Chapter 6: Janette.

Mr. Ayden's car goes into the gates of Cranduke and I feel my heart pounding in my chest. 

I'm in his car, sitting with him, on the way to school. 

I should be excited, and I am, but my heart is also heavy and that's something I can't ignore. 

Panic rushes through me when I see people suddenly surrounding the car, their mouths moving but no sound being made and cameramen trailing them behind. The realization that they are reporters makes me feel a trickle of awe, but then I remember who I am sitting with and all of that fades away.

Of course there would be reporters trailing his car the minute he drives into the school gates. He isn't a nobody like me.

He's Ayden Bravlov, and he probably won't lose his childhood crush to a younger sibling.

The car stops and Mr. Ayden turns to me. His gaze is neutral and emotionless. 

I feel a shiver race up my spine when he sets those golden eyes on me.

"When we get out of this car, I want you to get rid of whatever fear you might carry in you right now. The minute we step out, you are no more Janette Argon. You are Ayden Bravlov's protege. Someone of importance. Someone who is happy to be given such a chance and who promises not to disappoint. Public appearance will make you or break you, so portray what you want the public to see. Act calm, act confident, act unaffected. Do not disappoint me, Janette."

His words hit me like anvils to the chest and I feel panic racing up my spine again. Most people think acting comes easy, if you can't be confident then just pretend to be. If you can't be happy then pretend you are.

Mr. Ayden isn't asking for pretense. He's asking for something much more complicated.

His door opens and I am pulled out of my thoughts by the sound of voices.

"Mr Ayden! Mr Ayden!"

"Mr. Ayden over here!  Mr..."

The door slams and my heart pounds even faster.

Okay, I can do this. I can do this.

 I release a breath and open the door of my car. I step out and the reporters swarm me, pointing microphones in my face, asking a million questions that I refuse to hear, and impeding my movement.

I take one step forward and they stand their ground, closing in even more. The look on my face is impassive and rigid and I set my eyes on one of the reporters. A male, tall and sneering. 

"Can you please excuse me? I have to get to Mr. Bravlov."

I feel something happen in a matter of seconds. His eyes meet mine and I let him see all Mr. Bravlov's words have turned me into in them. I am Janette Argon, the confident and important protege of one of the most important people in the city.

I need to be by the side of my instructor and he sees me as someone of importance. There's no need for me to act frantic, what I want should be given to me by default now.

He steps aside immediately and as he does, so does every other reporter I pass by.

Mr. Ayden has his bodyguard standing in front of the reporters, and almost like most of them are scared of him they don't sneak behind him to speak to Mr. Bravlov.

When I get to the man in question, there's a slight smile on his face. My act is still up so I don't beam at him or let my enamored star-struck gaze show on my face. I stand beside him instead and face the onslaught of reporters.

"Mr. Ayden, over here!"

"Mr. Ayden, who's the little miss beside you?"

"What's the reason for your sudden return to society, Mr. Ayden? Should we be expecting a return to the acting scene?"

Camera flashes hit us every two seconds at most and I try not to think of my pimples or my swollen face, or the folds of skin I carry around like a freaking fat potato.

"That's enough Axel."

The huge man named Axel nods and raises a hand. The camera flashes stop immediately and we are plunged into silence. Mr. Ayden looks at me.

"Shall we, Janette?"

I nod and he walks right past the crowd of reporters. They follow behind like obedient children and I wonder if this is my queue to escape. The thought isn't even fully formed in my head before the man named Axel turns to look at me. The meaning in his gaze is clear.

I sigh and put on what I will forever refer to as my reporter face.

I have to walk faster to catch up with the handsome man but I realize he isn't walking like he's in much of a hurry. He turns to look at me again and he smiles.

An act.

I blush and I look away. 

The entrance to the hallways is filled to the brim with reporters.

I look past every one of them and search for Cara instead. I don't see her and luckily the stairs are empty when we climb them. I know we are going to the Dean's office, and I know that after today I will never just be seen as Janette Argon. The pressure will be worse and the bullying will take another level of intensity to it.

I'll become instant enemies with some students, but it's worth it. Anything this hard should be worth it.

"You look concerned about something?"

My eyes snap to Ayden and I blink twice.

Was he watching me?

I clear my throat and nod.

"That's because I am. I know I can't expect my life to be the same way it's always been now. It's a change, and I hope it's a good one."

His next words catch me by surprise.

"What if it's bad? What if I'm actually putting you in immense danger?"

I chuckle and flick a strand of hair out of my eyes. I'll have to cut this later.

"I think I need a change in my life, no matter how dangerous it is. My life sucks, and this is a change from that. If there's danger involved then I'm ready."

Mr. Ayden is the one who chuckles now and I remember he's told me not to call him Mr. Ayden anymore. It'll take some getting used to but I'll do it.

We stop in front of the Dean's office and he does something strange. He sniffs the air, once, twice, and he turns to me, smiling.

"Congratulations on a successful introduction to society, and get ready for another test. You aren't Janette Argon anymore, you are an angry young lady, and you will tear anyone who tries to take what's yours to shreds."

I'm stunned but he opens the door and steps in the next moment.

When I step in, what I see makes my heart skip a beat.