Elite Hearts - Chaennie (gxg)

Fourteenth

Jennie

After confronting Rosé, Sophia, who had been watching the whole thing, spent the next twenty minutes pestering me with questions about why I did it and what I was hiding from her as we walked through the school.

"So, you’re really dating?" she asked after I mentioned that I was defending Sarah.

"Not exactly," I replied.

"I'm waiting for the day you go a whole month without getting into some argument with someone," she teased, laughing at me. I just rolled my eyes. It's not my fault that people are always trying to interfere in my life. I really don't understand why they can't mind their own business.

"I didn’t know you were so protective of your 'casual flings'," she continued, emphasizing the "Casual flings" with a smirk.

"Shut the fuck up," I snapped, realizing she was messing with me. "I’ve always had your back when you get into trouble, so I don’t know why you’re so surprised." I crossed my arms defensively.

"That’s true. And speaking of trouble, I need your help with someone who messed with me," she said, flashing a devilish grin.

"Oh no, don’t drag me into your nonsense," I said, immediately on guard. Every time I saw that smile on Sophia's face, it meant she was about to get into big trouble—and drag me along with her. Unlike me, who somehow attracts conflict, Sophia actively seeks it out. She thrives on chaos.

"Of course not. I’m not your lackey," she said, clenching her teeth. "Maybe if I spent a night in your bed, you’d be more willing to help me," she added with a wicked grin.

"Stop being ridiculous," I rolled my eyes, exasperated. "Now, tell me what happened this time." I took a deep breath, bracing myself for whatever she was about to say.

Sophia beamed, victorious, and launched into her story. She told me she was just walking through the school when some guy named Richard Collins bumped into her, causing her to fall. According to her, he didn’t even apologize, and now we had to put him in his place.

I wouldn’t doubt that the guy bumped into her, but knowing Sophia, I was certain she had provoked him somehow, and he didn’t let it slide, which only fueled her need to challenge him. Honestly, I feel bad for anyone who crosses her path and says the wrong thing.

"Alright, tomorrow we’ll find this guy and issue some death threats or whatever," I said, glancing at my watch.

"What? No!" she protested. "Tomorrow’s the school trip. You won’t be able to find him then." She was determined. "We have to do it now, and I know exactly where he is."

I raised an eyebrow. "It creeps me out when you get all stalker-like."

"I’m not stalking! I just happened to see that awful pink hair of his over there," she said, grabbing my chin and turning my head toward the staircase leading to the boys' quarters.

I couldn’t hold back my laughter. "Is that the guy you’re so afraid of?" I asked, patting her arm in amusement.

"Screw you! I’m not scared of that cotton candy," she snapped.

"Then go talk to him by yourself," I replied, still grinning.

"Come on, stop laughing," she said, pulling me along as we walked toward Richard.

Sophia and I made our way over to Richard. He was leaning casually against the railing, chatting with some other guy, but it didn’t take long for him to notice us approaching. His eyes narrowed slightly as he shifted his attention to us.

"Is there a problem?" he asked, immediately picking up on the tension in Sophia's expression.

"Yeah, I don’t like it when new students think they can act like they're untouchable," I said, my voice calm but pointed. "Just make sure you stay in line, and you won’t have any more problems."

Suddenly he grabbed the collar of my shirt and shook me. "I think you're the one who needs to toe the line. I'm no gentleman, I don't mind putting you and your friend in your place."

I was seething with rage. Who does this son of a bitch think he is to talk to me like that? He has no idea who I am. At first, I doubted Sophia, but now I could see that this guy was unbelievably cocky.

Sophia shoved him away from me. "Let her go, you savage!" she shouted.

I was just about to punch him in the face when a girl with long black hair and heart-shaped lips came rushing over, grabbing Richard by the arm.

"Richard, come on! You don't want to keep Lisa waiting, do you?" I heard her say as she pulled him away. As soon as they were gone, I shot an angry glare at Sophia.

"Do you think he would've hit you?" she asked, eyeing me as I tried to calm myself down.

"I don't know, but this isn't over," I replied, my voice low and full of determination.

...

Later

I was at a barbecue at my house, casually grilling meat. Everything felt peaceful, almost too perfect. But then, I got distracted. When I looked back, the meat was on fire. The smell of it burning hit my nose, and just as I was about to put out the flames, I heard a scream and felt someone shaking me.

Disoriented, I blinked, trying to piece together what was happening. My heart raced, and for a moment, I realized it was all a dream. Then reality hit me—a thick, choking cloud of smoke engulfed the back of the bus, and something in front of me was sparking violently.

"What the hell?" I muttered, my eyes darting around in confusion. People were screaming, scrambling to get off the bus.

I quickly turned to see the source of the commotion—a small stick, crackling as it released smoke. Without thinking, I grabbed it, threw it out the window, and bolted out of the bus with the rest of the crowd.

As I caught my breath outside, my mind snapped into focus—this wasn’t an accident. Someone had deliberately caused this. Anger surged through me. I didn’t know who was responsible yet, but one thing was certain—this was someone’s pathetic idea of a joke, and I wasn’t going to let them get away with it.

"Jen, I’m sure it was Richard," Sophia whispered in my ear.

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