Scandal & Scholarship

Chapter 6 (Ambrosia's POV)

I barely registered the shocked gasps and murmurs from the crowd as I stormed away, my heart pounding in my chest. The adrenaline that had fueled my confrontation with Alex began to ebb, leaving a cold, hollow feeling in its wake. My hands trembled as I pushed open the door to the stairwell, seeking the solitude of its echoing emptiness. Each step I took felt heavier, the weight of the past dragging me down.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind me, the tight grip of fear around my chest tightened. My breathing became erratic, shallow gasps that barely drew in enough air. The memory of Alex's strong hand twisting my arm behind my back flashed vividly in my mind, overlapping with memories I had long tried to bury. My father's furious face, his hands gripping me, hurting me—those memories surged forward with a force that left me reeling.

My vision blurred, and I stumbled against the wall, sliding down until I was sitting on the cold, hard floor. I wrapped my arms around my knees, trying to ground myself, but the panic was too overwhelming. Tears streamed down my face as I struggled to breathe, each breath a desperate fight against the constricting vice around my lungs.

I was spiraling, lost in the storm of my past, when the door to the stairwell burst open. Through the haze of my panic, I saw Lily rushing towards me, her face a mask of concern. She dropped to her knees beside me, her hands fumbling through her bag.

"Ambry, it's okay, I'm here. Breathe with me, okay? In and out, slowly," she urged, her voice steady and calm despite the panic in her eyes.

She found the small bottle of pills in my bag, her fingers shaking only slightly as she opened it and handed me a pill. I took it with trembling hands, swallowing it dry, and focused on Lily's voice. She kept talking, her words a lifeline pulling me back from the edge.

"It's okay, Ambry. You're safe now. He can't hurt you," she whispered, her hand gently squeezing mine. The medication began to take effect, and slowly, the world started to come back into focus. My breaths grew steadier, though my body still trembled with the aftershocks of the panic attack.

Lily sat beside me, her arm around my shoulders, offering silent support until I was ready to speak. "I'm sorry," I finally managed to say, my voice barely more than a whisper. "I thought I was past this."

"Hey, no need to apologize," Lily replied softly. "You've been through a lot, and healing isn't a straight path. But you don't have to go through it alone."I nodded, taking comfort in her presence. "It was just...when he grabbed me, it brought everything back. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think."

Lily sighed, her expression a mix of sadness and determination. "Ambry, I really think you should talk to Mrs. Lind about this. She can help you work through it. You've been doing so well, but it's okay to need extra support sometimes."

I knew she was right. Mrs. Lind had been a lifeline for me since I started at Hawthorne University, helping me navigate the dark waters of my past and present. "I will," I promised, leaning into Lily's comforting embrace. "I'll make an appointment."

"Good," she said, giving me a reassuring squeeze. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, she added, "By the way, that kick you gave Alex? Classic. I don't think he'll be walking straight for a week. You might have done us all a favor."

Despite everything, a small, reluctant smile tugged at my lips. "Yeah, well, he had it coming."Lily laughed softly. "He did. And just think, now every time he sees you, he'll remember that moment. Bet he never saw that coming."

The joke lightened the heavy atmosphere, if only a little. "Thanks, Lily. For everything.""Anytime," she replied, her tone turning serious once more. "You're strong, Ambry, and you're not alone. We'll get through this together."

As the panic ebbed away, leaving a weary calm in its place, I clung to Lily's words. She was right. I wasn't alone, and with the help of my friends and my therapist, I could face whatever came next.

But even as the tension eased, a new feeling began to simmer within me. Alex Hawthorne. His arrogance, his power, his audacity to grab me like that—it intrigued me as much as it infuriated me. He was a challenge, a force to be reckoned with, and I realized that part of me was ready to rise to that challenge. If he thought he could intimidate me, he was sorely mistaken. I had faced worse demons in my past, and I had survived.

A fierce determination ignited within me. Alex might have the power and the family name, but I had something he couldn't buy—grit, resilience, and the will to fight fire with fire. This wasn't over. If Alex wanted a battle, I was more than ready to give him one. And I wouldn't back down until I proved that I deserved my place, not because of connections or wealth, but because of my hard work and dedication.

As I stood up, still leaning on Lily for support, I made a silent vow. Alex Hawthorne wouldn't know what hit him.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

too long I think