«On ne change pas une équipe qui gagne.»
«One does not change a winning team.»
~~~
Julian's return had to be a joke. I did not accept to come back just for him to reappear out of nowhere. I thought he was supposed to be in jail! And the day I put a foot in Trinity, suddenly he was released? What the hell of a coincidence if you ask me!
People started to gather around because the two heads just bumped together. He approached me with his best friend, Juan, behind him. Again with that foolish smile on his face. I want to knock it off.
"What are you doing here?" I hissed, wanting to yell, but it was the first day. I didn't want to cause more scenes. Students already wiped out their phones filming this reunion.
"Just like you, I'm back, baby," he grinned loudly while showing off, provoking claps and whistles.
"How was the state, Xem?" He asked sarcastically, like that supposed to offend me.
"How was Jail, Julian? Did you drop the soap while you were in there?". His smile dropped immediately, and I regained mine. I could hear the exclamations and whispers around.
"Fortunately, no, but I was hoping to see your mama in there since the only thing she knows how to do is fraud and sucking dick."
He was not wrong.
"You're an asshole."
He laughed disagreeably.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Julian De Elvero. See you around Royale."
He left not before winking at Thea that was next to me the whole time, not speaking. She blushed, and I growled with rage.
May the Lord help me.
_____________
"Oh, for God's sake, Mark! What do you mean it's too late?"
"I am telling you, Xemina, it's too late! You are already there, and your mom won't want you to leave. She won't be happy."
"Forget about what she wants. What about what I want? It's not her life. It's mine, and right now, I am asking to leave this danm school!"
"And again, not possible, sorry."
" you know what, fuck all of you!"
I hung up and fell back next to Thea, on the couch, also on her phone scrolling on Instagram. She put it down and faced me.
"You know, maybe you being a little too dramatic right now."
"Dramatic? Dramatic? You know what happened. These people made my life a nightmare, and The reason I accepted to come is that I thought it would not be the same as before. And now, I'm back in the same mess as before. And I want out right now!"
"You know it's not only the reason why you accepted. Because of me too. And this is an opportunity for me. I can't let it go, so I'm not leaving."
I blanked slowly in disbelief.
" I mean, all I'm saying is that, yes, they did things to you that weren't cool, but I am here so that things will get better." She tried to take her word back.
"Riiightt."
She left quickly to unpack her things and meet her new roommate.
Back in my old empty townhouse, I wonder if I still had the same neighbor. We never talked to each other anyways.
I spent the rest of the morning unpacking things and making myself comfortable again. Nothing has changed since the way I left it.
The townhouses were not spectacular. There was an entry hall. To the left was the black and white living room, along with the kitchen and dining room. To the right, there is a stair that goes to the bedroom and bathroom. There was also a half bathroom under the stairs and a closet. It was modern and cozy. I did not like that you could not paint your dorm how you want even if you lived in it for four years—such a shame.
Later the day, Thea passed by, and we decided to go into town. It was warm in Toronto because it was September. This time was the nicest because of the festival and parties. Since it was Thea's first time here, I gave her a whole tour of my favorite places to go. Curfew on Sunday to Thursday was 10 pm and Friday to Saturday, 1 am. So much freedom if you ask me. We went shopping for clothes, groceries, and the necessities we need for our dorms. I brought a lot of glasses and mugs because I was obsessed. I collected them: Marvel, DC, Disney, animals, beaker, square, cylinder, oval, big, small, weird, extra, and you name it! It started simultaneously as my drinking; yes, I do drink, and I sure know it is illegal, but since my dad's past, this is the only thing that kept me going. So it was not a surprise when I went to the liquor with my fake id. I mean, in two years, I will be legal to drink in Canada. We ate dinner, I paid for everything, and we went back to my dorm. We watched a movie, and she said goodnight and left before curfew.
Tomorrow was a big day. I was nervous and unenthusiastic. That night I prayed for this year to be better and to have the strength to go through anything that the devil squad will throw at me. I might look rigid on the exterior, but I was scared and not ready behind a closed door, but I have to make my dad proud where he is in heaven. I have to be strong for him.
_____________
6:35 Am. I looked at my watch and myself one more time in the mirror. I was so anxious that my palm would not stop sweating. I dusted my dress and put a string of hair behind my ear. I was wearing a black strap body con dress over a beige long sleeve tank top along with my black and white slip-on vans. I do not particularly appreciate dressing in expensive clothes because money does not buy taste. At least, that is what I think. Many people in this school do not have a style, yet they wore costly designer clothes. It is not pleasant.
I sighed and took my phone, keys, and bag. I took a vodka shot and tossed some tic-tacs in my mouth in the kitchen before heading to the door. It is too early to smell like alcohol, but I needed something to calm my nerves down.
Thea was waiting for me in front of the campus entry. She was beautiful as usual, wearing a dark purple body con dress that matches her hair and her dark skin. Her curve was snatched and outstanding. It made me realize how much I did not appreciate my own body. I was a 5'4 Japanese and Colombian girl with brown eyes and short black hair that I, later, dyed ginger my whole life. I had a perfect curvature from my mom's side, which is Colombian. Unfortunately, I do not speak Spanish because she was never around, constantly cheating on my dad that raised me alone. Even though he was the CEO of a billion-dollar company, he had more time for me than the woman that gave birth to me. Even after my dad passed four years ago, she still was not around. Five months after his death, she engaged with an Indian guy. That engagement did not even last four months.
My dad was the only one I had, and if I was here, it was because of him. That company was what he left to me, and it would be a shame to let my mom possess it. That is what she thought she was going to do. However, dad left everything to me, and now she was coming around me, thinking that she would manipulate me into doing what she wanted with it—not going to happen.
On the first day, they always hold this ceremony in the concert hall. I hate it because you just sat there for an hour listening to those regulations you knew before, and let us all be honest; we will ignore them and do whatever we want and sometimes get punished for it.
We entered and sat somewhere in a corner. The principal came and started his speech. I was on my phone looking at the latest news on Twitter. It is the best platform to get your daily information, and nothing can change my mind.
"We also grateful that our most qualified, promising students are back on campus. Ladies and gentlemen, let's give a warm welcome to Xemina Royale and Julian De Elvero!!!"
"That is you!" Thea poked me to look away from my phone. I stood up awkwardly. The students were applauding and whistling. Oh, they knew that we were here already. Last night when I checked the school website, the video of my little conflict with Julian already had 10k views. The chat room was full of discussion and students taking sides. Speaking of Julian, he was standing opposing me. He was smiling. When we made eye contact, he winked. I smiled and gave him the finger.
The ceremony finished, we were dismissed to our class. I accompanied Thea to her first period because I did not want her to get lost. In my return, I bumped into someone that I did not want to see—Julian with his puppet friend, Juan. I acted like this did not happen and tried to pass him, but he grabbed my arm.
"You let go of me!"
"Or what?"
I stepped back and faced him
"If you think you are going to come and make my last year a hell, I can guarantee you. I will sidekick you in your throat back where you come from," I snarled.
"Calm down, Chun-li," he giggled with his friend "you wouldn't do that. I'll squash you like the bug that you are."
"Try me" I step forward, raising my head, standing to my best form to show him that I was not intimidated by him.
"Oh, I will," he smiled devilishly before disappearing into the crowd watching.
I will not back up. I will win, and he will leave me alone.
~~~
Second Chapter down!
What do you think of Xemina? I know it's too early to ask.
First impression of Thea?
There is so much coming I can't wait to get into it!
Q/ What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Mine is strawberry and Chocolate.
Vote and comment on your ice cream flavor? <3