CHAPTER SIX

~RHEA~

“He left you on the curb?” Heather screeched, horrified, as she led me up to her room.

I had called her earlier and she had immediately given me the location of her dorm and luckily, she had taken my luggage with her.

“Technically, I got out of his car and he can't exactly force me” I muttered but she still wasn't having it.

“Still, I thought he was a gentleman” She huffed and I could barely catch my breath.

“How far up is your dorm?” I asked as we walked up another flight of stairs.

“We are almost there. You'll get used to it for now till the elevator is fixed which is never” She said cheerfully and I bit back a groan.

Beggars couldn't be choosers.

“Home sweet home” She announced as she pushed her dorm room door open and relief on my face slowly turned into a frown.

In front of me were three beds with about five girls in the room.

“Welcome to the girls' prison” She said with a smile and I forced a smile on my lips.

Zander’s offer was sounding way more appealing now.

It wasn't like I was ungrateful but I knew it was only a matter of time before my presence here became an inconvenience.

“Hey, you must be Rhea. Heather talks non stop about you” A beautiful girl with blond hair walked forward with a bright warm smile.

I smiled back.

“That's because my best friend is amazing,” Heather said with a smile.

“Rhea, meet Stacy, one of my roommates and the grumpy one over there with the dreadlocks is Mia” She began and she pulled me further into the room, towards her bed.

“And the others are their friends” She said and I waved at everyone.

“It’s nice to meet you all. I promise, I won't be an inconvenience” I quickly said and Heather smacked my arm.

“Nonsense, you can never be an inconvenience. Besides, you're in my corner and they don't get a say” She said and Stacy nodded.

“That's true,” I smiled at her.

She seemed nice.

“Wait… Aren't you the girl from the cafe? The one Zander Cole called his girlfriend?" One of the other random girls suddenly said, snapping everyone's attention to me, including Mia who hadn't acknowledged me since I walked in.

“No way, it is you. The girl with the Ladybug shirt” Stacy squealed and I forced a smile on my face.

“Are you really dating Zander Cole? Fuck, You're do lucky” One of the other girls uttered.

Before I could shake my head, Mia scoffed.

“How is she lucky? Did you guys forget who Zander Cole is or are you too blinded by his beauty?”

The whole room went quiet as Mia shut her laptop and turned to me

“You're a freshman. Take advice from me and run away from that man, He's dangerous and he will hurt you…”

“Oh hush, Mia. When has he ever hurt a woman before?” Stacy asked and Mia scoffed.

“Did you forget that article two years ago? He…”

“I'm not dating Zander Cole and I would never date him” I quickly said, shutting both of them up.

“But he said…”

“He was just trying to get me out of that situation but we are not dating” I quickly explained.

“Good for you” Mia muttered before turning away and Stacy sighed as she walked up to me.

“I'll support you. I would tap that beast any day” She winked before walking away.

“Well, it seems you are already popular” Heather uttered as she turned to me and I frowned.

I always trended for the wrong reasons.

Soon, I got used to the dorm. The girls weren't as bad, even Mia.

It was just a very small room but everything was clean including the shared bathroom.

I laughed at some of the stories they told me about the campus and I couldn't help but wonder what my life in college would be like.

Would I finally be able to push the past behind me?

Gray eyes flashed through my mind and I groaned.

I needed to cut ties with that man before he ruined my reputation.

●

I barely slept last night.

By morning, I looked like a walking corpse.

Not only was the bed too small for two but Mia snored like a beast.

I got up early that morning and prepared to head out to get all my registration done so I can attend classes immediately.

Heather had classes that morning so she got ready with me and we left the dorm.

“Why didn't you opt for a bigger room?” I couldn't help but ask as we climbed out of the cab and walked into the main campus.

Everything was just as I had imagined.

It was way too early but there were still students walking around and the greenery was impeccable and neat.

“I accepted pretty late as well. I wasn't sure if you were coming and didn't want to come here without you but your Dad assured me that you would so…” She trailed off and I frowned.

“I'm sorry” I apologized as guilt washed over me but she shook her head.

“I chose to wait for you so you don't have to apologize. Plus, I like my roommates, including Mia” She said with a sincere smile and I smiled back.

“I'll see you after my first class. Bye!” She waved me goodbye before walking off and I sighed before heading to the administration office.

The first thing I noticed was that everyone stared as I walked by. Some pointed while some flashed me disgusted looks which confused me.

Was this all because of Zander?

Fuck him.

I quickly finished up at the administrative office and collected my class schedule, my campus map and student ID before leaving.

I had a class to catch now so I rushed out of the building before heading towards the Business lecture hall.

I had wasted quite some time in the administration building so a lot of students were out now and everyone was staring and pointing at me.

Something felt off… way too familiar.

I began to grow self conscious. I bowed my head and tried to be as invincible as I possibly could when I bumped into a crowd right out the Business Lecture Hall, all staring at something ahead.

I was curious but didn't want to draw more attention to myself as I quickly pushed myself through the crowd when a random guy suddenly grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him.

“Holy shit. It is you” He breathed and everyone around turned to me while my stomach sank.

“What?” My voice was barely audible as I muttered and he pointed towards the wall.

Confused, I turned around and my whole world stopped when I saw what was sprayed on the wall in harsh red paint..

RHEA VALE KILLED HER TWIN SISTER.

My vision blurred instantly.

This couldn't be happening.

“It is her!”

“Why is there a murderer at our school?”

“Shouldn't she be in prison?”

My breathing became uneven as voices slammed into me from every direction as I walked towards the wall.

“She should be expelled from school!”

“I heard she wanted her sister's life!”

They yelled while I was hyperventilating with tears rolling down my cheeks as I wiped the wall with my sleeves, bruising Myself in the process but it wasn't working.

Why isn't it coming off?!

I couldn't breathe.

With shaky hands, I clutched onto my chest as the crowd only grew louder.

My knees buckled beneath me but before I could hit the ground, a pair of strong arms wrapped around my body, pulling me into his embrace.

A familiar scent surrounded me instantly.

“Ladybug”

My trembling stopped slightly at the sound of his voice.

He slid his fingers under my chin gently, forcing me to look up at him.

His gray eyes studied my tear-stained face for a long moment before he brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.

Only then did I notice that the crowd had gone quiet.

“Will you accept my proposal now?”...