TROUBLE IN THE ROYAL PALACE

CHAPTER SIXTY ONE

I arrive to class late and have Miss. Lana scowl at me in disapproval. Chloe waves me over and I take the seat she had saved for me, front row.

“So what were you up to?” Chloe whispers with wiggling brows as she leans towards me.

“Nothing.” I whisper back pushing her head back with a finger and arranging my books needed for the class on the piano.

She huffs

“Oh come on. It’s not nothing. Someone said she saw you with Kieran in the hallway and things were looking heated between you guys.” She air quotes her words

She wasn’t going to stop asking till I told her something.

“Well.. Kieran said I’m his and we had a little fight and then we kissed.” I say in one breath.

“Girl, hold me. You guys are literally the steamy couple dream.”

“Shut up, Chloe. We are still in class.” I laugh and look around hoping no one eaves dropping had caught onto the conversation topic.

“Fine, fine. But you’re telling me everything once this class is over.” She says, leaving me alone.

People were murmuring in hush whispers as I sat in front of the piano and pull out my notes. I’m used to that though. I always drew attention wherever I went. From childhood, our local newspapers would follow my family around trying to get something interesting to post in their papers and blogs. During my high school I was popular and this things came with the fame.

After my encounter with Kieran I was a bit relieved. His words calmed and reassured me that I could still be a good person even after everything. I patted my hair down, re-arranging the strands with my fingers. My lips were still highly sensitive and tingling from his bruising kiss. Kieran could never be gentle with me and somehow, I liked it just like that.

I’d gone to the washroom earlier to fix my hair to try and look presentable but it still wasn’t perfect like it usually was . Kieran had ruined my freshly straightened hair and anyone who paid attention would know that I was looking less than perfect today.

We were learning how to play the school anthem this week. Last week, we had done the national anthem and this week was the school anthem. Miss Lana had given us the notes and was allowing us to practice on our own as she moved around, helping individuals who needed help.

The door opens and someone walks in. I pay no attention and focus on my notes, going through them before Miss Lana could use my incapability as an opportunity to punish me for tardy behavior.

At least someone was late enough to take off attention from me.

“Oh welcome, Mr. Castles. You must be the one guiding the new student. I hear Music is her first class today.”

I try not to freeze or let my heart escalate just from hearing his name, instead I sing the notes in my head.

Fa do re so mi

mi so do…

I was disliking Miss Lana more and more. The tone she used for me was different from this fake sweetening one. I guess No one was above the Castles charm. I refuse to look at him although I can feel his eyes hot on my exposed neck. I don’t know how I knew but it was true and I just knew.

“Why don’t you introduce yourself to the Class, Miss Jer.” Miss Lana says and my spine stiffens as the hair on my back rises in cold sweat. Did I hear her correctly? What did she just call her?

“My name is Katie Jer. But my friends call me Kat. So you guys can call me that too…” A female voice says with an extra slur to her words.

I can’t breathe. It’s like my whole empire is crashing.

The memories rash back. I can see the younger me locked up in the class cupboard. The senior girls cornering me and taking all my money. The bruises I covered up so my parents won’t be worried. This is the past I buried so deep deep down, I was sure I would never need to remember or experience again and yet, she was here. Live and colored. Kat, my middle school bully. The reason why I had to grow up early and put up all this defenses to protect myself from this cruel world.

Everything was slowly clicking together. How have I been so stupid to not even suspect it?

The guy who tried to rape me was called Jer. He said his sister’s name was Katie. My middle school years were spent in a school in the south, the hood. I was too distracted at that time to connect the dots. This girl was the reason why I hated hood rats so much. She’s the reason why I became this way.

Now she was here, after Kieran and I killed her brother. And she was having Kieran who doesn’t do shit for people be her school guide. She probably knew and she was certainly here to take revenge.

My eyes are fixated on Kat as she continued her fake sweet speech. She’s dressed in our school uniform and wearing Don Savorin boots and a blonde dyed hair. I know it’s not her real hair because she always had this long brunette hair I used to be jealous of when we were younger.

She was making a statement and a scary one at that. She was dressed like me. She was telling me she was going to be the next me. Even the same unique pattern I had my designer do the hems of my skirt is the same as hers.

“I transferred here this week. I’m lucky to have received admission even though it was late…” She holds onto Kieran’s arm and I make a fist.

“Please treat me well.” She continues as she smiles brightly at everyone.

Miss Lana frowns, obviously displeased with how she’s holding onto Kieran and having Kieran guide her. Surprisingly, for the first time I can say Miss Lana and I are on the same side.

“Is it just me or that new girl is looking like some sort of Aaliyah Waters 2.0” A guy says from the back to his friends and a few of them agree whilst others say they don’t see it.

“She even talks like her. Isn’t that kind of creepy?” Someone adds

“ Omg does Waters have some stalker wannabe?” Another whisper carries across the room.

“She does kind does kind of look like you.” Chloe says to me.

What game was Kat playing?

“SO Mr. Castles has quite a busy schedule. Why don’t you attend the class and make a few friends who can guide you instead?” Miss Lana says and without waiting for a response from her, began to scan the class looking for someone of less value, --hierarchically speaking of course—to assing as Kat’s guide.

“I understand perfectly. I don’t want to busy him with something like this. I even have a friend here so it’s truly fine.

“She has a friend here? Is that how she was able to get information to become my supposed 2.0?”

“Aaliyah Waters is my friend. She’d take care of me. Right Aali?”

I stand up from my chair with a swift force and slam my fist on the keys so it makes an unpleasing noise. Everyone covers their ears except Kieran, Kat and I.

It’s like the three of us are the only once here. Kat was openly making her statement. She was coming for her. The option of pretending not to know each other and graduating quietly was off the table.

“Ummm… Liya, Are you okay? You’re literally shaking all over.” Chloe says as she touches my hands, but I’m so tuned out and focused solely on Kat so I don’t hear her voice. I only felt something cold against my hands.

“Don’t touch me.” I push her away in alarm. She falls from her seat, looking at me like a wounded puppy.

This was the worst time to have everyone’s focus on me. I needed to calm the fuck down already.

It’s like I’m suffocating. I can’t bear it anymore. I ran out, needing some air before I fall and pass out from the stifling and smothering feeling.

Kieran holds my hand at the door, but I slap it off. He doesn’t try to stop me again as I leave, making my way to the nearest washroom. I ran to the sink and splash cold water on my face. The coolness helps me calm down and breathe better. I sink onto the floor, fighting the urge to pat me face with make-up.