Chapter 7
Charity POV
I tossed on the bed for the umpteenth time and squeezed my face when I heard my stomach grumble hungrily. Now I regret leaving the school earlier. At least I would've gotten the chance to have a free meal there if I hadn't left earlier. What was I going to eat now that I came home?
With the little strength left in me, I dragged myself from the bed and headed to the kitchen hoping to find something I could eat to give me strength, but I was met with an empty kitchen and I felt like crying my eyes out.
"Not now, please. I don't have a dime on me," I whined, facepalming myself frustratingly. I have spent my savings on my rent and I was left to starve now.
"I am an ulcer patient, please," I whined, almost in tears.
"When were you diagnosed with an ulcer?" My subconscious mind asked me, and I sighed before I walked back into my room and crashed against the bed.
My phone beeped, and when I checked it, I sighed and shook my head. The video of me teaching that bitch a lesson in school earlier today was on the school website already, which I found really crazy. It's not that I wasn't expecting something like that though.
"Ugh! Do these people ever study?" I mumbled and shook my head unbelievably.
My phone beeped, and when I checked, my heart dropped. It was a text from the principal.
'Come to school first thing tomorrow morning' Slowly, I raised my eyebrows shockingly. Did I get myself in trouble by doing that earlier? Am I going to be expelled from the school? I asked myself. Yes, I didn't care about it earlier, but now I was scared of being expelled once again. It was a nightmare I won't ever want to come true.
"Ugh! This is so frustrating," I groaned as I tossed my phone on the bed. Since I didn't have anything to eat or some money to get myself something to eat, I just lie on the bed and stared up at the ceiling, waiting for the time I would finally fall asleep. Who knows, maybe sleeping and waking up would do the magic and I won't be hungry anymore, but deep inside me, I know that was never going to happen. It has never happened before, and it won't now just because I wanted it to.
Seconds slowly ticked into minutes and soon an hour passed, but that was the height to which I could hold the hunger, so I quickly had my bath and left to find something to eat. I might as well find a part-time job because I needed the money most this time.
My phone beeped, and just like a miracle, I got an alert of a hundred dollars from my aunt, followed by a text from her.
'I know you must be having a hard time now. I'm sorry I haven't been there for you but don't worry dear, I just had some shits to deal with over here. Hope you are having a nice time in school over there. I love you, Cha Cha baby and I miss you' You know the feeling when you are at gunpoint and thinking you were going to lose your life, but somehow, a savior came to rescue you? That's how I felt when I got the alert.
"You are such a darling, aunt. I love you with everything in me," I whined excitedly, and without bothering to reply to her text, I dashed down the road and headed to the nearest restaurant.
"A plate of pasta," I placed my order confidently, feeling so proud of myself even though it wasn't the money I worked hard for.
"Here is your order, Miss," the voice sounded so familiar that I was forced to raise my gaze to check who the waiter was, and I was shocked to find that it was Knoxville, one of the members of the toxic bullies in my school. What the hell is he doing here?
"Cha Cha, right? What are you doing here?" He was shocked to see me too, but the expression I was expecting wasn't there. I was expecting him to look embarrassed and maybe try to hide his face from me, but the expression he gave me was quite different. He rather looked proud doing this, and that only made me curious.
"It's obvious... I came to eat. What about you?" I raised my eyebrows curiously, and he scoffed.
"You are funny. I'm wearing an apron and just finished serving your food, so what does it look like I'm doing here? I'm a waiter, of course," He shrugged, and I scoffed as I slowly nodded my head.
"Enjoy your meal," He smiled at me before he walked away. Unlike the other members of the group, Knox was different. I found him to be this coolheaded young man that wasn't so much interested in bullying others. My curiosity almost made me lose my appetite, but realizing that I was hungry, I couldn't give in.
As I eat, I kept peeling glances at him serving other customers, and the more I tried to get the pieces together, the more they kept falling apart. The last person I would expect to see in a place like this working as a waitress was a student from my school since 99.99% of them were all from wealthy homes, but the one I never expected the most was someone from the group. Is this some joke or are they copying and pasting people here? I mean, it couldn't be Knoxville that I know, right?
"Stop thinking about him and eat your food before it gets cold, Charity. You have no business with him," I said to myself, but still, I couldn't concentrate.
I was finally done eating, so I called his attention to come get his money.
"Don't worry, I will take care of it," he smiled at me as if we were friends.
"I know you are shocked to find me in such a place. This is what I do," He smiled at me confidently, and I slowly nodded my head even though I had so many questions to ask him.
"See you in school," He uttered, turning to leave.
"Excuse me..." I called his attention, and he stopped to look at me. I stood up.
"I haven't said thank you for the other day since you haven't been coming to class. Thank you," I finally got the chance to thank him for saving me from the toilet the other day. Maybe I would've been rushed to the infirmary if I had spent more time there that day, but he was nice to save me when every other person ignored me and wanted me to die inside.
"It's nothing. Stay away from trouble," He offered me a piece of advice before walking away, and I left the restaurant too...
Chapter 43Just less than twenty-four hours and Charity felt like she was going to die anytime soon.It was supposed to be a beautiful Tuesday morning, but with Chase under the same roof as her, no day would ever be beautiful for her.Charity stood in front of the mirror and admired the beautiful woman who was looking back at her. It was her reflection. She was proud of herself for the strong and beautiful woman she had grown into, and the only thing she could at least do for herself was to smile."Yes! I'm good to go," she smiled at her reflection one more time, then reached for her backpack she left on the bed earlier and dashed out of her room. She left the house early as usual so she could get to school early.A sweet aroma welcomed her as soon as she stepped into the living room, and her stomach grumbled hungrily, her mouth didn't fail to salivate and the only thing she wanted was to have a taste of the food that smelt so good. When she recalled that the food was made by Chase, s
Chapter 43"Ch... Chase? What is going on here?" Charity could barely speak because she was still shocked by the sight of the living room, not to talk of the weird Chase standing in front of her. This couldn't be the chase Denver she knew. He was the last person to act like this around him."Nothing. Oh, the living room? I'm sorry I didn't inform you before I did this..." He paused and smiled at me."The couches were a bit work out, so I thought I should get a new one and also renovate this place. What do you think? Do you like them?" Charity felt like the world had turned upside down. Was something wrong with her eyes and ears because no way this could be Chase."What's wrong with you, Chase? Did something happen? You can talk to me. Did you get into an accident and hurt your head? What's going on?" She was forced to ask, scared of the way this guy was putting up an act."I'm perfectly fine, Charity. Come on, let's go to the dining room. The food is going to get cold," She was still
Chapter 41Charity POV"When is the class going to end, please?" I whined silently after I checked my wristwatch. It was Monday today and we weren't supposed to come to school since they were celebrating a festival here or whatever they called it, but our History teacher asked us to come to school for a test. Who does that? I thought Chase would be in class too, but it seemed like he wasn't concerned about the test. I shouldn't have expected less, anyway. He was the son of the school owner, anyway. He could buy his way out."And that is all for today. See you tomorrow," the history teacher finally left the class, and as if we all planned it, every one of us in the class sighed in relief."Finally! I thought he was not going to leave," Enny breathed out as he came to sit on her chair. We were separated earlier because she wouldn't stop talking. Good for her, anyway."I feel so drained. We should go home, Charity," she whined tiredly as she brought out her backpack from her drawer and d
Chapter 40"What do you mean you are moving with Charity?" Knox asked as he watched Chase pack his things."It's just temporary, man. I'm not going to stay there forever. You are making it look like I'm leaving forever," Chase paused and looked at Knox."This doesn't make any sense, honestly. You can't possibly leave this place just like that, Chase. I mean, it doesn't make any sense," Jax spoke up as he sat on Chase's bed."There is nothing wrong with that, Jax...""To what end, Chase? To what fucking end are you going to do this? This is madness. I'm your friend and I should tell you the truth. You've fucking lost it," Tristan lamented bitterly, the urge to slap Chase at the back of his head maybe to reset his brain spurred through him but he held back himself. Causing trouble was the last thing on his mind at that moment."Come on, guys. Can you all stop making this look like a big deal when it's nothing? We are still going to see often, we are still going to school together, and..
Chapter 39"Ch... Chase? What the heck are you doing here?" He shrugged, his hands tucked inside his pockets."Is there anything wrong with coming to see my girlfriend?" He asked as he covered the distance between them, and she huffed unbelievably."Gir... girlfriend? I told you to stop addressing me like that, Chase. I'm not your girlfriend for fuck's sake. Stop coming to my house, please," She said to him sternly and walked past him, but he held her hand and pulled her back."Are you walking out on me, huh?" He scoffed unbelievably as he turned to face her, his eyes blazing with anger."You are not expecting me to stand here with you, right?""How much did he pay you?" He asked, his face holding a serious expression, and Charity's heart skipped for a moment. How did he know that she was paid for this? Is he stalking her? She asked herself and swallowed the lump that formed in her throat as she stared at him wordlessly, not knowing what to reply to him with."Is it because of the bea
Chapter 38Charity POV"You are welcome to my humble abode. It's nice to have you here," I wasn't expecting his Mom to be as welcoming and accommodating as this, but she amazed me. I thought all wealthy people were arrogant, but she has given me a new picture to hold on to."Don't conclude yet. She doesn't know that you are a poor girl, Ms.," My subconscious mind reminded me, and I sighed briefly, giving my decision a second thought."Thank you, ma'am," I bowed slightly."You can call me Mom, please. My son is going to marry you soon, so you shouldn't be so formal with me," I almost choked on my spit when she said that, and I was forced to look at Mason, but the idiot turned his face away and left me to smile like a fool. I just hope this woman doesn't mistake this as something serious. How the heck will I explain to her that I was a hired girlfriend?"Hmm," I smiled at her nervously."I made this especially for you. I took my time to make it myself. You should try it," She uttered as