Nora Shahan

Just then a loud shriek took everyone’s attention, including Liam’s. 

The girl who picked on the dispute was shivering with slush dripping from her hair. Her entire self was disheveled. 

Opposite her remained a calm Nora with her hands crossed over her chest. Her eyes had a blazing fire in them that wouldn’t hesitate to burn anyone who challenged her.

Sofia and Nancy stared at Nora with their jaw dropped. 

This was their first time coming across someone as daring as her. Being the top socialites in their circle, they never had to take a second glimpse at someone, much less get into an argument. One word and the person would be banished from the city. That was how they were pampered and bought up.  

And the girl didn’t appear like any shrewd woman with no manners and instead found her classy. All this time there was no panic on her face, nor a hint of fear. She never once let her composure slip, watching the ‘clowns’ make fun of themselves as they howled and shrieked like a mad dog.

“That girl has some backbone.” Sofia commented with complete awe. 

Rk nodded. “She does. Nora’s one of the few girls everyone admires sincerely. She can be quiet silly, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s a strong character.” 

“Also one of the two girls feared in the entire campus.” Jackson added.

“Who’s the other.?” 

He smirked. “My girlfriend.” 

Everyone rolled their eyes. Here goes a whipped boyfriend.

“Nora also carries the highest number of detentions last year.” Rk continued as he started counting Nora’s ‘records’ in the school. 

“R-Really?” The girls exchanged a glance, finding it hard to believe. 

Rk and Jackson both nodded in acknowledgement.

“There was this time when she slapped the senses out of the seniors when they were bullying a freshman. Another one was where she bitched at a girl nonstop till the latter got on her knees and begged for forgiveness. Oh, There was also one incident where she was almost expelled by the vice principal but the matter was brought to rest after sometime. And the list goes on…”

Nancy and Sofia had their mouth wide open by now enough to fit an egg in it.

Even Liam who was never interested in gossips had his ears perked up.

“Wait, how do you know so much about her?” Nancy asked.

Being in the same school even Jackson and Liam weren’t well informed about it.

Jackson laughed lightly. “That’s because our little boy has a huge crush on her.”

Rk hit Jackson’s shoulder and denied vehemently. “I don’t. I just like her as a person.” Despite saying that, the tip of his ears turned pink.

“Does that mean she’s invincible and fears none?” Sofia enquired. A person like her must be worshipped by everone. How amazing that must be.

As soon as her question landed, Jackson and Rk both turned at a certain someone at the same time.

One name lingering in their heads.

Liam Keaton.

“If it was three years ago that might be the case. But now, you can say that there's an almighty force who can tame her.”

“Who?” Both girls asked at the same time.

Jackson’s mouth twitched at the girls’ curiosity for gossip and he pointed at the figure who was now eating his lunch.

As all eyes were on him, Liam looked at them and raised his brow.

“What did you do Liam?” The girls turned to him with expectant eyes.

Rk chimed in. “That’s right, even I’ve been meaning to ask you for a long time.”

Jackson did not speak but it was certain he wanted to know too.

Liam looked confused as he had no idea what they were talking. He was quietly eating his lunch. Why did he suddenly became the topic for their gossips?

He put down his fork and clasped his hands as his elbows leaned on the table. After thinking hard he did have some recollection of such incident.

The look on his face changed when realization dawned on him. “That’s her?”

Rk stared at him in disbelief. “Are you kidding me? You don’t recognize her?”

Liam cocked his head and asked instead. “Why should I?”

He was never the one to give attention to such insignificant things much less a girl who had caused him trouble repeatedly. He was only surprised at the drastic change in the appearance of the girl.

He took a glance at Nora and then back at others. “Wasn’t she supposed to be some fatty in ugly pigtails? The girl in front doesn't resemble the one in my memory.” he pointed at Nora and then continued eating as if it wasn’t a big deal.

Jackson and Rk looked at each other and had the same thought.

The girl who was visibly traumatized by this demon. How would she react when she’d learn that the person she was running away from all these years didn’t even remember her in the slightest bit?

The boys felt bad for her.

“Puberty’s no joke.” Rk murmured softly as he peered at the girl, who looked extremely adorable while fighting. 

On the other hand, Liam quietly peered at the girl in front. If he was not wrong, she was the one who sat next to him in the classroom. Despite his unbothered facade, he was exceptionally keen on his surroundings. His eyes trailed on the girl in front before settling on her face. He was amused by how she was now totally different from the harmless kitten who sat beside him.

The duality!

It was as if they were two different people.

Touching his cheek with the tip of his tongue, he gave a sly smile as he stared at the back of the girl till she disappeared out of his sight.

Rayna Larsen might be the Queen-bee of Davidson, but here in Bradford, she is a Bimbo.

“You were awesome back there.” Jessica gave me a thumbs up.

I flipped my hair in an exaggerated manner. “When haven’t I been awesome?”

Jessica rolled her eyes and we both burst into laughter.

As far as I knew everyone on the campus must've already been informed about the episode in the canteen. When I returned to the class there were unusual stares and whispers all over me especially from the ones who were new. Indeed news travels faster than light. Not like I cared. I ignored them all and got to my seat. Our next class was literature and was grateful for I didn’t have to share it with a certain someone.

A girl I didn’t recognise walked towards me and asked in a low voice. “Hi! Mind if I sit here?”

The girl had blonde hair and a pair of mesmerizing aqua eyes never seen before.

I stared at her for a while and nodded.

“Thank you.” She smiled and sat down.

While playing on my phone I caught the girl staring at me from the corner of my eyes. I ignored thinking she was peeping in my phone and didn’t give much thought. After completing a level, I realised the girl was still staring at me.

Turning off my phone, I turned at her. “What?”

Startled at my sudden outburst, she almost fell back in her chair.

My lips twitched at the sight as I snapped. "I don't bite."

She hesitated for a while before finally opening her mouth. “I-I saw how you stood up against Reyna in the canteen. You were re-really cool.” she stammered.

“um... Thank you.”

“I knew Reyna back since kindergarten. We attended the same school. Back then too she would bully everyone on the silliest thing. It was just that no one ever fought back.” The girl went and could see her eyes dim as she spoke about her past.

I nodded understandingly. Honestly, the entire bullying thing amused me to the core. How could people actually find delight in someone's torture?

I looked at her sympathetically. “Don't worry, as long as she’s in Bradford her petty tricks won’t work. And you too can live without having to worry about it.” I stretched out my hand to give her a pat on the shoulder, but she quivered once again.

“Then… Can we be friends?” after a pause, she extended her hand. “I’m Sofia.”

I shook her hand “Nora.”

I wasn’t exactly extrovert and good at making friends, however I had no problem when people wanted to befriend me as long as they didn’t cross the line.

The class began, and I concentrated on the subject. It was currently literature period. Though I was weak in almost every other subject, literature was the one I was most confident in. Then again, I didn’t top in the subject but was among one of the students with the highest marks.