"Can I take that to my room?" I asked, pointing to a particular painting hung over the bed.

Kai looked at the wall to see which one I was pointing at before curtly refusing, "No, they are not for charity."

"I'll tell everyone you were crying just now." I threatened, hoping he would give in.

"See if I care." He yawned before lying down in the bed and covering himself with a blanket.

What a faker.

He never slept before midnight. If Noah was the early rooster of the house, Kai would be the midnight owl. And now he's pretending to be sleepy at 11 in the night.

As if I would believe his act.

But I chose not to comment on it and left his room silently.

Maybe he needed some time alone.

... ... ...

Eveline wasn't lying when she said everyone in her class was friendly.

But all things had exceptions. Like the boy who sat behind me.

Ethan Greyson was a major pain in ass.

For the entirety of first period he had been kicking the back of my chair. Everytime I turned back to complain, he would flash me a radiant smile and apologize, "I'm sorry, my legs are too long."

"Do you need me to cut them short for you?" I would smile back. In response to which he would just blink his eyes and go back to kicking my chair.

This was not how I wanted to start my morning.

By the time second period started, he changed his tactics.

"Shortcake," he tapped on my shoulder.

"My name is Aylin."

"Shortcake," Ethan blinked his eyes like he didn't understand what I meant.

"It's Aylin."

"Shortcake." How can one person be this annoying? Besides I wasn't even that short.

"What do you want?" I asked, giving up.

"Do you have a spare pen?"

"No."

"Shortcake," Ethan called again in a hushed voice.

"What?"

"Did you bring a stapler?"

"No." Why do you even need that?

"Shortcake," Ethan poked my shoulder yet again.

"What?!" I hissed, my patience running thin.

"Can you move your head to the side? You're blocking the board."

"Sure." I gritted out, annoyed. He was taller than me, how could I possibly block his view?

... ... ...

After third period, Ethan got tired himself and didn't annoy me further.

"Aren't you sitting with your friends?" I inquired. Eve was heading to a different table than where her best friends sat.

She had told me about them and it sounded like she really liked them a lot. Which is why I tolerated Ethan throughout the last three periods.

I'm sure she would be sad if I fought with her friends in the second day of school. And making her sad was the last thing I wanted to do.

At my question, Eve turned to look at her usual lunch table but immediately turned back with a fake smile plastered in her face, "I promised the cheerleading squad I would eat with them."

Eve was the cheerleading captain. So I didn't think too much of it and instead joined them.

"Aylin! Mrs.Carsis asked you to meet her after you finish lunch." Vera, our class representative informed me.

Why was I always interrupted at lunch?

"Okay." I nodded and stood up to meet my homeroom teacher.

"You called for me?" I knocked on Mrs.Carsis's room. She turned to the door and asked me to come in.

"I saw your entrance examination marks. They are impressive.And with potential like yours I am sure you want to get in one of the Ivy leagues?" She went straight to the point.

I nodded, I didn't have a clear goal set yet but I wanted the right resources available at hand.

"Your scores are higher than all your classmates but they still have a slight advantage over you." Mrs.Carsis sighed, "A huge percentage of your records contain extra curricular activities. They have been participating in club activities for years so their final scores will undoubtedly be more than you. You can join clubs but it won't help much with the vast difference."

"What can I do then?" I asked. I was sure she had a solution otherwise she wouldn't call me.

"You can join the student council. There are huge merits added to your records if you are a member of student council. One of their member graduated last semester so they have a vacancy."

"I already talked with the student council president. He has agreed. All I need is your confirmation."

"I agree," Why would I let such a good opportunity go.

... ... ...

"I have student council meeting to attend. You can go ahead without me." I told Eve while putting all my stuff back in my bag.

"Wow! You got in the student council?" Eve confirmed, excited.

"Is it a big deal?"

"Yeah, it's almost impossible to get in the student council. Good luck with the meeting!"

"Thanks."

I opened the note where the time and room no. of where the meeting would be held was written.

Should I text Stephen that I would be home late? Would he get angry if I didn't?

"You're late, shortcake."

God, why do you hate me so much?

"Please don't tell me you're part of the student council." I prayed to any and every entity out there he would say no.

"Why yes, I'm the president." Ethan boasted, "Now let's get started with the meeting."

"What's my post?" I didn't want to give up on getting into a good college just for an annoying boy.

"My assistant, of course." Ethan's evil grin had me doubting my choice.

"Forget it. I'm out."

Ethan immediately blocked my way with his hand,"I was joking.You are the new treasurer."

"I still don't want to be here with you."

I knew for a fact that Ethan will make it unnecessarily hard for me if I joined. By now I had already realized Eve's best friends had a personal vendetta against me. Bryce and Emma's constant glares were enough for me to take the hint.

"You already agreed! You can't back out now that everything is already finalized." Ethan tried to reason.

"I promise I will be on my best behavior." He added once I showed no

signs of changing my decision.

I wasn't convinced but decided to compromise. It was a question of my future after all.

I noticed there were two other boys and a girl in the class. They both looked my age.

"I'm Aiden, the vice president." Damn, those dimples. They were so cute. And to top it off, he wore glasses!

"I'm Aylin. You can call me Lili." I don't remember giving away my nickname so easily to anyone before.

"You can call me Lili!" Ethan mocked in a high pitched voice.

I glared at him to which he glared back.

"You can't call her Lili. We maintain absolute professionalism here." Ethan announced in a serious voice.

What was his problem?

... ... ...

Ezra had called me to ask whether he would come to pick me up to which I had refused. I told him I would take a bus.

But for some reason I felt like walking home. My previous boarding school gave us next to no freedom. We weren't allowed to step outside the school so we never had the opportunity to take a walk or do anything at all.

I wanted to utilize this opportunity.

On my way, I stopped before a coffee shop. It had a poster stuck on the door. Apparantly they were hiring part timers. So I decided to try out my luck.

Seems God was feeling merciful towards for me. They hired me. The pay wasn't extravagant but wasn't that bad either.

I plan to move out as soon I turn 18. For doing that I needed money. And currently I had none. At least with this job I can start somewhere.

... ... ...

"Absolutely not."

It seemed my legal guardian didn't share the same opinion as me about getting a job.

"It's just for 4 hours after school. I will return before it even gets dark." I tried to convince him.

"No." Stephen refused with no room for arguments.

If I don't have money, I will never be able to free myself from my brothers. I started to tear up at the thought of it.

"Are you really crying for that?" Stephen questioned finding it hard to believe someone would cry for such a small matter.

"I really want to work there." I mumbled, wiping my tears with the back of my hand.

"Alright," He sighed, defeated. "But if I see it is tiring you too much, I'll not hear one more word about you working again."

"It won't tire me. I promise."

I finally have some hope to set myself from their clutches.