Her voice was lost against the crowd.
The back of the school was her only safe place. One afternoon, sophia sat at the back of the school, her mind wandering. It was the only place she felt at peace—away from everyone else. Tears flowed down her cheeks.
"I don't know if it's just me in this world". she sobbed. "Do other people also feel like this? I have no one, i thought school would be my place I'd make a friend, but everyone just seems to want others...just not me. What's wrong with me?".
She drew in a shaky breath, her voice trembling.
"I know I'm not rich or have all those cool things. But I'm still a person, I don't care who it is—I just need a friend. Anybody, really. Someone who'll accept me for what I am...a mistake in this world, a rejected child, a curse".Sophia muttered.
Sophia wiped her face with her handkerchief, staring at the ground. "I guess no matter what I do, no one cares about my story. I will always be a mistake. Everyone else's story is important- just not mine. They don't care how much it hurt-".
She suddenly heard footsteps approaching, quickly, sophia wiped her face and turned. It was jasper.
"Jasper?, what you doing here?". Sophia asked, forcing a smile.
He raised a brow. "Are you crying".
Sophia scoffed,shaking her head. "Of cos not! ...I'm just sweating. You know the sun". Sophia said pointed upward, trying to laugh it out.
Jasper nodded slowly, unconvinced. "What are you doing here?". He asked, stepping closer to her. His tone carried more command than concern.
"Well, I...I like it here". Sophia said quietly.
"You're weird". Jasper remarked.
Sophia gave a small, awkward nod. "Well I guess I am. I don't-".
"I hate weird people". Jasper interrupted, "you're so messy, you never stay one place-always doing one thing or another. For a girl, you are something else. Please, get out of my sit". Jasper said authoritatively.
Sophia froze, staring at him in shock. "What?" she whispered.
"Yeah, you're annoying and a disturbance to me". Jasper continued.
Sophia sighed softly. "Well I can't leave the seat, I was assigned there, you should go to Mr Andrew and ask him to move me from the sit".
"What? Are you deaf? Get out, I'm not meeting Mr Andrew-you do that". Jasper snapped.
Sophia let out another sigh."The teacher doesn't really like me, this is my third sit- my third strike, because some people said they didn't want me close to them. If I change again, he will call my mom". Sophia replied.
"Well...I don't care! I don't care if you get suspended or expelled. Leave my seat". Jasper shouted.
Tears welled up in Sophia's eyes. And for the first time she raised her voice at him. "What the hell is wrong with you? Why are so self-centered".
Jasper froze in shock.
" Why do you hate me so much? Do you think everyone's like you? You are rich, everyone likes you". Sophia's voice trembled, but she didn't stop." Some of us parents are poor, this school is the only good thing I've ever had in my whole life—the only thing I wasn't deprived of! But you don't care,do you?, it's all about yourself". Tears flowed down her cheeks. "I tried to be your friend, but I noticed you didn't like me, so i stayed away. But since we got paired, all you've done is a make my life a living nightmare, every other person gets to express himself but I can't, If I do you guys get offended. How am I a disturbance, I stay on my own, avoiding you. I try not to step on your toes but even with that you complain. Do you want me walk in the air".
She took a shaky breath." Do you think I even want to be here? in a rich school? I don't, I wanted to go to normal school but my mom said no, she said I'd been deprived of enough in life—but she wouldn't let me be deprived of this."
Her voice hardened. "So no, jasper Reynolds, I know you're rich, you have power, Do whatever you want—but I'm not going to Mr. Andrew".
With that, Sophia brushed past him and walked away, leaving him standing there in stunned silence. He had never seen such raw emotion before. He didn't know how to process it.
Sophia sighed, returning to the present. She followed Jasper to the balcony, where he was about to meet one of his investors.
#####
Atticus walked into the ballroom. The room fell silent for a moment before whispers and excited chatter rippled through the crowd.
"Wow, he's so handsome".A group of ladies gushed, blushing as they hurried to take out their phones—only for the guards to stop them.
Atticus smirked, this was the attention he was used to. No one could resist him.
"Oh my God, if it isn't Atticus". A man called out, walking towards him. Atticus turned
"Simon". Atticus replied with a nod.
"I'm surprised you're here, you never come for my events". Simon said stretching out his hands. Atticus shook it firmly.
"So what you brings you to my event?". Simon asked.
"Well, I have-...". Atticus words were caught in his throat when he saw her.
She was beautiful, the light fell softly on her as she descended the stairs, her black hair cascading down her back, her features perfect and graceful. A small smile curved his lips as he started walking away from Simon.
"Atticus, where are you-". Simon's voice faded into the background.
Atticus couldn't tear his eyes away from her, She moved with quiet elegance, her eyes shimmering beneath the chandelier's glow.
But just then, a man appeared behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist possessively. Atticus's brain exploded.
"What the...". He tightened his jaw. Anger rising like fire in his chest. His fists curled as he watched them. The man's hand on her waist made something inside him burn, to claim her. H hadn't felt this angry before.
Then suddenly, the orchestra began to play, a soft melody filling the air as couples moved onto the dance floor.
Atticus watched the couple join the dance. He bit his lip as he gulped his glass of champagne.
"Atticus, maybe you should-". Thomas began,but Atticus just handed him the glass of champagne without a word. He crossed the room, took a woman by the hand, and led her onto the dance floor—his eyes never leaving the lady who had caught his attention.The woman he danced with however, blushed deeply, staring up at him. He's so handsome, she thought.
Atticus moved gracefully, spinning her around, but his focus stayed on the lady. As the dance partners began to switch, he skillfully maneuvered closer, exchanging partners again and again—until finally, he caught her.
Meanwhile, Sophia and jasper chatted as they danced.
"You're still angry?". Jasper asked, gazing into her eyes.
Sophia smiled. "Of cos not". She replied. Jasper smiled. Looking over her shoulder. She felt a strange uneasiness - as though someone was watching her. Her eyes scanned the crowd, but didn't see anyone.
"You okay?". Jasper whispered near her ear. Sophia turned quickly to him.
"Sorry... What were you saying?". She replied with an akward chuckle.
"You've been looking around for a while". Jasper said in a low tone. "...I know you don't like this kinds of events but please...don't shut me out". Jasper said in a low tone.
Sophia smiled. "Of cos not and am sorry, I will pay attention to the dance now".
"Really". Jasper teased, his eyes glowing with mischief.
Sophia nodded.
Jasper eyes sparkled with mischief. "So-".
But jasper couldn't continue, because the partners began to switch. He chuckled as he got partnered with another woman. The woman blushed, he nodded politely but kept searching the crowd for Sophia.
Sophia was passed from one partner to another until, once again, she was tossed into the arms of her next partner.
A firm hand grabbed her by the waist, pulling her into his arms. Sophia turned and froze. Her eyes widened in shock as she felt electricity flow through her. Her heart skipped a beat when she met his golden gaze. She felt as if the whole world dissolved leaving only the two of them. Her face heating up as she placed her hand on his shoulder, unable to look away. There was a sudden, breathless tension in the air.
"Hello, cutie cat". He whispered, his voice low and husky. Sophia blinked, snapping back to reality.
"What are you doing here?". Sophia muttered.
Atticus smiled faintly as he began to move to the rhythm of the music. "When you dance trust your partner". His hand tightened on her waist, drawing her closer with quiet possession.
"What the hell do you want? Why are you stalking me". Sophia demanded.
Atticus smirked. "Who told you I am?"
"Ever since we met at the gala, you've been following me. If you're not, then how come we keep running into each other". Sophia frowned.
"I should be asking you, cutie cat". Atticus murmured. "I only came here to get my mind off my...immunity and then, here you are". Atticus replied.
Sophia scoffed. "You still going on about that? Seriously, dude, when will you grow up".
Atticus chuckled, spinning her around before pulling her back into his arms. "You still don't remember, do you?"
Sophia rolled her eyes. "Well... Pikachu, I don't". She said with a small giggle, shaking her head.
Atticus leaned closer, his breath brushing her ear. Sophia heart raced as she felt his warmth around her.
"I can hear your heart racing, cutie cat". He whispered, his eyes locked on hers.
Sophia quickly looked away. "No it's not". She said defensively.
Atticus smirked, but then his gaze lifted—and darkened. He spotted the man Sophia had been dancing with earlier, now standing still, frowning deeply.
"Who's that man". Atticus asked, his jaw tightening.
Sophia followed his gaze. "Oh… Jasper," she replied.
Across the room, Jasper's eyes locked on them. His expression shifted—shock, then anger.
"What the hell…" he muttered, striding towards them.
Atticus's frown deepened as the music came to an abrupt stop.
Jasper reached them in quick strides and pulled Sophia out of Atticus's arms, his hand settling firmly on her waist. The air between the two men thickened instantly, charged with unspoken rivalry. Neither said a word, but their eyes locked — sharp, assessing, daring. Sophia could feel the tension crackling between them like static, her pulse quickening as she stood caught between the two.