Underestimated Heiress

CHAPTER 4 - New Friends

After a couple of days, Jess sent a message to Richa requesting to meet after school. She needed to sort out their differences before they started working as a team. Richa agreed to meet after school.

Richa and Jess arrived together in a park near school. They sat on a bench, they were both quiet and were observing their surroundings. Finally Richa spoke," I know why you asked to meet today, I also wanted to do the same. I have been analyzing my past actions for the last 2 days and I have realized that I have been wrong. I was responsible for my deteriorating performance but I always blamed you. I also did wrong with you and Nate and I want to apologize." Jess was listening to Richa and could see that she was truly sorry for what she did, she said, "Richa, when I came to this school, I admired you. You are a rich heiress but you still worked hard, your achievements were the only challenge for me, I decided to work hard and try my best to get to the level you were on. You became my inspiration but then I saw you changed your sports and started competing with me in tennis. Initially I didn't understand your actions because I have never been a center of attention before. Later, when I noticed the change in attitude of our teachers and our colleagues I slowly realized what you might have been going through, but I didn't know how to approach you even if I spoke to you I didn't think it would make much difference. Richa, can we please forget the past and be friends?" Richa also thought the same, if she didn't consider Jess as her competitor they would have been best friends by now, so she replied back, "I would love that.". They both smiled and walked out of the park while having a casual conversation.

"Jess, would you like to come to my place?"Richa asked. Jess looked at her wrist watch, and replied "I can, but I will have to leave in 45 min. Is that ok?"

"Sure. May I ask where are you going?"

"I have to work in the state library, my shift starts in 1 hour."

"I didn't know you worked part time. You worked so hard for the success and yet I made your life difficult"

"Let bygones be bygone, I actually love working in the library, I can use that time to read books and earn money while at it."

While talking they had already arrived at Richa's home. Jess looked at the huge mansion but was not surprised as if she was used to big mansions. Auntie Talia greeted both the girls, she was surprised to see Jess, Richa's new friend. She was happy to see Richa make more friends, she didn't like Maddy much as she could see that Maddy used Richa and was a mean and calculative person.

"Young miss, would you and your friend like some tea and refreshments?", autie Talia asked while she took Richa's bag from her.

"Sure auntie, but Jess needs to leave in 30 min so can you please bring it to my room?" Richa requested as she hooked her arms into Jess's arm and went upstairs with her. Out of all the things, this action of Richa's surprised Jess. She was so simple minded, when she envied her everyone saw through her, and that they are friends everyone could see it. That's when she thought," how could a simple minded person think of a cunning scheme to use Nate? There was definitely more to it, but now was not the right time to ask Richa."

"Hey, what are you thinking? Don't you like my room?"Richa asked.

"It's beautiful. I love it. I guess everything in this room matches your taste.", Jess replied.

"Yes, and you can take anything you like, don't hesitate.", Richa said before picking one of her soft toys and continued,"You know, I have never said that to Maddy, and I know how much she loves my stuff."

Richa was surprised and thought, "why did she suddenly say this to Jess? She loves all the stuff in her room and didn't share it with anyone, but she was ready to share it with Jess." This feeling surprised her.