Clash of the royals. The king and the queen

Chapter two

“Grandma is …… Channel and Louis Vuitton….limited edition….. get it…”

It’s been a few days since the incident. Three or four days I think. I saw her again that same day in the Principal’s office when I’d gone for my schedule. She diverted her eyes and bowed her head once she saw me. I thought it would give my confidence a boost to see her crest fallen but it was the opposite. Guilt clutches my heart but thankfully my pride is stronger and so I don’t go to her to do something stupid like apologizing. I flip my blonde strands and match off with head held high. As I said earlier, if she can’t handle something small like that, she wouldn’t survive a day here. I haven’t had another encounter with miss new girl since then. It’s either she quit or she’s in hiding and avoiding us. I haven’t had another encounter with miss new girl since then.

A finger waves in front of me and I blink. Chloe sighs.

“Hello….back to earth.” She claps her hands.

“Sorry. You were saying.. ” I apologize with a woozy face.

“I said my grandma has VVIP cards with a few luxury brands. She gave them to me since she no longer goes shopping. I wanted us to get the new upcoming channel and Louis Vuitton edition bags. So we can match. It’s not yet out but we can go over to place orders for when they finally arrive in the stores. I don’t want anyone in school getting their hands on it before we do.”

“Omg yes. Let’s do that.” With the card, we wouldn’t have to worry about the bags being out of stock as far as we place an order before it came into the stores.

“The bell has already rung for lunch. Let’s eat before we go. There’s Chicken salad on today’s menu. I don’t want to miss it.” Chloe says.

“I wouldn’t let you miss it even if it was the end of the world. I don’t want you turning into grumpy Chloe after you don’t get your comfort food.” I tease.

“Hey!” she scolds and tries to slap my arm but I dodge and we both end up laughing.

A few heads turn towards us. People are always trying to be in our business. I sigh and pack my stuff into my bag before heading out and towards the cafeteria.

Glenda, Emily, Tiffany, and Maya, A few cheerleaders who sit with us at lunch and are sort of part of our inner circle are at the door. I say ‘sort of part of’ because it’s really for just appearances. We all didn’t actually care for each other. It was just to show that we had a United front.

Although I talk and laugh with them, it’s all so no one knows I’m a popular loner with only one real friend. They are all lovely people -on the surface- but I just couldn’t connect with them the way I do with Chloe. And they don’t know my deepest darkest secrets the way Chloe and I know each other’s.

“Omg is that the Von Savarin you’re wearing, Aaliyah?” Emily asks with a twinkle in her eye. Emily is a cheer leader and part of the ‘inner circle’. She’s a flyer and really good at double full baskets. She’s so good at it she can even give me a run for my money. She has definitely earned her right to be a part of us. And she’s got an eye for good stuff. She recognizes the beauty and elegance of the Von savarin shoes. I totally respect that. We both really love Von savarin foot wears. Maybe she might become an actual friend after all. She’s also nice and sweet and the other cheer leaders say she defends me when others talk behind my back.

“Yes. I got it during the summer break.” I reply with an actual smile as we enter the cafeteria and head to the machines to key in our orders. When it’s ready, the waitresses would bring it over to our table

“No wonder it was out of stock. Your followers really are the wildest, fastest, and smartest. I’m sure you posted pictures in it that’s why. If I were the marketing manager of Von Savarin, I’d definitely hire you as a spokesperson or an ambassador. So I can gate keep you from other brands.”

“Actually, I’ve already received an offer from them. My lawyer is going through them first. Once it’s signed we’d schedule a shoot and then make the official announcement.” I whisper to her so other people don’t hear. I don’t want leaks in the tabloid before the official announcement after all. It’s a really big brand and I’m a big time influencer.

The smile on Emily’s face falters and her face falls.

“Omg! Really? That’s wonderful” Chloe exclaims and hugs me. Pride shining in her eyes.

“And you didn’t tell me earlier?” Chloe gives me the stink eye.

“I received the offer yester night. I planned to tell you after school so we could celebrate. I even had reservations made at l’ Urbaine Cuisine. They make the best chicken salad.”

“I’m already having chicken salad for lunch” She crosses her arms and gives me the stink eye.

“Well, thank God you can never have enough of chicken salad.” I poke her arm and grin.

“Well, you’re not lying.” Chloe laughs and I know my best friend has forgiven me.

“So umm Aaliyah…” Emily draws my attention from Chloe….

“I was thinking. Why don’t you film a tiktok with me? I already have an idea that will….” She continues

“No Congratulations, Emily?” Chloe comes in between us

“Well……I ummm….Of Course I’m sorry. It’s just that i…I was just excited for the new tiktok idea. You already congratulated her so….I mean….since you”

“Enough Emily. What a clout chaser.” Chloe rolls her eyes

“Sorry, Aaliyah.” Emily says slowly

And I thought we were building a connection. How naïve of me. I should know better.

“Umm.. Guys, I think someone has taken our table. It says table is taken when I key it in.” Glenda, who is keying in our orders at the moment says.

“What? Are you sure?” I ask.

Everyone knows we sit on that table. No one would dare. We always sit at Table Seven. It’s right in the middle of the cafeteria and the center of attention along with the basketball table, Table six.

I match towards the table. This was so obvious. Someone wanted to pick a fight with us. Well, they were going to get it.

Not surprisingly it’s a bunch of nobodies with the new girl, who is currently in my seat at the head of the table. She’s no longer in her good will shopped clothes. She’s dressed in the school uniform and it might have come with some sort of false bravado because she’s obviously not in her right mind, openly asking for trouble..

There’s one girl with green hair dressed in weird clothes, another girl with short black hair and dark makeup and a guy with his tie suffocating his neck and his shirt not well ironed. My nose scrunch up further. When they see us approaching them, they shrink further in their —I mean our seats and give the new girl worried glances. She smiles back at them and I think she’s probably trying to encourage them to not be afraid.

“I see you’ve found your people. You’d fit right in here, newbie.” I say to her once I arrive, letting the disgust on my face show.

“Its’s Tatum. Tatum Astana .” I’m surprised her voice doesn’t waver. I’ll give that to her.

“You still don’t get it? Do you? I don’t care about your stupid name. All I want is for you to get your ugly fat ass up and scanter away to some dark corner, where you really belong.”

The other kids at the table grab their dishes and hurriedly leave. Good for them

“Don’t go, Guys”. She says but they ignore her. They know better.

Her eyes turn moisty and her lower lips quiver but she doesn’t budge.

“Your name wasn’t on it! Why should we move? It’s available to the public! ”she yells at me. People gasp, and that’s when I realize the cafeteria is silent and everyone is watching our exchange.

“You should move because you don’t belong here. I’d only say it nicely once, newbie.”

I count in my head.

One… there’s no movement, two… no movement, three… it’s just pure defiance at this point and that does it. I grab the green healthy drink she was sipping and dump the contents on her face.

Noise erupts in the cafeteria as people run in to catch the drama and murmurs rise, gossiping about the incident to one another.

The new girl clutches her shirt in both hands as the green drink soaks the white material. I don’t think it can be saved by cleaners. Our school material is on a whole new quality level. Some cheap washing would just ruin it. She sniffles and tears are streaming down her face in silent defeat, Her body shivers at every inhale.

I don’t feel sorry though, she forced me to do this to her. I just obliged. I had no choice.

I need to hammer my point in so she doesn’t repeat something like this in the future, and use her as a warning, a scapegoat to others. I grab the beans stew on the table and lift it above her head. Letting her look in my eye to know what’s about to happen before I dip the plate. Her eyes widens and unfallen tears shine in them.

A hand locks onto my wrist and twists it back so hard the beans stew slaps me in the face. The cafeteria erupts in laughter. Lights flash in my face as people take pictures and videos of my downfall, relishing it.

I’m too stunned to speak. I lock eyes with Kieran Castles, the King of Royal Crest Academy. His large hand is still keeping mine in an iron grip. His eyes are dark and menacing as ever and he’s protecting the new girl. When he lets go of me, I stumble back and twist my ankle falling hard on my ass. Beans stew is drooping from my hair and into my opened mouth as I stare in shock, and what is this strange emotion clutching my whole body? Is this fear? What a strange loathsome emotion. I absolutely detest it.