CHAPTER. XVI. HALLWAY CONFRONTATIONS

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
J U L I E T   V A L E N T I N E   P O V 
To say I was panicking would be an understatement – I was losing my mind. I've only ever been to an elementary school, and now, in this new high school, I felt like a fish out of water. 
The rest of the time, I was "homeschooled," if you could call it that. Locked away in my little room, rarely allowed to leave without permission. 
And if I did get to go outside, one of the guards had to accompany me, all because of that one time my 
sister and I tried to run away.
Marco walked with me to my first class to ensure I wouldn't get lost, but he had his class to attend. Suddenly, I was on my own, feeling everyone's eyes 
on me, like I was some sort of oddity.
Spotting an empty seat in the back, I took a chance, hoping maybe I'd go unnoticed. Next to me sat a redhead with freckles, sporting multiple piercings. I made a mental note not to disturb her; she seemed 
like she wanted to be left alone.
But my hopes of solitude were short-lived as another group of girls followed me. They oozed confidence, clad in expensive clothes, looking like they'd stepped out of a fashion magazine. 
I couldn't help feeling a pang of jealousy, their carefree interactions with friends and flawless appearances were a stark contrast to my insecurities.
As I sat there, feeling broken both inside and out, the teacher finally entered the classroom. Mr. White introduced himself and dove straight into the lesson, leaving me struggling to catch up.
When the class finally ended, I gathered my belongings and was about to leave when Marco appeared, grinning like he'd won the lottery. "How was your first class?" he asked, the excitement 
practically radiating off him.
I managed a thumbs-up in response, and he pulled me into a gentle hug, reassuring me that everything was going to be okay. Reluctantly, he let go, planting a quick kiss on my forehead before I hurried off to my next class.
Walking down the hallway, I turned a corner and was confronted by a group of girls from my English class. In the center stood a striking brunette with piercing green eyes. The atmosphere grew tense 
as they all glared at me, making it clear this encounter wouldn't be pleasant.
My heart raced, palms were sweaty as I tried to maintain an appearance of confidence. The brunette took a step forward, her gaze locked onto me. "Jewels, is it?" she asked in a tone that dripped with indifference.
I shook my head vigorously, attempting to convey that she had the wrong name, but she brushed me off. "You know, Jewels, I don't like it when people mess with what's mine."
Confusion swirled in my mind. What was she even talking about? I stared at her, wide-eyed, but her anger only intensified. Before I knew it, she had a grip on my neck, slamming me against the lockers, and sending a surge of fear through me.
"Stay away from my man, or I will rip your throat," she threatened, her words echoing like a haunting melody in my ears. I stared at her wide-eyed, my heart racing frantically in my chest.
What was she talking about? I just got to this school I didn't know anyone let alone her so-called man. Panic engulfed my mind as I frantically tried to process the situation. Was she going to hurt me?
Before anything else could happen, a voice suddenly echoed down the hallway, breaking the tense silence. "Leave her alone, Bella, unless you want a purple bruise on your eye to serve as your 
eyeshadow."
My head snapped in the direction of the voice, desperate for some form of rescue from this nightmare. It was the red-haired girl from earlier, standing at the end of the hallway, her expression unwavering.
Bella's grip on me loosened, and she stepped back, the threat of confrontation hanging in the air. "You should stay out of this if you know what's good for you," she retorted, defiance in her tone.
The red-haired girl took a step forward, her gaze never leaving Bella's. "I think you've got it all wrong, Bella. It's you who shouldn't mess with me."
"Do you even know who I am?" Bella shot back, her anger flaring.
"Yeah, and I couldn't care less. Leave her alone, or..." The red-haired girl raised her fist threateningly, her resolve unshaken.
Bella scoffed, her voice dripping with arrogance. "Please, you're just a nobody. What makes you think you..."
Before Bella could finish, the red-haired girl's hand swung through the air, connecting with Bella's cheek in a resounding slap. Gasps echoed around us, including mine, as we all watched in shock.
Bella's hand flew to her cheek, her expression a mixture of surprise and fury. "You piece of..." she started, but the bell rang, and a teacher approached us.
"Alright, everyone, back to class," the teacher called out. The red-haired girl turned her attention to the teacher, a pleasant smile replacing her fierce demeanor. 
"Of course, Ms. Carson. We're on our way, aren't we?" She glanced at Bella, who was still seething with anger.
"Yeah," Bella spat, her voice dripping with venom. She shot me one final glare before storming off, her friends trailing behind her.
With Bella gone, I let out a shaky breath, the tension leaving my body. I turned to the red-haired girl, gratitude filling my heart. I quickly scribbled on a piece of paper, "Thank you," and held it up for her to see.
She looked at the note and grinned. "No problem," she said, her voice kind. "I'm Rena, by the way. And you're Juliet, right?"
She gestured to herself and then pointed at me. "Nice to meet you, Juliet. Do you have another class now?"
I nodded again, and she peeked over my shoulder to glance at my schedule. A mischievous smile tugged at her lips. "Looks like we have the same class next. Mind walking together?"
I managed a smile, grateful for her kindness. We walked to our next class together, and as we chatted, I realized that maybe this new school wouldn't be so bad after all.

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
I think we all owe an apology to all the authors who have taken a long time to update cuz my life has been so peaceful and stress-free without drama until I started writing! This a real thing guys swear! 😭
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Adios mis amores ♥︎