Ethan and Avery's sleek Lamborghini Aventador pulled up to the curb, drawing admiring glances from the gathered students.
The car's gleaming black paint and sharp lines seemed to shimmer in the morning light.
Ethan opened the door with a flourish. satisfied with his hair, grinned at Avery. "Told you I'd get it right."
Avery rolled her eyes, smiling. "Yeah, yeah, you're a hair stylist extraordinaire."
As they stepped out of the car, Melly, Christopher and a few others walked up, their eyes wide with envy.
"Wow, Ethan, your car is insane!" Hazel exclaimed.
Wyatt nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's like a supercar!"
"What Lambo model is this ?, it seems to be customized",Julian asked scrutinizing the car ,
"With this car here, Jessica Russell's Rolls Royce seems outdated" , Julian concluded, unknowingly that she had provoked Jessica.
Adrenaline ran through Jessica's blood when her Rolls-Royce phantom was belittled, she tried her best hiding her anger, because she wants to make a good impression in Infront of Ethan
Samantha hissed , shaking her head. "You're such a car snob, Julian, atleast there is no way you can compare a Royce phantom to that junk of yours", Samantha attacked Julian with words.
Julian glared at Samantha with outrage , "you really need to watch your tongue Nasty Bully"
Samantha wanted to throw her dirty words at Julian but Jessica feigned an interference.
"Oooh please Samantha , we don't need to fight over everything, together we are the mighty Springdale". Jessica blurted hoping to get an applause at the end of her sentence but she got none.
Avery wanting to rub salt on Jessica's wound beamed with pride, running a hand over the car's sleek hood.
"She's a beauty, isn't she? Lamborghini Aventador, the best of the best."
"Wow"the other kids exclaimed because they were overly impressed.
Ethan had their backpacks slung over their shoulders as Claire's Bentley pulled over and she joined them .
Ethan flashed her a smile, his composure regained. "Hi Claire"
The trio laughed, drawing a few curious glances from the students. As they walked towards the building entrance with the student closing up behind them.
Just then, Charlotte and Andrew burst through the gates, out of breath and laughing.
"Made it!" Charlotte exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.
They immediately ran in mingling with the crowd, meanwhile Ethan diverted his movement towards the locker room.
Ethan slammed his locker shut, his bag safely stowed away. He checked his Rolex watch, noting he had a few minutes before his first class. Plenty of time to take care of some business.
He strode through the hallway, his long legs eating up the distance. His destination was the principal's office, and he had a mission in mind.
Principal Sage looked up from his desk as Ethan entered, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"Ethan Landon, what can I do for you?"
Ethan got straight to the point. "Mr Sage, I would like to request from an assistant in national science project".
"I know it's competitive, but I'm confident that an assistant can make a valuable contribution."
Principal Sage leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers.
"Landon , you're a talented student, no doubt about that. But the science project is a challenging endeavor. Good thing you asked for an assistant?"
Ethan's determination was unwavering. "Absolutely, Mr Sage. I've been preparing for this opportunity for months. I have ideas, I have passion, and I have the skills to make it happen , but this time I think the competition is going to be fierce, so I need someone to divide the workloads with"
Principal Sage studied him for a moment before nodding. "Very well, Ethan. I'll consider your request , but You'll need to bring your A-game if you want to make the cut."
Ethan grinned, triumphant. "Don't worry, Mr Sage. I'm ready for this. I will bring this cup back to Springdale once again"
With a nod, he turned and left the office, already mentally preparing himself for the challenge ahead.
Ethan walked out of the principal's office, feeling confident and determined.
He had made a strong case for why he needed an assistant for the national science project, and he was hopeful that Principal Sage would grant his request.
As he walked down the hallway, he noticed an unfamiliar figure hurrying in the opposite direction.
Charlotte's distinctive bun packed hair triggered an action in his brain , but as their eyes almost met, Charlotte immediately looked away, hiding her face.
Ethan's brow furrowed in confusion. "Are you new here ?" he called out in an icy tone, taking a few steps in her direction.
But Charlotte quickly hid her face behind a nearby locker door, her muffled voice barely audible.
"I'm, uh, yes .. just getting something from my locker. Don't mind me!"
Ethan strained his eyes to get a glimpse of Charlotte's face, but she kept hiding behind the locker door.
He scoffed in frustration, his curiosity piqued. "What's your problem, newbie?" he muttered, shaking his head. "I guess you got so much ego locked up in you."
With a dismissive snort, Ethan turned and walked away, leaving Charlotte breathing a sigh of relief. She waited until he was out of sight before sneaking away to Andrew's classroom, her heart racing with panic.
"Andrew, oh my gosh, it's happening again!" she burst into the room, her eyes wide with panic.
Andrew looked up from his phone, concern etched on his face. "What's wrong, Buttercups ? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Charlotte collapsed into the chair beside him, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just saw him, Andrew. Riccardo. He's in Springdale."
Andrew's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean he's here ? I thought we left all that drama behind at the Mall"
Charlotte shook her head, her eyes welling up with fear.
"Buttercups maybe you are imagining things , he could just be a figment of your imagination", Andrew tried to talk her out.
"I don't know what's going on, Andrew. But I know I can't face him. If gets to know that I'm a student here he will jeopardize those chances."
Andrew's expression softened, and he put a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Hey, don't worry, Buttercups" .
"We'll figure it out , good thing he hasn't seen your face yet"
Charlotte nodded, feeling a small sense of relief wash over her. But deep down , she knew he will jeopardize her reputation in Springdale if he realizes that she is the same sales person.
Andrew handed Charlotte a mask. "Here, wear this. It'll help you blend in and avoid drawing attention to yourself."
Charlotte took the mask gratefully and put it on, covering the lower part of her face. She nodded to Andrew and headed back to her class, her heart still racing with anxiety.
As she entered the classroom, she made her way to the back row and sat down at the extreme edge, hoping to go unnoticed. But fate had other plans.
Just as she was trying to calm down, the door swung open and Ethan walked in, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for someone. And then, his gaze landed on her.
He strode towards her, his eyes fixed intently on her eyes, which were the only visible part of her face thanks to the mask.
"Have we met before?" he asked, his voice firm and cold.
Avery & Claire noticed the tension building up between the two.
Charlotte shook her head vehemently, trying to convey a sense of disinterest. But Ethan didn't seem to buy it.
"Stand up," he said bluntly, his eyes never leaving hers.
Jessica was overjoyed hearing the command Ethan dished to Charlotte , everyone's attention were now centered on Ethan & Charlotte.
Charlotte's heart skipped a beat as she hesitated, unsure of what to do. But something in Ethan's tone told her she had no choice. Slowly, she got up from her seat, her eyes locked with his, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Remove that mask", he ordered her with a serious face.
"No", Charlotte refused .
Ethan removed his hand from his pocket and stretches it towards her face to remove her mask but Charlotte moved her head.
"Ethan what are you doing , let her be" , Claire cautioned him.
"No one should interfere, I know what I'm doing", Ethan's order echoed through the classroom.
Jessica hi-fived her crew in joy ,
"It seems like Loosersville got into Ethan's bad book", Zoey mumbled in joy .
Ethan's hand inches closer to Charlotte's face, but she's quick to block his attempt, her hands grasping his wrist firmly.
The two engage in a silent struggle, their eyes locked in a fierce stare.
The commotion attracts the attention of the entire school, and soon, Ethan's classroom is packed with students eager to witness the drama unfold.
Andrew, oblivious to the scene, wonders why his classmates are suddenly leaving their seats. "Hey, what's going on?" he asks, but no one bothers to respond.
The Kings of Springdale snicker at him, taunting him for sitting comfortably while his friend is being "roasted" by Ethan.
Andrew's eyes widen as he realizes what's happening, and he rushes off to join the crowd in Charlotte's classroom.
Forcing his way through the sea of students, Andrew finally reaches the center of the room, where Ethan and Charlotte are still locked in a silent struggle.
"Hey ..!, What are you doing,?" Andrew demands, his voice firm but laced with feigned authority.
Ethan doesn't flinch, his eyes still fixed on Charlotte.
"Mind your own business," he growls, his voice low and menacing. "This doesn't concern you."
Andrew's eyes narrow, his jaw set in determination. "Buttercups is my friend, and I won't let you bully her."
Andrew walked over to Charlotte's side and supported Charlotte by also holding Ethan's hand .
Ethan paused and looked at Andrew , whose face was masked by feigned fierceness,
"Do you have a death wish", he asked Andrew ,his voice low and menacing.
Andrew's stance was firm, his eyes locked on Ethan's. "Buttercups is my friend, and I won't let you bully her in my presence."
Before the situation can escalate further, Claire and Avery step forward, their voices calm and reasonable.
"Hey, Ethan, come on. Leave her alone," Claire says, her hand on Andrew's arm. "She's clearly uncomfortable. Just drop it."
Avery nods in agreement. "Yeah, Ethan. Charlotte doesn't want you to see her face. Respect her boundaries."
Ethan's eyes flicker to the two girls, his expression unreadable. For a moment, it seems like he might refuse to back down. But then, his shoulders relax, and he takes a step back.
"Fine," he says, his voice still firm, but less menacing. "I'll leave her alone. For now."
The tension in the room dissipates slightly, and Charlotte breathes a sigh of relief. Andrew's eyes never leave Ethan's face, his expression still wary.
"Thanks, guys," Andrew says, his voice barely above a whisper. "I owe you one."
Claire smiles and puts a hand on his shoulder. "Anytime, Buttercup's friend . We've got your back." Avery nods in agreement,
Andrew & Charlotte had their eyes fixed on Ethan, who seems to be sitting down nonchalantly.
Andrew turned to Avery with a determined look on his face. "Hey, Avery, "I was wondering if it's possible to get the class allocating Admin to move me into this class," Andrew said, his eyes serious.
Avery raised an eyebrow. "Why would you want to do that?"
Andrew hesitated. "Let's just say I want to keep an eye on her. Make sure she's okay."
Avery's expression softened. "You're really looking out for her, aren't you?"
Andrew nodded. "Yeah. I feel responsible for her. And I don't want Ethan bothering her again."
Avery nodded thoughtfully. "I can try to pull some strings. But no promises, okay?"
Avery instead of going to the Classroom allocation Admin, she went straight to the principal and got Andrew moved into their own classroom.
Charlotte tried to focus on her classes, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched.
She glanced around, and her eyes met Ethan's intense gaze, his eyes piercing and unrelenting. Charlotte quickly looked away, her heart racing.
But no matter where she turned, Ethan's eyes seemed to follow her. She felt like an insect under a microscope, trapped and helpless.
Even when she turned to take notes or participate in class discussions, she could sense Ethan's gaze on her.
At lunchtime, Charlotte excused herself to use the toilet, hoping to escape the suffocating feeling.
But as she walked into the cafeteria, her heart sank. Ethan was sitting at the same table as Claire and Avery, his eyes fixed on her like a predator.
Charlotte flinched, her instincts screaming at her to run. But her legs felt like lead, and she couldn't move.
She forced herself to breathe and slowly made her way to the table, trying to act normal.
Claire and Avery smiled, oblivious to the tension between Charlotte and Ethan.
"Hey, Charlotte! Join us!" Claire said, scooting over to make room.
Charlotte hesitated, unsure if she should sit down. But Ethan's gaze never wavered, and she felt like she was trapped in his sights.
She slowly sat down, her eyes avoiding Ethan's, she expertly lifted her mask above her mouth and began to eat her lunch in silence.
The group sat down at their table in the cafeteria, laughing and chatting.
Avery turned to Charlotte with a smile. "Hey, Charlotte, Before it skips my mind again, meet the tacky brother if mine Ethan Landon ."
Charlotte's eyes widened as she turned to face Ethan, her mind racing.
"Brother?" she & Andrew repeated in unison,
Ethan's eyes locked onto hers, a hint of a smirk playing on his lip , "Are you sure we have not met before".
Charlotte's eyes darted back and forth between Ethan and Avery, her mind reeling. She felt like she was choking, her airway constricting. She tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat.
Avery's eyes narrowed in concern. "Charlotte, are you okay?"
Charlotte nodded, her eyes fixed on Ethan. She tried to take a sip of water, but her hand trembled, spilling the water all over the table.
Ethan quickly grabbed the water bottle and handed it to Charlotte, his hand brushing against hers. " You will be needing a lot of it from now ", he taunted her with a devilish grin leaving the table.
"Thanks," she managed to croak, taking a sip of water.