*Kim's POV*

Skyler's fist hung two inches away from my face.

I was grateful to whoever had stopped her from bruising my face further.

She stepped away quickly, signalling to her friends to let go of me.

I turned my head to see who my supposed saviour was.

An angry sigh escaped my lips.

My buried feelings of anger came up bubbling once more.

It was Jason.

" Oh my God Jason!! , You won't believe what this witch did to me" Skyler whined pointing to her red nose.

Jason stepped forward, cupping her face in his hands delicately.

The tight feeling in my chest came rushing back as I stood, watching them.

" What's the meaning of all these?" Jason snapped at me "When did you become this violent, Kim?".

" So you're now taking her side so quickly," I shot back at him " She slapped me first!"

" That's because she called me a cheap slut!" Skyler cut in, still whining

He turned to me, disappointment clearly written on his face

" Why would you do that Kim?" he snapped at me " Why would you resort to hitting her and calling her names just because you're insecure?"

His words stung me.

I tried so hard to ignore his remarks but my emotions got the better of me

" I'm insecure, huh Jason?" I asked in disbelief

I dusted my backpack from the floor. " You know what, I don't even need to listen to your bullshit".

Jason blocked my path, gently grabbing my arm

" Don't you dare touch me!" I snarled at him, squeezing my arm from his grip.

" Kim... why don't you calm down let's talk about...."

" Jason, mind your damn business and move out of my way" I interrupted sharply, pointing to the door " Move. Now."

" Look, nobody is trying to make you feel..." he began to say

" Get out of my way Jason!" I brushed past him and left him staggering.

The tears were coming back again. The lump in my throat was getting harder to swallow.

I burst into tears as soon as I walked out the door.

I walked into school the next day, still nursing my sore face from the slap.

Everyone glanced at me like I was some sort of survivor.

Allison serenaded me before I barely had any chance to sit down.

" We heard what happened last night" she whispered with a look of pity on her face " I'm sorry we weren't there".

" Don't worry about it, girl" I replied, forcing a smile "I'm good... fine actually"

" She needs to pay for trying to humiliate you in front of the whole school" Becca said, rushing over.

" Oh don't worry about payback... I got her good" I said, pointing to my forehead.

" What do you mean by that?" Allison asked

" It means she hit her so hard, her thoughts went to the back of her head" Becca quipped, giggling loudly.

" Well I think you should have just reported to the principal instead of resorting to violence, she'll know how to handle it" Allison said, reaching out for a hand

" Oh shut up, Allison. If I were in her shoes, I would bite off that bitch's pointy nose and make a thumbtack with it" Rebecca snapped at her.

" Not everyone has to be as brash as you, Becca" Allison shot back

" Enough about me guys!, How did the game go yesterday?" I asked

" They rescheduled it, didn't you hear?" Allison answered quickly " They've got a game with Rose Hill High next week"

" So you didn't get to spend time with Vincent?" I asked gently

" It was tragic, Kim" Becca said, with her hand clutched to her chest " They destroyed her only chance of making out with a hot guy"

We all laughed... except Allison. She was having none of Becca's antics.

The closing bell came after what seemed like an eternity.

I picked up my backpack and bolted for the door.

I just couldn't wait to get away from the school grounds and away from Skyler.

Allison and Becca were already at their lockers, chatting away.

I scanned the hallway for Skyler and her minions, they were nowhere to be found.

" I've got to get home and finish that homework, I've got other things planned out for today" Allison said, grabbing her books from her locker.

I stopped in my tracks.

" We were given homework ?" I asked, alarmed

" Yes and it's due tomorrow, don't you remember?"

" I don't remember any homework... really"

" That's because you've been zoning in and out lately" She said in her usual motherly tone

"You've got to focus, Kim. This is our last year of high school," she added.

" I think I'll follow you ..." I began to say

Someone banged my locker forcefully from behind me.

I moved away just in time to avoid getting hit in the head.

I turned around slowly and as expected..

It was Skyler, with her two friends.

Just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse.

" So sorry, Kim. Did I catch you at a bad time?" she quipped, grinning from ear to ear.

" What do you want now?" I asked coldly

" How nice of you to ask, so I just need a little.."

" Fuck off, Skyler. We don't want you and your leeches here " Becca stepped forward, eyeing Veronica and Camille.

" Can you tell that one I don't speak weasel?" she said, pointing at Becca with her thumb.

" What do you want?" I asked again

" As I was saying... I need you to get my homework done today, it's due tomorrow" she replied

" Why don't you get DUMB and DUMBER here to do it?" I said, glaring at her two friends.

" Better watch your mouth, Kim!!" Veronica snapped

" That's because you're also going to do theirs too" Skyler replied, smiling wickedly

" Oooh.... is that so?" I asked, feigning excitement.

" We've got somewhere to be tonight ... and consider it an apology for your misbehaviour yesterday" she replied with disdain

" What if I say No and maybe.... Fuck off?" I asked

Her face hardened as she narrowed her eyes.

" You don't want to say that ... trust me"

" Ok then, can I have your books please" I stretched out my hands.

" Kim, what the hell are you doing?" Becca blurted out

" Taking their books, Becca" I replied, grabbing Skyler's book.

I felt the hardbound leather cover of the book in my hand for a moment.

It was heavy and very sturdy. It would go far.

" Let me show a trick" I stepped back and flung the book across the hallway, still facing her.

I happily watched her face morph into shock and anger.

Her eyes followed the book sailing across the hallway.

My sight was still fixed on her when I heard a loud crash.

There were gasps from every direction in the hallway.

The silence that followed was deafening.

I knew I was in trouble.

Kim's POV*

I turned my head slowly towards the direction of the crash, hoping it was something minor.

Something I could pay for with detention and a heartfelt apology.

But luck wasn't on my side today.

I held back the urge to gasp when I saw the glass plaque shattered on the floor.

Shards of glass lay everywhere.

The courier who delivered it kept staring at the floor in shock, as he had just seen someone perform dark magic.

" Aww... Christmas came early" Skyler said, that wicked smile now back on her face.

" See what you made me do!!" I lashed out at her, pointing at the mess lying five feet away.

" Oh spare me that crap, we all saw your pathetic attempt at an Olympic performance" she retorted, giggling

She snickered " You're in big trouble now, girl"

" I swear to god I'm going to kill..."

" Hey blonde hair !" the courier called out, finally looking up "Are you fucking blind?!"

" I'm sorry ... I'm really... really sorry" I stammered, trying to swallow the lump building in my throat.

Mrs Thorne, our principal, stood over the shattered glass. A forlorn look on her face.

Her hands were glued to her waist.

I could feel my hands trembling.

She picked up Skyler's book " Who did this ?".

Everyone pointed to me, and I pointed to Skyler.

I wasn't going down for this alone.

" Both of you, in my office... now!!' she commanded, walking away briskly.

I followed suit, as a meek lamb led to the slaughter.

I resigned to my fate back at the principal's office.

I couldn't bring myself to think about the cost of replacing the Plaque.

I did not know how I was going to wriggle out of the situation.

" I can't believe you would do this, Ms Kimberly" Mrs Thorne said, looking at me intensely "You're a senior, you should know better"

" I'm sorry" I said, bowing my head

She sighed with exasperation " That was a rare crystal glass plaque.

"How am I going to explain that it got destroyed before it could even get to my Office ?" she asked no one in particular.

" I'm really sorry" I repeated, bowing my head down.

" Being sorry just won't cut it, Ms Kimberly. We have a replacement policy and I intend to use it" she said.

" This is not fair ... this is absolutely not fair" Skyler said

" Which part of it is not fair?" Mrs Thorne asked, leaning forward on her table.

" I approached her to ask about our homework from Kim and she just snatched my book and flung it away.

I didn't do anything to warrant this" Skyler replied with a trembling voice.

"That's a 3,000-dollar plaque you two broke out there. We were supposed to present it to our School's top benefactor, Mr Wallace but now it's in bits and pieces... whose fault is that?" She rasped, shifting her gaze to Skyler

Skyler finally kept quiet.

Her theatrics weren't going to work this time.

I was just happy to know she would be facing whatever consequences alongside me.

" I'd love to call your parents right away, but since you're now seniors... like I keep repeating, I'll give you all a chance to take responsibility for once". Mrs Thorne said.

My eyes lit up in hope.

" What do you want us to do, ma'am?" I asked quickly, sitting up from my chair.

" Well, I want you guys to come up with my Three Thousand dollars before the end of next week and we'll all forget this ever happened" she said.

My heart sank.

" But ma'am, is there no other way..."

There's one other way, Ms Kimberly" she cut me off, leaning back against her chair" Suspension's on the table if you'd like that."

Skyler shoved me as soon as we stepped outside the office.

" Haven't you done enough" I hissed, coming face to face with her.

" I'm not done with you yet" she shot back, storming off.

I sat down on the waiting bench, my head in my hands.

Thinking about possible ways to make 3000 dollars in a week till I lost track of time.

"Hey, hallway girl. What's wrong with you?' a deep masculine voice rang out beside me.

I looked up to see his hazel blue eyes peering down, as he towered over me with a smile on his face.

" You again!... What do you want?" I asked weakly

He pointed at the bench and I scooted over to make space.

" What are you doing here?" I asked as I watched him sit

" Why are you asking? You wanna remind me that the bench is not my property? He asked with a smirk

I sighed with irritation " Just answer the question, will you?"

" Same thing as you, just on the other side" he quipped, folding his arms.

I couldn't help noticing his bicep muscles flexing and stretching the sleeve of his shirt.

" You broke something too?" I queried

" I'm here because you broke something" he replied gently

Then it hit me.

" You're Scott... Wallace Scott" I said slowly.

" Yeah, that would certainly be me"

" You're the new student... you're new to the school " I blurted out, not knowing what else to say.

" I've seen your handiwork first-hand today... Nice throw" he drawled, nodding his head in unsolicited approval.

" I'm sorry for breaking your dad's plaque, I didn't mean to" I mumbled.

" Don't sweat it. Dad would've stowed it away in one of his closets until it's stained from collecting dust" he replied.

" If only I could convince Mrs Thorne with that" I thought aloud " I don't even know where I can find the money"

" I know where you can" he said

" Sorry?"

He folded his arms and leaned backwards, looking confident like he was about to make me an offer I can't refuse.

" I can actually help you pay the money, I overheard the Principal talking about it" he whispered

I raised my brows in surprise " No... you don't have to worry about..."

" But I want to. I know you don't have it and you might not have it by the end of next week , let me help you pay it back" he implored.

I was confused. " But why would you want to do that?"

" I just feel we got off on the wrong foot" he said " We should really get to know each other better".

My heart almost burst with Joy. I had been worried sick for the better part of today and here was help.... sitting two feet across from me.

" Thanks a lot ... Thank you so much. I'll pay you back as soon as I get the money".

He chuckled " You don't have to pay me back".

This was becoming too good... but I really didn't care.

" Thanks then... I'll always remember the favour..."

" I have one condition, though".