Chapter 11: Trouble Wrapped in Pretty Face

The next morning, I tried to convince myself that yesterday had been the worst of it. People took pictures of me all the time, they bumped into me, and they whispered every time I walked by. But that apparently wasn’t the end of the torment.

Shockingly, there were no crumpled papers in my locker, no vandalism on my desk after I cleaned it up yesterday, and no one was laughing. But I didn’t know that today would actually be the worst.

If someone ever writes a survival guide for college, they should dedicate an entire chapter to one very important lesson and that is don’t accidentally become associated with Kingsley University’s hockey captain.

I stood up and was about to open the bathroom door when I froze after hearing footsteps of people coming in. And I was sure it was a group.

"Oh god..." I whispered.

Even without going out to check, I recognized them immediately. I quietly locked the door. My blood ran cold.

"Layla, we know you’re in there." The familiar voice said. It was her, the same blondie who gave me a warning.

I didn’t know her. But just recently I found out that she’s the Queen of Wade’s fanclub, who spends a fortune every time she gives Wade a gift.

I sighed. I leaned my back against the wall, crossed my arms over my chest, and rolled my eyes so hard I could almost see my brain.

"Smart, you solved the mystery of which hall I’m hiding in." I said.

I was startled when a loud thud hit the door, making the frame rattle.

"You think you’re funny?!" she screamed. "Don’t get smart with me! I warned you, didn’t I? I told you to stay away from Wade Scott. Did you listen? Clearly not, because if you had listened to me, I wouldn’t be here right now!"

"Who even told you to come here?! That was nothing but a misunderstanding," I said. "Leave me alone!"

"You think I’m stupid?!"

I was startled when she kicked the stall door I was in. I sighed again. I felt it coming before it happened. Sometimes too much silence and calm results in trouble raining down. And I wasn’t wrong.

"Come out now, Layla!" she screamed again.

She kept slamming the door so hard the lock almost came off, so I grabbed it right away.

"I’ll come out when you’re gone!" I said.

"So you’re not going to come out?! Fine! Have it your way!"

I frowned. I heard rustling from outside and my instinct screamed at me. I looked up and my eyes widened when I saw what they were planning.

I crouched down quickly, pulling my arms over my head and pressing my face into my knees, shielding the most sensitive parts of myself.

And the worst came.

There was a loud clattering sound, followed by the heavy, sickening rush of liquid and waste being dumped over the top of the stall. It poured down in a cold, filthy smell, soaking through my uniform, my hair, and pooling around my shoes.

The smell hit me. It was thick, rotten, a mix of old food, dirty water, and whatever else had been thrown into that bin. It was so foul it made my eyes water, and I gagged.

I stayed curled up for a second longer, not out of fear, but out of sheer disbelief.

What the hell?! Really? They dragged two whole trash bins just to dump it on me? How much time and energy do these girls waste on me? Very disgusting way.

"Come out now!" she screamed again.

She slammed the door again, and before I could grab the lock that was coming loose, she managed to open the door.

Before I could even react, hands grabbed my arms and yanked me roughly out of the bathroom. They let go of me and I lost my balance. My knees hit the floor hard and I bent over.

Ugh! That hurts!

"Say cheese!" she said. She grabbed my chin hard and shoved the camera in my face. I squeezed my eyes shut when the flash hit my face.

"Just thank me later. You’re going to be even more famous tomorrow." She said and smiled. They laughed.

"Maya! Get this!" she said. A girl with her head down came over and took the phone.

My eyes widened.

"It’s you!" I said, pointing at her. I remember her. The girl named Maya was the one who took a picture of us in the art studio. How could someone who looked so weak be part of the Queen of the fanclub’s group?!

"What the fuck, Maria?!"

We heard a voice from outside. He asked, referring to the blonde girl.

We all looked over and I heard them gasp when they saw Ethan standing there, completely shocked.

"Shit, let’s go!" The group of girls ran off fast, and I was left kneeling.

"Here, let me help—"

"I’m fine." I said in a cold tone. Before he could get close to me, I stood up quickly.

"Nothing to see here, Ethan." I said.

"That doesn’t look fine." he said in a cold tone.

I was startled when he suddenly took off the hoodie with his last name on the back. I was shocked when he helped me put it on, and I didn’t have a choice.

"Just wear this temporarily. I’ll take you to—"

"Thanks, but no need." I looked at him and forced a smile. "I’ll just return this to you when I have time to wash it."

He was about to say something, but I walked away quickly.

I saw the students looking at me. Of course, who wouldn’t stare at how I looked?! I looked like I’d swim in a sea of garbage! My hair was soaked, rough and sticky, my eyeglasses were foggy right now. And I’m sure I reeked.

"Ew!"

"What's that smell?!

I walked quickly and didn’t pay attention to them anymore. I had no plans of getting the bag I left in the art studio. All I wanted now was to get home and take a shower.

I made it to the apartment, and when I pushed open the front door, the first thing I saw was Wade.

He was standing near the living room, fresh out of the shower, wearing a plain white shirt and sweatpants, looking as perfect as ever.

He turned at the sound of the door, and the second his eyes landed on me, his expression shifted instantly — from relaxed to pure shock. His eyes widened, his mouth fell slightly open, and he froze like he’d seen a ghost.

I didn’t give him time to speak first.

“Don’t,” I said, my voice sharp and cold, cutting through the silence. “Just don’t even open your mouth, Wade. Not a single word.”

And of course, he didn’t listen to me.

"What the hell happened to you? You smell like—"

"Like what? I smell like someone dumped two full trash bins on me? That’s exactly it! Thanks to the Queen of your fan club."

"What?"

I walked up to him and glared at him. I saw his face wrinkle when he smelled me. The nerve of him!

"I don’t want to talk to you anymore. I don’t want to be near you and don’t you come near me either! I don’t need your help anymore, I don’t care if that’s what the dean wants!" I said, my voice was shaking.

I saw his face darken. I was startled when he stepped closer to me and grabbed my wrist.

"Don’t touch me!" I tried to pull away but couldn’t.

"Layla..." he called.

"I said don’t touch me!" I yelled. "It’s because of you! It’s always you! You walk around like you own the place. They act like you’re some kind of god, and if they think someone is ‘getting in your way,’ they think they have the right to destroy that person!"

He still didn’t say anything and just listened to me. I pulled my hand away from him. I could see his anger building, but I didn’t care anymore.

"I’m telling you one last time, Wade. Never talk to me or come near me again. Being associated with you is nothing but a curse."

I walked away from him quickly, and before I went into my room, I looked at him with full of hate in my eyes. I noticed his jaw tightened and his fist clenched, but I looked back at his face.

"You are nothing but trouble wrapped in a pretty face, Wade— and I hate every bit of it"