Chapter 6

Drasa’s POV 

Now I have realized that being an elite doesn’t give you the basic intelligence you need to communicate with people.

A soft gasp fled my lips as I took a step backward. My eyes raked over his moneyed jacket and jeans that clearly symbolized his status.

“You in?” His voice echoed in my skull, and I laughed out, inducing him to scowl a little bit.

Yes, good - that’s what I want from him.

“No, I’m out,” was all I declared before veering around to walk away, but he was quick enough to double-cross me before I could step further.

“Did you just walk out on me?” He seemed surprised like this was the first time someone had walked out on him.

“Yes, I’m walking out because I’m not in for your game.”

I left without looking back, feeling his eyes follow me.

How can he think he could use me like that? Yeah, I might be frantic to find a way to slide off from the elite, but I won’t be irrational enough to fall into his trap.

I strode into the class where the first lecture would take place, and immediately as I strode in, hums flared. I tried my best to dismiss all the vicious tales from each student, but they followed me anyway.

“Hey, weirdo,” Elara waved her hand toward me.

I knew better than to reply. I turned in another direction, trying hard to ignore her bullying, because clearly, she’s a tyrant and I’m not in for her petty game.

I found a seat near the window. The row was bare, but no one wanted to sit close. Either they wiggled their heads and strolled past, or sneered at me before sliding off.

I tried to ignore them, bringing out my books. It’s better to pay them no attention than to satisfy their ego.

“A stripper, are you ignoring me now?” Elara’s voice shook across the room, and murmurs erupted. I shifted in my seat, my eyes darting to every corner but Elara.

“Are you—”

“Silence, please,” Mrs. Lyra stepped in and cut Elara’s voice off.

I raised my head to see Elara breathing unevenly, her gaze sharp on my body.

I paid attention to everything Mrs. Lyra had to discuss, even though my heart still raced from what Cassian had said.

How could he think so low of me?

“Drasa.” Mrs. Lyra’s voice cut through my fog of thought. I had thought I’d stay focused, but my thoughts were just messy. “You seem lost. Having difficulty?” she questioned, and I shook my head immediately.

“No, I’m fine,” I quickly replied, even though all the piercing eyes in the room were now on me.

“You’re—”

Her voice went mute when sudden footsteps echoed, and my head snapped in the direction of the door. My eyes nearly bulged when Cassian strode in with a boy by his side. I swallowed the emptiness in my throat when his eyes landed directly on me.

“You are late, Cassian,” Mrs. Lyra muttered, but he barely nodded before striding forward.

I had hoped for the best, but the hope crumbled when Cassian walked to sit beside me. His friend attempted to sit, but the glare he sent him moved him to the next row.

I shifted uncomfortably, my hands gripping my notebook tighter.

“Interesting, isn’t it? Same department.” Cassian released a half-smile before directing his attention to the front.

My eyes scanned the whole class, and I could feel their anger burning into my body. I swallowed hard.

“This looks a bit difficult,” Cassian muttered before slamming his hand on the table, snatching a sudden gasp from the students, including me. My hand flew to my chest. Mrs. Lyra didn’t look any different.

“I hate having too many eyes on me. Can you all focus?” His voice carried an air of authority, and the atmosphere in the room shifted.

The class went silent for a while before Mrs. Lyra cleared her throat. “Focus, class.”

The class began, and I could barely grasp what she was saying. All my attention was on Cassian, his quickened breath, the way he jotted something down on his paper, his brows… everything about him just seemed too perfect, and I wondered how one person could be this handsome.

“I just said I don’t like too much attention,” his voice was low. He raised his head with a simple smile on his lips, and I choked on nothing.

He straightened, his eyes piercing mine. “You won’t be my girlfriend, and yet you won’t stop staring.”

I felt a sudden lump tighten in my throat. My body slowly rests on the table, writing what I didn’t even know in the notebook.

“Ignoring me now?” His voice blurred past me, but I refused to raise my head.

I heard his retreating breath.

Soon the class was over. I wasted no time before grabbing my bag, knowing fully well he’d question me if I tried to make him stand.

I jumped through the next set of chairs. His gasp filled my ears, but I refused to look back.

I darted out of the class, my heart racing fast. His cologne still filled my nostrils.

I tried to calm my body, but it kept racing no matter how hard I tried.

I thought the storm was over until a sudden shove pushed me, and I fell right on my face. My bag went its separate way.

I was forced to curse under my breath, my hair covering my face, and I wondered who the heck had done this.

I raised my body, dusting the dirt off my clothes before turning back. I was shocked to see Elara standing a few feet away with her arms folded, a big bubble between her lips.

What have I done to deserve this act from her?

A frustrated breath escaped my lips. I tried ignoring her, leaning down to retrieve my bag, but a sudden kick sent it sliding away. I raised my head to see another girl standing nearby, probably one of Elara’s errand girls. I turned around to see there were four in total. They all looked familiar, and perhaps I had come across them at the party.

“Please, I’m not in for this,” I said, looking straight into Elara’s eyes. She seemed amused, and for a minute, I thought she’d let it go, until a loud laugh echoed from her throat. Her errand girls followed.

I stared at them all. Perhaps they’d gone mad before they were admitted into this school?