Chapter 39 39.
Kimberly’s POV
I wanted to scream. Again.
Today, we had chemistry practicals. And yeah, the reality of actually being paired together with London has dawned on me.
I met up with the teacher to ask if she could change both of us, she asked if there was a specific reason that made sense to her. I told her that I do not get along with the boy and she looked at me blankly and told me to get used to it.
Deep down, before I left, I knew that it would be a dead end. And there was no point talking to her about it but I wanted to try at least.
“So that is all the explanation you need for the practical for today. Coupled with what was done in the theory class. You should be able to finish up in the next two hours.” She looked at her watch and then back at us.
Two hours of torture. I have tried to ignore his presence beside me for the past couple of minutes we have been in the lab.
I could sense the way he looked at me. He would glance at me and look at me for a long time before he looked back at the teacher.
“I’m sure you’re smart and you know what to do right?” I heard him say and I turned to face him.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I mean. You will be the one doing the entire practical baby. I’ll just be here to give you moral support.” He leaned on the table and propped up his hand, resting his face on his palm.
“You have to be kidding me right now. You do not mean that right? This is supposed to be done together. I can’t do it by myself all alone.” I snapped at him and he only shrugged.
“I do not know about that. As I said, you’re smart and a genius at that too. So, get to work.”
Anger bubbled inside of me and I felt like I would explode if I did not tame myself down.
“What? What will you do?” He taunted with a wide grin on his face. He was standing straight now like he wanted to intimidate me with his height.
“Time is going London. I’ll do the harder part while you take notes and do the bare fucking minimum.” I proposed. I don’t want to fail this course.
It was already my last year in high school. I wanted to graduate well. At least, even if I knew that I would not be going to university because there is a probability I would die before then.
“I won’t do anything. Get that into your thick skull. And just so you know, I’ll make your life hell if you make me fail.” His voice dropped to a scary tone that made me scared. My heart started to beat fast.
I looked around, not knowing why. But I knew that Julian was not in this lab. He was in the other one. And somehow, I wished he were here.
“Will you run to report to the teacher as you did earlier?” He asked and my eyes widened. How did he know that I did that?
“You’re so obvious Kimberly. But then, just so you know, I have people under my thumb here. And you won’t be able to get away with things I don’t want you to get away with. Is that clear?”
Why was he unnecessarily mean? I know that he was a bastard normally, but I thought that he was better these days. Then I remembered that he had almost raped me and touched me without my consent.
Contempt rose in my throat at the kind of person he was. He was disgusting and I don’t want to be in his proximity. Even if I went ahead to tell the teacher what he did to me, there was no way she would believe me. Since she was obviously on his side from what he said.
“And also, you won’t be able to run to your little boyfriend too. How cool is that?” He laughed to himself. He was the only one in the lab who was actively talking and not about the practical.
I ignored him and started with the practical. I made sure to pretend like he did not exist and tried as much as possible to do everything by myself.
He had gone to take a lab stool to sit down and he was scrolling through his phone. I thought phones were not allowed in the lab and we were not allowed to sit down. I made sure to look at the teacher when she came in again and she locked eyes with me. She saw him but pretended like she did not.
Alright then.
This was me now. Just me.
By the time we were done and allowed to leave, I did not wait behind for a second, I dashed out of the lab and thankfully, that was the last class of today.
I was angry and pissed. But most of all, I was sad. I allowed him to bully me like that because I did not have a choice or a say in the matter. It made me remember when I used to be bullied earlier in my life.
I would allow other people to do whatever they wanted because I could not stand up for myself.
I felt a hand grab my arm and I knew it was him. I twisted around to face him.
“Don’t you dare. And stay the hell away from me you fucking bastard. Look for another person to prey on.” I said to him. My voice was raised a little bit and the people passing by in the hallway stopped to look at what was happening.
I mean, it was London.
“Are you sure you know what you’re talking about?” He asked, and I could feel the way he was trying to keep his public image from his tone.
“I do not care about you not talking like you. So how about you take your fascination with me to another place? Tons of girls would gladly fall at your feet. I’m not one of them. So, stay the fuck away. And work when it comes to the practical. Don’t be stupid imbecile.”
I could hear the gasps from people but I did not care and I turned and started to walk away from the scene. People parted as I walked away.
“Did she know what she just did? She’s going to be in so much trouble.”
“I do not blame her. She’s still new to the whole thing.”
“Who talks to London Ashford in that manner?”
“She definitely has a death wish.”
“I would not want to be her.”
“The look on his face screams murder.”
Those and other different whispers were what I heard as I left the hallway.
It’s not the fault of any of them. I’m quite fragile contrary to the hardness that I show to other people.
I climbed on my bike and started it. I started to put my helmet on my head when I saw him walk out and his gaze immediately dropped on mine.
He smiled in a sort of sadistic way that made me know that he was insane. Instead of being scared like I was earlier, I flipped him off with my middle finger not caring about what would happen after that.
“Fuck you.” I mouthed and made sure that he read my lips.
Like a madman, he laughed out loud. Without any other interaction, I put my helmet on and clipped it below my chin.
I started to zoom out of the parking lot. My eyes moved back to the entrance and I saw Julian come out. This time, he was with Sandy. And cold jealousy rose within me.
Why were they together? Does he know that she likes London? What if they actually liked each other for real?
I would not be surprised if that was the case. They looked alike in many ways. I shook the thought out of my head and drove to the one place that was on my mind.
When I got there, I stopped my bike in front of the place, removed my helmet, and stared at the sign in front of the place.
Waiters needed.
I had been passing by this place for the past week thinking and rethinking about actually coming here. I have not spoken to my parents about it but right now, I am not interested in talking to them about it. I might as well get the whole thing on by myself.
“Let’s get this Kim,” I said to myself as I swung off the bike and my mind stopped. Did I just call myself Kim?
What the hell?
Even without him being here at all, he was dominating my thoughts. I hated the guy. I shook my head and entered the diner where I hoped that I would be working soon.