The Bad Boy's Possession

Chapter 3 - Taking a Stand

"Be careful with your words, Ava, they can be damaging to you," he warned, his jaw clenched.

"Get away from me," I stated, even as my heart beat started to pace. He was standing too close to me, taking me back to the night we had first met. We had almost kissed that night, but at that moment, all I wanted to do was punch him across the face.

"Or what?" He raised his eyebrows. "What will you do?"

I took in a sharp breath, glaring at him. Placing my hands on his chest, I pushed him away, slipping away from the table. Grabbing Tanisha's hand, I attempted to leave the cafeteria, but the girls were quick to block my way.

"Where do you think you're going, Miss Ava?" The other guy in their group asked, walking up to me. He stood right behind me, making me move away from him, as their group formed a circle around us.

"She's running, Darren," Priya mocked, chuckling.

"Is it just me, or does she look like a pigeon?" Ace's girlfriend asked, looking me up and down.

"Not quite," Ace said, walking closer to us. I backed away from him, gulping. "To me," he gave me a once over, "she's more like a duck." My eyes widened at his words, and I looked him in the eye. But there was no recognition in them. Was him calling me that a coincidence? I was not sure.

"The ugly duckling," Darren laughed, clapping. I bit my tongue, shifting my gaze to the floor. "Isn't it funny, everyone?" Darren asked, looking around at the other students. "Don't you guys find it funny?" He yelled, and the cafeteria broke into a series of nervous laughs. "That's right. The ugly duckling."

"And you guys wanna hear what sound a duck makes?" Ace asked, stepping even closer to me.

"Guys, please let her go," Tanisha cried, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Shut up!" The girl wearing the hijab yelled, walking up to her.

"Aisha, please. You guys entertain yourself with me. She didn't know she was taking up rivalry with you when we became friends. It's my fault," she begged, her voice shaking.

"Aw, look at you," Aisha smiled. "You're actually standing up for someone. What an amazing friend you are."

"But we don't like it, fire hair," Darren said, walking up to her. He placed his hands on her shoulders, making her stiffen. "We liked you more when you remained silent. Now, go. Run off." He ordered.

"Please," she begged, wiping away her tears. "Sapphire," she shifted her gaze to Ace's girlfriend. "Let Ava be."

"I'm gonna count till three, Tanisha," Priya stated, returning from the counter with a piece of cake. She stood beside me, while Darren quickly walked up to me with a smirk. He grabbed my wrist, so I would not run away. "If you don't leave right now, this delicious cake will be her make-up."

My eyes widened, and I struggled to get my wrist free from Darren's hold, but he was too strong. "Let me go!" I yelled, trying to push him away, but in vain.

"One," Sapphire said, smirking.

"Two," Ace announced, an amused smile on his face.

"Stop! I'm going, I'm going," Tanisha shouted, raising her hands in surrender. She wiped away her tears and rushed out of the cafeteria, leaving me alone with the Wolves.

"She saved you," Aisha smiled at me.

"Or not," Priya shrugged, smearing the cake onto my face.

The cafeteria walls echoed with the students' laughter, who were now genuinely starting to enjoy the show. Tears pricked my vision as I stood there completely still, unable to believe that actually happened to me. Ace walked up to me, and offered me a tissue.

"Your face became dirty," he said softly, looking almost sympathetic. "How will I see your tears when you cry?"

I sniffed, but refused to allow the tears to fall. My jaw was clenched, and my fists were balled, my heart knocking against my ribs. I gulped down the lump forming in my throat, refusing to show weakness.

"That's so sweet of you, Ace. But she's rejecting your kindness," Sapphire frowned. The entire group closed in on me, now standing in a smaller circle.

"She needs to pay for that," Priya declared.

"Take the tissue, Ava," Ace said, leaning down to my eye level. As much as I wanted to back away, I knew there would be no use. So I stood my ground.

"Take it," Darren said, placing his hand on my shoulder. "It's for your own good," he whispered, before letting out a loud, evil chuckle.

"Okay, let's give her an option," Ace said. "She either takes the tissue, or... Aisha will dump ice cubes in your shirt. How does that sound? Then we'll see how a duck flaps her wings."

"No," I whispered, looking up at him in horror.

"Yes," Priya smirked, grabbing my arm. Sapphire grabbed my other arm, while Darren pulled out his phone to record the scene. Aisha returned with a tray of ice cubes, smirking as she stood behind me.

"Let me go!" I yelled, glaring at Ace as a tear finally left my eye.

"She's crying," Sapphire pouted. "Aw. That's so sad."

I noticed Ace's expressions soften slightly, but he remained silent.

"I'll take the tissue!" I cried, trying to get my arms free from their hold. Ace brought it closer to me, but Darren took it from him.

"No so easily, Ace," he smirked, holding it up above my reach. The girls were still holding onto my arms, making it impossible for me to take it.

"You missed the deadline," Aisha said in my ear, before pulling my the back of my shirt and emptying the ice into it.

I almost jumped, and they let go of my arms, laughing out loud. I wriggled, shaking my shirt, making the ice cubes fall to the ground one by one. Tears rolled down my cheeks as the last one fell, and a sob escaped my lips. In an attempt to walk away from them, my foot slipped over an ice cube, and I fell backwards, a scream escaping my lips. I closed my eyes, ready to feel my back crash against the floor, but an arm wrapped around me, saving me.

I opened my teary eyes to look up at Ace, a blank expression on his face. Grabbing his shirt, I steadied myself, as hot tears rolled down my cheeks. I felt my blood boil at the sight of him, and my mind went back to the night I helped him. How could he do that to me after what I had done for him?

"What are you staring at?" He raised an eyebrow. "Don't fantasize about me in broad daylight, Ducky."

And that was the last straw. The sounds of laughter seemed to fade around me, as I felt my fist clench. Everyone seemed to disappear, and all I could see was his smug face, staring down at me like I was nothing. And before I knew it, my fist connected with his jaw, whipping his face to the side.

The cafeteria broke out into a series of gasps, as Ace slowly shifted his gaze back to me. His eyes were wide, in shock or anger, I wasn't sure. Blood oozed out of his lip, and he touched it, staring at his finger with pure rage in his eyes. The shock seemed to have abated by now, and Priya stepped forward and grabbed my arm.

"You bloody newbie!" She yelled, glaring at me. "How dare you?"

"Let go of me!" I yelled back, yanking my arm out of her grip. I pointed a finger at Ace. "I am not afraid of you, Mr. Ace whoever-the-hell-you-are. Just because these people shiver at the sight of you and follow you around like puppies, swooning over your physical appearance, it doesn't mean everyone will do the same. Because I for one, have never seen someone as ugly as you. As all five of you."

His jaw was clenched as he stared at me silently, shivering with anger. He took a step towards me, and as much as I wanted to back away, I held my ground.

"This, what you just did, you're going to regret it. More than you have ever regretted anything." His voice was dangerously low, and I felt a shiver go down my spine, but I refused to show weakness.

"No matter what happens, or what you do to me. I will never ever regret this punch," I stated, looking him in the eye defiantly.

"You little b***h!" Sapphire yelled, grabbing my arm and turning me to her. She raised her hand to slap me, and I flinched, but before she could hit me, Ace caught hold of her wrist. "Let me go, Ace, she needs to be put in her place," she snapped, glaring at me.

"She's right, Ace," Darren said, his jaw clenched.

"Let her go," Ace replied through gritted teeth. "No one will do anything now."

He stormed out of the cafeteria, and I gulped, feeling slightly relieved.

"You have no idea what you've done," Aisha said to me, before going after him along with Sapphire.

"You're finished, Ugly Duckling," Darren announced, also following after them. He dragged Priya out too, who looked reluctant to go, her angry gaze stuck on me.

I blinked, feeling my throat burn as the other students all stared at me. Whispers went around the cafeteria, and I ran towards the door, wanting to leave. But a few students blocked my way.

"You guys want it too?" I practically growled, wanting to leave before the tears would leave my eyes.

"Girl, you have no idea who you just punched," one of the girls said, looking almost frightened.

"Pack your bags, baby," the guy with them said. "You'll receive your expulsion in less than an hour."

"Expulsion?" I said in disbelief. "I'll tell the Principal what he did to me. He deserved it."

The guy chuckled, shaking his head.

"Babe," he said, "you think Princey will care? You punched the son of the freaking Mayor. You think he'll care why you did it? You're done here."

My eyes widened, and I gaped at him.

"Son of... The Mayor?" I whispered, blinking.

"Why else do you think no one says anything to them?" The girl raised her eyebrows. "They're all from extremely influential families."

"Ace is the Son of the Mayor," I mumbled, still unable to believe it. The danger alarms in my brain had now started to go off, as I realized it was probably my last day at Hillcrest High. My future was ruined, my perfect record - destroyed.

"Yeah. His girlfriend, Sapphire, she's the daughter of Abraham Hunt," the girl replied.

"Abraham Hunt?" My eyes widened. "That fa-"

"Yes, the Designer. Aisha is the daughter of an Arab Prince, Akbar Abdullah. She's practically a Princess."

I gulped, biting my lip. "What-what about Darren and, um, Priya?"

"They're not as rich as the other three, but still pretty wealthy. Darren has a car showroom, and Priya's father is a scientist. Abhishek Dhawan. Heard of him?" The guy smirked.

"I'm... I'm screwed, aren't I?" I whispered, shifting my gaze to the floor.

"Ava Clayton?" A guy asked, entering the cafeteria. He looked around before his gaze set on me, and a knowing look took over his features when he saw my state. "You're called in the Principal's office."

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