"Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution." – Kahlil Gibran
✧ KELSEY ✧
Some part of me wanted to be happy that he got into trouble. I should've been. But instead… I felt scared. Because when I traced everything back to where it started—every bit of it pointed to me.
Mason pushed him.
Mason, who was only reacting because of me.
And now Angelus had walked right into Amber's path because of it.
Amber.
Even saying his name in my head gave me chills.
Everyone knew who he was. The guy was trouble—the kind that doesn't knock on the door before breaking your life apart.
People used to whisper that he didn't belong here. That he wasn't rich enough, that he got in through "felonious means."
That part was a lie.
He was rich. Filthy rich. I'd seen him before, years ago, at an audition event my dad dragged me to. His family was there. My dad almost lost a major deal to them.
He may not go around starting trouble, but the moment someone so much as crosses his path, they usually end up in the hospital.
Even the teachers keep their distance.
He's been arrested before—literally arrested—and still returned to school the next day like nothing happened. No punishment. No questions.
The principal couldn't even touch him. Neither could the school owner.
Power like that? It makes people disappear.
And now… I just handed Angelus to him.
God.
My mum's voice echoed in my head like a gavel slamming shut.
'Any day I hear you got him into trouble, I'll freeze your account, and send you to military school right after I ground you for three months.'
I swallowed hard, throat dry.
I really did it this time.
I just made apologizing ten times harder. If it's even still possible now.
"Psst. Kel!" Cherry whispered beside me, pulling me back from my panic spiral. "Why do you keep looking at the door?"
"I knew it!" Sofia whispered with a smug grin. "You care about him!"
I rolled my eyes and glared at both of them. "You guys just shut up!"
A few students turned our way, but thankfully, Mrs. Tristan was too focused on the morning announcements to notice.
"Sorry," Cherry muttered, while Sofia looked pleased with herself.
"But seriously, you should focus," Sofia added in a hushed tone. "We've got that match this weekend. Cheerleaders are gonna—"
"I said, tell me later," I snapped.
I wasn't in the mood to hear about pom-poms and routines. Not when my life was hanging by a thread I'd just lit on fire.
Suddenly, the classroom door creaked.
All noise faded like someone hit pause on the whole room.
And there he was.
Angelus.
Walking in like nothing happened.
His face was unreadable. Calm. That same cold presence. But something was different.
He looked… untouched.
No bruises. No cuts. No blood.
Not a scratch.
I felt myself exhale—actually exhale—in relief. And I hated that I did.
"Oh my gosh, he's so cute!"
"I think I'm in love…"
"Isn't he the one who almost fought Amber just now?"
"Dude doesn't even look like he was in a fight!"
"Maybe he beat Amber too, just like he did Mason yesterday."
"No way. You really think so?"
"I have the video from yesterday. Wanna see?"
The room buzzed around him. But he didn't flinch. He ignored them all. Like they weren't even there and just walked straight to his seat, completely unaffected.
Even Mrs. Tristan looked up and blinked at him.
"You're late," she said sharply.
But he just… sat down. Didn't answer. Didn't explain.
My God.
Even the teachers… he doesn't care what they think?
Mrs. Tristan didn't like being ignored. That much was obvious.
Her heels clicked furiously as she marched up to his desk, arms crossed and voice rising.
"Angelus, I said you're late!"
"I heard you the first time," he said flatly.
He didn't even look up.
Gasps erupted around the class like fireworks. Some students clapped their hands to their mouths. Cherry actually let out a "what?!"
It was chaos—for high school, anyway.
Mrs. Tristan's nostrils flared. "Do you think this is your father's house, that you come here any time you want?"
Then, this arrogant SOAB just scoffed.
"And why would my father get a school as a house?"
Boom.
Laughter exploded across the room.
I would've laughed too if I wasn't the one secretly trying to avoid him getting in trouble.
But still… I'll admit. That comeback was fire.
Mrs. Tristan stared at him like she wasn't sure if she should scream or give him detention and therapy. After a moment, she composed herself and said coldly:
"Do you know the punishment for coming to school late?"
"Detention. What else?" he said without a hint of care.
"Your CGPA will be affected. Do you even understand how important CGPA is to your career?"
He didn't even blink as he replied, coldly.
"I don't care."
And then… she turned and looked at me.
"Kelsey, what's wrong with him?" she asked, like I was the certified Angelus whisperer.
Seriously?!
I was about to say he's a dick—because he is—but my mum's voice thundered through my mind like a siren:
'Any day I hear you got him into trouble…'
I clenched my jaw so hard I thought I might crack a tooth.
"Maybe he's just… upset," I forced out, trying to sound nice—which felt like chewing glass.
"He got into trouble with Amber earlier today. Maybe he's… transferring the aggression."
There.
I said something helpful. Ugh.
He looked up at me then. Confused. Like he wasn't expecting me to say anything but venom.
Even Mason looked confused.
Cherry had her mouth hanging open. Sofia? Just smiling like a cat who saw the canary coming a mile away.
I glared at her, but she didn't stop smiling.
Her look said everything she didn't: You care about him.
Disgusting.
"I'll let it slide this time," Mrs. Tristan finally said, adjusting her glasses.
He didn't respond. Didn't even acknowledge her. He just… kept staring at me for another second. Then he turned away, looked at his phone like nothing happened.
Rude.
Mrs. Tristan walked back to her desk; her voice tight with forced calm.
"But next time, you better learn to control your emotions, Angelus. Or you'll regret it."
Yeah, right.
From anyone else's view, she looked like a composed, understanding teacher. But I know Mrs. Tristan. She doesn't let stuff slide. Not like that. She once gave detention to a guy just for yawning too loud. So why is she suddenly acting like she's scared to punish him?
It's not just her either.
Mr. Lowell yesterday gave those guys the option to apologize or face detention.
Nobody gets options at this school.
It's like they all… respect him. Or fear him.
Maybe it's because of Michael?
But that makes no sense. I'm Michael's biological sister, and I've never been treated like that.
So… is his family more powerful than mine?
I looked at Angelus again. He wasn't looking back.
Just sitting there with his phone, totally disengaged. Like he didn't want to be here. Like he didn't want to be anywhere.
Just like at home… or in the car. He was always distant.
Not rude. Just… gone.
Later that day, my stomach grumbled like a dying engine. I held it and winced. I was starving. Should've just eaten the food this morning. Should've at least kept it.
But no, I had to throw it like some dramatic movie scene. Now look at me—hungry and miserable.
And whose fault was that?
Mum's.
Why would she send Angelus to bring it? She could've sent Salvador. Or the maid. Or literally anyone else.
Now I was stuck here… starving… and still too proud to ask for help.
My anger has officially betrayed me.
------------------------------------
Cheerleading practice was in full swing, and the girls and I were grinding hard to nail a move we'd been struggling with for days now.
Honestly? It wasn't that hard—at least not for me. Okay, fine… maybe it took me three tries to master it, but still, I got it.
But them? They still couldn't get it right, and it was driving me crazy.
"Alright, girls, we're not going home today unless we get this move right," I said, casually sipping my latte from the stool like the queen I am.
They all just stood there, giving me that look—faces crumpled in disapproval. But none of them dared speak against me.
They could complain. They could pout. But at the end of the day, they knew one thing: disobeying me meant goodbye to cheerleading.
"Come on, Kel, you know I've got science class by three," Sofia finally spoke up, just like I expected.
She's always the one with the nerve to speak first. Brave, bold, annoyingly honest. Sometimes I admire her for it. Other times—like now—it seriously ticks me off.
"Yeah, me too," Creamy added with a sigh.
"And I need to be home right after school or my mum will literally murder me," Laura chimed in.
"Oh really?" I asked sweetly, standing up and slowly walking toward them. "Then by all means… go."
They didn't move.
Of course they didn't. They knew better.
Sofia just rubbed her head in frustration.
I sighed and looked at their tired, pitiful faces.
"What's so hard about this move? I mean, I got it by the third attempt!" I set down my latte and positioned myself front and center. "Let me show you again."
"Morgan, Cherry, Laura—bring your phones."
They scrambled, phones in hand, waiting for instructions.
"Morgan, you stand here. Cherry, take the left. Laura, over there. Make sure you're all recording, got it?"
They nodded and took their places. I turned to the rest of the girls.
"Now, watch closely. No blinking."
I began the move, slow and controlled where I could be—on the ground, during transitions—but once I launched into the jump and somersault, gravity took over.
I landed clean.
They all moved closer, eyes wide, jaws half-open.
"Alright, hand me the phones," I said, and they quickly obeyed.
I cast the videos onto the big practice screen so everyone could see.
"See how my leg twists right here?" I paused the footage and pointed. "That's where you all mess it up. Get that part right, and everything else falls into place."
I pulled up the other angles. "See? This is what your bodies should be doing. Note the positioning. Note the timing."
Then I clapped sharply.
"Chop chop! Back to it! We're getting it right today—I'm not going home disappointed!"
This time, I saw the spark in their eyes. They were more determined now. Focused.
This is what I love about my girls. They grumble, they resist, they complain. But they always try.
They think I'm bossy—and maybe I am—but I know them. I know who can handle what, who shines in which role, who's just scared of their own potential.
They doubt themselves until I push them.
And then, when they finally pull it off, they smile like they just won gold. That's my favorite part.
But this move? It's been a real challenge. And as they kept trying, some were getting it… others weren't.
I let out a long sigh. Maybe I overestimated them this time.
Or maybe… I just need a better approach.
"Alright, girls—break! Two minutes!" I called out. "We've got less than thirty minutes left. Let's make something happen before three."
They scattered to their bags, grabbing water bottles and collapsing on the floor.
Sofia walked over, panting. "Maybe you should give us something else, Kel. I don't think this stunt's for us."
I didn't even look at her.
"And what makes you think that? Look at Becca, Phina, and Creamy—they're almost there. If they can do it, so can the rest of you."
Sofia rolled her eyes. "Okay, boss. Whatever you say," she muttered and went back to her bottle.
"Time's up! Get up and gather around!" I clapped again.
They shuffled toward me, clearly drained.
I scanned their faces—sweaty, tired, but still holding on.
"I can see you're all wiped, so we'll stop here for today. But tomorrow—we own that move, alright?"
They exhaled in collective relief and sank back to the floor.
Lazy girls.
"This is your favorite part, huh?" I said, grinning slightly. "Y'all know the drill. If anyone's got a new stunt idea—now's the time to speak."
A few hands shot up. Some girls were already buzzing with new moves.
But just as the energy was rising again, a voice cut through the air like nails on glass.
"What kind of cheerleading practice is this? Sitting around and gossiping?"
I turned, slowly, toward the source of that nerve.
Someone really thought they had the right to question how I run my team?
The moment I saw her, my blood pressure spiked.
It was her.
The new girl who showed up with Angelus this morning. The one who thought walking beside him made her important.