3.

ALORA

“If it isn’t Alora, the fat pig” Someone sneers, making me grow rigid. I look up and I am stunned to see Brielle Davis, standing in front of me with that familiar cruel smirk as she stares at me with the same condescending look.

The hall grows silent, and people turn their attention to us, eager to see what the sudden remark is about. If I were a lighter shade, my cheeks would probably be red, but not out of shame. Instead, I am surprised to feel the surge of anger coursing through my veins.

I spent weeks imagining what it would be like on the day I had to face Brielle Davis again, but I never imagined that we would be in the same class. What a fucking coincidence.

I thought I would turn into a coward like it played out in my head seconds ago, but I don’t. Instead, I am filled with anger that she thought she could easily bully me the same way she and Dilora did back in high school.

I hate that she saw me and walked up to me with full confidence that she could make me whimper in fear and fall to my feet, begging for mercy like it used to be.

Even though everything in me screamed at me to shut up and take what she had to say, I didn’t want to. It was a new start for me, and I had to prove that I wasn’t going to be a target for bullies.

If I let her have her way today, it would be painting a huge target on my back and soon everyone will want to try their luck to bully the weak new pretty face, university or not.

I take a mental deep breath and turn to her “Are you desperate for attention Brielle? Is that it?” I scoffed, eyeing her with disinterest that was taking everything in me to muster.

“Do you want me to give you a five-star reality show scene right now so those cameras can capture every moment and you’ll be as important as you did back in high school?” She opened her mouth to answer but I wasn’t done. I had so much to say.

“Do you want me to allow you think you can bully me to make your inferiority complex better?” With shaky hands, I lean forward in my seat to pin her with a bored smile.

I allow my eyes to sweep over her lazily, internally thanking the heavens that my voice came out strong, unlike the trembling mess I was on the inside.

Brielle Davis was your average high school mean girl with deep pockets and judging by her current action, she hasn’t grown up yet.

Back in high school, Brielle rolled with Dilora and they wreaked havoc on anyone they didn’t like alongside their minions. It was always a rollercoaster of emotions with them and none were ever positive.

I can still remember every single time I went home a mess, unable to look at anything edible because of the horrible words they said and did to me. Because of them, I would feel disgusted with myself for days on end.

“I don’t mind. You know I love the attention” she says with a wide smile “You think you are all pretty now that you shed some weight?” she scoffs as her eyes examine my body with disgust but I could see the envy in her eyes. She wishes she was the one pulling this off instead.

“I don’t need anyone to tell me. I know I’m prettier. It’s an indisputable fact” I tell her with a smirk of my own “I mean, look at your nose, I would sue the doctor if I were you. My mama’s a surgeon, you know? I could put in a good word for you, get her to fix it and maybe your foul mouth as well, all at a discounted price you wouldn’t get anywhere else” I drawl.

The hall bursts into laughter and Brielle turns red, embarrassed but not willing to back down. People start throwing comments about her terrible nose jobs. The minions behind her laugh as well but one glare from her has them looking down.

“Now that you pointed it out, I can definitely see it” Harvey whispers to me but not so subtly before he turns to Brielle “Girl, it’s legit crooked. How do you walk around with such a bad nose job? I would not step out of my house ever if that was done to me” he even manages to look horrified which made it more amusing.

“I know, right. I’ll die of humiliation if I got such a bad nose job” Hani chuckles as she leans forward closer to Brielle to get a closer look on her face.

“Do you need a nose mask to hide it? I have one in my bag?” Harvey offers Brielle who is practically shaking but whether it’s from anger or embarrassment, I can't tell.

Underneath the surface, I am shaking so hard and it is a surprise that it isn’t obvious to the people around me. Brielle has always intimidated me and even now she did but I have to make sure she doesn’t ever find out.

“Don’t think because you got yourself a little gang of losers, you are now on the same level as me. Once a nobody, always a nobody. You will never be in the same class as I am” she snarls and I tremble but no one notices. Her words slice through me like a paper cut.

“Brielle, please” I manage to make my voice firm “Who is a nobody? Me or you? Do we have to compare bank account numbers or count assets to prove that I belong on a level you could never belong to?” I level her with the hardest glare I can muster and relish in the feeling I get when she flinches back.

St James was a university for the upper class but even money had hierarchy. My dad’s tech company was worth billions in tech and my mama’s fashion empire was also worth billions. Let’s not add the hospital to it.

I am not trying to undermine her parents but Brielle was just the daughter of an investment company CEO and an A-list actress, she didn’t compare. I already had shares in both my parent’s business and four estates in my name.

“Come on, let's see” Harvey nudges her with a wicked smile.

“Stay out of it fag”  she hisses at Harvey but her gaze is still on me. My eyes widen at the foul word she uses on him and I am about to get up and give her a piece of my mind when Harvey’s voice stops me.

“She’s also not very creative” He turns to Hani with a pout.

“I know right? She lacks a lot of things” They both have solemn expressions on their face which makes everyone start laughing again.

“Stop it, Brielle, it's getting embarrassing. Just go back to your seat” Dilora finally speaks from where she has been sitting quietly.

“You better shut your mouth, Dilora. You are so pathetic, jumping from one queen to another. I guess you will always be a servant for the rest of your life” she tsked.