Title: Behind the Walls of Grace
After class, Kayla had planned to meet with the principal, who had promised her the keys to her locker and a set of school uniforms after history class. She was anxious about it but also slightly excited—it would mark the beginning of a new chapter for her at the school.
As she walked through the hallway, lost in thought, a voice broke through her reverie.
"My Queen!" someone yelled, pulling her out of her thoughts. She sighed inwardly. Oh no, not now, she thought.
"Where to, my lady? Let me carry you on my muscular shoulder," Max said with a teasing grin, his large frame leaning in too close for comfort.
For heaven's sake, Max never knew when to give up, did he? Kayla thought to herself. She quickened her pace, trying to get away from him. But as always, he caught up, and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"I need to worry, my Queen," he said, practically jogging beside her, his voice full of playful determination.
"Principal's office," Kayla replied curtly, trying to cut the conversation short. "Do you want more details?"
"Mmhm," he nodded, clearly amused by her irritation.
"To take my school uniform and locker keys," she answered with a touch of sarcasm.
"Oh, my lovely Queen, who looks good in anything, would look amazing in our school uniform," Max said with a grin that Kayla couldn't help but find insufferable.
"Don't flatter me," she replied as they reached the principal's office door. She pushed it open, ready to escape his overbearing presence.
"Let me wait for you, my Queen," he called after her.
"No, you'll be super bored. Like, way bored," she said, emphasizing the word 'way' as she tried her best to push him away.
"No, my Queen, I will wait for you outside," Max insisted.
"If you insist," she muttered, opening the door but stopping abruptly. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
Kayla rolled her eyes as she entered the office, only to find the principal, Mr. Davis, focused on his laptop, typing away at something.
"Miss Kornels," he greeted without looking up.
"Yes, sir," she replied.
"Come, have a seat," he gestured to a wooden chair in front of his desk.
"Please wait here. Let me go get it for you," he said, rising from his chair and walking to a door she hadn't noticed before. Kayla took a moment to look around the office—neat, but not overly impressive. The silence felt oddly comforting, and she found herself relaxing just a little.
A moment later, Mr. Davis returned with a bundle in his hands. "Here are your things," he said, handing them over one by one. When she counted, there were five uniforms in total.
"Thank you, sir," she said, standing up and adjusting the bundle in her arms. She turned toward the door, hoping Max had gotten bored and left. But as she slowly opened the door, she was met with his voice.
"My Queen, you're out! Let's go then," Max called out, causing her to groan in frustration. For heaven's sake, give me a break, she thought.
"Oh, Maxy, I didn't see you there," she said sarcastically, making a mental note to make it clear to him that she wasn't interested in any of his advances.
"Maxy?" he thought to himself, a small smile creeping across his face. I knew she loved me, but was too shy to say it. Oh, my poor heart.
"Let's go try it on," he said, completely oblivious to her discomfort.
"Maxy, where are the restrooms?" she asked, her voice flat. At least, she thought, maybe she'd need someone else's help—not his.
"Follow me, my princess," Max said, eager to show off his knowledge of the school.
They walked down the hallway, and after what felt like an eternity, they reached the sign for the girls' restroom. Kayla was about to walk in when Max tried to follow her.
"Stop right there, pervert!" she snapped, pushing him back away from the door.
Inside, Kayla quickly changed into one of the uniforms—the one she remembered seeing Priyanka wear. As she adjusted it in the mirror, she couldn't help but admire how perfectly it fit her. The uniform didn't look half bad, and for a moment, she felt a surge of confidence.
Gosh, I look gorgeous, she thought, running a hand through her ginger-red hair, letting it cascade down her back.
As she exited the bathroom, she paused when she heard footsteps approaching from the hallway. Panicked, she quickly ducked into one of the nearby stalls, holding her breath as she heard voices grow louder.
"She was drop-dead gorgeous," one voice said.
"Yeah, that's why Maxwell was all over her," another girl chimed in, a note of envy in her voice.
"Yeah, he even called her 'queen' in front of everyone. Said they should bow to her," a third voice added.
"Who even does that?" another muttered.
Kayla's heart sank as she recognized the conversation was about her. She bit her lip, trying to remain calm.
"I think we should put her in her place," one of the girls said.
"Yeah, she's a perfect 11/10," another added. "But that's not all."
"Did you hear she's the daughter of Mr. Konstantine Kornels and Scarlett Kornels, the famous business tycoons? The ones who were brought down after trying to steal a yacht for their daughter?" one of the girls whispered with shock.
"Oh my goodness," the others gasped.
"Yeah, and I heard she's broke—like, really broke. More broke than us. Our allowances are even more than she could afford."
"From grace to grass," one of them mocked.
"Wait, you mean 'from rich to poor'," another corrected, and they all giggled as they left the bathroom.
Kayla's head spun, her stomach twisting in knots. She let out a long sigh as she leaned against the stall door, trying to calm herself.
God, why does it feel like I can never catch a break?
She stayed hidden for a moment longer, waiting until the girls had left, before finally emerging. She walked out, carefully glancing around the hall. Luckily, the girls were nowhere to be seen.
"Max, look what you've gotten me into," she muttered under her breath. She promised herself she would make it clear to those girls that she was not interested in Max.
After what felt like an eternity, the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Kayla slowly made her way out of the classroom, her thoughts a whirlwind. She couldn't shake the pressure weighing on her—her parents' trial, the frozen bank accounts, everything she had to do to help clear their names.
As she walked, she was snapped out of her thoughts by a voice calling her name. "Hey, Kayla, are you okay?"
She turned to see Priyanka Sheraton.
"Oh, hi Priyanka" Kayla said with a weak smile.
"Please, I prefer Priya," she interrupted with a playful smile.
"The uniform suits you perfectly, you know," Priya added. "Not everyone who wears it can pull it off like you."
"Thanks," Kayla said, appreciating the compliment.
"Anyway, I'm headed to the cafeteria. Want to join me?" Priya asked.
Kayla hesitated, glancing down at the floor. She had no access to her money—her account had been frozen until her parents' case was resolved. The court had stated that even if they didn't win, the funds would remain under lock and key.
"I'd rather not," she said, brushing it off. "Don't bother."
"It's alright," Priya said, her voice understanding. "Look, I came from a poor home. Doesn't mean I don't eat well. I'll share with you, okay?"
Kayla felt a pang of emotion. Priya's kindness caught her off guard. "It's okay, I'm not that hungry."
"No, it's alright," Priya insisted. "I want to be the friend you can talk to. The one who's there for you. You know, you're the only one who have ever been nice to me, even when when I accidentally bumped into you. I thought you'd yell at me, but you didn't. So let's be friends."
Kayla was taken aback by the sincerity in Priya's words. She smiled softly, feeling touched. "Thanks, I think I'd like that."
"Great! So, come on, let's go," Priya said, grabbing her arm gently and leading her down the hallway.
Kayla smiled to herself. It was a small, comforting gesture—one she hadn't expected, but it felt like a new beginning.