[ALEX]

POP. POP. POP!

I cringed each time I heard the sound.

With one last pop of her gum the beaming secretary turned to me with a grin so large it took up most of her face.

Who has this much energy at 7:30 in the morning?

Not missing a beat, she handed me a stack, "Welcome to Seacrest High!"

I offered a bored look for all the time she took to locate the stupid papers, making me late in the process, and since the bell already went off, the hallways were quickly emptying.

Taking the papers which held my schedule, a small booklet and a map of the school, I hiked my new backpack up on my shoulder and started my death march, already knowing I'd get lost.

I wasn't very good at reading maps (or just reading in general) and now it looks like I'm doomed to commit the 'newcomer is fashionably late' cliché, thanks to the gum popping secretary.

I made my way through long hallway after long hallway, map in one hand while I searched for my homeroom class first. I could find my locker later, for now, I was already fifteen minutes late and the halls were so empty I could almost see tumbleweed blowing through them.

"Just my luck," I sighed, "I'm not a people person anyway."

I was ready to call it quits, looking around the empty corridors and that's when I saw a familiar blue eyed devil swaggering his way down the hallway towards me.

His presence was intense for sure and I swallowed, out of reflex.

I was about to call out to him but thought better of it and turned immediately on my heels, heading the opposite way.

Tristan still hasn't said a single word to me since I got here and it's been three whole days. We might be living in the same house but I'd barely seen him over the long weekend which means we were still virtually strangers, so there's no way I was going to initiate a conversation with him.

And besides, he still looked at me like I was an impostor, as if it was my fault his dad decided to fall in love with my mom after knowing her all of ten seconds.

He should blame cupid or some other deity for that.

As I rounded the corner, the hallway in front of me had a handful of students milling around and I was glad to finally run into someone that wasn't the damn devil himself.

I got the right directions and when I finally found my class there was only about twenty minutes left anyway and I looked around the room with disinterest while I was being introduced.

Large eyes looked back at me, all very much interested and they seemed to be analyzing every curl on my head.

"Everyone this is Alexandria Kavanaugh. She just moved into Payne house. Please give her a warm welcome."

Welcomes rang out around the room, and just like everyone else I've come into contact with so far, the entire class was having a field day staring unashamedly at me, some of them baring their teeth in what I'm guessing were supposed to be smiles.

I pursed my lips, offering a boyish chin raise to acknowledge them, "Yeah, it's just Alex."

After that, I found a seat at the back, well hidden from the weird looks as I tried to catch up to whatever the teacher, Mr. Kaldorin was saying.

A few curious heads were turned my way, no longer smiling, before they faced forward again and I scrunched up my face, eyeing them warily.

Is it just me, or is everyone acting weird as hell?

"Alright, class, let's go over our checklist for the winter semester," Mr Kaldorin was saying and I started thinking of how nice his voice was, like a smooth jazz radio host, and it was already threatening to put me right to sleep.

I was never the best at school and I could already tell this school would be no different. Everyone here looked so mature compared to me that I felt even more out of place than I did back in Satin Ridge.

I looked around the room and my eyes landed on a girl sitting three chairs away from me.

She was tall (a given at this point) with thick black pin straight hair that went down to her waist, sharp almond-shaped eyes, and her skin was so clear it was almost unreal.

She was eyeing me with a smile and then she lifted a hand to wiggle her long nails at me, painted a deep red.

The hell was that?

Wait, am I tripping or is she trying to flirt with me?

Actually, maybe I'm just so starved for the attention I would usually get from Karma that I'm imagining things.

Yup, way more likely.

Putting my bag on the back of my chair, I looked down at the heavily graffitied desk before me.

VAMPIRES SUCK was scrawled into it in large calligraphed letters, as well as an array of other neatly penned quotes and miniature drawings of people and buildings. Some were even caricatures of people in the room, if my facial recognition wasn't failing me.

I ran my fingers over the ink stained wood, down the figure of a character labeled "Vin" who was drawn shoving another character labeled "Emette" off the side of the desk and a smile twitched onto my lips.

My eyes continued roaming over the desk, wondering who'd done the gorgeous artwork as I picked at the 'Vampires Suck' a few times before I yawned and leaned in, one elbow on the desk and my hand supporting my chin. Eventually, I started drifting off, almost falling out of my chair when the doors opened loudly and in strutted the blue eyed devil himself.

If I was fashionably late then he was even more so and he pulled every single gaze in the room. The class seemed to be lost in admiration, like 2Pac himself just came out of hiding.

The blue-eyed devil had a satisfied smirk on his face, one that turned into to a scowl as soon as those eyes landed on me. The room went dead silent as he headed for the back of the classroom—right for me.

My breath hitched in my throat and I looked up at him with wide eyes, surprised at the bold approach.

"Move."

It wasn't a request, it was an order and anger was filtering into my bloodstream like bad drugs.

Who the hell does this guy think he is?

I continued to look up at him wordlessly, only blinking.

"What are you, deaf?" He asked and his eyes seemed to only grow darker by the second.

The corner of my lip twitched.

I see. This is your desk, Tristan Payne.

I looked down at the juvenile scribbles, and then back up at his pissed off expression.

"Okay, but who exactly do you think you're talking to like that?" I had to lean back a little to properly take in his towering frame as the jerk was clearly trying to intimidate me.

I'd expected some kind of backup from the other members of the class since this guy seemed so unpleasant I doubt he was liked by anyone at all, but I must've judged wrongly because silence was what met my ears after such a badass statement.

"I couldn't care less," Tristan said haughtily, "And I won't ask you to move again."

It took all my self restraint not to read his pathetic, outdated macho act for filth.

"You don't actually think you're intimidating me, right?" I said smirking all the same.

All eyes were on us and the tensions were rising.

"Get out of my seat or we're going to have a problem, Alexandria," He snarled my name like it was a curse and with his accent, it honestly sounded like one.

That was was the first time I'd ever even heard Tristan call me by my name, too, and he'd said it with such venom that I couldn't help but break into a large grin.

I was really getting under his skin, wasn't I?

He must get a kick out of this kind of attention, but he's about to find out why I'm not the one today.

I crossed my arms over my chest, sitting with my back against the chair as I kicked my feet up on the desk and looked up at him, "Maybe I'll consider it if you ask nicely instead of barking."

This time the entire room filled with the screeching sound of desks shifting away from us.

"Come on now kids," Mr. Kaldorin spoke up with an awkward chuckle, folders in hand, "Class needs to continue."

Tristan glared hotly at him and to my surprise, our own teacher bowed his head to avoid eye contact with the boy who was getting pissy over a stupid desk and chair.

I was appalled, I tell you. Apalled.

Turning back to me, Tristan placed a hand on my desk and leaned in to look me dead in the eyes with a murderous expression that I met with a challenging glare of my own.

"So what's it going to be?" I asked the jerk, unbothered, "'Please' or 'Pretty ple-"

Before I could finish, Tristan was grabbing me by my arm with one large hand and dragging me out of the chair as if I weighed less than a toddler.

"Hey!" I yelled, tugging against him, "What the hell is your problem, asshole?"

A few snickers came from around the room.

Oh, so now y'all want to react?

Tristan released me while I was off balance, causing me to land on my ass on the floor. He then grabbed my bag off the back of the chair and tossed it at my feet.

I was speechless, glaring up at him for a long moment before swiping my messy curls from my forehead as I got to my feet again, grabbing my bag up off the floor.

What the hell is this guy's deal anyway?

I was getting angrier by the second as Tristan plopped himself down in what used to be my seat.

"Sit there," He ordered, pointing to the seat directly in front of his while he regarded me with a dark look in his eyes that was daring me to keep acting up.

The situation was spiraling into absurdity faster than a viral video. Honestly, with the theatrics Tristan was putting on, I wanted to ask if he thought he was auditioning for the role of High School Bully #1 in a teen drama, because the audacity of this man is just astounding.

I wanted to stand my ground until the very end but I guess the coward in me won out this time and especially having no backup despite the forty pairs of eyes that were locked on me the entire time.

After a few seconds of huffing angrily in his direction, I finally marched over to the free seat and settled down, despite myself.

White hot anger was seething through my veins and an intense desire to attack the big fat jerk was steadily rising. I clenched my fists and dug my nails into my palms, trying to prevent myself from standing up and socking him right in his big fat jerk face.

I need to calm down.

If I wasn't careful I could do something impulsive and get the cops called on me again.

This is why I don't go out of my way to interact with people. Narcissistic asswipes like him who think the whole world revolves around them, are always going to be found trying to assert their dominance over people like me who prefer to not be perceived.

Turning my head to shoot the blue-eyed devil a stank glare, I clenched my jaw tightly.

Why does he even hate me so much?

I'd never even said a word to him before today so what in the world was the cold act all about?

Despite everything though, I now had a sudden new goal in life.

I was filled with a determination to make Tristan Payne's life a living hell.

When you think about it, I've really only been playing nice this whole time because Mom mentioned we were both in the same boat, but if Tristan was going to go low, then I would have no choice but to go even lower and give him a taste of his own medicine.

"Can anyone tell me the answer to this question... anyone?"

My head was pounding, probably because I didn't sleep last night and stayed up until three a.m instead watching trash dating shows so I could laugh at the cringe, and I sunk down lower into my seat trying to blend into the woodwork.

I think it was working pretty well actually, that is until Mr Lucas' gaze landed on me.

Fuck.

"Alexandria!" The stout man boomed, grinning maliciously.

I winced before saying, "I just go by Alex, Sir."

"Ah, well then Alex, mind helping us out?"

"Actually-"

"September the first, nineteen-thirty-nine through to September the second, nineteen-forty-five."

I turned to glare at the rude person next to me who'd answered the question before I could.

I'm glad he answered, but still.

"You're welcome," He smiled and I scowled deeply in return.

"I was going to answer that."

"Sure you were."

"Yeah, I was- so maybe try waiting your turn next time," I huffed,

crossing my arms, knowing full well that I didn't actually know the answer in the first place.

"Okay, Alex," The boy spoke, cheeks dimpling on a smile.

I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to place where I'd seen him before.

"Emette, you should be fair and give Alex a chance next time," Mr Lucas turned to scribble the answer on the board and then I remembered.

Emette was the boy I met in the garden when I first got here. He had ditched the lip ring, though he kept the dangly one in his ear.

"Asshat," I muttered and he chuckled before leaning closer to whisper, "You smell nice."

It was a stupid compliment but I warmed up anyway. It was the first nice thing anyone had ever said to me since I got here. Not that people weren't nice but they usually stuck to staring instead of actually trying to make conversation.

Tristan, who I'd been doing my best to ignore ever since he came to our second class ten minutes late, leaned in from behind me, coming between me and Emette.

"Shut the fuck up," He ordered slowly under his breath.

I scoffed, "Why? It's not like you were paying attention anyways. I've seen you in class and you don't even take notes."

"True," He agreed, "But your desperate attempt at flirting is nauseating and you're in the direct line of fire."

"Pig," I cringed away from him instantly and Emette laughed, "And how am I the desperate one when your whole bad boy act is clearly a bid for attention?"

"Bad boy act?" Tristan was fidgeting with his pen, clicking it off his desk with an annoyed look, as if he would drag me out out my chair again if I kept talking, "You have no idea who I am, but you'll find out soon enough."

I was starting to think Tristan was actually crazy, because it didn't take much to set him off. Every little thing would make him snap.

Then again, that's probably my own fault too. I didn't have a filter or a problem provoking him right back.

Besides, Emette and I weren't even flirting.

Or were we?

The truth is, I don't even know how to flirt, but if simply talking to the male gender counts as flirting then I guess I'm already there?

I'll do my research and get back to you on that.

"Overcompensating a bit, Tristan?" Emette asked with a dimpled smirk and it warmed my heart that someone finally had the balls to stand up for me.

Tristan cocked his head to the side as the glare he was sending me earlier morphed, replaced by dark look that had Emette lowering his head, "Am I overcompensating?" He asked, tone gruff.

When Emette didn't answer, Tristan scoffed and leaned back against his chair, pushing his dark hair back and letting it fall over his forehead again before he clasped his hands behind his head. He looked way too relaxed for the situation, as if he was actually enjoying himself.

"Alright, can you both just go back to working?" I faced forward in my chair again, "I'm actually trying to learn here."

"Oh, don't worry about that," I heard Tristan chuckle, "Strippers don't need to be educated."

I almost gasped at the words the jerk dared to let leave his lips while the class erupted into quiet snickers and Emette, who was obviously easily amused, burst out laughing, gaining Mr Lucas' attention.

"Alex!" The serpentine man hissed, "Why don't you take this one?"

Ugh. I hate boys.

"Whose side are you even on?" I complained.

Emette winced, but he still had a smile on his face, "Just ignore him and I'm sure he'll go away," he said.

Somehow, I doubted that.

🫧

"So, how do you like it here so far?" Emette asked, trailing after me once Human History class was through, although I was trying to lose him.

"Fine?" I shrugged dismissively but he just kept walking, oblivious to my irritation.

I was practically race-walking down the long hallway, maneuvering my way around my giant peers with sweat droplets forming on my brow and upper lip. Emette had no trouble keeping up though, and he hardly seemed to notice my struggle with the way he was gliding along.

"That's good! And Tristan?"

"Oh, he's just the darling brother I've always wanted," I said in a sickly sweet voice dripping sarcasm as I headed over to my locker where I punched my code and stuffed my books in. I fished out my books for Chemistry as well as half a cupcake I'd left there since lunch. When I took a bite it was stale but I didn't care.

"Sure he is," Emette chuckled, "It's okay, you can say it. We all know he's kinda agro."

"Mhm," I started heading to my class hoping he wouldn't follow but, as fate would have it, he did.

"You heading to class?" He asked and I rolled my eyes for the billionth time.

"No I'm going figure skating."

"Ey, be careful with that sarcasm," he warned, "I'm sensitive."

"If you're so sensitive then why do you hang around someone like Tristan?" I stopped to look up at him. I know for a fact I'd seen him at Tristan's table earlier at lunch. He stopped just a few inches away from me with a weird look on his face, eyes darting around.

"Tristan's not so bad. You just don't get him."

No way he's for real.

"He said I'd be a stripper," I deadpanned.

"So? Strippers make bank," Emette grinned. I didn't share in his humor.

"Seriously, what's your problem with me?" I asked, folding my arms, "Are you all misogynists here or something?"

"Nah," Emette looked over his shoulder at the emptying hallway, "But let's not pretend you're not a mean little thing yourself."

"I'm not mean," I argued.

"Then why do you always have to provoke him?" He asked.

"Because, he acts like a spoiled brat," I shrugged, "And besides, he started it first."

"What, the stripper comment hurt that bad?" Emette asked with a grin.

"Don't smile at me," I sucked my teeth, already fed up with Emette, "You obviously have a crush on him or something, because there's no one in the world who could like someone like him besides his own mother."

Emette laughed loudly, "Yeah, I agree but please don't say that out loud. The walls have ears. Lots of them."

"Oh so you're just kissing ass?" I asked.

"I'm not kissing anyone's ass," he protested, "It's just...if you're going to go around making smartmouth remarks, you should be prepared for the consequences, you know?"

"Fine, whatever," I said, turning to face him as we neared the classroom door, "You know what? I'll just keep my mouth shut from now on. I swear, it's like I'm in kindergarten all over again."

"Alright," Emmet said, "That's... wise."

As the door opened and students were heading in, I gave him a small smirk, "By the way, you shouldn't stare at a girl's chest."

That seemed enough to fluster him, and I watched his face go scarlet, "I'm sorry, I er-" He started, before he then poked my cheek, "She actually smiles. It's a miracle!"

"Yeah, well she's also mentally unstable," I smiled wider.

"Hot," He growled, biting his lip and I laughed out loud this time. He then reached around to grab my phone from my back pocket.

"Hey! Give that back!"

With a dimpled grin he held his arms up, keeping my phone out of reach as he typed something in and then handed it back to me, "See yah later, Alex."

"Don't count on it," I answered but he was already jogging up the stairs and was lost from view.

I continued heading to class when my phone vibrated in my pocket.

Emette O'Connor: I'm definitely counting on it.

After school, I called Mom and asked if she'd forgotten she was supposed to pick me up since she wasn't waiting in the parking lot when I got there.

"Oh honey, I'm so so sorry!" She was breathing heavily while I could hear her heels click clacking wherever she was rushing to, "I got so caught up at the mall. Can you believe they have these limited edition-"

"Mo-om," I groaned, stomping in frustration, "How am I supposed to get home now? You do know we live in the middle of nowhere?"

I should have known she'd become a shopaholic and Jackson was no better with the way he encouraged her unhealthy spending habits.

"Just get a ride from a friend." She said dismissively, before continuing on about the shoes she was about to buy even though I couldn't even see them.

"What friend? It's my first day," I sucked my teeth.

Mom was quiet for a second before saying, "Well can't Tristan take you? He hasn't left yet, right?"

I looked over the cars in the parking lot before spotting Tristan's. Letting out a loud sigh, I rolled my eyes, "No."

"Okay then it's settled! Bye bye!"

"Mom I-"

She hung up before I could even finish and I groaned, going over to the car and resting my back against the door.

Guess I'll just have to wait.

Ten minutes later there was a small giggle and I felt the door of the car open from the other side. I got to my feet quickly from where I'd been squatting to see Tristan practically devouring some girl's face.

Ew.

I cleared my throat loudly and his eyes met mine and narrowed instantly. A sudden shudder ran down my spine at the cold expression but I composed myself and decided not to show any fear.

He's just a boy after all.

"What the fuck do you want?" He asked, enunciating each word slowly in an annoyed tone.

I crossed my arms under my hefty chest, responding with the same venom, "Mom said you have to take me home."

He scoffed, "I don't have to do anything."

And with that he went back to kissing the girl, pulling her up against him since they had a striking difference in height.

I huffed, opening the passenger door and chucking my bag inside angrily before getting in the car myself.

"What the fuck?" Tristan tore himself away from the girl to glare at me through the glass, "Get out."

"No."

"Now!"

"You're taking me home, dickhead."

He growled, slamming his hand against the roof of the car.

This guy has some serious problems.

The girl pouted, clearly not reading the room as she trailed her fingers down the front of his shirt with lustful eyes, "Um, who is that?"

"No one," Tristan snarled.

The girl sighed before turning and flouncing away but he tugged her back, "Hey, come on, Taisha."

She rolled her eyes then, "My name is Christa!"

"Wa-ow," I drawled loudly, making sure they knew I was eavesdropping, and a look of panic crossed Tristan's face before he said, "I knew that. I just slipped up, is all."

Nice save, Jerkwad.

I didn't think she would fall for it, but when they continued to talk for a while longer I realized it truly had worked and Christa was sadly a lost cause and had already fallen victim to the call of the loins.

How sad.

I was getting impatient after a while and I tapped on the window where they stood saying, "Wrap it up."

Tristan shot me an I'll-fucking-kill-you glare before telling Christa that he had to go.

"But I thought you'd take me to the caves," she whined tugging on his shirt with her long acrylic nails like a desperate stray cat, "I wanted to meet Zain."

A strange look came over Tristan's face and he glanced over at me, his blue eyes hiding some unknown emotion as he pried her hands off his shirt then leaned in, kissing her cheek briefly.

"I'll text you later."

"Promise?" she asked, hopeful.

"Only if you don't text first."

I can't believe this guy actually gets any play considering he knew exactly how to be the ultimate dickwad. Do the girls here have no self worth?

Tristan got in and I smirked at him from the rear view mirror, giggling when he visibly clenched his teeth.

I just love cockblocking.

THE BLUE-EYED DEVIL

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