Chapter 1 Chapter One.
The first punch always feels the best knowing that you've put someone in her place. Especially when the bitch thinks she can do whatever she wants and get away with it because she has some flimsy ass fame.
Ha! Not on my watch, that I know.
Kimberly's POV:
My knuckles slammed into Brianna Collins’ perfect little nose, and the satisfying crack that followed echoed in the hallway.
Gasps erupted around us as some of the students screamed while some began recording the scene.
I flexed my fingers and shook my hand like it hurt, because it did, but honestly? It was totally worth it.
Feels good. I thought to myself with a smirk on my lips.
Brianna staggered backward, clutching her bleeding nose like the world had just ended. Her expensive white uniform blouse was now decorated with bright red blood.
Oops.
My gaze flicked to the phone cameras around us. Of course they were filming. This school was basically a zoo, and any kind of drama meant instant entertainment.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Kimberly?!” Brianna shrieked through her hands.
I tilted my head, pretending to think. “Hm… probably the part where you insulted my mother.” I shrugged casually.
"How dare you?! I've always known you're no less than an untrained dog! I hate you!" Brianna said, her voice full of unfiltered loath.
I smiled. "Couldn't hate you any less, darling Brianna. But if one more insult slips from your mouth, you'd be so damn sorry." I said with an underlying threat.
Her friends stared at me like I had just committed murder. Maybe I had—social murder, at least.
“You psycho!” Brianna screeched.
“Relax and stop yelling so much.” I rolled my eyes. “Your nose isn’t broken.” I paused. “…Probably.”
One of her friends rushed forward. “You can’t just go around punching people like a loose dog! Brianna did nothing wrong!”
I raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because i clearly heard her when she called my mom dirty names behind my back. You thought because I tried avoiding trouble with you guys, then I would stand back and watch you guys insult the people I love without doing something to put you in your place?”
My voice dropped slightly as I took a menacing step closer to her and she took a step back, a lump rolling down her throat. “I don’t like people talking about my family. So you all better watch your tongues when you talk, am I clear?!”
"Y-yes," she stammered before running away to Brianna.
There was a bit of silence before a loud, familiar voice broke through.
“MISS BLACKWOOD!”
Great.
The principal.
Again.
I sighed and rubbed my temples. “Well,” I muttered to myself. “There goes my peaceful school life.”
Thirty minutes later, I sat in the principal’s office with my arms crossed. The air smelled just like coffee and disappointment. Something I was used to.
Across from me sat Principal Hardwick, a balding man who looked like he had aged ten years since I enrolled here six months ago, while Brianna was beside him with tissues shoved up her nose.
Honestly, she looked ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.
“Kimberly Blackwood,” the principal said slowly, as if saying my name physically hurt him. “Do you realize this is your third violent altercation this semester?”
I shrugged. “Technically, it's the fourth one.”
His eye twitched. “Exactly my point!”
Brianna sniffled dramatically. “She attacked me for no reason, Principal Hardwick! I did nothing wrong to deserve such from her. I just wanted to be her friend.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, because you’re such an angel with a pure heart and I am the devil, isn't it?” I said sarcastically and she narrowed her eyes at me. Such a drama queen. She should pursue an acting career, playing the role of a pitiful, good hearted character who's a literal villain in the story. It would suit her more and give her some fame.
Principal Hardwick slammed his palm on the desk. “Enough! I don't want to hear more words from the both of you!” he commanded, and we obeyed.
He leaned forward, staring at me like he was trying to understand what kind of disaster I was.
“You’re intelligent,” he said. “Your grades prove it. But your behavior—”
“—is honest?” I offered.
His jaw tightened. “No. It is unacceptable.” He said then slid a paper across the desk.
My eyes dropped to it.
EXPULSION NOTICE.
Well that escalated quickly.
“You are hereby expelled from Westbrook Academy effective immediately.” he declared sternly.
My eyes darted slowly from the expulsion paper to Brianna. She had a triumphant look on her face as muttered some words I couldn't quite capture. Not like I cared to know, but then... whatever.
I leaned back in my chair. Strangely, I didn’t feel shocked. This had been coming and I felt it.
“You’re not even going to argue?” the principal asked suspiciously.
I exhaled slowly. “Nah.”
Honestly, the school sucked anyway. Rich kids, fake smiles, designer backpacks worth more than my motorcycle. And people like Brianna who thought money made them royalty.
The principal removed his glasses and rubbed his face. “You are throwing your future away, Kimberly.” he said softly.
Maybe I was throwing my life away.
Or maybe I just refused to let people walk all over me.
I stood up and grabbed the paper. “Well, thanks for the education, Principal Hardwick. I very much appreciate your time and efforts.”
His voice softened unexpectedly again,this time like a friend who meant the best for me. “You’re a bright girl, Kim. Don’t ruin your life because of your temper. It's not good for someone like you who is still young and have a long way to go.”
I gave him a half-sided smile. “Too late.” And just like that, I walked out of the office without a word.
The afternoon sun hit my face the moment I stepped outside the school building.
It felt like freedom. Or disaster. Well, frankly speaking it depends on how my parents reacts to the news.
I swung my leg over my motorcycle in the parking lot.
My baby.
A matte-black Yamaha that had taken me two years of part-time work to buy. I ran a hand over the handlebars lovingly. “At least you won’t expel me, babes,” I murmured.
The engine roared to life beneath me, vibrating through my body. The sound always calmed me down. Speed did that, speed made everything quiet. Including my thoughts, my anger and lastly, my fear. The one thing I never told anyone.
The doctor’s words echoed faintly in my memory. "Your condition is progressing faster than expected."
I squeezed the throttle harder, the wind blasting my face as I sped onto the road.
So what if my life was shorter than everyone else’s? Then I’d live it louder, faster, crazier. No regrets.
The city blurred around me as I cut through traffic on my motorbike. Adrenaline rushed through my veins and for a moment, I felt completely alive. Until—
A sleek black BMW suddenly turned into the road ahead.
My eyes widened. “No no no no. Shit!” I slammed the brakes, the tires screeching violently.
Too late.
BAM.
The impact wasn’t huge, but it was enough to send my heart straight into my throat.
My bike wobbled before I finally stabilized it then I saw that the BMW stopped right in front of me. The scratch wasn't a little one, unfortunately.
“Well…” I muttered nervously. “That can’t be cheap. I'd be a dead meat if my parents find out about this."
The driver’s door opened slowly and the a man in a black suit stepped out. Judging by his expression, I had just ruined his entire year.
“Miss,” he said coldly, inspecting the scratch on the car. “Do you have any idea how much this vehicle costs?”
I scratched the back of my neck. “Uh…”
He turned slowly toward me. “You will compensate for the damages. Or better still, give me your parents contact info right now.”
My stomach dropped.
Oh.
I was definitely broke. And my parents? I can't afford to stress them more than I already have.
“My parents can't know about this, Sir. I can pay, I can gather up the money,” I said quickly. “Just… not today. Give me some time, please. I beg of you.”
The man looked at me like I had insulted his ancestors.
“This is a limited edition BMW. The repair alone will cost more than your—”
“Let her go.”
The voice came from behind him. It was a calm, smooth, powerful voice to have been able to make the driver stiffen up immediately.
I blinked the moment I saw a tall boy who had rolled down the window.
He looked about my age, maybe a little older. But the moment my eyes landed on him…My brain completely forgot how to function.
But that wasn’t the shocking part.
The shocking part was how unfairly handsome he was with his sharp jaw, chocolate brown hair, eyes that looked like stormy clouds, you know. Something bluish-grey and strangely hypnotic.
He looked like he was studying me for some seconds and then he broke into a small smile.
The driver hesitated. “Young master—”
“It’s fine,” the boy said gently. “I’ll handle the damages.”
The driver immediately bowed his head. “Yes, young master.”
Young master? What kind of rich-kid title was that?
I stared at him awkwardly. “Uh… thanks, man.”
His smile deepened slightly. “You ride well,” he said.
I blinked twice. Was I dreaming? Did he just Compliment my terrible riding skills after scratching his car?
“You saw that crash, right?” I asked, needing to be sure that he was aware of what was going on. Because it didn't seem like it.
He chuckled softly and for a moment, something strange happened.
The moment the sunlight flickered across his face, his eyes flashed crimson. Just for a second.
It made my heart skip that I blinked hard.
When I looked again…Everything was normal.
Grey eyes, warm smile, perfect human face.
Had I imagined it?
The boy tilted his head slightly. “Is something wrong?” he asked gently in concern.
My heart raced. “No… nothing.”
I quickly got back on my bike. Why was I suddenly nervous?
“Thanks again,” I said.
He simply watched me, all quiet and mysterious.
As I started the engine, I glanced back one last time. For a split second… was it just me or his smile looked almost predatory?
My chest tightened as I sped away.