Chapter 3 Three

As he dragged me through the hallways, I could hear the murmurs of students. I shut my eyes as the sauce from the pasta had completely covered it. 

I clenched my teeth together, struggling to bear the pain of the sting. I heard a door open, and Jace dragged me in.

“Lean forward." His hand rested on the back of my head and gently pushed it down. Suddenly, cold water hit the back of my head. I realized I was bent over a sink; I quickly reached for my hair and began to scrub it until I was sure all the sauce was out. 

He wrapped a towel over my head and pulled me up. I blinked; my eyes didn't hurt anymore, or at least it wasn't as bad as before.

His eyes scanned me. “You should get out of the boys’ bathroom before you get in trouble.” She turned around and began to walk off. 

I rushed after him. "Was it you?”

He took a step back and raked his fingers through his brown hair. “Was it me what?”

I looked at the fur coat and back at him.

He sighed, “I saw her run out of the bathroom with your clothes; you don't need to thank me." He turned around and began to head out. 

I quickly rushed after him, “Thank you." As I said it, the towel fell off my head and landed on the ground. I quickly picked it up and wiped it with my hand, but the wet cloth and dirt meant it had to be washed.

“I said you didn't have to take me,” he said in a hoarse voice.

I blinked.

“You don't have to talk to me anymore either; we don't know each other like that. " He turned around to walk off. 

I sighed, still in disbelief that he had helped me, but still thankful. 

When school ended that day, I walked out of the main building; the students were walking to their cars, and the ones who didn't have cars walked. 

I squinted as the unfriendly sun burned against my skin. I placed my hand over my eyes; far ahead I saw Regina getting into her car. 

I turned away from her, hoping she didn't see me.

As I walked back to my dorm, my gaze caught a girl in the distance; she wasn't dressed in our school uniform. She was blonde, and she had grey eyes; she held a black purse against her stomach and watched as some men in black suits carried her luggage into one of the mini apartments for the wealthy kids. 

Did we have a new student?

She flipped her hair; my mouth parted at its silliness. Her hips swayed as she marched into the apartment.

I looked away and walked faster, and soon, I arrived at my dorm. I placed the three books in my hand on the table before me; two of them were Jace's. Mrs. Weathers had given them to me so that I could tutor him. 

He had left school before I could find him; thankfully, Mrs. Weathers had given me his phone number. I quickly picked it up and dialed it. I placed the phone against my ear and listened to it ring.

After a few seconds, he answered, "Yes?” His voice was hoarse. 

I squeezed the phone against my ear; I had forgotten how intimidating he was when he spoke. “I…I,” I breathed, and then I swallowed hard. 

“Who is this?,” he asked, his tone impatient.

“Uh…it's Grace,” I managed to say. “Uh…, the…”

I heard his breathing as he waited patiently for me to speak.

“The…the homeroom teacher asked me to tutor you since your grades are slipping. I have two of your books here, and I thought we should start with them. We can meet at the school's library…”

“Don't need it,” he cut in. “Return my notebooks tomorrow.”

My brow rose. “You don't need it? You are failing.”

He pressed his lips together. “I didn't ask for a reminder.”

I pressed my phone tighter; I needed many activities in school for my college application. Being a top student at an elite school was good, but as Mrs. Weathers had said, it was a good idea to explore my options. 

Before I could say anything, I heard a loud beep; he had hung up. 

I placed the phone on the table and slumped into bed.

What am I going to do?

Hours later, it was 6:00 in the evening. By now students were hanging out within the gigantic school compound. It wasn't allowed for us to go out unless we were on school break. 

I usually stayed in my dorm room to avoid running into Regina, but tonight I had to go. If I couldn't convince Jace to let me tutor him, I would miss a great chance to add it to my resume. 

After thinking for a few seconds and changing into a pair of a black hoodie and jeans, I covered my face with the hoodie and quickly went out of my dorm room, determined to see Jace. 

The walk from my dorm to his apartment left me panting. I had never been on this side of school before; I had never had any reason to. 

My feet made a gentle thud against the porch as I drew closer to his door; it was kamotvdrak outside, and a yellowish light hung from the ceiling.

I tucked my brown hair behind my ear and placed a knock on his wooden door and waited, but there was no response. I knocked again; this time I heard footsteps. 

The doorknob twisted as the door opened. Jace stood before me; he wore a pair of black sweatpants and a black tank top. His brown eyes scanned me. “What are you doing here?”

I took a step back. "Huh? I don't…I came to tutor you.” 

He sucked in an annoyed breath. “I do not need 

“Please,” I begged, “It will help you…”

"Jace!" a voice shouted, cutting me short. I looked over my shoulder and saw the blonde girl from earlier. A smile played on her lips as she walked closer, but the smile quickly fell as she noticed me. “Who is this?”

“I'm Grace,” I quickly introduced myself. I stretched my hand out to her for a handshake.

Her face twisted with disgust as she looked at me. “Is that a worn-out hoodie?”

“Georgia,” Jace finally said, "what are you doing here?”

I looked down at my coat as they talked; I hadn't realized that it was that noticeable. 

“I came to see you; you are the reason I came here, don't you know that?” She parted her lips to speak; she suddenly froze and looked at me. "Were you leaving?”

I looked at Jace; maybe coming here was a bad idea. I turned around and began to walk off.

“Who is that?,” Georgia asked. 

I suddenly heard footsteps rushing towards me. I turned around and saw Jace.

“Jace, where are you going?” she shouted. 

He stood before me and grabbed my hand; his gaze was intense, and his chest heaved. “I need your help,” he whispered. 

My brows pinched together. What could he need my help for? 

Did he finally want me to tutor him?

Georgia began to walk towards us. He quickly reached for my face and cupped it in his hands. My eyes grew wide. “W…what are you doing?”

Before I could think, his lips pressed against mine.

I gasped in shock; the books in my hand landed on the dry grass. I could swear I heard a page rip. 

“Argh! Jace, what are you doing?!” Georgia exclaimed in horror.

My heart raced rapidly. Jace Hunter, son of a billionaire and the boy all the girls in school dreamed of, was kissing me? 

He pulled away from me and turned to face Georgia. "What do you mean by 'What am I doing?’ I can't kiss my girlfriend?”

My mouth flew wide open. "G…girlfriend?”

She looked at me in disbelief; I swear the shocked look on her face was worse than mine.

“Are you the reason he broke up with me?” she spat. 

My head spiraled; I didn't understand what was going on. "W...what? ”.