Chiara [PUBLISHED] ✔️

Two

"Stop staring, Jackie." Steph murmured and my head snapped back to the porcelain cup of coffee in front of me. I could feel my heart beating in my veins and my ears and my throat.

"Was I obvious?" I sighed, trying not to bury my head in my hands. This place had one important rule; don't show weakness.

"She smiled, I guess she doesn't think you're a total creep." Bryan muttered while his thumbs danced across the screen of his phone with impossible speed. "The fallen queen returns? Is that a good blogpost name?"

"Come on, Bry, she just returned." I was tempted to snatch the phone from his hands.

"Uh-huh, I'm always on time and your unattainable fantasy is no exception. Sorry, Jackie. My fans need some tea." He didn't even look at me as he spoke and I sighed.

He was right as always. Chiara was an unattainable crush of mine ever since I stepped foot in this school. Honestly, it was like having a crush on a celebrity. I never thought much about it, never considered it as anything serious. Plus, Chiara was straight. And then, I started dating Maeve and Chiara disappeared.

My throat burnt as I remembered Maeve.

Maybe Steph was right. Perhaps I didn't have time to properly relax due to all the extracurriculars and additional assignments and whatnots. I certainly didn't have the time to assess all the fucked-up-ness I went through with Maeve.

"I wonder why she left." Bryan murmured. "My bet is on a sex tape."

"Bryan!" Both Steph and I shouted at the same time.

"Oh, my sweet, summer children." Bryan looked over us sympathetically. "Everyone here has a sex tape; I've seen at least twenty since I went viral."

My gaze escaped towards Chiara again, she was climbing the outer stairs to the terrace, where we were sitting. I wondered why she left, of course I did. But, much like all other unresolved feelings, I shoved it in the back of my head and focused on the task at hand.

"Josh is here." Steph suddenly uttered through her teeth. I turned around untactfully.

Josh was the prickiest prick I've ever seen in my life. His entire demeanour screamed 'pretentious and will bully.' His light brown, dishevelled hair was even lighter due to winter holidays spent somewhere on his private yacht. His blue eyes pierced through his enemies with an unyielding stare and the permafrost smirk on his lips made anyone doubt their decision to mess with him. The school uniform consisted of plaid pants and a white shirt he kept casually unbuttoned. He carried the jacket flung over his arm. He was richer than God and eviler than the Devil.

And he was dating Chiara.

He came over to the table with the highest concentration of smugness on the terrace and looked coldly at Mona, that STD girl. Immediately, she got up and gave him the chair. He was trying to get the best table for his girlfriend

"What a douchebag." I murmured. "If there's anyone in this school that deserves to be messed with, it's this guy."

"Don't you worry," Bryan smirked, "I'm biding my time."

I leaned over the table and went through my hair with my hands. Unlike those other girls, I honestly didn't care whether the movement ruined it.

"Oh, my God, he noticed us." Steph hissed and lowered her head. I sucked in a breath and exchanged glances with Bryan.

He had a satisfied smile on his lips as he looked behind me, most likely staring straight into the eyes of the beast. Ever since Bryan started posting blogs about the same folk that went to this school, no one dared to mess with him. Truthfully, he never went after the most influential and usually only hunted the fallen stars, but everyone still feared him a little. I believe Bryan has all kinds of rumours about everyone in this school that he hasn't yet posted.