COLE

CAMILLA'S P O V

I found myself running like crazy, like running for my life. My heart was pumping so faster than usual, and I could feel my skin cold as ice and sweat was trickling down my spine. As soon as I felt my wig moving, I stopped in my tracks to straighten it and take a moment to collect my breath while I looked around. I was still a few feet away from the bus stop.

I was going to be late for school again because Monique made me iron her clothes earlier. Anita said she would carry out the task, but my stepsister insisted that she wanted me, not her, to do it. She even made me clean her dirty shoes. After I had finished everything that she had ordered, I walked back to my room and quickly took a shower. I then hurriedly put on my tank top, denim pants, and a black cardigan to cover the bruises that were on my arms.

Ignoring the bruises on my body, I was undeniably a gorgeous girl. But I didn't really care much about my appearance, which brought me nothing but Monique's jealousy and hatred.

To reduce that, I had to disguise myself at school. I tied my beautiful natural red hair with a rubber band and put on a curly black wig. I went so far as to apply some freckles on my otherwise flawless face. My blue eyes were somewhat obscured by the round glasses I wore. My physique was usually easier to conceal when I wore a top that was loose.

Looking into the mirror, I now look like a complete nerd, just like the image of a nerd in people's minds. That gave me a sense of security.

I couldn’t miss the school bus. I had a long quiz on my first subject today, which was Mathematics. It was our last year in high school, and I had the goal of achieving great grades in all of my classes in order to be eligible for the Illinois University Scholarship Program. It was challenging to be someone who had no one to provide financial support for me, and the scholarship was the only way I had any prospect of going to college.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead then checked the time on my wristwatch. Oh no! I started running again towards the bus stop when I heard a loud horn behind me and when I turned around, I saw Monique.

She was laughing out loud and her boyfriend, Matthew, who was driving the car, gave me a smirk as he rolled down the window. “Run faster, Camilla!” Monique's loud laughter echoed in the air. She still had the nerve to laugh at me when she was the reason why I was hurrying right now.

When the school bus arrived at the bus stop, I was lucky enough to be there just in time. With a sense of relief, I boarded the bus and sat at the back, where I had always wanted to be.

My heart skipped a beat when I got off the school bus because I saw a familiar car turn around the curb, heading towards the school’s main entrance. A black convertible BMW with a plate number 21-ABS. Yes, I knew it was his plate number because it matched his age and a part of his body that I couldn’t forget even in my dreams.

I stopped at the side of the road, waiting for his car to pass by. And by the second his car passed by me, he gave me his signature smirk. A smirk that screamed, “I will absolutely ruin your entire day...”

Cole Lewis was the name of the guy who was driving the luxury car. He was the most popular guy in school, a heartthrob. Tall and handsome with a beautiful and lean muscular body that countless girls admired and sought for his attention. He carried himself with self-assurance and elegance. I have a crush on him as well, and at the same time, I hated him because he was a spoiled snobby kid born with a silver spoon who thought he could do anything he wanted and bully whoever he wanted because his family was rich.

He parked his car in the parking area and went out, with his black backpack slung over his shoulder. He looked so fresh with his dark brown hair glistening, obviously wet from the shower. He didn’t remove the dark sunglasses that covered his emerald eyes, making him more handsome as he walked down the hallway and was greeted by his best friends, Justin Miller and Kevin Torres. The three of them have been inseparable since pre-school, and they all played together in the football team.

As I proceeded to make my way into the lobby, I turned around and walked in the opposite direction in the hopes that they would not notice me approaching.

I sighed in relief when I managed to walk away from them unnoticed. But then I heard another group of boys calling me and was now standing in front of me, blocking my way.

‘Oh no… not now, please. I have an exam in my first subject.’

“Mark, your favourite student has finally arrived.” I heard Harry whisper into Mark’s ear, loud enough for the student in the hallway to hear.

I lowered down my gaze and continued walking, ignoring them.

Mark smirked, and I felt his hand on my elbow. “Hey, nerd! Are you in a hurry?” he asked, and I hesitantly nodded. “Not so fast my dear…”

“Please… not today.” I whispered and he frowned in response.

“What, what?! I can’t hear you!”

I yanked his hand away from my elbow, and I tried to run away from him, but someone tripped me, and I fell to the ground, dropping my books along the way. I heard them laughing extremely loudly, and I found out that my glasses had been flung over somewhere.

I looked up from the shoes that tripped me and I saw Matthew, Monique’s boyfriend and his gang laughing like they saw something funny. He high-fived with Mark and Harry and I couldn't help but glare at him, thinking of ways to murder him in my head.

Matthew’s eyes travelled from me to the person beside me who handed me my glasses. I reached for it and I felt electricity when my hand touched his fingertip. Out of curiosity, I looked up and saw those deep green eyes that pierced inside my soul. “C-Cole..?”

“Get up and go!” he ordered me.

“W-what?” I couldn't believe he was actually saving me from these bad guys.

“I said, get up! Now!”

I quickly put my glasses on and picked up all the books that were scattered on the floor and got up, scared that he might change his mind and join Mark and his friends in bullying me.