Chapter Five

Just as I rounded the corner in the hallways after swiftly exiting the library, I bumped into Cassie.

“Hey there, I've been searching for you for a while now,” I said, breathing heavily.

“Yeah, Oliver told me. Why are you so flushed girl? You look like you just ran a marathon or had sex, either one of the two” She looks at me with narrowed eyes, examining me from head to toe. Thankfully, just as I was about to give some silly excuse explaining my state, the loud sound of the warning bell interrupted us. Thank God, I murmured under my breath, I don’t think I could have come up with a decent lie on the spot and I don’t need to be interrogated by Cassie right now, she always knows when I'm not being truthful.

Linking our arms together to distract her, I pulled her towards where our next class of the day was located.

“Let's get to class before we get tardy” We picked up our books for the next period which was English. English was the only class me and Cassie shared so we went together rushing in with the other students.

 As we entered the classroom, although it was nearly filled up, Mr. Daniels our English teacher was not yet present. Mr. Daniels was a very harsh man and he did not tolerate tardiness. I searched for my seat which was supposed to be empty but found out it was not. I took two swift steps until I stood beside the guy that just kept popping up everywhere I went and who was currently sitting behind my desk on my chair as though he owned it. Just as I opened my mouth to ask him nicely to leave, he turned.

“Whoa, cookie, you stalking me or something?” He asked with his signature smirk in place. Oh how I wanted to slap it off his face, but I kept my cool.

“You wish,” I counter with an eye roll while adding, “You're on my seat, get off.“

And cookie? Where the hell did that come from? I hope he wasn’t calling me cookie because of our fight over the chocolate coconut flakes cookie at the grocery store yesterday, with how adamant he had been about stealing it even though it was clearly mine, I should be the one calling him ‘cookie’.

He snorted “No,” Refusing to peacefully get off my seat, if he wanted a fight I would give him one.

“Who the hell are you?” I asked suddenly getting annoyed.

“The one and only Roman Masters” he replied cockily, “Who the h-“

“Oh, so this is the Roman Masters”, I interrupted him looking him up and down like a pesky fly I wished to smack out of my way, “I have to say, I’m not impressed” I continued.

“Ouch, you wound me,” he said not even trying to sound hurt.

Now everything is coming together. What are the odds the famous billionaire family's only heir, the cookie thief I met at the grocery store, and the annoying new transfer student who sat on my chair yesterday would be the same person? Oh, also let's not forget the little violation I stumbled upon in the library. Looks like my senior year won't be so boring after all, I can already see myself exchanging unpleasant words every hour with this Roman Masters boy. Furthermore, this explains his attitude ‘rich boy that thinks he can have any and everything he wants’. I honestly don’t care about the goings in his personal life or whether his nannies raised him well. I’d be getting him off my chair.

At this time the whole class was watching us like we were some sort of life play.

I glare at him. He smiles stupidly at me, like he’s in on some secret I’m unaware of. Like I amuse him or worse, intrigue him. Just then Mr. Daniels came into the class.

“Everyone take your seats and let the lessons begin,” he said with his funky British accent that sounds more Australian than British.

As everyone hurried to their seats I half expected Roman to get going too but well I was wrong as instead he started unpacking his books.

“Why are you still standing, Miss Jordan?” Mr. Daniels asked.

“This ass-... This boy over here is refusing to get off my seat, sir” I replied, relieved that someone was finally going to right the wrongs and get this asshole packing.

“Miss Jordan, now is not the time, and besides Mr. Masters is a new student, stop acting childish and go sit elsewhere” He replied with a roll of his eyes, already looking exhausted before the class began.

I couldn’t hold my gasp, I for sure thought he would take my side. I wonder if the reason for the special treatment was due to Mr. Masters being a new student or because his father, Rowan Masters gave multiple huge donations to our school as I’ve heard. As much as I’ve known Mr. Daniels to be a fair and stern man, he could still be influenced by wealth and power.

“Uh, what? Why can't he sit elsewhere?” I asked, shocked by the blatant injustice, I never once thought I could be a victim of bullying and oppression due to money and influence. I always considered myself strong enough to speak up and defend innocents but I’m lost for words now.

“Either get another seat or you leave my class” Mr. Daniels warned in a tone that said: this discussion is over.

I couldn't believe Mr. Daniels betrayed me in such a way, and there I was planning on voting for him in the TYAs (Teacher of the Year awards). At this point all eyes were on us, with most giving me judgmental looks like I was the problem, I couldn’t believe they allowed themselves to be fooled by this pretentious ass and the innocent smile he was suddenly wearing, what happened to his arrogant smirk? I looked towards my friends for some support but Cassie was more focused on trying to cover her laughter with a fake cough while Anna, my other female friend apart from Cassie, was staring wide-eyed and in shock and Oliver was pointedly refusing to meet my gaze. Cowards.

Giving up and finding an unoccupied chair at the back, I turned around to march towards it because as much as I wanted to continue arguing and stand my ground, I knew better, there would be another time with fewer witnesses. But before I left, I made sure to look Roman in the eyes -not missing his flinch because I was pretty sure my glare could've scared me too- my message was loud and clear. I'm so going to end you