Chapter 2 – Rescued?
–LIA’S POV–
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“I did what you said!” I scowled at Warner, still on my knees. “I knelt down and apologised to him.”
“You apologised after I said five.” Warner shrugged. “Not my fault you can’t fol mple instructions.”
“You have got to be kidding me,” I snapped, standing up. “If you think I’m gonna let you walk all over me, you’re wrong. I did as you said because I wanted to get this over with, now get out of my way.” I tried to walk past him, but he pushed me back, making me fall on my butt.
Pain shot up my bottom, and I glared up at him, before rising to my feet again.
“This is enough,” I stated. “You guys have punished me enough for an innocent mistake I made when I was a literal child.”
“And?” Ajax laughed. “What will you do to put a stop to this? Can you do anything?”
“I can,” I replied, “and trust me you don’t want to see it.”
I had no idea what I’d do. I didn’t know what I was threatening them with. But all I knew, was that I was done.
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As a certified nerd, everyone knew I had only one weakness. And that was my grades. Thanks to these jerks, I was almost about to fail in two subjects. If I missed today’s test, my scholarship was gone. And I could not afford that. If that happened, The Hounds would actually be successful in their motive of getting me kicked out of here. There was no way I was letting that happen.
Sheila walked up to me, grinning. Even she was quite taller than me, and her high heels enhanced the height difference. Who even wore those to school?
“Sweetie, you shouldn’t make empty threats,” she said in a syrupy voice. “Has it ever ended well for you? Why don’t you. just listen and oblige?”
“Because you guys have no authority over me! I’m sick and tired of your mindless bullying. Grow the hell up, all of you. I need to get to class,” I gritted out. I pushed Sheila out of my way to leave, but Aaron stepped in to block my way.
“Did you just lay a hand on her?” he asked, his voice deeper than I remembered.
I frowned, taking a step back.
“Relax, Ron, it‘
not like she can hurt me.” Sheila chuckled.
“No, she can’t, but how dare she try?” said Warner, moving
towards me.
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My eyes widened now. The boys looked pissed. I hadn’t even done anything.
Before they’d surround me from all sides, I decided to sprint. Not caring to pick up my books, not caring to grab my notes or my bag, I ran. As fast as my legs would carry me.
It actually took them by surprise, because there was a pause before they reacted. I rushed out of the hallway, hearing Ajax laugh behind me, as my heart hammered in my chest.
My shoes beat on the ground as I turned the corner, and the next, making my way towards the cafeteria. I pushed open the double doors and rushed inside, immediately being surrounded by the buzz of chatter and the aroma of different types of food. A few people looked when I burst in through the doors, and they were quick to pull their phones out, making me instantly regret my decision of coming here.
Maybe I could still leave. I should’ve rushed towards the staff room. That would be safer, what the hell was I thinking?
I turned to rush out, but it was too late.
The Hounds walked in through the double doors, their eyes directly fixing on me. My chest heaved up and down as I caught my breath, swallowing hard. It was never a good day to be humiliated in front of everyone.
“Well, well, so much for your little escape attempt,” Ajax
Chapter 2 – Rescued?
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announced, as the four of them walked towards me. They were quick to form a circle around me, not caring at all that they were being recorded. This wasn’t the first time, after all.
“I’m—I’m not scared of you guys,” I announced.
The buzz of chatter around us grew louder. A few people laughed, some scoffed.
“Really?” Warner asked, stepping closer to me.
I instinctively backed away, then clenched my teeth.
The Hounds laughed.
“I thought you weren’t scared,” Aaron teased.
“I’m not. I’m just allergic to you guys,” I said, attempting to sound sassy but making a complete fool of myself. No one even laughed. I cringed on the inside.
“Let’s test what else you’re allergic to today,” Ajax said, his tone loud enough for the entire cafeteria to hear. I frowned. What did he mean? “Everybody, would you guys be kind enough to lend Little Lia some of your food? It doesn’t matter what you have. Lia is a good girl, she eats everything.”
What on earth? This was… stupid.
And yet, the second he said that, the sounds of chairs pulling
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filled the cafeteria. People actually walked up to us with their food, some scared of getting on Ajax’s bad side, others clearly in it for the drama. I just watched in contempt.
Ajax examined what people had brought to him, as if they were making offerings to some god. Then he smirked, picking the worst thing he could find.
Why would someone bring forward hot sauce?
They hated me. That was the only explanation.
“Thank you, Naomi,” Ajax said, and I realised I was indeed right. Naomi Andrews was my biggest academic rival. What was she even doing here right now?
I scowled at her, but she didn’t meet my gaze.
“Are you allergic to spice, Lia?” Ajax asked, walking closer to
- me.
“I am not, but I am not drinking that if that’s the idea,” I replied.
“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea, actually. I was thinking of serving this to you with French fries, but your vision is so much better.”
“Yeah, sure you were,” I said.
Ajax shrugged. “In either case, it’s time to drink.” He uncapped the bottle and extended it towards me. “You have ten seconds.”
Chapter 2 – Rescued?
“Or what?” I asked.
“Still asking that question?” Aaron said.
“She doesn’t learn, does she?” said Sheila.
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“She will this time,” Warner declared, stepping right behind me.
I frowned, turning my head to look at him.
“Ten,” he announced.
I rolled my eyes, shaking my head.
“Nine, eight, seven, six.”
“Hey!” I scowled, my heart jumping. I grabbed the bottle of hot sauce from Ajax’s hands.
Warner smirked.
“Good girl. Now drink.”
I stared at the bottle, then looked around for an escape.
Warner leaned in to my ear. “Don’t even think about it.”
I swallowed.
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Chapter 2 – Rescued?
“Five,” Warner said, so I’d hurry.
“Four,” said Ajax after missing a beat.
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“Lia, Lia, Lia,” Sheila started to sing. The rest of the cafeteria joined in, as though this was some challenge and they were here to support me. Did it seem like I wanted to do this?
“Three!” Warner yelled, making every single person in the room
flinch.
My heart pounded in my chest as thick silence fell. My ear almost rang from how loud he was.
“Two,” Ajax said, a shadow crossing his face..
I think he’d already decided what they’d do to me next.
So before they’d get to ‘one‘, I cursed under my breath and brought the bottle to my lips. I thought I’d take a tiny drop and then remove it, but I should’ve known better. Warner placed one hand on the back of my neck, and held the hot sauce with the other, tipping it up. The burning liquid poured into my mouth, right down my throat, setting my entire system on fire.
He let go barely a second later, but the damage was done. I retched, spitting half of it out, onto the floor. I coughed as tears rolled down my cheeks, my tongue and mouth burning. My face felt hot, and laughter broke out throughout the cafeteria. Did they not realise this actually hurt?
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I tried to run as the flashes began, people recording videos and clicking pictures. But Ajax grabbed my wrist before I’d make it out of their circle, and raised my arm up as though I was some champion.
“Everybody, put your hands together for Loser Lia! Turns out she isn’t as weak as she seems. Look how bravely she stands here after drinking half a bottle of hot sauce!”
Everyone laughed harder, breaking into cheers and hooting.
Hot tears rolled down my cheeks, as the burning sensation increased every second. I tried to free my wrist from Ajax’s hold, but his fingers dug into my skin. The world started to get blurry, so I did the only thing I could think of in that moment. I threw
hands.
My hand whipped across Ajax’s face, the sound of the slap drowning out all other noise. That was probably not what actually happened, just what I imagined. But people did fall silent when they realised what I’d done.”
I had just slapped Ajax Hale.
In front of everybody.
For a second there, the realisation made me forget the burn in my throat.
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My wide eyes fell on Warner, whose glare seemed enough to bury me five feet into the ground. He stepped forward and grabbed me by the collar, lifting me off the floor.
Now gasps broke out, and people stepped away in horror.
My heart threatened to beat out of my chest. This was a man who had sent multiple people to the hospital before.
“You’re gonna regret this,” he practically growled, and threw me to the side, sending me stumbling away.
I clenched my eyes shut, bracing for the impact of crashing against the floor, but before that could happen, an arm wrapped around my stomach, breaking my fall.
The air buzzed with whispers and surprised gasps once more. I regained my composure and steadied myself, grabbing onto the arm that had saved me for dear life.
When I glanced up, I could barely see the face of my saviour, my
having fallen off when Warner pushed me. But my vision wasn’t actually this bad, so I realised it was only blurred. with unshed tears. I blinked a couple of times, and it cleared, my breath catching in my throat.
A tall, gorgeous boy, with eyes as green as the forest, and hair as light as snow. His physique was similar to Zane’s, and in all honesty, he was almost as good looking too. He was a transfer student, or maybe he was entirely new in town. Because I was
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Chapter 2 – Rescued?
certain I’d never laid eyes on him before.
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His gaze met mine, and softened, while his free hand came to cradle my cheek. He brushed away my tears with the pad of his thumb, making my stomach explode with butterflies.
“You alright?” he asked with a gentleness I wasn’t used to.
I nodded awkwardly, not trusting my voice at the moment.
“What’s going on?” a voice boomed through the cafeteria, and I stiffened, recognising it.
Zane was here.
The green–eyed boy’s gaze fixed behind me, his face hardening.
Without another word, he gently pushed me behind himself, standing protectively in front of me.
My mouth fell open, as I stared at his back in awe.
Finally… someone who had the guts to stand up to The Hounds.
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