"Shit!"

Aiden rubbed his forehead. We sat in an empty classroom, Aicko sat behind us looking at me with pity.

"This is all my fault, this is all my fault." Aiden repeated.

I crossed my arms. "None of this is your fault, I chose this for myself," I sighed. "I need to accept the consequences."

"But I brought you here!" Aiden almost raised his voice, making me and Aicko flinch. I've never seen him like this before.

"I came here on my free will!" I shot back.

Aiden shook his head and pulled the strands of his hair. "I let you come with me, even if I knew what kind of monsters lurk here." He paused for a moment. "I promised your Mom that I'd protect you, but now there's no way I can now."

My body shaked. "What do you mean?"

Aicko held onto my arm.

"You're now Blake's target, Aiden closed his eyes and took a deep breathe. "And he'll make your life as miserable as hell."

My blood raced, "I want to see him try."

"I've seen him try, year after year." Aicko whispered. "He never fails."

Aiden faced me. "But you've got me, I'll protect you."

_______________________

I sat down on my comfy bed, but it still didn't feel comfortable.

What on earth did I get myself into?!

I pulled out my tablet and started my homework, even homework didn't appease my mind.

The subjects were challenging but my mind easily drifted so I didn't have time to care. Before I knew it, I was finished.

My phone on the side table rang. I jumped when I saw who was video calling.I fixed my hair and composed myself. What am I going to say?

I accepted the call.

"Hi Mom!" I sounded too enthusiastic, hopefully she doesn't hear the fakeness in my voice.

"Hi sweetie, how's your first day?"

I gulped. "It's great Mom, I've got so many friends and all the kids are nice." I lied.

"Aww, that's nice, wait is that your room?" She eyed my background. "My it's beautiful, I'm so jealous."

"Oh Mom seriously, don't be." I faked a laugh.

Mom looked like she just came home from work, from the looks of it, she's sitting in the living room. How I missed that spot, where Mom and I would have movie marathons, I took it for granted.

"Now I don't want to keep you from your friends or school work," Mom laughed.

"No Mom, you aren't."

She then frowned. "Your hair's messy, is that how you look going to school?!"

I faced the mirror on my wall. "It's fine to me."

"Ugh! Paige Ashley Johnstone Bennet, How many time am I going to remind you to fix your hair?" she nagged.

I rolled my eyes. "Mom trust me, I swear I comb it, I was just laying down of course it's messy."

"Whatever, I'm going to hang up now," Immediately?!

"Wait Mom!" I exclaimed. "I love you."

"I love you too sunshine." She laughed. "Bye!"

I smiled then I found myself starring at my phone's dark screen. I sighed, suddenly there was a knock on my bedroom door.

Aicko's head popped out and she gave me a warm smile. "You wanna take a stroll in the square?"

I sat down properly and faced her. "Have you finished your homework already?"

She nodded. "You?"

I nodded as well.

"Well come on, get changed I'm gonna take you shopping!" Aicko exclaimed and ran back to her room.

I thought she just wanted to stroll?

I sat up and ran to my closet. I settled with a dark blue loose sweater and white shorts and I tied my hair up in a bun. I got my phone and white sling bag and met Aicko outside my room.

Aicko wore a white designer shirt and a high waist denim shorts, and had her hair loose.

We both walked out the building and headed to the streets. We walked past many other students, word spread that I was Blake's new target and people were eyeing me more than before.

Aicko didn't seem to notice this, she just smiled and waved to almost everyone we passed by. She was really friendly.

She's my ideal friend/roommate but I couldn't help but wonder, how many friends does she have?

The thought of Aicko made me miss my friends at home, Anna, Dell and Zoe.

Shoot I haven't yet mentioned Zoe to Aiden, my bad.

"Lets go there," She pointed to a tall mall building at the end of the block.

I scrunched my forehead. "For?"

"I'm taking you shopping,"

My eyes widened. "I don't really have the budget."

Aicko faced me. "Everything here is free silly." She laughed.

My mouth formed an O and I allowed her to pull me towards the mall.

The mall was huge with many, designer brand clothing stores, restaurants and book stores.

Aicko brought me to her favorite clothing store and helped me pick out clothes.

"Here try this," She handed me a purple pastel dress with puffed sleeves on the shoulder. "You look good in purple." I took it with other clothes and brought them to the fitting room.

The purple dress did look good on me, It complimented my blonde hair, I also got a sky blue fleece sweater, some tops and 2 pairs of footwear.

I'm not the type of person to shop and have girly clothes, I prefer loose clothes giving me the boyish look, Mom doesn't like it but it's me.

Aicko got a yellow flowy dress and a pair of beige sandals.

Isn't this too much? I showed Aicko the hangered clothes on my hand as we walked to the cashier.

"That's fine, you need to upgrade your wardrobe."

We brought the clothes to the cashier and she scanned our nameplates. We then found a place to eat at the ground floor of the mall.

On our way back to the dorm we passed by a hair salon on the side of the block.

"I should get my hair straightened. I pointed to my stubborn blond hair. "What do you think?"

Aicko eyed my hair. "It looks pretty to me, maybe some taming would do but I love your blonde curls." She then held a strand of her hair. "I wish my hair had volume."

"Hey yours is just as pretty." I smiled.

______________________

"Just stick close." Aiden instructed. He joined me and Aicko walk to school, incase Blake would do something.

I rolled my eyes. "I don't need you to protect me."

"I'm not asking your permission."

"Ugh!"

Now everywhere I walked people would gossip and start whispering but now it's even more intense, because Aiden's walking with me.

I got to admit, Aiden is really handsome, he's even very tall, no wonder there's a lot of girls who likes him, why haven't I ever thought of that?

I looked around the hallway, Blake's nowhere to be seen. That's a good sign.

I checked my tablet for my class schedule, I had Chemistry for my first period. "I'm gonna get to class." I told Aicko and Aiden.

Aicko nodded and left for her classroom as well leaving me and Aiden in the front of the elevator that leads to the floor of my classroom.

"You should get to yours too." I said to Aiden.

He looked around anxiously and tried to hesitate.

"C'mon I'm not a kindergartener who needs to be sent to her classroom," I rolled my eyes. "I'm 17 for heaven's sake."

"Fine!" Aiden gave in. "But you're going to wait for me to fetch you, you can't walk these hallways alone anymore, it's not safe."

I was about to protest when he covered my mouth with his hand, I was about to bite it when he started to walk away.

"I can take of myself!" I raised my voice for him to hear. He didn't answer and just walked away.

I pressed the button on the elevator to bring me up. After a few seconds the elevator sounded and the doors opened.

I took one step in but almost jumped when I saw Prince Kile Astley inside. I backed up immediately. I searched the inside of the elevator. Blake wasn't there, so was their other friend, Ram, Kile was alone.

I might look stupid but I'm just being precautious.

Kile raised his eyebrow. "You coming in?" I then noticed his hand on the elevator button.

"Oh yes!" I shook my head to get my senses together.

That was embarrassing

I stepped inside again and bowed at him, He just nodded.

His manly scent filled the elevator and we were filled with an awkward atmosphere. I was never this close to the Prince of our country, of course I've watched him grow up but I never paid him much attention. Who knew I'd actually be in the same elevator as him.

"What floor?" his voice was cold and serious but at the same time, it was as handsome as his looks.

"4th your highness." I said. Then I realized, I shouldn't let him do something for me, he's the Prince for heaven's sake.

I was about to do it but he's already pressed the button.

That's must be a minus point from Mom.

Manners Paige, manners. I reminded myself.

I didn't feel attracted to him but his eyes were just so eye catching that I had to look at it.

He turned my way and caught me staring, I then looked away.

Are you gonna embarrass yourself over and over again Paige?!

I brought my attention to the elevator number, what's taking it so long to get to the 4th floor?!

Where are his friends I wondered.

But my peripheral vision could tell that he was starring at me. I suddenly became conscious of my side profile.

I didn't have the perfect nose, my jaw isn't that sharp, I only had my fair skin and blonde hair in a low ponytail.

He embarrassed me a while ago, I'm gonna embarrass him as well.

I turned to him but only then did I realize that he wasn't looking at me, he was watching the tv screen above me.

Gosh Paige you're so assuming! I scolded myself.

Just then the elevator doors opened and I hurriedly stepped outside. I heard Kile's footsteps behind me. I didn't mind it and just proceeded to the Chemistry classroom.

I entered the classroom and saw a bunch of students, some of them were chatting, others were studying while a whole lot of them were starring at me.

I smiled and searched for a vacant seat.

"You could seat over there." A girl pointed to the only vacant seat in the back.

"Thanks."

I walked going to that row then I stopped in my tracks.

Right there sitting behind the seat where I was supposed to sit was Blake. He was sitting down having his arms crossed and smirking at me.

Shit.

The door opened and Kile entered the room.

"Hi Kile!" some girls greeted him but he just ignored them and sat beside Blake.

I looked around the room and every other seat was taken.

"Come here puppy." Blake called and made a hand gesture to make me sit infront of him.

I was about to refuse when the teacher entered the classroom.

"Everyone take your seats!" The teacher ordered. Everyone else quieted down and sat properly.

I didn't move.

The teacher noticed me. "You have a problem miss?"

Everyone turned their eyes on me.

"N-No Ma'am." I stuttered.

"Then take your seat." She pointed to the seat.

I had no choice, I sat down and although he was behind me, I could tell that Blake was smiling from ear to ear.

The teacher started discussing. If Blake wasn't behind maybe I'd enjoy the lesson, but I sensed his eyes on me the whole time.

I straightened my back and tried to focus on the lesson. I felt him move his seat near mine, till he was so close.

"How are we doin puppy?" he whispered.

"Shut up." I glared at him.

I turned around and moved my chair forward to get away from him.

The teacher continued her discussion and I couldn't understand a single bit of it.

Blake was quiet, is that a good sign or a bad one?

After her discussion the teacher left the classroom to get some materials. I opened my notebook to take some notes. I'll just study this at the dorm later.

Suddenly I felt a cold blade at the back of my neck. Before I could react I heard a snip.

What on earth?!

I turned around to see a handfull of my long blonde hair on the floor. Blake sat there smiling, holding a pair of scissors in one hand.

My hair was still in a low ponytail, but it was shorter than before.

Anger boiled inside me.

"What the hell did you do?!" I shouted.

"I just gave my puppy a haircut." He laughed.

I couldn't hold my anger. I stood up and faced him.

I didn't know what was going on in my brain, I only knew that he was messing with the wrong girl.

Everyone gasped.

Just then did I realize what I did, I punched him hard on his lips, a part of his lips was bleeding and his blood dripped on the floor.

What did I do?!

Kile was staring at me with shock on his face.

"She punched Blake!"

"She just punched him."

"His lips is bleeding."

The other students murmured.

Blake banged his chair. "Shut it!"

Then the murmurs died down.

Blake stared at me anger replaced his mischievous look. "So you're gonna play it that way." He wiped the blood off the side of his lips.

"What's happening here?!" the teacher re entered the classroom holding a box of materials.

She looked at me standing but then her face shifted to Blake who's lips was still evidently bleeding.

"Miss Bennet!" She scolded. "We do not allow violence in this institute, go to the guidance office! Shari take her there," She pointed to the door.

My heart sank. All of me wanted to explain my side but no words came out my mouth.

Shari a girl stood up and whispered to me."C'mon."

I held my head low and followed her out the room.

I could tell that all their eyes were on me, and I could feel how happy Blake must be to see me go.

I'm a crybaby Mom and I agreed on that, I'd cry on very simple things but now tears just wouldn't flow from my eyes.

Shari and I silently walked through the hallways to the guidance office.

"I'm sorry you have to go through this," She silently said. "Blake's a complete jerk."

I sighed. "I have no choice."

"You were very brave yesterday." She lead me down the stairs. "That guy's lucky to have you as a friend."

I chuckled when I remembered Ned. "He doesn't want to be friends with me."

"Such a shame, you're one of a kind." She smiled at me.

I smiled back at her. I realized we were already in front of the Guidance office.

"Good luck," she said,

"Thanks,"

She then left back to the classroom.

I stared at the door and took a deep breathe before I stepped inside.The Guidance office had a table in the middle, there were shelves on both sides and there was a nameplate that sat on the table, it read.

"Ms. Emma Smith" School of the Royal and Rich guidance councilor.

Only the chair was vacant.

"She went out,"

I got startled from the voice that I jumped from where I stood. I faced the owner of the voice, it was another one of Blake's friends, Ram.

He was sitting on one of the chairs and was holding a Rubik's cube on one hand, he was the only one here aside from me.

"Why are you always so shocked to see me?" He chuckled.

I sat down on one of the chairs. "I didn't know you were here."

He stood up and sat closer to me, "So what got you into trouble new girl?"

I was about to say something when he butted in,

"No let me guess," He then looked at my unevenly cut hair, Blake got you in trouble haven't he?"

I was about to answer again when he butted in again.

"Of course he did," He laughed, "I watched you yesterday, you had some guts to stand up to him, now enjoy regretting that very decision."

I scoffed. "I was just protecting my friend."

"Yeah, you're brave, but that was a wrong move," He shook his head. "But you did make a world record, you're the first one to ever stand up to Blake Carlsile, not even I or Kile can do that."

"Isn't there anything that's gonna make him stop?" I asked,

"Believe me, I've known him ever since we were in 1st grade," Ram then changed his position then sat at the other chair. "Once you're in there's no way out."

The blood drained from my face, why I am I feeling this way? I've never felt this weak before.

"Well what about you?" I faced him, "What brings you here?"

"I got caught trying to escape the campus again."

"Why do you love escaping so much? I raised my eyebrow." Aren't you happy with what's inside these walls?"

He let out a soft chuckle but didn't answer my question.

"You know, so many people are grounding me right now, My father, The school, My sister," He counted on his right hand. "I just want a free rein."

Suddenly the door opened and in came the guidance councilor.

"Now who's the trouble? She eyed us.

____________________________

:))