Chapter 2 Confrontation

It isn't long after that encounter with Chase that rumors about me begin to spread all over campus.

I try to ignore them, but it’s more difficult than I thought. The judgmental stares from fellow students, the silent whispers whenever I pass by the hallways, the endless laughter and mockery… they were just too much to handle.

And then one morning, just when I thought I could finally get a breath of fresh air, something unusual happens that completely throws me off guard, and makes me wish the ground would just open up and swallow me.

A group of three girls approach me fiercely. Seeing them from afar, I can already sense that there’s trouble.

I maintain a straight posture, waving off the fear that's slowly crawling up inside me.

The girls block my path unapologetically, arms crossed like they were fully prepared for war.

My heart does a terrible flip the instant I recognize the blonde girl heading them… I'd seen her with Chase a couple of times. She's known all over campus as that one fierce, nonchalant student no one dared to cross.

“You're Mia I presume,” she asks with a quirky smile that doesn't quite reach her face.

I nod firmly, also masking off my fear with a little smile. “Yes, I'm Mia. Can I help you?”

The girls give each other a look, now circling me slowly. The blonde girl steps closer, her hand gently wrapped around my shoulder.

The smile on her face seems to fade a bit as she reaches into her crossbody bag. She sticks out her phone, goes through it for a second and then pulled s the screen right at my face.

The headlines flash through my eyes once again, instantly reminding of the dirty rumors that have been flying all over for days. “How long has this been going on between you two?” She asks, jaw tight, eyes locked on me like she was about to rip me apart.

I could have sworn she looked like a pretty little angel a moment ago, but right now… staring right through her burning eyes, I can tell she's about to let all hell loose on me.

My hands instantly start trembling beside me, but I still face her head on regardless… she doesn't have to know I'm scared of her.

“What are you talking about? There's nothing going on between us.”

She lets out a sly smile and gently tucks the phone back into her bag. She cups my jaw slightly, and I flinch a little, shrugging away from her grip.

“You must think I'm a fool.” She breathes and slowly tightens her fingers around my neck, leaning closer to my ear. “You had better start talking, or I'll make you do it the hard way.”

At this point, my legs start trembling more and anxiety just engulfs me like a robe. “I… I don't know what you're talking about.” I stutter, and the whole time, my gaze remains on the floor. Staring through her face felt like getting burnt by hot metal.

The girl's smile darkens into a scowl, fists gathering at the sides.

My heart races three times faster, and I take an involuntary step back but they quickly close in once again, and this time there's no warning.

Before I can think of a way out, I feel a hard pull on my hair which sends a shockwave running through my scalp. I groan out in pain and within seconds, I'm sent crashing to the floor with a hard kick on the leg.

My eyes flush with restrained tears as I struggle to maintain my balance. The blonde girl crouches down towards me with a cruel smirk that makes me wonder what's on her mind this time.

She reaches for my neck and grips me in a chokehold, fuming with boiling rage. “Ready to speak now? Or would you rather prefer being tortured this way?”

“I don't know what you're talking about! I have no business with the captain!” I yell amidst muffled tears.

Still, she doesn't seem satisfied.

She rises to her feet with a heavy sigh and signals the other girls to seize me. “Since she has refused to talk, we should probably lock her up in the trash shed for an hour or two. Maybe by then, she'll finally make up her mind to say something.”

The girls seize my hands and aggressively shove me up my feet, dragging me down towards the back of the building, where the trash shed was located.

I struggle to get loose from their grips, but the more I try, the more difficult it seems. When it is obvious that they aren't letting go any minute, I eventually give up trying to escape and start wailing instead.

They turn deaf ears to my screams and tears, faces hardened with hatred and rage as they pull me closer to my doom.

Just then, a voice cuts in from a close distance, instantly freezing everyone to the spot.

Every head turns in the direction of the voice, and the girls' faces drop the moment they see who it is.

Chase.

They let go of me instantly, their focus shifting entirely to him.

“Chase?” the blonde girl breathed, her face turning pale. “What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be at training.”

Chase marched forward, his gaze fixed on her. “What business is it of yours whether I’m training or not?”

He walked closer, his eyes locking onto mine. He reached out with a warm smile. I hesitated, perhaps because the other girls were still glaring at me like I was a threat.

“Come on,” he said with a quiet, reassuring nod.

This time, I didn't resist. I took his hand, and he pulled me up gently, wrapping his arm around my shoulder to pull me close—as if I were someone truly precious to him.

He looked at me for a moment, as if checking to make sure I was really okay, before turning his gaze back to the girls, who were clearly furious.

“Apologize to her. Now.”

The girls exchanged a confused look. The blonde stared at him in disbelief. “What?!” she blurted out. “Chase, what is wrong with you? Do you know who this is? She’s a traitor! She’s your rival’s sister!”

“I won't repeat myself again,” Chase snapped, his voice more defiant and impatient now. “Get on your fucking knees and apologize to her!”