CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

RONNIE POV

Res acted like kissing me wasn't that much of a big deal but to me it had completely changed everything and made me see him in a different light.

He was sleeping soundly on Kacey's bed like nothing ever happened between us. I traced the curve of my lips in the darkness as a smile curved my lips.

He kissed me.

It made me wonder if he felt something for me or because he only kissed me because he was drunk.

It almost gave me a little hope that maybe my best friend was still somewhere inside this bully.

Eventually my eyes fluttered closed as I dreamt of Resmond when we were still little kids.

KACEY POV

Diamond and her gang approached me with a smirk playing on their lips.

"It looks like the nerd had some fire inside her. I'd never guess that she was working for the stripper."

"And I'm impressed no wonder you had a makeover because you've been sleeping around with one of the wealthiest men in the city."

"I knew that you were many things Kacey Simpson but never a whore."

I glared at her.

"I am not a whore."

"Hey there's no need to get aggressive, the footage shows it all, it's all the evidence the board of directors need to expel you."

My eyes widened in shock.

"I'm getting expelled?"

"Ah it looks like you had no idea."

Maxwell stood beside Diamond.

He looked hurt and devastated.

He looked me in the eye.

"Is it true?"

I remained silent.

"Of course it's telling Maxwell if it wasn't true she would have said something by now that looks like the good girl has gone bad."

"Diamond."

"You're making the headlines Kacey Simpson from a nobody to somebody overnight."

"This is the kind of Fame I wouldn't be proud of."

I ignored Maxwell and walked past Diamond and her friends. I just needed to get to my room and shut the whole world out.

But before I reached my room someone grabbed my hand.

It was Elijah.

I felt my wrist sting where he had it tightly.

"Elijah."

"So that's what you've been doing each night you disappeared? You've been working as a stripper and sleeping around with a man you barely know."

I glared at him.

"Liam isn't a stranger and I only slept with him because I wanted to."

He pulled close to him.

"Maybe I was right when I called you a slut because you're definitely one."

I swallowed hard when he pushed me away.

"To think that I was ever in love with you loving you was my worst mistake."

Tears threatened to roll down my cheeks.

"Liam Praise was your so-called boyfriend you went to see every night you disappeared."

"You become someone you weren't because of that man."

"Do you know what hurts the most Kacey?"

I remained silent.

"I lost my best friend because of that man."

Tears spilled down my cheeks.

"Why are you shedding crocodile tears?"

"Elijah stop it" I pleaded tearfully.

"You don't deserve any pity especially for what you've done. Have you ever thought about your mother?"

"I did this for her…"

He stared at me in disbelief.

"Are you even listening to yourself?"

"I did this for her."

"I didn't have a choice, Elijah , if I didn't take up this job we would have lost the bakery."

"What I keep hearing are more excuses from you Kacey."

"Elijah I don't have time for this."

I was about to walk away but he held me by the shoulders pinning me against the war painfully.

"Are you going back to him?"

I looked at him.

"It doesn't matter."

"Instead of running back to your lover, fight for your place here before you lose your scholarship."

"My father and the other board of directors are planning on expelling you and this time I can't help you."

I glared at him.

"I never asked for your help."

"I can handle my own problems and whatever the board of directors decide I'm sure that it will be for the best."

He chuckled softly and released me.

"There's no point in helping you Kacey because you're a hopeless case."

I was about to walk away but his words made me stop in my tracks.

"Maybe this is why your father abandoned you; he already knew what you were going to become."

" A slut with a pretty face."

I turned around and slapped Elijah hard, making him stagger backwards. I could feel my palm twitching with pain.

I glared at him angrily.

"I hate you."

His gaze lingered on my face.

"The feeling is mutual '' he muttered quietly and walked away.

In less than twenty hours my life was already ruined and it was because of this secret. People would stop judging if they knew why I took up this job in the first place.

A few minutes later I forced myself to start walking, not caring about what people thought of me anymore. There was no point in explaining to anyone.

No one would understand. A painful sob escaped my lips when I slumped on the empty bed. And I finally let the tears and the pain I was holding back flow.

Eventually my cries became muffled because I had lost my voice due to the screaming. I wasn't mad at the world, I was angry with myself.

Because it was too late to go back. I had lost Elijah and I couldn't even recognize the person he had turned into when he said all those hurtful words to me.

Someone touched my hair and when I looked up it was Ronnie.

"Kacey."

"What happened?" She asked in a worried tone and I looked away.

"I don't know where to begin Ronnie because the whole world knows what I am."

"When you told me that your boyfriend's name was Liam I didn't think that it would be the billionaire."

I wiped my tears away.

"I won't deny the facts Ronnie and I know that everything looks bad but I have a good reason for doing this."

She sighed softly.

"The reason might be good Kacey but the board of directors won't think so people are saying that you're going to lose your scholarship here."

"I know and there's nothing I can do about it."

She grasped my hand gently.

"You could ask Elijah for help. I'm sure that he would do anything for you."

I withdrew my hand from her grasp.

"I don't need his help besides I'm capable of fixing my own problems."

"I only worked as a stripper in order to support my mother and pay off the debts my father had left behind."

"Kacey if you needed money you should have said something I would have helped you and all this drama could have been avoided."

I sighed softly.

"I thought everything was going to work out and no one would have to know where I was getting the money from but I guess my plan backfired."

"What's going to happen if you get expelled?" Ronnie asked curiously.

I shrugged carelessly.

"I guess I'll go back home and face my angry mother. She must have seen the video by now."

"She's probably pissed."

Ronnie nodded quietly.

It felt like forever when the board of directors finally made their decision I wasn't expelled but I was suspended until further notice. I had a feeling that Elijah might have been the one who had influenced their decision even though he didn't admit I knew that he had helped me.

My life went on and I never heard from Liam again and I never went back to club kiss either. For two months people continued mocking and making fun of me.

All the professors who called me the best student were all disappointed in me and the worst part was that each time it happened I always broke down crying.

Ronnie and Ella would try to console me but there was no use because I didn't want to talk to any of them.

RONNIE POV

I grabbed a few books from my locker when I slammed it shut I found Res staring at me.

"Resmond."

"It's Res."

"About what happened last night it was a mistake and I don't want you trying anyone that-"

"I wasn't going to tell anyone about the kiss" I finished cutting him off.

He narrowed his eyes on me.

"What kiss? Anyway forget it I just wanted to remind you that you shouldn't tell anyone that I got locked out."

My heart shattered.

"You don't remember anything else about last night?"

He shook his head negatively.

"Did something else happen?" He asked curiously and I shook my head negatively.

"No, nothing happened."

"Keep your mouth shut Huntley I else I'm going to ruin you."

I nodded quietly and watched him walk away.

I turned back to look at him.

He didn't remember about the kiss. I guess he must have been drunk.

RES POV

When glanced back Ronnie was already gone. A smirk curved my lips because I remembered everything that had happened last night.

Those memories were clear as day.

Even now I could still taste her lips and I still remember her shocked expression.

Her reaction was priceless.