The Billionaire's Weakness

Chapter 5 - The New Friend

Chapter 5 - The New Friend

Lucille's POV

Abandoning my original plan seeing as it backfired majorly, I welcome the opportunity of having an ally. I scribble my response under Alaric's writing before tapping his shoulder and passing back the note. 'Thanks, it looks like I need all the help I can get. I'm Lucille.'

I spend most of the remainder of the class thinking about the high chance that Alaric will do something to make me the laughing stock of everyone, again, but since I don't have another prospect of making a friend, I decided to risk it. I mean how much worse can it get for me, right?

As soon as the bell rings, announcing the end of this first period, everyone scrambles out of the room, the teacher included. I stand up hesitantly, feeling awkward under the scrutinising gaze of my goth loving desk mate. She never ever bothered to look my way, and now she decides to stare me down?

"Easy there, Olga." Alaric comes back inside and talks to Olga like she's a feral animal on the verge of attacking, which at this point I don't doubt might be the case. What the f**k did my dad get me into?

"Mine." The girl mumbles in a thick Russian accent. Alaric eyes me before his gaze sets on the pen I was holding, planning to keep it to hand rather than put it in my bag. My own eyes follows the same path and my mouth curves in an 'o' shape.

I hastily give Olga back her pen, apologising profusely for the genuine mistake I have made in grabbing it. I think I was so scared that half of the words I used were in French and not English. She thankfully chilled after getting her pen back and hurried out of the room like the others.

"What the f**k was that?" I breathe out, staring at an amused Alaric.

"Olga. She's very territorial. I suggest next time, maybe don't sit next to her, not to mention taking her stuff."

"Noted." I say, despite not really having much of a choice in seating after the Queen b***h so unceremoniously dragged me out of the one I was initially occupying.

"So why are you helping me?" I enquire with genuine curiosity. If Alaric knew what's best for him, he would keep his distance from the new girl that managed to draw so much attention on her first day and became the main target of the school bullies.

"I don't really like to follow the norm." He says sheepishly, gesturing to the bedazzled lapels of his jacket. I just nod.

Alaric looks like he could be part of the six that are the most popular boys in our year. He is tall and handsome with a flair for dabbing in more feminine styles, but it works for him, though I do wonder since he is clearly not a part of the popular group, how come he doesn't get picked on, especially since his outfit is so... different.

I genuinely spent the day glued to Alaric side, throwing daggers with my eyes at the girl who so rudely humiliated me and her sidekick. Is it so bad that I have spent a few hours imagining ways of repaying the favour?

"OK, we are done for the day. Care to join me for a late lunch?" Alaric confirms what I was reading on my schedule. This was the last class of the day, and since I have accomplished absolutely nothing in the social department other than being seen as the new, shiny target for bullies to practice on, lunch sounds rather good.

"I would love to." I smile at my new friend and link my arms into the crook of his. We walk together towards the cafeteria when Alaric tells me that his friend will also be joining us. He goes all excited about introducing us, and tells me that once I'm seen with him, no one else would dare touch me again.

Apparently he is a senior, and one of the most popular boys in school. Everyone who is anyone would like to say they had lunch at his table, but not many get the opportunity, especially not the wannabes in our year.

Yeas, that's what I'm talking about!

I smile, delighted at what I'm hearing, when we near a corner and Alaric stops in front of the last person I had hoped to bump into again: the naked guy. Please don't let this be him, please don't let this be him.

"Lucille, this is my best friend, my brother from another mother, and father, the one, the only, Franco Toretti." s**t, it's him.

Alaric makes the introduction in what I'm starting to understand is his signature way, while I stare at the naked guy, who is now thankfully fully clothed, and I silently ask the Universe why does it hate me so much.

"Franco, meet Lucille. She's new." Alaric gives a much shorter introduction for me. I notice that the girl with hearts in her eyes, that was clinging to Franco like he was her lifeline, quickly made herself scarce the moment Alaric and I showed up. Of course, not before scrunching up her nose and eyeing both of us up and down, huffing in what I took as being clear disapproval. At me or at Alaric, I have no idea, but she kissed Franco, lingering on the corner of his mouth more than it is socially acceptable, before she walked away and joined another group of whispering girls.

"Nice to see you again Lucille." The smug bastard looks me right in the eyes and smirks. I resist the urge to ask about his bodyguard, though I have a feeling he's lurking somewhere in the shadows. "I trust you found your room and got some rest last night? I really hope your visit through the campus left you with sights worth dreaming of." He winks just as I start to feel the head creeping up my cheeks and ears, making them burn bright red.

"Wait, what am I missing here?" Alaric positions himself between the two of us, looking at me then at Franco and back.

"Nothing. I saw her walking around the campus yesterday, doing orientation." Franco dismisses Alaric before he winks at me again, this time more discreetly. "Let's go, man, I'm hungry. Lucille, will you be joining us?"

"She is indeed. This little sheep will now be a part of our little herd."

"Flock." Both Franco and I say at the same time, sparking amusement on Alaric's face.

"Right." He shakes his head as we start walking again. He mutters something that I believe sounds like "I knew this would be a good fit" but I can't be sure. What I am sure of, is the surprised stares everyone gives our little trio, as I, the new girl who just hours ago was bullied and laughed at, walks in the cafeteria flanked by the most popular guy in school, a senior nonetheless, and his sidekick.

We walk towards the centre of the room, and to my surprise the guys sit down at a large table which already has the clingy girl from before, two of her friends, the two mean girls from my year and a few of the guys I recognise from my year, I few I don't, but my eyes lock with Rawley.

So much for the wannabes not getting a chance to sit with Franco.

I remain standing, feeling really out of place, all the confidence I had when I wake up this morning being lost somewhere on the classroom floor after I fell. Alaric says something to Franco and the latter gets up quickly.

"Hey Rawley, go bring us the food. The pasta for me, Alaric will have the salmon and Lucille..." He turns to me, asking without words for my food preference.

I have no idea what they are even serving here, not to mention that I would rather not have that i***t spit in my food, thank you very much. Seeing a I fail to answer, Franco looks back at Rawley. "She'll have the pasta as well." He snaps his fingers like a Mob boss and my previous bully gets up without further complaints.

"Sit down already." Alaric drags me onto a seat next to him. I have to ignore the icy glares that every single female throws my way. I kind of feel like I'm sitting by mistake at the bride and groom's table at a wedding. All of the other students are seated at smaller tables that surround the big one we are at. If i look closely, I'm sure there is pedestal that out table is set on, it somehow appears taller, grander than the others.

I reluctantly take a seat, gathering all ounces of confidence that I can find hidden deep inside me, when Rawley returns with an overflowing tray of food. What excuse could I use so I won't be forced to eat that?

"Let me help you." Franco gets up and makes a move to grab the tray from Rawley, but I notice his left foot extending dangerously and threatening to make Rawley trip. Before I could say anything, the exact thing happens, and Rawley trips, going face down onto the tray of food. He groan as he gets up, covered in pasta and bits of fish.

"I guess we have to go get our own food now." Franco tells me and Alaric, not even bothering to check on Rawley. "But it was totally worth it, though." He whispers again, looking straight at me. My eyes widen and my heart drops. Alaric shares a knowing smirk. Did he just...