled into that same infuriating smirk. "Mmm... I don't see how you find her cute, Eric," he drawled, his voice thick with condescension. "She's just like every other girl on this campus, desperate for my attention because of my influence. No wonder she bumped into me—probably a calculated move to get me to notice her."
His words twisted the knife further. "And now, she's scared… because she knows she's not going to get what she was craving."
The smug expression on his face made my blood boil. I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks, but it wasn't fear—it was anger. He had no idea who I was or what I stood for, and yet he assumed I was just like all the others who fell at his feet. I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms, forcing myself to stay calm.
"I didn't bump into you for attention," I said, my voice cold and steady. "And I'm not scared. You're not nearly as important as you think you are."
Eric's eyebrows shot up, clearly impressed by my response, while Nick's smirk faltered for the briefest moment. The flicker of surprise in his eyes was satisfying, but I knew this wasn't over.
I wish I had cooled off after my response. I really do. But something inside me snapped. My anger surged, boiling over like a pot left too long on the stove. Nick had gone too far, I couldn't take it anymore. Every part of me screamed to stay calm, to cool down and not act out of anger—but I couldn't listen. No, I wouldn't listen. The fire in me was too strong, too consuming. My head felt like it was burning, my pulse racing with a fury I couldn't contain. My hand moved before my brain could stop it.
SLAP.
The sharp sound of my palm colliding with his face echoed in the hallway, and for a split second, I saw the smug expression drain from his face, replaced by sheer shock. I had slapped Nick Cortez—the untouchable, the all-powerful—and wiped the arrogance right off him.
But I wasn't there anymore. It was like everything around me blurred, like I was floating outside of my body, watching it happen from a distance. I didn't care about his reputation, his wealth, or his power in that moment. All I knew was that I couldn't take another second of his cruelty. It was like I was no longer in control of my body, moving on autopilot. I turned around, heart pounding, and walked away, leaving him standing there, stunned. I didn't wait to see his reaction. I couldn't. My feet were already moving. I turned and walked away, my heart hammering in my chest, the sound of my breathing deafening in my ears. I couldn't see, couldn't think.
The heat of the slap still tingled in my hand, but I didn't look back. My mind was racing. What had I done? My actions felt surreal, like they belonged to someone else. But the anger was still there, simmering just beneath the surface.
I kept walking, not knowing where I was headed, but certain of one thing: I had crossed a line that couldn't be uncrossed.
I sat in the heart of a beautiful, secluded garden tucked away within the school grounds. It was like a well-kept secret, as though no one else had discovered it, or if they had, they chose to leave it untouched. For the first time since I'd set foot in this overwhelming place, I was truly alone.
The garden was breathtaking, with towering trees that offered shade, and flowers that bloomed in vivid colors, their petals dancing with the light breeze. The air here felt different, soft and fragrant, each gust of wind calming my nerves and carrying away the weight of the day. It was as if I had stepped into a different universe, one where time slowed and I was the only living soul. I could breathe here, think here—just be here.
I liked how it made me feel, this stillness, this peace. It was a world away from the chaos and tension that seemed to follow me everywhere else in this school. Here, in this little sanctuary, I wasn't the scholarship girl trying to fit in or the one who slapped Nick Cortez across the face. I was just me, and for the first time since I'd arrived, that felt like enough.
I had been sitting in the garden for hours, letting the tranquility wash over me, piece by piece pulling myself back together. The events of the day had left me shaken, and I couldn't deny that. I needed this moment to collect myself, to gather the strength I knew I'd need to face whatever was waiting for me outside this peaceful bubble.
I really needed to start controlling my temper, or it was going to get me into more trouble—if it hadn't already. I had no idea how I was going to get myself out of the mess I created earlier. If there had been even the slightest chance of smoothing things over with Nick before, that chance was now gone. Completely. Not even Eric's help could fix this; I thought bitterly.
I might as well start packing my things and head home. The shame I'd bring to my family weighed heavy on me. How could I face my parents? My mom would be devastated, and though part of me knew my dad might understand, it didn't make it easier. He always taught me to stand up for myself, to never let anyone take advantage of me. Well, today I had done exactly that, and yet… I couldn't shake the feeling that I had made a terrible mistake.
I should've handled it differently—calmly, with my mind, not with my fists. But the heat of the moment had gotten the better of me, and now I had to live with the consequences. What's done is done. There's no undoing it now. I just had to brace myself for whatever was coming next, though the thought alone made my stomach churn.
Sitting in this garden, the calmness surrounding me felt so distant from the chaos I knew awaited me. How I wished I could stay here forever, lost in the beauty of this quiet place. But I couldn't. I had to go back. I had to face my reality.