Chapter nine

Emma's pov
"Protest that you want a change of partner",Astrid whispered. " Professor, can I change my partner please",I requested. " No, it's not allowed. Change your seat to your partner's",He ordered and I groaned. " Get up",Lucas said to Astrid. "What if I don't?" Astrid replied with a scrowl on his face. "Astrid, do not test my patience",Lucas warned. "What's going on there?", Professor BB asked.

" He doesn't want to leave my partner alone",Lucas replied. " Astrid, today is your first day and you are causing trouble already? Now leave that place and go join your partner this moment", Professor ordered, Astrid left reluctantly. Lucas sat beside me, I didn't look at him.

"The project is in page 109 in your textbook, please check. I will be expecting your response in two months but I will be asking for an update every week",He explained and everyone groaned. " Is that understood?" He asked for confirmation. "Yes professor", we all replied lazily. "Now, start working on it and this project covers eighty percent of your school work this session", he added.

I sighed deeply to calm myself down. I read through the project questions, I was glad Lucas didn't bother me. After reading the question, I looked at him. He was done with his and he was staring into space. "We need to talk about this project",I said to him. "There is nothing to talk about",he replied, he was still not looking at me. "There is a lot to talk about, I'm not ready to fail this course",I said in a stern voice. " Emma, I'm not ready to exchange words with you so let me be",he groaned as he shook his head.

What's up with him? This is unusual, the Lucas I know is always ready to attack me verbally. "Are you okay?" I asked him, he turned to me and chuckled. "Ohh, this means the queen bee of this college cares about me",he smirked. What? Why did I even ask if he was okay?" I don't care about you",I said. "I care about my project because this is my life. If you don't care about school, I do", I added.

" I'm not in a good mood. We will talk about this later",he murmured. " We will talk about this now. I will be free on Saturdays, let's meet here by 9am every Saturday", I said. " Do you even bother to ask if I will be free or not?" He raised a curious brow. " Don't feel too important, I don't care about you. The only business we have together is the project and it has been finalized",I told him. " Arrogant bitch",he said loudly for me to hear. I didn't reply him, am not ready for any banter of words now.

When the professor's period was over he left the class. "I hope he didn't bother you", Astrid said to me. I rolled my eyes at his question, this guy is feeling too important. "Nothing happened",I said quietly. "You need to request for a change of partner",he said to me, even when he fully knows they Lucas was listening to our conversation. "Astrid let it go. I will be okay",I countered.

"He can harm you, he is dangerous", Astrid insisted. All of a sudden, Lucas grabbed Astrid by his neck. Astrid struggled under his grip and I start to wonder how this someone of Lucas's stature can dominate Astrid who is big and muscular. "Get off me, you bastard",Astrid yelled as he tried to free himself under Lucas's grip. " One more word about me and I will cut off your tongue. Stay out of my way, Astrid",Lucas warned and pushed him to the floor. I gasped in shock, I don't even know that Lucas is this strong. "I'm sorry about that",I said as I pulled Astrid up.

" I told you he is a monster, he knows I am going to expose him. That's why he is doing all this", Astrid said. " I think you should leave him alone as well, Astrid",I blurted out. " Really? You are on his side? ",His eyes widened in shock. " I'm on nobody's side, just let him be. Do you want him to hurt you again?" I raised a curious brow and he shook his head. "Astrid, are you okay? I heard about what happened with Lucas", a guy rushed towards Astrid and checked his body for any sign of hurt.

"I'm fine, Kelly. I will deal with Lucas later", Astrid replied him and I could swear his eyes darkened for a moment. What's going on? "I will see you later, Emma",he smiled at me and walked away with the Kelly guy. Something is not right about Astrid, there's this strange feeling I have towards him. What's his connection with Lucas? All the things he said about him, are they true? "Emma, hi",Eva said to me with a smile.

"Hi Eva, how are you?",I replied with a smile back. "I'm good, I heard a fight happened in this class. The new guy and Lucas",she whispered. " Yes, Astrid really hates Lucas. He claims Lucas is a bad guy",I shrugged. " That Astrid is the bad guy. The Lucas I know is an angel, if you get to know him",she declared. " I don't think so, Lucas is a big ass bully",I countered. " That's because you both started on a bad note. When time goes by, you will know he is a sweetheart",she stated.

" Well that's none of my business. I don't like him and I will never do",I insisted. " Emma",Eva pouted as she dragged my name. " I want you and Lucas to be friends",she gave me her puppy eyes. " Nope",I shook my head. "Whyyy?" she whined like a child. "Because I don't like him, Eva.. let's not talk about him anymore",I frowned. " Okay, fine. Anyways, I gotta go. I will see you tomorrow",she said and we waved each other good bye. It's closing hour so everyone was leaving the school. Joan dropped me at school today because my car was faulty.

She promised to come pick me up in two hours time. I used the opportunity to do my assignments and make some research concerning the project on my laptop. There were few students left in the school. I was so lost in my own little world before I realized it was dark. I called Joan several times but she didn't pick up her call. I can't stay here all by myself. I packed my stuff's and decided to walk back home since my house is not far from school,just seven minutes distance.

I used my headphones and played holy by Justin Bieber. It is a soulful music and I love it so much. I saw two shadows of something like an animal on the wall as I walked. What's that? I removed my headphones, fear gripped my heart. I heard a growl again and I gasped in shock. What's happening? I ran, I ran as far as my legs could take me but I felt something following me. All of a sudden, I saw something like a big dog with red eyes behind me when I turned my back. "Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!" I screamed and everything went black.