Chapter 3

The door suddenly barged open. All fours of us watched as a guy with band aids decorating his gorgeous face stepped in. 

He paused when he saw me,“What's going on here?” He asked in a deep voice, turning his gaze to the three guys. 

“Dwayne?. You're alive?” Brown curl began to laugh, “I thought Chris finally ended you, I guess he spared you again.” 

“I said, what's going on here, Steven Hart?” Dwayne marched forward, his dark hair cascading over his forehead. 

“She's the one who came in here by herself,” Steve was the one with brown curls. 

“Let her go!. Now!,” Dwayne had such a loud deep commanding voice, it vibrated throughout the bathroom. 

“Or what?. We're not afraid of you anymore, if Chris can beat you, then so can we. Right guys?. C'mon, fight me Dwayne,” Steven balled his fist, daring Dwayne. 

I watched as Dwayne took off his deep purple blazer and threw it at me, “Put that on.” 

I caught it and quickly covered myself. 

Dwayne missed the first punch from Steven. 

“If Chris can wipe the floor with your face, so can I. You…” Steven was cut short as Dwayne punched him, he fell to the floor with a bloody nose, cursing loudly. 

Steven’s friends exchanged looks and made a run for it. 

“This isn't over Dwayne,” Steven pulled himself up and left. 

“Are you okay?,” Dwayne asked me.

I nodded, “I could have totally handled that but thanks. It's my first day and I mixed up the bathrooms.” 

“I'll show you where it is. What happened to your shirt?,” he pointed to my bloody shirt on the hand basin. 

“Vanessa spilled a drink on me by accident” I grabbed the least bloody part. 

“Vanessa?.” His handsome asian face twisted in anger, dark eyes becoming darker. 

“Yeah.” I folded my shirt, walking towards the door. 

“Then it wasn't an accident?” He trailed after me, wound disinfectant mixed with his cologne. 

“She apologized and….” 

“I know Vanessa and I know it wasn't an accident.” he opened the door for me. 

“Well I don't know who you are so I can't trust what you say but thank you for saving me from Steven.” I walked out of the bathroom. 

“Have I mentioned that Steven is Vanessa's brother?.”

My feet froze on the spot, Chris's words rang in my head, “Don't mess with me next time, princess.” Did he plan all this with Vanessa? And Steven?.

“And Vanessa is my ex-girlfriend, I know her better than anyone else,” his lips thinned as he said that. 

“I'm sure it's probably just a coincidence. Are you okay though?. I sorta saw Chris and you in the morning….yunno…” he was definitely the guy Chris beat up. 

“And you're the princess who saved me,” he said with a sigh, “I've seen the video. I owe you one. You can keep my blazer and I'll show you to the girls bathroom. Follow me.” 

“I'm not a princess,” I said as he led me out of the bathroom, we'd barely walked three steps when we heard a girl shriek. 

“Rebel. Princess,” Vanessa called, “We've been looking all over for you.”

“Yes,” Leslie and Maya said, suspiciously hiding their phones behind their backs. 

“I'm not a princess,” I said. 

“I just wanted to apologize again, I'm so sorry. Here's a fresh shirt to change into, you can use the dance squad locker room, there's a shower there too. Here's a spare key since I'm the captain, it's on the third floor opposite the senior's gym. I'm having a party tonight, you should totally come. Can I have your number?I'll text you the place and time. Here, Maya grabbed your bag for you.”  

“Thanks, I will,” I took the key, shirt and my bag. I also gave her my number. 

“I see you made a new friend too,” Vanessa winked towards Dwayne. 

Dwayne looked like he wanted to murder Vanessa. 

“I can find the locker room alright. Thanks for your help Dwayne,” I rushed away. I wouldn't want to get in anything between Dwayne and Vanessa or Chris. 

*****

School ended without any more drama, thank God. I read Vanessa's texts about the party details as I waited for the bus. I don't drive because of a particular reason. 

“Need a ride?,” A motorcycle suddenly stopped in front of me. 

Coffee dark eyes met mine, his familiar black hair covering one of his eyes underneath the helmet, his band aids weren't visible anymore, “Dwayne?.”

“Do princesses ride buses now?,”

“Last time I checked, prince charmings rides horses not motorcycles,” I scoffed. 

“So you are a princess,” he handed me a white helmet. 

“No I'm not,” I rolled my eyes. 

“Great. Hop on then, Rebel,” 

I arranged my long blonde hair behind my shoulder, “How do you know my name?.”

“You're trending on Maryville High gossip News. The princess who stood up to Lucifer himself.”

I scoffed as I arranged my skirt as I got on, holding on to his broad shoulders for support. 

He started the motorcycle, “Where to?.” 

I yelled the address into where I thought his ear would be and gave a squeak as he drove off at full speed, not stopping until we reached our destination. 

“Thank you,” my face was flushed, my hair spiky, my heart beating fast as I handed him the helmet. 

He eyed the mansion behind me, “You live here?.”

“Well no. My step mother does, I'm supposed to meet her with my dad today.”

“If she's a wicked step mother, it would absolutely complete the fairy tale right?.”

“Get outta here,” I laughed, waving him off. 

“Hey. My family's restaurant is just outside this estate, you should come, we have Asian food,” he told me. 

“Sure” I gave him a small smile watching him zoom off. I took a deep breath and headed towards the fancy mansion. 

This was the first time I was going to meet my dad's girlfriend, he met her on a work trip to Maryville, he's always going on work trips, never had time for me and Connor my brother, long story there. 

Now after I got expelled and Connor's at a correction home, he moved me and him here for a fresh start. I only agreed because I never want to see Marcus again. 

“Where’s my Dad?” I called out after a maid let me in. 

“Mr Conklin and Miss Kane await you at the drawing room,” the female maid could only be a few years older than I am. Her deep blue eyes checked me out openly and I tried not to feel insecure. 

“I'm Rebel,” I introduced as she led me towards the so-called drawing room. 

“I'm Annie. I work here,”

“Nice to meet you Annie.” 

“Not mutual,” I whispered coldly.

Before I could answer, she added, “And here we are,” and turned away. 

“Hey Dad!.” I called as I saw him seated at a table.