Chapter 46: Forty-Six

Xavier

I strode into the hallway of school, as usual students were gathered in different circles. They were whispering something and some of them darted their gaze towards me. I went over to my locker to pick up something, the locket door was shielding my face.

Some girls were talking about something, even though I was done with what I came for, I refused to close my locker . I stood there, my back straightened and my eyes heightened in rapt attention.

“Have you heard the news?” One of them questioned.

“What news?”

I also questioned  myself. Drama never ceases in Greyhigh, it is always from one news to another.

“Ooh you haven’t seen it? That scholarship girl, we found out  that she works in the Grey’s Mansion.”

My heart thudded, what? How did they find out?

“There are photos everywhere.”

But I didn’t see any photos on their blog. I shoved out my phone from my pocket and immediately went straight to their blog scrolling away.

“We should go outside, they are there, plastered on the fancy tree at the bleachers.”

I jerked up. What?

I slammed the locker door and moved quickly behind them.

I got to the bleachers area and I stopped abruptly. Students were all gathered in front of the tree, whispering and murmuring things, some of them flashing their phones up to make videos.

As I got closer, some of them made way for me and the noise kind of went down a bit.

My eyes widened. It was true. There were different photos of her in the kitchen in an Apron, the chefs behind her.  I tightened my fist. Who the hell did this?

“Xavier, how does it feel to have the scholarship student work in your home?” Someone asked from behind me.

“Did your parents give her the scholarship based on her grades or based on house help duties?” Another student questioned and the rest of them stirred in laughter.

My fingers curled up and I swallowed. I hated the fact that they were talking to her in that way.

“Xavier what are you going to say about this? Does she share the same room with you?”

“ Hell no, she will probably stay in the servants area,” a girl said and I could hear the disgust tripping from her tone.

I got my lips, my gaze flitted around the area but it didn’t settle on any one. A part of me just wanted to grab one of them and give a dirty blow on the face, so they would just stop talking.But if I do that, it might just escalate the issue on ground.

My eyes darted around searching for her. I hope she is not here and she hasn’t heard about it.

My shoulders stiffened and I rushed away from there. I know who must have done this and I am going to confront her

I walked quickly in the hallway, my eyes searching around for Cassie. I doubt if she has even arrived at school.

I stood at the entrance of the hallway, resting my back on the wall and waiting for Cassie to come.

My mind started spiralling. I should be protecting Kimberly, I should have talked back at those students making jokes of her. I shoved my fingers in my hair, but I couldn’t because of this stupid Status I was keeping and everyone already knows Cassie is my girlfriend and for a reason that would be stupid to them if I had spoken for Kimberly.

But If I really care about her, that should be the least of my worries right? I shouldn’t care what people will say.

Minutes were turning to hours and Cassie still hasn’t showed up. I decided to go to the Art studio. I stopped right on my track when my eyes met Andre.

Not just him, he was standing close to Kimberly in a corner in the hallway. My stomach twisted. They hadn’t notice me, he was telling her something and she was smiling so hard, they stopped walking and he tuck her hair behind her ear.

My eyes harden and I tightened my fist. Why is he always around her?

“Are you okay?” He asked her, touching  her face gently .

“Of course I’m fine,” she smiled tightly.

“I just want to make sure,” he smiled.

I just hope she hasn’t seen the news spreading about her yet.

He held her hand gently, “Should we go to the cafeteria?”

“I don’t really feel hungry,” she said simply.

“We could just sit there and yap, you know,” he said, a yearning look on his face.

And then they were staring at each other, maintaining a very strong eye contact, with little blinking.

Her face beamed. With her cheeks glowing, she shifted her gaze away from him.

“Okay,If you say so.”

He opened his palm and she placed her hand gently.

My face adopted a sullen look. I pressed my lips flat and my jaw clenched.

Must he really compete with me in everything? Then started walking away and her eyes met mine. She stared at me for a few seconds, her expression unreadable, then she looked away.

I swallowed. I just hope she hasn’t seen the photos yet. I have to do something quickly. And nobody has to know that I’m responsible for helping her out.

The only person that came across my mind was Ria, she will be the one to get this job done

I shoved out my phone from the pocket of my blazer.

I dialed her number and luckily she picked it up once.

“Hey Ria.”

“Hey Man, what’s up?”

“Have  you seen the photos of the scholarship student?”

“Yeah sure, what do you want me to do about it?”

“Has it gotten to the blog yet?”

“It should, things don't waste time to circulate in Greyhigh.”

“Okay please can you just help me get people to take the photos away, the ones on the tree and if possible can the ones on the blog be deleted?”

“Consider it done.”

My phone buzzed and then I raised it up.

It was a message from an unknown number.

“This is just the beginning.”