Chapter 5: Reputation (Clara's POV)

The class was nearly over and I was nearly done making my notes too. 

He started packing up beside me and sighed as I finished the last sentence. "Is your father Flynn Desmond by any chance?" he asked. 

"Yes, why?" I asked. 

He didn't answer as he stood up, putting all the books back. 

I stood up, dusting my skirt off. 

"I know you," he nodded. 

"What?" I scoffed. 

"Nothing." He rolled his eyes and then spun on his heel, walking away. 

I quickly followed him downstairs and out of the library. I caught up to him and fell into step beside him. "What do you mean you know me?" I asked. 

"When was the last time you came to Ilea?" 

"Um, never?" 

He stopped abruptly and I skidded to a halt beside him too. 

"What?" I asked in confusion. 

"Are you sure about that?" He stepped closer and I instinctively stepped back. 

"Positive," I nodded. 

"If you say so," he retorted and then started walking away again. 

I watched in confusion and slowly walked behind him while pulling out my phone to check where my next class was. Room 12A for French. Now, where the hell do I go for that? 

I started by making my way to the staircase, knowing that the room isn't on this floor. I was still walking behind him with a few students trailing behind me. He stopped abruptly on the stairs and swiveled around to face me. The people behind me clearly didn't see that coming and ran right into me. I stumbled forward, bracing myself on his shoulders while he grabbed my waist, steadying me. 

"Sorry," I mumbled. 

"Why are you following me?" he cleared his throat. 

"I'm just going downstairs. Room 12A. Would you help?" I asked hesitantly. 

"No," he said and then turned back around to leave. 

I rolled my eyes, "What? Being helpful doesn't go with the whole douchebag reputation?" 

He chuckled, glancing at me over his shoulder. "Precisely that. It doesn't go with the reputation." 

I glared at the back of his head. 

What a dick. 

"But I have that same class. Follow me. If you dare," he said dramatically without even turning to look at me. What if he's just lying to embarrass me even more? I have to risk it, maybe he isn't as much of a dick as he tries to be. I followed him, keeping a safe distance between us. And then he strolled into a classroom labeled 12A. 

So he wasn't lying. 

I went and sat in a chair somewhat in the back but not the last row and he went and took the seat behind me. 

"I might be a dick, but I'm not a liar," he whispered. 

I turned to say something. To argue. With anything. I froze, my breath hitching in my throat when I realized how close he was to me, forgetting all the words that existed until just a second ago. We were just a few inches apart. I spun back around, making sure my ponytail hit his face. 

"Fuck's sake," he said under his breath. 

I smiled to myself as the rest of the class and the teacher walked in. "Is Ms. Desmond here today?" he asked, grabbing the whiteboard marker. 

"I'm here," I cleared my throat. 

He walked over to my desk and left a booklet on it. "I'm Mr. Robert. And this is the syllabus for the year. You can go over that in your free time. We're halfway through the first topic, please see to it that you catch up." 

I nodded, flipping through the first few pages. 

"Who can help her? Let's see hmm..." 

"Oh, no one has to—" 

"Who's the best in class?" he asked. 

Wow, very blunt for a teacher, isn't he? 

"Callum? Are you up to it?" 

"No," we said in sync. "I mean, no, no one has to help. I'll figure it out," I nodded, flashing him a smile. 

"Have you taken French before?" he asked. 

"For two years, yeah." 

"Oh, that's great then. Just let me know if you have any questions. Tomorrow, I'll bring you some assignments that the class has done. That way you can catch up. Now, let's start with today's class, shall we?" 

I put the syllabus away and pulled out a notebook. 

I wouldn't have taken his help even if he agreed to give it. 

I cleared my head of thoughts and focused on class. I'm already lacking behind, I should focus on keeping on track from here on. Not on the annoying mystery that is Callum Nikolai. 

I still don't know what he meant. How does he know me? 

☆*･ﾟ✫ ✫*･ﾟ☆ ✫*･ﾟ☆ ✫*･ﾟ☆

It was lunch now and Daisy and I were standing in line, waiting for our turn. "Out of everything, gym class is really the one class that's compulsory?" I whined. 

"Yeah, but don't worry, it's actually kind of fun, you'll be fine," she laughed. 

"Clara!" I looked up, seeing Atticus walking over with one of his friends. 

"Hi," I gave him a small smile. 

"I didn't see you at all after I dropped you off, where did you go?" he asked, cutting the people behind us and standing directly behind me. 

"Um, I think I just don't share those classes with you," I chuckled awkwardly. 

"Probably. Well, do you want to join us at lunch?" he asked. "Both of you?" 

Daisy and I looked at each other and then at his table. Just us. At a table full of boys that are staring at me because I'm the new girl. It doesn't sound very appealing right now. 

"Maybe another time. I have a paper to work on, actually. And some catching up to do," I lied, grabbing a tray and then taking my food. 

"Yeah, and I have to show her around a little more," Daisy nodded. 

"I can show you around if you want," his friend smirked at me. 

"I'll pass," I said bluntly. "Thanks for the offer." I grabbed a chocolate muffin and put it on my tray, trying to leave but his friend seemed adamant to help. 

"Come on now. It's just lunch. Our way of welcoming you to Arcane High." 

"I feel welcomed enough, thank you." 

"Cut it out, Finn. Leave her alone," Daisy said. 

I tried walking around him but he took a step to the right and blocked my way. "What's the rush?" 

"Finn, come on, man," Atticus said, nudging his arm. 

"No, I want to know. Why is Little Miss New Girl so reluctant? Or are you just shy?" He stepped closer to me. 

I rolled my eyes, giving him a push. 

He chuckled and went to grab my hand but stumbled back. 

"Cut it out," Callum said sternly. 

I blinked in surprise, Daisy and I exchanging looks. 

"Oh, look at that! Here to rescue her, aren't you?" Finn scoffed. 

Callum ignored him and faced me. "You can get to your table," he nodded. 

Daisy grabbed my arm and started taking me in that direction but Finn blocked her way. "What are you running away for, darling?" 

Maybe everyone isn't so welcome here. 

He stepped closer and Callum pushed him back. "What are you trying to do?" he asked. "Creep them out? If they don't want to sit with you, then they won't. Let it go," Callum explained slowly as if Finn was a child who wouldn't understand simple English. 

"Or what?" Finn lifted a brow sharply, giving Callum a hard shove that had him retreating his steps. "Or what, huh?" 

"Finn," Atticus said sternly. 

"Or what? Are you going to kill me too?" 

What did he just say? 

When Callum's back hit the lunch counter, he pushed Finn back ten times harder and sent him stumbling. "Don't tempt me," Callum replied. "Why are you still here? Go," he said to me sternly. Scolding me, almost. 

Daisy and I took a few steps back to leave, both of us freezing when Finn punches Callum square in the jaw. But his hand seemed to be hurting more than Callum's jaw. 

"Finn!" Atticus yelled, pulling him back. 

Callum let out a breath, running two fingers over his jaw. 

"Atticus," Daisy mumbled. "I think you should move." 

"I think she's right," I said, watching Callum. 

He is so angry. He's fuming. And he's barely keeping it together. "I think they're both right," he nodded. 

Atticus sighed in defeat and stepped back, standing beside me. 

"Your friends just can't get their shit together, can they?" Callum asked Atticus while walking over to Finn. His right hand formed a fist and then he winded back, swinging with full force. 

I looked away while most of the cafeteria gasped in shock. 

"You son of a bitch!" Finn yelled out in pain, holding his now bleeding nose. 

Callum shook out his hand, easing his fingers out. "Are you calling the queen a bitch?" Callum lifted a brow at him. 

The queen? 

"Clara, let's go." Daisy started pulling me to the exit, our lunch trays were long forgotten on the counter. I walked with her, both of us coming to a screeching halt when Callum came and blocked my way. I swallowed, looking up at him.

"Go," he nodded at Daisy. 

"But-" 

"She'll find your room, don't you worry." 

Daisy shot me an apologetic look and then scurried off. 

"What?" I asked, taking a step back when he took one forward. I should be scared, right? At least a little bit? But I wasn't. Finn deserved that punch. Maybe not so hard, but he deserved a punch either way. 

"That is my reputation around here. And helping you certainly wouldn't go with it. Don't ask for my help again," he said, his voice getting lower, darker. 

"I didn't ask for your help." 

"Because you were just handling that situation so well on your own, weren't you?" he scoffed. "I won't help you." 

"You just did," I argued. 

"That's kind of the problem, Desmond. I shouldn't have." 

"Then why did you?" I narrowed my eyes at him. 

He dodged my question. "Word of advice. Stay away from Atticus and his friends." 

"Why?" 

"Do you want to go back and replay what just happened?" He rolled his eyes, glancing behind me. 

I followed his gaze and saw Atticus standing at the cafeteria door, glaring at Callum. I turned back around while Callum stepped aside. 

"You should go." 

I didn't question it this time. I just kept walking. And I didn't look back to see what happened.

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Chapter 5

I forgot to upload chapter 4 earlier and only realized after I finished writing this one so I'm just putting them both out rn lmao

next chapter: nightmare