Chapter 16 Chapter: 16

Chapter 16 Chapter: 16
ADDISON

He stepped back, but grabbed my hand before I could leave. “Addie?”

I looked back at him and for once, there was no smirk, no arrogance. His eyes though were so intense.

“You can pretend you hate me all you want,” he said. “But I know you like me and you're right it won't happen again, not until you admit you're attracted to me. I will do it even though you aren't really my type.” He winked, smirked and turned around to leave.

“See you around, Shrimp.”

He walked off, and I stood there with my jaw on the floor at his arrogant words. Watching his narcissistic ass walk away.

Jerk.

Unlike most schools cheerleading in Brighton is seen as a middle class and scholarship students activities. Something beneath the rich brats of Brighton Academy.

So when Jess kicked me with her elbow to get my attention during practice and I saw the gang of five beautiful blonde girls coming towards me.

I knew for certain that they weren't here for cheer leading practice. They were all in their school uniforms, all wore high heels, their hair was glossy and straight.

Their faces covered in full makeup as though they were models going for a shoot for celebrity fashion magazines.

My brows scrunched when they rudely pushed Jess out of their way and stopped before me, some at my back, all glaring at me like I'd stolen something from them.

“Who are you? And what is this?” I asked, confused.

“She looks like a tough one, not scared at all,” one blonde said with narrowed eyes.

My eyes widened when I recall who she was. She's the blonde from Saturday night. The one who hugged Shepherd like he was her possession.

What she said registered. And she got it wrong. It's not that I'm not scared, it's just that I have no reason to be.

Although I sense they weren't here to make friends with me if nothing the glares and look of disdain they were throwing my way has given them away.

I looked towards Jess and she mouthed something like…Angela? I glanced at the girl again, she was pretty, angelic even and she's here probably because of the gossip.

I almost scoffed and rolled my eyes. So they're here to warn me off or fight me?
If it was just her and me or maybe just two of them. I know I stand a chance of at least defending myself.

But when it's five against one the odds are obviously not in my favor. Besides, even if it were just her there was nothing I could do to her.

Here she's the acclaimed queen of Brighton, the daughter of conglomerate and me? I'm just Addison now, mediocre and from a middle class family.

At least that's all they needed to know about me. Being a poor girl from a middle class family is way better than them finding out I'm the daughter of Raymond Campbell.

The billionaire now turned criminal and an inmate in one of this country's dangerous prisons.

“Addison right?” she asked as though she didn't know. “We haven't been properly introduced, I'm Angela. I thought to introduce myself and give you a little heads up in case no one in this school had warned you.”

Apprehension builds inside me. This is absurd and a fucking cliche. I can't believe this is happening to me. I know Angela and her type and I want no part in playing this game with her.

Despite what happened between me and Shepherd and whatever unnamed tension is between us.

I can not get in more trouble with this Angela. All I want is peace of mind, so I can finish my last year of high school in peace and go back to my life without anyone knowing who I am here and making my life difficult.

“I know who you are and I know what you are going to say so let me clarify that there's nothing between Shepherd and me,” I quickly said, cutting her off before the threats came.

She blinked like she didn't expect that answer. “That's not what I heard and saw Saturday night,” she replied hauntingly. I shrugged.

“I don't know what you've heard from others, but Shepherd hates me. You can ask around. There are witnesses, he made my life miserable the moment I stepped foot inside Brighton, so you've got nothing to worry about.”

Her eyes narrowed as though she was thinking. I didn't realize everyone was staring at us until I looked all around and saw everyone's attention was on us.

“You almost got me except I can sense these things. So I don't believe you. I know a lot of girls do all kinds of things to get Shepherd's attention. As a scholarship student I know you probably thought having sex with Shepherd will upgrade your status in Brighton,” she taunts.

“That's why you went to his house on your first day here isn't it? Trying to seduce him.” The girls all snickers, throwing accusations.

This is fucking insane.

“What?!” I asked, incredulously.

“That's a crazy conclusion, what happened back then was an accident.”

“Why should I believe you?” She arched her perfect blond brow.

I sighed. I swear if it wasn't for my family scandal, and the fear of making my situation worse, I would have handled this in an entirely different way.

But my life was in such a pitiful state that I had to listen to dumb spoil brats and their nonsense. So I swallowed my anger and tried to reason with her.

“Listen if you want I can prove it to you. I can prove that there's nothing between Shepherd and I.”

“How?” she asked with narrowed eyes. An idea suddenly sprang to my brain.

“I will go talk to Shepherd right now. I'm going to dial Jess' phone so you can listen to our conversation.”

“Fine, do it.” Jess took her phone and held it in her palm. I grabbed my phone from my backpack and headed straight to where Shepherd was stretching.

I dialed Jess' number when I got close to him. Finally glad to clear up this mess. My heart thumping so loud it was deafening.