Dominating Hearts

Chapter 25

"Hey are you doing okay?", Caden nudged me in the middle of me devouring my lunch. I was truly hungry after a long set of draining days. All my routine consisted was of going through one class to another, then work, home, and repeat. I realised I was desperate for some change. Some excitement.

"Hmm yeah. Why'd you ask?", I cocked a brow at my best friend at his sudden out of the blue question. We were currently seated at the popular table at lunch time, being the center of the attention of the whole school. But they bathed in it.

The Populars basked in the glory and the sheen their position brought them. Ignoring everyone else around them they cracked jokes amongst themselves, laughing loudly, throwing back their head, their ditzy twinkling laughter catching the envy of the whole population.

The boys roughed each other around, being their rowdy self as they discussed tactics and game plays for the fast approaching football season whilst the girls criticised the fashion style on runway these days and snickered at those girls trying too hard at school to be them.

The fault wasn't with them, I had realised early on. They simply accepted the pedestal those around had put them on and took advantage of the power that came with that position. It was those around them that were at fault. The regulars, the bystanders, the rest of the school population who pushed them on to that seat of honour. They worshipped the ground they walked on, tried hard to be them, catch their attention and be their friends, so much that they allowed themselves to be walked all over on. Become their doormat, at their beck and call.

Always set boundaries and make sure people know them.

That's what my dad used to say. Make sure you make it known you're not one to be pushed around and dealt with however pleased. There are limits no one should be able to cross.

I was brought back to the real world when none other than Aster Berkshire piped up from across the table in a sickly sweet voice,
"Yeah Madison, are you alright? Heard you had a panic attack yesterday."

I stared at the cruel beauty with cold eyes as she regarded me back with the same.

Let me introduce you to the ice princess of Lindemann High everyone.

Cold pale blue eyes deep set in her delicate porcelain face, regarded me with a challenge.
Her eyes were fire in water, if you can imagine such a thing.

She was tall, vain and knew how to get everyone's attention with one flick of her white blond hair that hung around her face like waterfall. With soft feminine features like hers she knew how to get someone falling with just a flash of her pearly whites and tinkering laughter. But I saw her for what she really was.

Every smile that lit up her features was the wrong sort. It's like she ran on cold malice instead of any form of genuine affection. Perhaps she was a baby that was left to cry, or a personality disorder the doctors couldn't fix. Either way she had as much empathy as a medieval mace.

Aster Berkshire came from old money like Alex, her parents reeked of money to throw away that leaked through her lifestyle. She thought she could buy anyone's affection with her money, looks or power. I was about to prove her wrong.

"You know it's okay to admit it, being so up here", she waved a hand around dismissively, "it can get quite intimidating for some one like you. A commoner."

The table fell dead silent at her words, the rest of the girls sitting right up in their chairs to mimic their queen's stance, while the boys simply stared in interest.

It was all a sick game to them. I glanced side ways to check Alex's expression and noticed that he'd gone horribly white as he regarded Aster through an accusatory glance while she simply ignored it.