The Don's Princess

Exchange

Hailey's POV
"Angel, wake up fi school!" My mother shouts from her room. I yawn as I stretch, sitting up in bed, allowing myself to "defrost."

"Mommy mi wake," I say before her miserable nature takes over.

Getting up fully, I spread my bed. Heading to the bathroom, I brush my teeth and wash my face.

I go to the kitchen, where I make myself a bowl of cereal. I eat before taking a bath in order to do something productive while "cooling off."

After I'm done eating, I take a bath.

Water cold yf.

Shivering, I leave the bath after a good 15 minutes where I get dressed in my undergarments. Yes, I put them on in the bathroom.

"Mommy, which part yuh put mi socks?" I ask, buttoning up my blouse.

"Nuh inna d same draw dem always deh," she says, attitude rich in her tone. I rolled my eyes at it but decided to check again, and I found them.

Zipping up my uniform, I lotion my feet and put my socks on. Shortly after which I put on my flat shoes.

After the whole morning routine is done, I collect my lunch money from my mom and , to school, I went.

7:30a.m.
Hate come yah.

"Mi swear a you a security eno, no sah," the security says as I step through the gate and I laugh.

"Morning seci, yuh know seh my mother love mek noise suh mi affi early," I smile and she returns the gesture.

I head to my form class where I take a seat, dreading for this long day to be over.

Ria's POV
I'm on my way home from another business meeting that I had to fill in for my father. I passed the parish library on my way home, so I decided to pick up a few books as I've finished the last ones I borrowed. I don't need to borrow books, but it's a preference. It prevents me from spending money on books that I'll never touch again after reading them.

"Martin, I'd like to borrow a few more books," I inform my chauffeur. He listens and pulls into the parking spot in front of the library.

I'm regular, so I do my usual routine and got my books. It's about 4p.m. and the air coming from the sea is cool, so I take a seat under the big almond tree just to start reading one of my new books.

Martin sits in the car, keeping a close watch on me, as he's instructed to do by my father.

I feel like a sheltered puppy, a bougie poodle that's not allowed to get their paws dirty, and I hate it. I understand why the measures are put in place, but it's annoying.

"Ria?" Her voice...unmistakable, I look up to see the brown eyed beauty.

"That's me," I smile. Closing the book and resting it beside me on the pile of other books.

"I didn't expect to see you here," she expresses. I wasn't expecting to see her here either, so it's a surprise for both of us.

"And vice versa," I repeat my thoughts out loud.

"Sit," I instruct, patting the space on the bench beside me, and she surpsingly listens without argument. This is surprising because girls tend not to like being told what to do, so her obedience is... not expected.

"What are you doing here?" She pries, and usually I'm not into conversation, but I really don't mind.

"To get books," is my simple response, and she nods.

She removes her laptop from her bag. It looks a bit rugged and outdated, but it works. She seems really focused, not once looking up from whatever she's doing.

I've been staring, but I don't care because she's worth staring at.

"What are you doing?" I ask as she stares at her screen with knitted brows.

"I'm writing a lab report for chemistry," she responds with her eyes still glued to the computer screen.

"Can I have a look?" I ask, and she nods, handing the laptop to me.

I scroll, and it's a lab on...titration. I don't remember a lot from this specific lab, but I jot down what I do remember.  Handing the laptop back to her, she smiles.

"Thank you," she says in the brightest tone possible.

"You're welcome," I smile ever so slightly. 

"Come, I'm taking you home," I instruct, and she raises a brow.

You are bossy as fuck. I'm sure she won't like you.

I do admit I am a bit pushy but it's how I was grown, it's all I know.

"You barely know me and I barely know you," she says and I sigh. She's right, but I'm not leaving her here alone for the life of me. It's not my place to care but I do.

"I understand that, but if I wanted to hurt you, I would've done it right here. The park is literally empty," I point out and she scans around the place with her eyes.

"True," she says and behind me she follows.

Martin opens the front door for me but I'd much rather be beside her. I politely turn down his offer and instead I open the door for, her.

"Thank you," she smiles, appreciative.

"You're welcome,"

Taking a seat beside her, Martin enters the car and on our way we go.

"Where are you going?" I ask and she tells me. I find the location and sent it to Martin in case he wasn't listening to the conversation.

"I love your jacket by the way," she compliments the cream coloured hoodie I have on.

"Thank you, want it?" I ask and she looks a bit taken a back.

"So you just give away your stuff when people compliment it?" She asks curiously, knitting her brows.

"First time actually," I admit, looking straight ahead while her eyes burn holes into the side of my head. Her body is slightly slanted so her gaze is more focused.

"Take a left here," she instructs.

The rest of the drive is spent mostly in silence, I say mostly because she occasionally sings to the songs playing on the radio.

"Right here,"

We pull over in front of a neat little board house with concrete flooring. I look at her little house and how cheerful she is even though it's obvious money isn't her biggest resource.

The gentle shutting of the door pulls me from thought.

"So you're not going to ask for my number or something?" she says and to say I'm surprised is an understatement.

"Women tend to not like being asked for their number, perhaps I'd rather get to know you in person, it's weird to just ask," I explained.

"And it's weird to take a girl home after just meeting her, so what's your point?" She raises a brow at me and I couldn't help but smile.

"That's true," I admit and she rolls her eyes.

"Fine, I'll take your number," I continue, handing my phone to her.

"Well that's polite," she rolls her eyes but puts her number in anyway. She presses save and hands me back my phone.

She saved herself as..."Hailey."

That's drier than the Sahara, no emoji...nothing.

"Couldn't you save it a little more cheerful?" I ask and she smiles.

"Save it as whatever you want, I'm not in the place to choose an emoji...at the moment," she says and I smile.

"At the moment? What are you suggesting?" With a smirk on my face, I question. Her cheeks light up.

"Bye Ria," she waves before turning to walk away.

"Bye Hailey," I smile.