Billionaire's Childhood Love

XXI. Jumping in the Trashcan

Hailey's POV:

After my wonderful morning discussion with Austin, I head towards my class. With each step, I can feel a slight bounce as I twirl my finger around the necklace.

The halls were crowded with people, and the chaos was like a well-thought-out movie. There's a couple that's making out on the one side of the hall, and about ten feet farther down, there's a bunch of students holding heavy books. I smile, seeing a parade of bands with their huge instrument cases. Everyone may be wearing the same outfit, but they were somehow different.

Then, there's me.

I began walking, dodging crowds and lockers flying open.

No one paid attention to me, and it feels comfortable.

Exhaling and inhaling, I scan around - I wonder if there is anyone I know.

I didn't know anyone.

After several searches, I straighten my back. "This is it. D-2," I told myself and walked into the class.

The classroom was loaded with students, but still some empty seats. I take the chair closest to the teacher's desk - an old habit. Settling my backpack on the floor, I sat up straight while cupping my hands together.

Briefly scanning the table, which consists of three other seats, I saw two other girls.

The first girl who sat across from me had a book resting on the table with earphones plugin, seemingly in her own little world. She bobbed her head to the beats causing her short dark hair to sway against her shoulders while humming once in a while. I glanced down and saw her name - Serena Garrison.

Skimming over, there's another girl who sat straight and tall. Her seemingly golden eyes dart at the papers in front of her. Unconsciously, I lean over, seeing multiple bar and pie charts, causing my body to shiver.

Is she studying or working on a business?

On the second day of school?

The black pen between her fingers stops tapping, and she glances upward, halting the mushing of gum inside her mouth. She pushes up the circular frame hovering over her beautiful chocolate skin. "Can I help you-" she looks down towards my nametag. "Hailey Vaughn?"

I smiled, but she didn't return it. My eyes linger down - Taniyah Sosa.

Lifting a finger, I point at the scattered papers. "Studying for math already? Pandora Academy must be harder than I thought," I half-jokingly state, but realistically I was anxious already.

What do we have to study on the second day?!

I want to flip a table and leave, but there are two problems.

One, it isn't polite.

Two, the tables are all bolted down in the classroom.

The gum smacks between her lips as her eyes continue studying me. "I'm not studying."

I exhale, feeling quite a relief. "Then, what are you doing?"

"Stocks," she replies in a firm voice.

I glance down at the papers once more. "Stocks?"

Taniyah nods, puckering her slightly red lips. "How else am I going to pay for tuition?"

"If you don't have the money, don't go here," a seemingly sweet voice spoke, and I glanced over and realized it belonged to Serena.

Taniyah arch a perfect brow. "Miss bowl head, am I speaking to you?"

Serena unplugs her earphones. "Watch it, scholarship student."