Riches To Rags

Chapter 17

S K Y L E R

After Jasper dropped us at school the next morning, I actually shuddered.

Suddenly the school felt way too big with too many people.

I was embarrassed and humiliated yesterday at the cafeteria which is meant to be my favorite spot in school!

"What's on your mind?" A deep voice interrupted my thought as I stood outside thee hallway.

"Nothing." I wuickly replied.

"Are you scared of coming in?" The left side of his lips twitched upwards like he was mocking me.

"I'm Skyler Richmond. I've never been scared of anything." I reminded as I tightly held onto my purse.

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear." He smiled and walked in front of me. "Come on; let's get to class." He urged.

"Why do I have to come with you?"

"Have fun walking by yourself." He saluted and slowly turned back.

Having a companion walk with me isn't a bad idea right now. It'll show Lana that I'm still doing alright.

"Wait!" I yelled and he stopped while I jogged to catch up with him. "Let's go."

He shrugged but led the way while I walked beside him.

The feeling of having someone by my side after yesterday's incident was in describable. It felt like I hadn't lost everything and it fueled my courage.

"You can go on to your class now, there's no need to follow me all the way inside." I urged when he followed me the door of my first class.

"Following you?" He raised his brows and chuckled. "I also have this class." He walked past me and went to sit inside.

I sealed my eyes shut and took a deep breath before turning to face the class and mentally face palmed myself.

Bringing out my books and pen; I realized I now actually had to pay attention in class.

At the end of the class, before everyone started leaving, a test was announced and everyone groaned in annoyance.

"Skyler, come over here for a minute." The teacher called and I obediently went over. "Your CA is doing poorly so if you don't do well during this test; you won't be able to write exams not to even talk about graduating." He informed me.

If I don't graduate then I'll have to spend another shit year in this school and I'll have to graduate with Crystal?

"I'll do my best." I politely replied before taking my leave.

"I can't believe you still came to school after yesterday, that's such a Skyler thing to do. What can one expect from a narcissist?"

Narcissist?

"What did you just call me?"

"Oh wait. You probably don't know the meaning of a narcissist right?" Lana cackled.

"I don't have time for any of this." I tried to walk past her out she pushed me back.

"My shoe's dirty, go down and clean it up." Her eyes suddenly went darker.

I scoffed. "There's no way in hell I'll ever go down in front of you bitch."  I rolled my eyes at her.

"I said clean it!" She grabbed my arm.

If looks could kill, Lana would have died repeatedly.

I felt my gaze pierce deep into her eyes but she didn't back down either.

"Let her go." A familiar voice interrupted and we both turned to the source.

Mason.

"Who the fuck are you?" Lana seethed.

"You don't need to know." He replied. "Just let her arm go." He continued as he came closer to us.

"Or else what?" A familiar voice joined the conversation.

William.

He strolled to us in a team jacket.

"Who the fuck do you think you are to order my girlfriend around?"

"Up until a month ago she," Mason pointed at me. "Was your girlfriend and you were ready to hit anyone who even looked in her direction."

"Things change." He shrugged.

"Seems like you've found yourself a little plaything Sky." Lana chuckled as I felt her grip loosen.

"He's not a plaything." I replied to her.

"In case you don't know, she's using you because she has nobody on her side now. When she's done with you, she's going to drop you because she's a selfish person. She only thinks about herself." Lana added.

"She's pretty, I don't mind."

I felt my breath seize for a second while my heart skipped a beat.

What was that?

Lana let me go while her boyfriend followed behind her.

I don't remember harassing anyone this much.

"Are you alright?" Mason asked and I nodded. "So why did Mr Cody ask you to stay back?" He asked again reminding me of myreal life problems.

"He says I might not graduate."

"Why not?"

"Because my family's dirt poor now," I sarcastically replied.

"Come on!" He groaned.

"He says my continuous assessment is terrible and I need to pass this test otherwise I won't be able to write exams meaning I won't be able to graduate." I explained it to him.

Wait a minute, why did I tell him all that?

"That's quite serious. Are you good at Spanish?" He asked.

"No." I quickly replied. "Why does Spanish even have to be a qualifying course?"

"It's important to know at least one foreign language."

"Whatever."

"Maybe I could help." He suggested.

"You want to tutor me?"

"To be honest Almond is so much better at it than I am but since you both don't really see eye to eye, I guess I could step in." He offered.

"It's in two days! There's no way I'll be able to learn enough Spanish to pass!"

"So you plan to fail?"

I cannot graduate the same year with Crystal, she won't let me hear the end of it.

"I cannot fail. The time is just way too small."

"Skyler can you chill?" He smiled. "No one's asking you to be fluent in Spanish in two days! We just need to know enough and that we can do."

Did he just call me by my name? He's never done that before.

As he smiled, I noticed the two small incisions on both sides of his cheek.

Did he always have dimple?

Has his smile always been this charming?

More importantly why am I starting to notice things about Mason?

**

Happy New Year everyone!