Legacy Unveiled: The Hidden Heir

Chapter 11: A Change

I found solace on a beanbag, hidden away in the farthest corner behind the encyclopedias, tears streaming down my face. Who would even notice me here anyway?

"No... you can't ask Madison out, bro," a familiar voice pierced the silence. My heart sank as Grayson appeared around the corner with two of his buddies, laughing. I prayed he wouldn't spot me, but of course, he did.

"Kiran, are you... okay?" he trailed off, his eyes softening as he took in the sight of me. I quickly wiped my face and muttered, "Yeah, just choked on something."

He motioned for his friends to go ahead and took a seat beside me. "Yeah right, choked on food when you clearly look heartbroken," he observed gently.

"Look, I'm sorry if I sounded rude, but I just need some space right now, okay?" I said, feeling the tears threatening to overwhelm me again.

"Hey, I heard what went down in the cafeteria, okay? I didn't think it would escalate like that. I was just messing around with Pragyan in class," Grayson said, trying to offer comfort.

"Well, he took it to a whole other level by announcing his relationship publicly," I replied sadly.

"I was really surprised, actually. He didn't listen to you at all," Grayson consoled me once more, his presence offering a glimmer of comfort amid my turmoil.

"You know, Rudra called me and said he'd drive us both home," Grayson added, trying to break the heavy silence.

"That's good to know. I wasn't feeling up for the walk anyway," I replied, rising as the bell chimed. "I gotta hit class. See you later, I guess," I said, grabbing my lunch bag.

I spent the rest of the day burying myself in my studies, trying to forget the lunchtime drama. And I succeeded, at least until the final bell rang and I walked out with my classmates. Heading to my locker, I grabbed my gear and made my way to the soccer pitch, throwing myself into drills with all the pent-up anger and despair fueling my every move.

After an intense hour and a half of practice, I trudged to the parking lot to find Arnav, Shivansh, Madhu, and Geeta waiting, but I just walked past them. They tried to talk, but I brushed them off with a mumbled excuse about being tired after practice, heading towards the car where Rudra and Grayson were talking.

"Hey, how was school?" Rudra asked, his concern evident.

"I'm just beat," I smiled weakly, not wanting to burden him with the details of what had happened.

I hit the books hard, with Grayson serving as my academic coach through the maze of textbooks and notes. After three brutal hours, I was mentally drained, teetering on the brink of a full-blown meltdown. Bid Grayson adieu, I retreated to the sanctuary of my room. Slamming the door shut, I unleashed a primal scream into my pillow, the weight of the day crashing down on me like a ton of bricks.

Little did I know, Rudra silently slipped into the room, wrapping me in a tight embrace as I sobbed uncontrollably. No teasing, no jokes-just his quiet presence, offering solace in the storm.

As the tears finally ebbed away, leaving me emotionally raw, I closed my eyes, letting Rudra's warmth envelop me. "Let it all out," he murmured gently. "You'll feel better once you've let it all out."

I nodded, still clinging to him, and spilled my heart out. Rudra listened without a hint of judgment, his protective aura shining through. "Want me to have a word with him?" he offered, his tone tinged with a hint of menace at the mention of Pragyan.

I shook my head. "No... but, uh, could you drive me to school tomorrow? I know it's a big ask, but..."

A soft smile touched Rudra's lips. "I could drive you every day if you want. And if that good-for-nothing jerk dares to mess with you again, he'll answer to me," he declared, his voice laced with a teenage drama flair, as if straight out of a movie scene.

Rudra stuck around until I drifted off, and the next morning, I woke up feeling surprisingly chipper, even before my alarm chimed in. Eager to shake off yesterday's drama, I decided to switch things up. Instead of the usual cute but uncomfortable ensemble, I opted for comfy black track pants, a loose green tee, and sneakers-perfect for a day without soccer practice.

My class schedule looked mercifully light: double English, double math (my absolute favorite subject), and a trio of self-study periods.

Downstairs, Rudra was already up and about, spreading morning cheer like confetti. "Good morning!" he chirped, and I couldn't help but mirror his enthusiasm. "Good morning, dear bro!" I echoed back, feeling unusually upbeat.

"Someone's in a good mood today," he teased, flashing a knowing grin.

"Yep, and this time, it's here to stay," I proclaimed confidently as I grabbed the lunch he handed me. With Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" blasting through the speakers, we cruised to school, ready to conquer the day.

"Have an awesome day at school, little sis," Rudra said, tousling my hair playfully as we pulled up.

"You bet I will," I replied, beaming with teenage optimism, ready to seize the day with all its possibilities.

As I approached my locker, I caught Pragyan, Arnav, and Shivansh shooting glances my way. Nope, not today, I thought, veering off and taking the scenic route to English class instead. Thankfully, Maddie, my partner in crime, joined me. She had a knack for keeping toxic vibes at bay, and I was grateful she was by my side.

"You've gotta come sit with me at lunch," Maddie insisted, tugging me along as we whiled away the time chitchatting and discussing in all our classes until lunchtime arrived.

When the lunch bell finally chimed, I entered the cafeteria and glanced at the usual table where Pragyan, Shivansh, Arnav, Madhu, and Geeta sat somberly. They got up as they saw me, but I kept walking and settled down with Maddie and her gang of girlfriends instead. Their positivity was infectious, and they welcomed me with open arms. We chatted and laughed, and for that brief moment, I was genuinely happy, so much so that I completely forgot about the existence of the others.

With Maddie and her friends, the lunch period passed in a blur of joy and laughter, and for the first time in a while, I felt like I truly belonged.

As I made my way to my last three classes, unfortunately, Maddie had math and PE lined up before she could join me in self-study class. I found myself cornered by Pragyan, Shivansh, Arnav, Madhu, and Geeta.

"Look, I-" Pragyan began, but I cut him off with a smile. "I'm not interested but do congratulate Ishani on bagging the captain's seat in basketball. I heard she's been playing really well," I interjected, pushing past them determined not to let their drama ruin my positive mindset like yesterday.

"I AM NOT DATING ISHANI!" Pragyan's frustrated yell echoed down the hallway as I flashed him a thumbs-up and headed off to class. Today, I wasn't going to let their drama get the best of me-I had a positive mindset to maintain.

Today had been an absolute joy-no negativity, no anger, just pure enjoyment. By the end of the day, I came to a realization: I needed a change of friends. Being with Maddie made me understand that altering your environment can lift you out of a slump.

As the week progressed, I found myself spending most of my time with Maddie and her gang, who now officially welcomed me as a member. From morning till evening, we were inseparable, even during soccer practice. I successfully avoided encounters with Pragyan, Shivansh, Arnav, Madhu, and Geeta. While Pragyan's actions had hurt me the most, I felt that being around the others might dredge up unpleasant memories, so I steered clear.

It had become a ritual for Rudra to drive me to school and back, listening to my tales of the day's events. His unwavering support and companionship were a comforting constant amidst the changes in my social circle.