Semua Bab Unwanted Nerd: Chased By The B-Ball Stars: Bab 11 - Bab 20

Third Person POV “What’s up with you and Deborah?” Caleb asked, staring at Liam with a not-so-friendly look in his eyes.The question hung in the humid air like steam, thick and heavy.They had just finished basketball practice, and the locker room smelled of sweat, deodorant, and the faint sting of antiseptic from the first aid station nearby. Echoes of running water and the low hum of conversations bounced off the tiled walls, mixing with the occasional squeak of rubber soles on wet tile.Most of the players were already mid-shower or toweling off. Water hissed from the open showers. The overhead fluorescent lights buzzed softly, flickering with a dull white glow that cast long shadows across the benches and lockers.Caleb had just walked out of the showers himself, a towel tied low around his waist. His damp curls dripped water onto the floor, forming a small puddle near his feet. Droplets trailed down his chest and back, catching the light as they ran along defined lines of muscl

Deborah’s POV “The way you creep your way around campus, sucking up to all the hot guys by becoming their pathetic little slave, I mean,” Olivia paused, her tone sweet but her eyes sharp, shaking her head as she looked at me with disdain, “do you have any self-respect?” she asked.Her voice wasn’t loud, but every word carried weight. Each syllable landed like a slap, slow and deliberate, drawing the attention of a few passing students who slowed their steps but didn’t stop. The air in the common room felt still, heavy, as though it had absorbed the venom in her words.So I do my job as an assistant—which basically revolves around team management, at least whatever the coach allows me to handle—and Olivia sees that as being a slave? I asked myself silently, biting the inside of my cheek.Even though I got the job because I wanted to be close to Caleb, I still took my job very seriously. I organized schedules, helped manage logistics, and even handled reports. I was proud of what I did

Deborah’s POV The look Olivia had on her face after I’d punched her nose flashed through my mind like a scene stuck on replay. It made my chest flutter with a mix of triumph and disbelief. Her mouth had dropped open like a broken doll, her perfectly manicured nails frozen mid-air as she stumbled back, clutching her face like the world had betrayed her. I hadn’t meant to hit her that hard—but she’d had it coming.I couldn’t help the snort that escaped my lips.Liam, seated directly across from me, raised an eyebrow, his forearms resting casually on the cafeteria table. “What is it?” he asked, his voice low and amused. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth like he already knew I was hiding something funny.“Nothing,” I said quickly, waving a hand as if I could dismiss the memory like a fly. “I’m really sorry for keeping you waiting,” I added, lowering my eyes to the table between us. My fingers fidgeted with the hem of my sleeve.Liam leaned back in his seat, stretching out h

Deborah’s POV "Wait," Liam said to the police officers just as they were about to lead me away. His voice cut through the thick tension that had settled over the hallway like fog. The fluorescent lights above us hummed quietly, casting harsh shadows on everyone's faces. "Hang on a second, can we just talk about this?" he asked the police officers.The cold metal of the handcuffs bit into my wrists as I stopped. My heart hammered against my ribs so hard I was sure everyone could hear it. The smell of industrial cleaner mixed with teenage sweat hung heavy in the air around us.At his words, I turned to look at him, then at Olivia who had a satisfied smirk on her face, that mirrored the looks her minions—Cindy and Mindy had on their faces. Olivia's glossy lips curved upward in a way that made my stomach churn. Her perfectly manicured fingers drummed against her designer purse as she watched me with cold, calculating eyesShe now had a rolled tissue paper inside one of her nostrils, whic

Deborah’s POV As soon as the police left, Olivia stomped out of the cafeteria with Cindy and Mindy in tow leaving me and Liam alone. Her designer heels clicked angrily against the linoleum floor, each step echoing through the space like gunshots. I could hear her muttering something under her breath, probably planning her revenge, while her two followers scrambled to keep up with her furious pace.I suddenly began to feel very self conscious with all the other students there who still had their phones out and recording. The camera lenses caught the fluorescent lights overhead, creating tiny flashes that made my skin crawl. Whispers started up around us like rustling leaves, and I could feel dozens of eyes boring into me from every direction."Did she really punch Olivia in the face?""I can't believe Deborah actually fought back.""This is going to be everywhere by tonight."The voices blended together into a buzzing noise that made my head spin. My cheeks burned with embarrassment a