“Andyouwill find that telling me to stay away from one of the only two friends I have made since being here, isn’t a school rule, Mr Knox.”
“Just think about my request then… As for why you are here, you need to pick an extra-curricular.” I groan. I don’t do sports, unless drinking coffee is classed as a sport.
“I’m not good at any sport and I don’t play an instrument.”
“I figured that, so I have organised one on one classes especially for you, with my eldest son, Mr Knox, to teach you self-defence. It is a very good thing for a woman to know.”
“Yeah, because men can’t respect women; we are just objects to them.”
“Sad, but true. In some societies at least. However, you will find that here, we do not tolerate that kind of behaviour. Your lessons will start in a few days once I finalise it all, and I will send a message to your tablet so you are aware of when the lessons will be. Because he teaches during the day, they will be in his free time, but they will count towards your final grade. I hope you take the spare time during school hours to get in some extra study in the library, since we fast tracked you into second year at Knox. You do still have your final exams being sent over for you to complete, within the next month.”
“I’m ready to take those exams, sir.”
“I believe you are, but extra study cannot hurt. I will see you tomorrow night for dinner.”
With that, I am dismissed. Leaving Monty’s office, Baxter winks again as I walk out and go to class.
Great, I have SELF class with Kalen and his Mum now, this will be fun.
When I make it to SELF class, the lesson has already started but thankfully the teacher doesn’t say a word about me being late. Kalen waves me over.
“Saved you a seat, sis.” His damn smile is infectious.
“I’m not your sister,” I whisper.
“Thank God for that, it would look a bit weird if I married my sister.”
“Not going to marry you either.”
“Do you know my brothers hate you? They want me to hate you too, but I don’t know if I can.”
“Maybe try harder, this will be easier for us all if you do hate me.”
“They are going to fuck with you. I would watch your back if I were you; it isn’t safe for you here anymore.”
“So nothing has changed for me then, where I grew up the streets were not safe.”
The rest of the class drags on, Kalen keeps talking, and his mum doesn’t even look our way. Whatever Monty said to her must have worked.
After class, I make my way to lunch. Elsie said she would meet me there for a quick break. Walking into the lunch room, the laughter dies down and the whispers start; everyone seems to be looking my way. I rush over to Elsie and her face tells me something is wrong.
“What the hell is going on?” I ask, taking a seat.
“You mean you don’t know?” I shake my head. I have no idea what is happening right now.
“You are clearly on their radar. The last person that crossed them left. This isn’t good, Amelie, check your tablet.”
I open a message request and a photo pops up. The bile in my throat burns, my eyes water at the sight, and everything drags me back to the exact moment this picture was taken. How theyfound it is beyond me…. actually, it really isn’t... I’m sure my step-father has a whole file of all my damn records.
Anger pulsates through my veins, tunnel vision sets in. Rage is all I feel right now. I push my seat back, so hard it slams against the floor, and my heart stammers in my chest as I take one step closer to the twins.
“Do you think this is fucking funny?” I scream, slamming my tablet on the table.
“Whore,” someone coughs.
“We can’t help it if you like having multiple sexual partners at the same time,” Onyx declares.
“Looks like you were at least having fun,” Slate adds.
