Ariel and Vanessa were stunned.
“Have these people lost their minds?”
“WTF–did she actually hook up with Gavin?”
While they were still reeling, a sharp knock hit the window. They turned their heads–and there was Joanna, standing by the car. No one had noticed her approach. She was staring them down, her gaze icy.
“Done watching?
“Get out. Or I’ll smash the car.”
Ariel instinctively shrank back in her seat. After being hit by Joanna once already, she was genuinely scared.
Vanessa, on the other hand, hadn’t expected this girl to be so bold. She rolled down the window with a mocking smile.
“Well, aren’t you full of yourself? Clearly you don’t know how things work at Aurelia Academy. Here, I’m the ”
“You think just ‘cause you act like some old hag, I won’t hit you?”
Before she could finish, Joanna grabbed her by the collar, yanked her through the window, and threw her onto the ground. Standing tall, Joanna looked down at her without even blinking.
“So tell me what are the rules at Aurelia Academy? Might makes right? Or just whoever’s daddy has more power?
“If it’s about dads, well—my daddy’s pretty damn ruthless.”
Vanessa was too stunned to respond.
The students gathered at the school gate collectively gasped.
“No wonder she’s with Gavin! She’s just as savage as he is!”
“Holy crap–she’s so badass!”
After tossing Vanessa aside, Joanna turned to the girl still cowering in the car.
“You getting out on your own? Or should I help you with that?”
Ariel couldn’t afford another scene. She pushed the car door open and slowly stepped out, one hand covering her face, head down, praying no one would recognize her.
She was supposed to be the golden girl from Harvenridge Institute–what the hell was she doing at this place?
She couldn’t afford this kind of embarrassment.
Joanna stood quietly, her slim figure casting a long shadow. She didn’t raise her voice, but her icy calm was enough to shut both girls up.
Vanessa scrambled to her feet, brushing herself off. When she saw the school security guards and a few teachers approaching, she shot Joanna a venomous glare and made a throat–slitting gesture.
1/3
Chapter 22
“You’re dead.”
Then she turned on her heel and stormed off. She wasn’t about to get caught arguing with teachers.
A young female teacher with a high ponytail marched up, her brows furrowed in frustration.
“What’s going on here? It’s barely morning and you’re already causing a scene?”
Then she turned to Joanna, pausing when she saw her face.
“You’re the new transfer student, right? Last name Newburn?”
Joanna still had one hand on the Audi door, debating whether or not to actually dent it. She gave a casual nod.
“Yeah.”
The teacher didn’t bother hiding the disgust on her face.
“I’m your homeroom teacher. From your photo, I thought you looked quiet and decent. But this? First day of school and you’re already bullying your classmates? Your grades might be a disaster, but I didn’t expect you to be a thug, too.
“Did your mother ever teach you how to behave in a new school? Do you even realize this is a school gate–not a fight club?”
Ariel’s eyes lit up.
She thought, “This is her homeroom teacher?‘
She looked like a fly that had just found a feast. Putting on her best pitiful expression, she jumped in.
“Please don’t blame her. She’s from a mountain village, she’s never had any proper education. Maybe that’s just how people are raised out there…”
The crowd had grown larger by now, and Ariel’s pitiful tone only got louder.
“Joanna, I heard you were starting school today. Even though I’m hurt, I still came to see you. Wasn’t it enough that you beat me up yesterday?
“My mom and I–over all these years–we gave you food, clothes, and even helped you move to the city to study. And this is how you repay us? Hitting me on sight and trying to take everything that’s mine?”
Her emotional outburst was starting to sway the crowd. Students who had been waiting to greet Gavin’s girlfriend Joanna were now folding up their welcome banners, looking at Joanna with uncertain eyes.
“So she’s Joanna? Pretty name, but nasty attitude.”
“She looks so sweet, but she’s actually awful… poor bandage girl.”
“She must be adopted or something. Acting all arrogant like that—totally ungrateful.”
“Just typical–comes down from the mountains and thinks she owns the place. Gavin must be out of his mind.”
“No way. If Gavin’s into her, she can’t be that bad. This girl’s just jealous.”
“Or maybe she’s tricked him. She’s got that fake innocent look going on.”
Joanna’s homeroom teacher, Shannon Baker, was trying her best to hold back her temper as she glared at Joanna.
2/3
“You’re in school now, and that makes you my student. If this is how you act on day one, what am I supposed to expect from you later?
“You–go run 100 laps around the track. Now. Or pack your things and get expelled. You can go back to your mountain village where you came from!”
