Chapter 9

*Tristan*

I kept staring at Ariana the entire lunch. There was just this feeling that something was really going on. I know it's not really my business, but I just wanted to know. It was eating at me in a way I couldn't explain. Every time I looked away, my eyes found their way back to her. She looked... different. Less fierce. Less like she was ready to burn the world down. More like she was barely holding it together.

"Yo, why do you keep staring at Ariana?" Eric asked, breaking through my thoughts.

"How 'bout you mind your own business?" I shot back, not even bothering to look at him.

"Well, doesn't seem like what you're doing," he said, not giving up. Derek snickered beside him, clearly enjoying the show.

"How about I make you then?" I said, challenging him with a raised brow.

"Whoa, someone seems off... Well, let's discuss the match we have tonight at the dungeon," Eric said, wisely changing the subject.

"I don't think there's really anything to talk about," I replied absentmindedly, my gaze still fixed on Ariana's table.

"Uh, yeah there is. Remember, we're going up against The Vipers, and they are a real pain in the ass," he said, showing me something on his iPad. I glanced at it—some stats, some faces I didn't care about.

"Right. We have to get rid of them tonight," I replied, still not paying attention. My mind was elsewhere. It kept drifting back to her. The way she was stabbing her food like it had personally wronged her. The way her friends were looking at her with concern she clearly didn't want.

"Uh huh, and we can't do anything that will get you distracted," he said with a knowing look.

"When am I ever distracted?" I asked, finally tearing my eyes away.

"Now," he said with a smug smile. "Wait... are you falling for Ariana Kings?"

"Gross, why would I? I'm only staring at her because it just seemed weird. I hit her and she didn't do anything. Seems like something's off," I said, deflecting. Even I didn't believe that excuse.

"Remind me how that is our business again?" he asked, folding his arms.

"Point taken. About The Vipers?" I asked suggestively, desperate to change the subject.

---

*Ariana*

"Hey, where've you been? We have been waiting for you," Bel asked as I slid into my seat at our usual lunch table.

"Just had to take care of something," I replied, not meeting her eyes. I picked up my fork and started pushing food around my plate, suddenly not hungry.

"You okay? You seem kinda off," Kyle asked, his voice unusually soft. That was the thing about Kyle—he pretended not to care, but he noticed everything.

"I'm fine. When am I ever not okay?" I asked with a light scoff, obviously not fooling any of them.

"Your face says otherwise. You really sure you're okay?" he pressed.

"Gosh, how many times do I have to say I'm okay?" I snapped, immediately regretting it. They were just trying to help. I knew that. But I wasn't ready to talk about it. I wasn't ready to admit that Davis had made me feel small. That his words had actually hurt.

"If I didn't know any better, I would have thought you guys actually cared about me," I said, literally stabbing my food like it had personally offended me.

"You're right, I do hate your guts, but I can still tolerate you, and that says a lot," Ashton said with a smirk.

I'm not gonna lie, hearing him say that actually made me almost lose it. The tears were threatening to spill, and I couldn't let that happen. Not here. Not now. Not in front of anyone.

"Whatever, let's just eat, okay?" I said with a shaky laugh, forcing the lump in my throat back down.

"Whenever you're ready, you know where to find me," Ashton said, still referring to the topic I was so desperately trying to avoid. He always knew. That was the thing about Ashton—he saw through everyone's bullshit.

"Yes, Daddy," I replied with a sarcastic smile.

"You wish!" Ash said.

I scoffed, grateful for the momentary distraction.

---

Lunch was finally over. I couldn't have been happier to escape.

"See you guys in class, lemme just get my books—not like I'm gonna need them," I said, waving off to them.

"K."

"Whatever."

"See ya."

"Get lost."

I chuckled. At least some things never changed.

The long hallway was almost empty, indicating most students were already in class. The silence was almost eerie. My footsteps echoed against the tiled floors as I made my way toward my locker—my special spot. The place where I always went to collect my thoughts.

Turning the corner, I received the shock of my life. Like, the biggest surprise one could ever have. Unlike the time Daddy gave me a big pink teddy bear which I had deemed to be the most frightening surprise of my life 'cause I almost felt suffocated. This was worse. So much worse.

Davis was kissing that girl—Cindy or Sandy or whatever her name was. You know, the pig girl from the bleachers.

"What The Fuck!!!" I yelled.

They both jumped, looking like fucking deer caught in headlights. That expression only lasted a few seconds on Davis before it shifted to something colder, more dismissive. It was like he was already expecting this.

"What does it seem like is happening to you?" Davis actually asked me that. Like I was the one in the wrong.

Pig scoffed with the twirling of hair thing. Like, what is it with her and her hair? Does she think it makes her look cute? It makes her look desperate.

"It's good that you finally found out. I couldn't tolerate your mad behaviour anymore. I thought I could actually keep it a secret for some time, but I guess you're not as dumb as I thought you—"

Before he could finish what he was saying, I gave him a heavy punch across his face. The impact echoed through the hallway, and I felt a sick satisfaction as his head snapped to the side.

"You wanna see madness? I'll show you madness," I said with a murderous glare.

Pig was screaming, but I didn't seem to hear any sound. It was like the world had gone silent. All I could focus on was Davis and the rage boiling in my veins.

"Hehe," Davis kept laughing, blood trickling from his lip. "I never loved you from the start."

That hit harder than it should have. But I didn't stop. I flung him across the hallway. I swear I could hear his ribs shifting. Good. He deserved that and more.

"Enough!!!!" Pig yelled. "You're crazy!" she said, visibly shaking.

"Oh, you haven't seen nothing," I said with a crazy smirk, stalking towards her.

"Stay where you are! Don't come any closer!" Davis said, barely standing up, trying to protect pig girl.

I guess he does really like her. That made me pause. I felt like a joke. No one has ever made me feel that way before. Like ever!

"And in case you haven't gotten the message, here—we're done!! This is a break up," Davis managed out, holding his ribs.

"Oh, just like your ribs," I said with an innocent smile. "That was also the message I was passing across."

He seemed shocked by my response. Maybe he thought I'd break down and beg for his affection or something. But I'm Ariana Kings. I don't beg. I don't break. I destroy.

"Let's get out of here," Sandra said. Yayyy, I finally remembered her name.

"Yeah, get out before I chew you up," I encouraged them.

They scurried away like the rats they were.

---

Immediately they left, I felt like air was leaving my lungs. I almost fell on my knees, using the locker as support. My hands were shaking. My heart was pounding. I made my way to the parking lot, got in my car, and drove out.

Today's been a mess. And it's not even over yet.

---

A/N

Okay, like, this wasn't actually my favourite part, so I have nothing to say.

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