CHAPTER 85
**WINTER**
As I stepped out of the locker room and into the gym hall, the atmosphere hit me like a wave. The air was thick with tension, and I immediately understood what Cindy had meant. Every pair of eyes in the room was trained on me, their gaze sharp, cold, and anything but welcoming. I could feel the weight of their stares, like they were scrutinizing every inch of me, waiting for me to slip.
And then, my gaze fell on him. Zion Royal. Of course, he was here—of all places, right in my gym class. His presence was commanding, drawing a silent attention that seemed to heighten the already electric atmosphere. “Perfect,” I muttered under my breath, trying to mask my anxiety with a touch of defiance. My fingers instinctively tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, attempting to fix the fraying braid that had been hastily thrown together earlier.
I could feel it—the unmistakable certainty that this was just the beginning. This had to be the start of my punishment. The universe’s way of reminding me that locking heads with Zion Royal would be the one thing I would never be able to escape.
Ronald and Clark are with him, and Zion’s icy gaze finds me instantly.
Then he smirked. A challenge was etched into his expression.
I forced my focus elsewhere. *Don’t look at him. Don’t let him get under your skin.*
I try to maintain a neutral expression, but my body betrays me, shivering with apprehension.
What kind of torment is he planning now?
Cindy and her clique are huddled around the Kings, but the boys barely give them a second glance.
Instead, it’s Cindy and her friends who direct their attention toward me, their eyes gleaming with cruel satisfaction, the sound of their hushed laughter hanging in the air like a silent threat.
..........
When the gym teacher arrives and signals us to start running laps, I let out a sigh of relief.
At least they wouldn’t dare do anything in front of an authority figure. I reassure myself that I’m safe for now.
After the laps, Mr. Morris divides us into teams for a basketball game. Even though I’m not the tallest, I’ve always enjoyed the sport, so I decided to make the most of it. I tell myself that as long as Zion, Ronald, and Clark are on the other side of the court, everything will be fine.
I end up guarding Nadia, one of Cindy’s friends.
She’s a tall redhead who’s hiked up her gym shorts so high that her ass cheeks are practically exposed.
From the start, she plays aggressively, and my hope of getting through the class unscathed quickly fades. As she barrels toward the hoop, I step in to block her, but she lowers her shoulder and drives me to the floor. My elbow crashes painfully against the hard gym floor as I fall.
Mr Morris blows his whistle and orders Nadia to back off, but she just flashes a false smile and offers a mocking apology as she looks down at me. The pain in my elbow shoots up my arm, but I grit my teeth and push myself up. When Mr Morris asks if I’m okay, I brush off his concern and get back into position.
I don’t see the basketball coming, but it’s clear that’s the point. It slams into my face, sending me crashing back to the floor once again.
Cindy’s distinctive laugh rings out as stars explode in my vision. Mr. Morris’s whistle blares again, its sharp tone reverberating in my head.
“Hey, new girl, you alright?” he calls out.
“She probably just got a reality check, Mr. Morris,” Cindy chirps in a sickly sweet tone that might be amusing if it weren’t so infuriating. Something in me snaps.
The frustration that’s been building all day boils over, and I lose it. I spring up and face Cindy, my vision clouded with rage.
“Got something to say, Cindy?” I demand.
“Why don’t you stop hiding behind your little minions and say it to my face?” The gym falls silent, and I can feel the buzz of anticipation building around us. Cindy’s eyes narrow as she steps closer.
“You want to know what I think of you?” Cindy hisses, her voice low but sharp enough to cut.
Her lips curl into a sneer, eyes glinting with malice as she steps closer.
“Why don’t you take your trashy self and go back to where you came from? You don’t belong here. You’re not welcome.”
Her words hit like a slap, but I refuse to flinch. I’m not going to be driven away by some entitled princess with too much attitude and not enough brains. I square my shoulders, standing my ground, and meet her glare head-on.
"Funny, coming from someone who hides behind a fake smile and daddy’s money," I shoot back, my voice loud enough to draw attention from the crowd gathering around us. Cindy’s eyes widen in shock, and there’s a collective gasp from the students like they’re watching a live grenade about to go off.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch sight of Zion standing off to the side, arms crossed, a deep frown etched on his face. This was his doing—he’d stirred the pot just to watch everything fall apart. But something doesn’t quite add up. Why does it almost look like... he's concerned?
A shriek brings my focus back to Cindy
“Say that again,” she growls, her voice low and dangerous.
“It’s sad. You’re just a scared little girl throwing a tantrum because you’re terrified of being irrelevant.”
“Ladies, enough!” Mr. Morris’s voice cuts through the air, but he’s stuck behind the wall of students.
The crowd presses closer, like vultures circling for a better view. Mr. Morris’s momentary delay gives Cindy the opening she’s been waiting for.
Her face twists with fury, her eyes wild. She charges at me, hands outstretched like claws, ready to tear me apart. I sidestep her easily, my instincts kicking in as I slip into a defensive stance, body coiled, ready for whatever she tries next.
“Fight me! Stop dodging and fight me!” she shrieks, her voice shrill with rage. She lunges again, faster this time, and I let her get close enough to grab me.
Her hands latch onto my shirt, and I feel her nails dig into my skin. But instead of throwing her off, I wrap my arms around her waist, locking her in place. She thrashes, writhing like a wild animal, but I hold her steady.
“Let me go, you coward!” she screams, her voice breaking as she struggles to free herself. The crowd around us roars with excitement, their cheers mixing with Cindy’s furious yells, turning the scene into a chaotic blur of sound and motion.
Just as I feel Cindy's strength beginning to wane, Mr. Morris breaks through the crowd and grabs my arm, yanking me back with enough force to break my grip on her. Cindy stumbles backwards, panting, and Mr Morris seizes her by the shoulder, pulling her away from me.
“Cindy, Headmaster Aldridge’s office. Now!” His voice is like a hammer, heavy and final. Cindy looks stunned, her mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air.
“But, sir, Winter started it!” she protests, her voice filled with desperation.
Mr. Morris fixed her with a steady gaze, his expression hardening. “I’m well aware of who instigated this. I’ve been observing, and it’s clear that you girls weren’t playing by the rules.”
“But Sir” Cindy whines
Mr. Morris replies firmly. “Move.”
She gives me a venomous look as she storms toward the locker room, and I struggle to keep my smirk in check. Mr. Morris, however, isn’t finished. He turns his stern gaze on me.
“New girl—”
“It’s Winter, sir.”
"Whatever. I’ll let this slide this time, given that it’s clear Cindy provoked you. However, you need to learn to manage your temper. If an incident like this occurs again, you’ll be facing a month of detention. Do you understand?" I swallow, steadying myself, and nod in acknowledgement.
“Understood. Sorry, sir.”
He gives me a curt nod before turning his attention back to the rest of the class, instructing them to resume their games. I take a deep breath, steadying myself before heading back to my team.
My gaze wanders involuntarily to the other side of the gym, where I lock eyes with Zion. He has a small smirk on his face, his expression inscrutable but his eyes still burning with intensity.
His eyes seem to communicate a chilling message, a silent warning that says,
*"This isn’t over. Watch your back."*
The intensity in his gaze is unmistakable as if he’s already planning his next move. That small smirk on his face doesn’t reach his eyes; instead, they burn with a cold fire that makes my skin crawl.
It’s as if he’s already decided my fate, and it’s only a matter of time before he makes his next move. The unspoken threat hangs heavily between us, and I can feel the weight of it pressing down on me, a constant reminder that I need to be on guard.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
