Chapter 9

I ran out of the stage with shame, disappointed about how I planned the entire day. I was all prepared for the speech.

My mother came surprisingly and with pride I was so sure I'd win. I was going to make sure my mother was here and today she'd be proud of me and attend every one of my competitions.

I was halfway through the debate when I saw my mother stood up from her seat, answering a phone call.

I suddenly lost concentration as I watched her movement, forgetting my points. I heard mufflings from the crowd, all eyes on me.

I could do it, I said to myself but who was I kidding? I couldn't. It was the end for me, I had lost it all.

I ran out of the stage in shame, crying my eyes out. This was supposed to be the best for me. My mother didn't bother to check on me and when I searched for her, I realised she was gone. She didn't care and that was how I ended it all.

The next day in school, I was the talk of the entire school. I wondered why I was hated by both boys and girls. They made fun of me and called me a loser who couldn't who couldn't speak in public.

Since then I hid my face and did everything in silence, avoiding anything that has to do with the crowd ever again. I lost my confidence and the zeal to participate in everything.

My whole world changed and I knew it really did, u didn't think anything would change me again and I felt suffocated. Everything was hard on me, I became a victim of bullying and Dominique did everything in her power to make my life a living hell.

Arghh!" I groaned frustratingly. I was going to smash my alarm soon. Just wait and see you this stupid alarm who hates peace.

Does it always have to disrupt my beauty sleep? I asked the alarm with my eyes, with a frown on my face.

I struggled to get up from my bed and headed to the bathroom, staggering with sleepy eyes.

After taking my bath, I wrapped the towel around me and walked to stand in front of my mirror.

I stared at myself in the mirror after getting dressed. I was about to apply lipstick when a scene of yesterday flashes in my memory.

The scene of Ric and me at the beach came to my memory, making me wonder what happened back there.

We were so close and the breeze was quiet too, it was as in, we were both in different worlds entirely and I panicked.

Was he really wanting to kiss me or were we both in a state that we didn't understand? Kiss me?, Nah!

I wouldn't ever kiss someone, that was just so impossible, maybe it was something else.

We were caught up in the moment? No, no, he didn't, I was only insinuating. I didn't even understand my thoughts.

"Arghh!" I groaned frustratingly, wondering what would have happened if we weren't interrupted.

While we were walking to meet up with the others, it was awkward between us. He said nothing while I did the same.

Everything was confusing me, what happened back there? I asked myself, trying to recall the scene.

"Scratch it, Lily, things happened, it was nothing serious. You were probably hallucinating," I said to myself, tying my shoelace while I sat down on my bed.

I packed my hair in a high ponytail. I carried my school bag, placed it on one of my shoulders and left my room.

Once I got to school, I searched for Crystal. She was probably the only girl that spoke to me so far and it felt nice to have a female friend.

I first of all, went to my locker to get my notebooks, while getting my notebook, someone slammed my locker door, startling me.

"Hey!" Crystal said with a grin on her face.

"Gosh, Crystal, you scared me." I place my hand on my chest, trying to calm my raging heart.

"Sorry. So are you going to sign up for Crown Day?" She asked.

"Crown day?" I asked her confused about what that was.

"Oh! I forgot to explain to you. You remember those flyers I was pasting the other day, it was for crown day. Crown day is a day where the king, queen and the face of Diamond high school are chosen," she lamented.

"And once you are chosen, what are the privileges and the duties?" I asked her.

"Once you are the kind or the queen or the face of Diamond high school, you have a lot of privilege. You are like one of the board members of the school who speaks on behalf of the student.

Nothing can be done without seeking your permission first, you are the face of the school and you help fight for the rights of students too," she explained.

"That's a nice one," I said to her.

"So are you going to participate?" She asked me.

"No," I said.

"Why? You've got the looks." She said.

"That's not the reason," I said.

"Then what is it?" She asked.

I just shook my head and ignored the question. I'm not one to tell people my fear because they'd use it against me and I've already told Ric.

Speaking of him, I saw him coming with his friends by his side and immediately Crystal frowned.

"What's up lil' mama," Richard said and tried wrapping his hands around my waist which I shrugged off. What was wrong with this boy, is definitely breaking his arms one day.

Ric's eyes met mine and before I knew it, he smirked.

Eww, what's wrong with the guys at this school? I just walked off.

The school ended for the day. While coming down the stairs, I mistakenly twisted my ankle.

"Ouch!" I cried out.

"Are you okay?" Asked a deep voice.

I looked up and saw a tall lean guy. His hair was curled and short. He had caramel skin, piercings on his ears and nose, and his lips were big and pink. He was really handsome.

"I'm... I'm..." I tried speaking.

"Shhh!" He said and carried me bridal style.

"Where do you live?" He asked.

"Who are you?" I questioned.

"You should say thank you and tell me your address so I can take you home." He was already angry with my attitude.

"I'm sorry, really sorry," I said.

I told him where I lived and when we reached home, I asked for his name.

"Daniel." He said and I could see his dimples.

"What's yours?" He asked.

"Liliana," I tell him.

He didn't say anything again and drove off.

Rude much, I said.

"I don't know what Crystal's problem is, she's been begging me to participate in the Crown stuff!" I said to Ric pissed off.

When I got back home, Crystal called me telling me to participate in the Crown Day competition. I really don't know her obsession with this stuff, if she was that interested, she should participate in it herself.

He was looking at me amusingly.

"Participate, I'm also participating." He said after a while.

"So what makes you think that because you are participating, I should want to?" I asked him.

"Because I'm handsome and girls would love to partner with me in the finals," He said arrogantly.

"Cocky much?" I scoffed

.

"Too bad I'm not barbie caked-face or blondie." I cooed.

"And who are they?" He asked confused.

I laughed hysterically.

"You... you... don't.. know?" I said between laughs.

He shrugged.

"Whatever! The fact is, you should be lucky I ain't chasing you or else you would have totally fallen for me. You've even fallen for me already." He said and smirked.

I kept my mouth open, shocked by his sentence.

"Is that what you think?" I asked him, raising my brows.

"Okay then, let's play a game." He said and the next thing I knew, he was him finding his way over to my window.

He got into my room. We were now standing face to face. I didn't know why I felt drawn to his amazing eyes.

Fact was and fact is, Ricardo was really handsome, and any girl would be proud to be his but I'm definitely not that girl. High school relationship was a big no for me.

He placed his hands on my waist and I could feel tingles all over my body, catching me off guard I nearly fell down.

A part of me said to push his hands away, but my body wasn't listening.

He placed his head to the crook of my neck and inhaled my scent.

I just froze like a statue.

He removed his head from the crook of my neck and leaned close to me. Unknowingly I closed my eyes and he laughed bringing me out of my reverie.

"Don't promise things you can't keep," Ricardo whispered to me and chuckled.

"Where's your sharp tongue gone, Lily?" He questioned with a smirk.

"No need to worry, I don't go for your type, I like my girls wild and hot." He said, walking out of my room through the window.

What just happened. My heart was beating erratically. What is this boy doing to me?

One thing's for sure, no boy has ever made me feel the way I feel when I'm with him.