Chapter 3 Chapter 3
Regina's POV
Anita looked like she was about to pounce.
I'd never seen her so angry. And I was honestly scared for my life.
"I wasn't doing anything," I tried to defend myself despite my shaky voice as I took a step back. "He was the one who came to me."
Her glare intensified as she walked closer. "Lucas would never do that."
"But I did," Lucas said, now standing in front of me. "Don't threaten her, Anita."
I couldn't see Anita's expression, but I knew it didn't look good.
"But baby," her voice surprisingly softened. "I know you'd never do such a thing and you're a great guy. You don't have to defend her."
Suddenly, I was angry.
I didn't do anything and now I was being accused of something so ridiculous. How did she even know he was a "good" guy?
My eyes burned holes through his back as my fists balled.
"I'm leaving," I announced, unwilling to stay here any longer.
"Wait," Lucas called, but I didn't bother turning back as I left.
I didn't really leave though, I hid somewhere behind a large truck. I remembered Tracie and I wasn't going to leave her. But I needed to get out of Anita Kelly's sight as soon as possible before she attempted murder. And knowing her, her friends were on their way now.
I shivered as I dialed Tracie's phone.
I disliked Lucas even more than I already did because of this.
I leaned back on the truck, my face to the sky. Him mentioning my father was something I didn't expect. He used to work for him? The hell?
Even if he knew my father, what did that have to do with me?
I let out a deep breath, shivering even more and regretting the fit I chose. Maybe I should've worn a sweater.
"Hey," Tracie's chirpy voice answered amidst loud music. "Where are you?"
"Outside. We need to go home."
"Wait, what?"
"I'll explain later," I simply said, annoyed that I had to yell into the phone.
After we hung up, my mind still wandered.
"Dad," I said to the moon.
I hated that he spoke about his death. That was a triggering spot for me.
Nobody had mentioned my father in years. And I was ninety-nine percent sure that nobody in this school knew who he was. I was unimportant. And so was he.
Tracie stared at me, mouth agape after I was done.
"Excuse me?!"
We sat in bed, holding our pillows while we ate some snacks.
"But what exactly does he want from you?" Tracie wondered aloud. "Even if you've known each other forever, what now? You don't exactly like or know him and he has a girlfriend, his own friends. He's in a whole nother caliber of society..."
"I really don't know, Tracie," I said, staring down at my fingers.
We'd informed Warren before leaving that we'd tell him the tea later, so he was agreeable. And even more so when I mentioned it was because I didn't want to be around Lucas Sinclair.
And so, that was how we talked about the events of the night till we eventually fell asleep.
And woke up to blaring morning alarms.
Warren picked us up from the house with his truck. While Tracie's parents weren't rich by any means, they were generous enough to save towards renting a place for us to stay together.
It would've been hard being apart.
I sat in the backseat while Tracie was in the passenger's seat.
But I couldn't even settle down when Tracie let out the scariest scream ever, frightening everyone.
I frowned. "What?"
"Someone took a photo of you," she said, showing her phone to Warren who turned pale immediately.
I leaned forward and gasped, my eyes almost falling out of its sockets when I saw it.
It was a photo of me at the party last night, with Lucas standing in front of me and Anita Kelly looking very much displeased.
I let out a string of the most creative curse words I could think of. And they were all directed towards Lucas Sinclair.
The stares were intense.
If anyone told me that I'd suddenly become one of the most popular or should I say, infamous, people on campus, I'd call them a liar.
But the unexpected can happen.
"I really want to beat Lucas Sinclair up," Tracie mumbled when we settled into class.
"Same," I agreed. "But we can only wish."
He was really ruining my anonymous and stable life with his insistence on being around me.
I wanted to turn invisible. I never liked people except my friends noticing my presence. Judgement from a group of strangers was what led to my bullying as a high schooler, and I thought coming here, far away from New York, would help me avoid it.
I really wanted to cry.
Tracie squeezed my hand in comfort even though I said nothing, and I appreciated it.
It got even worse when we stepped out of class to bump into the man in all his glory apparently waiting for me.
Tracie was the one who stepped up to him, shielding me. "What do you want, Lucas?"
Lucas said nothing, leaning against a wall, his eyes focused on no one but me. Then he stepped closer to grab me by the arm and led me outside.
"Hey!"
There were gasps, murmurs, flashes of cameras, and I wanted to shrink away.
We stood in front of a tree in silence.
I didn't look at him. I didn't want to. I just wanted him gone.
"Look, I'm sor-"
"What do you want now?" I asked, honestly exhausted, feeling myself getting a headache.
He started to say something, but then seemed to have a change of mind and instead said, "I just want your phone number."
Tracie, who appeared out of nowhere, pushed him away. "Leave her alone."
Lucas raised a brow.
I massaged my temple. "Guys just... Fine." I groaned at him. "If I give you my number, you'll leave now, right?"
He smiled. "Yup."
"I'll see you around, Regina," was all he said after I did as he asked, finally walking away.
"I bet someone got all that on camera," Tracie cursed. "And how the hell can someone be so hot yet so annoying?"
Unfortunately, I had to agree with her.
He was hot.
I wanted so bad to be unaffected by that smile of his, but it was tough.
I hated that I found him attractive. His stupid face was turning my life upside down within moments of knowing him.
