Chapter 03

AVA 

I couldn’t go back to class and face everyone after what happened. Mostly because I’m not sure I could hold myself back from attacking Maddie if I see her. 

Dropping under the shade, my  usual hangout spot with my friends. I wipe away my tears with the back of my hand. Being one of the school ambassadors would have done wonders to my college application and Maddie ruined that. 

I look up abruptly in a certain direction, feeling the air on the back of my neck standing as the sense of being watched hit me. My frown deepened as I disregarded the thought. It's the early hours of school, everyone is in class. 

Some minutes later, the bell rings, snapping me out of my depression. I stood up, debating whether or not to attend the second period. That became a fleeting thought as Fallon and Avery raced towards me. 

Fallon never runs anywhere, so when she starts running toward me, I knew she must have been so worried about me. 

“It’s fine,” I informed them. “The principal wasn’t that harsh with his judgement. I should have practice more self control—“ 

“What are you talking about?” Fallon inquired. 

Hearing the confusion in her voice, I blinked. “I thought—never mind, why do you two seem so worried?” 

“Because Kaden has gone completely mad.” Avery announced, her eyes fearful and wide. 

My frown deepened. “What’s that supposed to mean?” 

“He’s crazy, that’s the only explanation I could think of. He’s currently attacking a teacher in the hall as we speak, you have to see it.” Fallon grabs hold of my wrist, half-pulling me toward the building. 

I halt, still puzzled by her statement. “Did Asher put you guys up to this? I’m really not in the mood for one of his pranks.” 

Fallon let go of me. “Do I look like someone who finds any of Asher’s attempts at a joke hilarious?” 

“Alright, I’ll humor you guys.” I responded doubtfully. 

Arriving at the scene, nothing could have prepared me for what’s unfolding in my presence. Caden stalks out of the cafeteria, a chair in his grasp. Without flinching, he hit the grown adult teacher on the head with it. 

He collapsed, blood bursting out of his head. I clasped my hands over my mouth, wondering if I have been plunged into a nightmare. As if that wasn’t enough, he got on top of him, raining punches on his unconscious form. 

“Caden!” Asher's voice pierced through the hair. 

Other teachers arrived at the scene just as Asher was pulling Caden off the half-conscious teacher. I swallowed hearing the panic in the principal’s voice as he called the emergency services. 

Caden shrugged, prying himself free of Asher. Too stunned to speak or react, I stared at him realizing the way my friends had described the look on his face was an understatement. 

“What the hell, Caden!” Asher hissed at him. 

Instead of replying, he storms out. I take after him, my body shaking slightly from the aftermath of the event. I am scared for the poor man, what if he dies before the ambulance gets here? Did he think of that before attacking him? 

“Caden! Caden!!” I called when I couldn’t catch up with him fast enough. 

He froze on the spot. I cautiously walk up to him, gulping nervously when he blinks at me. Then his gaze drops to the ground, like he suddenly became fascinated by the greenery carpet grass. 

My stomach twists into a knot at the glimpse of blood on his shirt. I gagged, almost throwing up. 

Also his obvious lack of remorse makes my inside shakes, disgust crawls up my system, yet a part of me refuses to believe that he would do something like that. 

He might be hateful towards me for whatever reason—which hurt the first few times I noticed. Imagine being singled out every time by someone, and I couldn’t even apologize because I didn’t know what I did, to warrant his hate. 

“Why did you hurt him?” I blurted out, having no other way to phrase the question. 

He didn’t react. 

“Do you even care that he might die before the ambulance gets here? What kind of human beats up another human to the point of unconsciousness? People already believe the worse of our families and you go ahead and do this? Why can’t you be more like Asher?” 

His head suddenly snaps up, stalking towards me. I impulsively takes a step back, a startled cry escaping my lungs when he slammed me against the wall, his hands closing around my throat. I choked, my eyes widening. 

He reared back as abruptly as he had advanced toward me. His eyes also widened at me. When he took a step forward, I flinched, moving back. 

He halts, then flees in the opposite direction. I collapsed on the ground, touching my burning throat while trying to make sense of what just happened!

“And I need the perfect earrings to go with the outfit—“ 

Hearing that voice, I sprang to my feet. Maddie paused, looking at her minions then back at me with her mouth curling into a smirk. 

Taking a deep breath, I tried to walk past her, only for her to block my path. Folding her arms across her chest in an obvious way to intimidate me, her eyes drift to my ear. 

“Nice earrings,” she remarks, reaching out to touch them. 

My head jerks in the opposite direction. “Don’t touch me—“ 

“Or else what?” She snickers back. “You’re going to attack me? Everyone already thinks the worse of you and your family. Not to mention your fiancé going crazy and attacking a teacher, no one will believe anything that comes out of your mouth.” 

“What Caden did has nothing to do with me!” I hissed at her. 

“Tell that to the entire school, poor guy. He starts losing his mind the second his life gets tied to yours. What does that tell you dork? You’re a curse.” 

“I’m not going to get into a fight with you, Maddie. Unlike you, I have something to lose.” 

She rolled her eyes, turning to her minions. “Girls, I found what I’m looking for.” 

My guard went up at her statement. Before I could begin to grasp what she meant by that, her lackeys stalked toward me, shoving me against the wall. 

I struggle against their hold, trying to free myself. My heart races as Maddie approaches too, with her friends imprisoning me against the wall, she takes off my earrings and dangle them in front of me. 

“These will look nice with the outfit I plan on wearing tomorrow.” 

“That’s stealing!” 

“More like I’m doing these a favour,” she held them to her ears. “They look better on me anyway.” 

Her minions let go of me, I dashed after Maddie but they blocked her from my view, preventing me from getting to her. I could only watch helplessly as she got away with my favourite pair of earrings!