Jordan stepped out of the black limo that pulled over in front of the school. He had fans alright. Cheerleaders offered to carry his backpack. He threw his handkerchief carefreely in the air, girls struggled for it eventually tearing it to shreds. He walked up to Cleo,the entire school behind him. Cleo rolled her eyes. Seriously, what do they see in that guy?
"Hey newbie"
She frowned "Again. It's Cleo"
"Whatever"
She really hated this crowd and since he let her off he thinks he'd get light treatment. He was so wrong. He wants evil. I'll give him evil. Maybe next time he'll think twice before letting her win she thought
"Hey, as your boss. I command you to get rid of your entourage"
"Seriously newbie" he groaned.
She looked at him pointedly. He obliged grudgingly. His fans dispersed still blowing kisses.
"Newbie what's your deal? "
"My deal? I'm your boss"
"I let you win"
"Well, you shouldn't have. You thought I'll go easy on you. So wrong pretty boy."
The bell rang. She gave him her books.
"Come on slave. We have class"she said happily.
Jordan eyed her viciously as he walked to class. Everyone whispered as they walked in. Anida could hardly stop looking at Jordan. She envied Cleo. She's practically his boss and seatmate.
She's so lucky
Their teacher came in. She was in her thirties having auburn hair tied in a bun. Her grey eyes scanning the class.
"Why all the noise?"she asked
The class fell silent.
"Nothing much. Miss Great. We were just revising the homework you gave us last time. Right Cleo" Chris said winking at Cleo. She got it.
"Yeah. Actually Jordan opted to revise it and share with the class" Cleo said smiling deviously.
"Wait.. What?! "
Jordan was so wrong. She's evil.
Miss Great smiled
"That's so nice of you Jordan. Come up and tell everyone"
The class was quiet, watching Jordan walk to the front of the class. He faced everyone, giving Cleo a deadly glare. He started summarizing the entire thing accurately. Cleo was impressed. It was better than hers. The class remained silent. Cleo clapped first. The rest of the class followed. He walked back to his seat.
"Wow."Cleo said.
The teacher was impressed as well. She carried on with the lesson of the day.
The bell rang. Everyone ran into the hall. Cleo, Chris and Anida sat on their table. Jordan came in. Someone shouted
I love you Jordan!!!
Cleo rolled her eyes.
"Hey pretty boy. Over here"
He groaned walking over to their table.
"I have a name you know" he said coldly
"Whatever. Buy me an orange juice "
He brought his palm
"Money"
"I ordered you to buy me an orange juice so do it"
She knew what he wanted to do. Ask some random girl to buy him a bottle.
"Don't even think about it"
He went to the vending machine and back with a bottle of orange juice in his hands. He handed it to Cleo. She took a sip.
"What type is this?"
"Pulpy"
"I don't like pulpy"
She poured the orange liquid on him. It dripped from his head down to his feet. Everyone gasped. Jordan glared at her before stomping out of the cafeteria. Cleo felt everyone's eyes on her. She had to admit. That was pretty mean and she was anything but mean.
But he totally deserves it.
Her friends looked at her. They had alot to talk about.
They took her outside.
Anida frowned"Cleo"
"What!"Cleo said in defense
"What you did wasn't it a bit... much"
"He's a bully. He totally deserves it"Cleo said in defense. "Chris, help me out here"
Anida gave him a look that only he knew
"Sorry Cleo. I'm with Anida on this" Chris said feeling quite bad. He hated disappointing Cleo.
Anida sighed"You know what to do "
"I don't "
"Apologize"
"Say what?!"she blurted
"No way."
She looked at her friends especially Anida
"You want me to apologize to him"she said incredulously
"Yep. That's exactly what I want you to do"
"Please Chris. Help"she begged
"Sorry. Can't help ya" he said apologetically.
She sighed.
Two against one. Grandpa would surely agree with them she thought. Knowing she had been defeated she complied
"Fine"she said finally "You win Anida. I'll apologize "
Anida gave her a smile.
"I'll tell sensei you'll be running late today"Chris said.
Soon school was over. She dreaded the moment school would end and it just did. Jordan said nothing to her as usual.
Everyone left school. Anida and Chris wished her good luck. She sighed. She really needed luck. Their chemistry project was due Thursday and she hadn't even started yet. She dragged herself into the school. She peeked into the chemistry lab. Jordan sat mixing some potions. She really didn't want to but as it seems Anida could hit her.
It was scary when she hit Chris. She couldn't possibly imagine how painful it will be. She shuddered.
Okay. Just pull yourself together. Apologize. It's easy. Yeah. No need to be nervous.
She inhaled and exhaled. Having a last look at the medallion around her neck, she pushed the door open. Jordan didn't look up. Textbooks were scattered in front of him. He appeared to be reading but Cleo knew better. He didn't want to see her. Quietly she took a seat next to him.She had a bottle of orange juice inside her bag just in case. The lab was so quiet. For a whole thirty minutes nothing.
"That's it" she said annoyed. Jordan still acted like she wasn't there.
"Look dude"she paused "Jordan"
He wasn't paying attention.
"I'm sorry okay. What I did was so wrong and mean. I admit it was stupid and I have nothing else to say "
Jordan finally looked at her. She thought Anida was exaggerating when she said he had sparkly eyes but she's looking at them now.
Wow. They're beautiful she thought.
She looked away while Jordan smirked
"Shy? Newbie"
"Again. It's Cleo and no."
She sighed
"Jordan" she looked at him again.
"I'm sorry. Can we pretend this pulpy thing never happened. It's getting really late and we haven't done anything"
"Hmm..Is that all. You're forgetting something"
Now he's back to annoying mode.
"I'm pretty sure I didn't."
"You forgot pretty please Jordan. I'll never humiliate you again"
he said in a squeaky girl's voice.
"Yeah dream on pretty boy. Maybe after the two weeks I command you I'll apologize"
"Should I tell you a secret " he said leaning forward. Cleo leaned back.
"If I wanted to, you would be in a cast. So consider yourself lucky newbie"his voice was cold. It sounded more like a threat than a secret. She looked straight at him. She grinned.
"I'm not scared of you. I told you didn't I. "She pushed him away
"Your threats have to wait another day. Right now let's focus on our project or you prefer writing a six page report on quantum numbers"
He shook his head
"Fine. Just keep that in mind newbie"
"Honestly! Will it kill you to just say my name? It's easy. C..L..E..O."she said spelling out the letters slowly.
He laughed. "You sound funny"
"I'm serious"
Both of them started their project. A few minutes after eight they were done. Jordan was oddly really cooperative and soon after they left the school.
"Hey Jordan."she called.
He stopped facing her
"What"
She went closer taking the bottle of orange juice out of her bag and handing it to him. He took it.
"Pulpy?" he said confused
"What's it for? "
"Pour it on me"
"Why?"
"I'm feeling really guilty for spilling orange juice on you. So here. You have your chance"
"I can't "
"Why?"
"Because newbie. You humiliated me in front of everyone again. You really have guts newbie. But mark my words, I will get back at you."
She smirked
"Threaten me all you want Jordan. I'm not scared of you"
He shrugged
"Whatever you say newbie" he said walking away.
****
"What took you so long?"Chris asked sitting on the cool marble floor. Anida returned her bows before joining Chris. Cleo sighed and told her friends everything.
"Wait. He threatened you!" Chris shot up. Anida pulled Chris back down
"Shut it or you'll disturb sensei."she warned. She turned to Cleo"What do we do now?"
Cleo shrugged
"I don't care what he says. I'm not scared of him"
"Yeah. We're not afraid of the Hamadais. The ruthless assassins that can kill us in a nanosecond. Yeah totally not afraid" Chris said sarcastically. Anida put a hand on Cleo's shoulder giving her an encouraging smile.
"It's gonna be fine "
"I know"
Cleo told her friends good night and left for her room.
Jordan's threat prevented her from sleeping. Honestly she was disturbed. Would he really hurt Chris and Anida? He wouldn't right? He wouldn't she hoped. After all, he doesn't know who I really am. Does he?
****
Alliya had been Takashi's prisoner for close to two weeks. She vehemently hoped Takashi hadn't found out about Cleo. She could feel the icy breath escaping from her lips and nose. Her hands were cold and numb. She knew even if she died Takashi wouldn't give up on the medallions. She coughed. Her teeth clattering from the cold.
Help me Timothai.
Help me...
****
After a nice bath, Jordan put on overalls moving down to his personal training room. He punched the punching bag hard muttering Cleo under his breath. He hit it so hard it burst open. He was so infuriated. He looked at his bleeding fists, wincing at the sharp pain as warm blood trickled into his palm. He clenched his fist
Never show pain he heard his father say more than a hundred times. Since his mother passed away, he'd been training from dawn to dusk, always trying not to disappoint his father.
Now and then he craved for a little motherly comfort. He couldn't remember the last time anyone told him good night. Sighing, he leaned on the cold wall sliding down. And there's the newbie, Cleo. She was so willed and he couldn't intimidate her. She looked straight in his eyes and told him bluntly she's not afraid of him or anyone else. The nerve of that girl. She claimed she wasn't scared.
He grinned.
Let's see how brave she is
Grabbing a first aid box he cleaned his wounds. He really looked forward to tomorrow.
****
Takashi paced, raking his hands through his hair. Alliya would never talk. Even if she died in the process. He wondered why he's father was obsessed with her. She was definitely willed. He growled,tossing his documents in anger. He picked up his medallion, examining it and flipping it. He grinned.
"Alliya will talk eventually" he said with a wicked grin on his handsome face
"When I find her granddaughter"