♛

I glanced around the classroom and sighed in exasperation, it had been slightly over an hour and I was not any closer to finishing the task than when I had first started.

A seemingly endless amount of chairs were still stacked all over the room and as I struggled to detach 3 chairs from a stack, I tried to not dwell on how I had to carry them two levels down and pass three hallways before finally reaching the ballroom for the umpteenth time today.

Lifting up the now detached chairs, I trudged towards the door and gave it a real hard kick since it wasn't opened wide enough for me to be able to get through.

"Ow! Fuck..."

"Jordan?...what-why are you up here?" Setting the chairs aside, I went up to him and winced internally at the faintly forming bruise on his forehead.

"Why the fuck did you do that..." He grumbled, gently touching the bruise.

"I was trying to open the door, what are you doing here anyways? Were you following me?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Barging past the door frame, he sauntered into the classroom whilst continuing to rub at his forehead.

"Just so you know, I'm really busy right now."

"Doesn't seem like it." He retorted as he leaned against the back of a misplaced chair.

"Believe me, I definitely am if I have..." I gestured around the room. "...just about a bazillion chairs waiting to be moved to the ballroom."

"Are you fucking serious?"

"I wish I was kidding." I muttered, lifting up the trio of chairs waiting by the door and padded out of the room, determined to get as much done as possible.

Behind me, I heard Jordan following but before I could tell him to stop what he was doing, he had snatched the chairs from my hands and stalked off without another word.

"Wh-...Hey! Jordan, give it back!" I yelled, scampering after him to keep up with his hastened pace.

"Are you an idiot?" He snarked, halting abruptly and producing a loud noise as he practically slammed the chairs onto the floor with unnecessary force.

I frowned, "What kind of a-...nevermind, I don't have the time for this."

Just as I was about to lift up the chairs again however, Jordan pinned them down with his right hand.

"Because only an idiot would agree to do this. All. By. Herself." His mouth twisted with obvious displeasure.

"Even if I am, why are you mad?" I rested one arm on my hip. "It certainly isn't a crime for me to be an idiot who is moving the chairs. All. By. Herself."

I was sweaty, my hair was a mess with several strands sticking to my neck and even though his withering stare was not helping the situation, I was not going to step back and bask in his nonsensical fury.

After a few moments of silence, he turned away with a visibly tensed jaw and simply flounced off with an effortless carry of the chairs.

Like a man on mission, he ignored my calls and stopped only when we have arrived at the ballroom.

Gina, who was right by the entrance, looked at him in surprise as he came closer.

"Where should I put these?"

"Um...here would be fine." Gina pointed to a couple of chairs near the door which I had previously placed.

While Jordan was busy stacking up the chairs, Gina pulled at my arm with a questioning gaze.

"Hey...we just...happened to see each other so he offered to help." I tittered.

Before she could reply, a looming shadow fell over the both of us.

"Right, he's just leaving..." I tugged at the sleeve of his blazer. "I'll see you lat-"

"No. I'm not leaving until I'm done moving those chairs upstairs."

"Oh...sure we better get going then-"

"You're staying here."

"What?" Both me and Gina peered at him in confusion as he began to take off his blazer. "I'm not doing that, there's nothing here that I can help with."

He gave an indifferent shrug before tossing his blazer at me. "Sit still and look pretty then."

"Wait-"

"Liana!" Gina grabbed my arm, preventing me from chasing after his retreating form. "You can come help me with the balloons."

Reluctantly, I allowed her to pull me towards the stage where packets of balloons were waiting to be pumped.

"So...you and him huh?" She smiled slyly.

Avoiding her gaze, I busied myself with the balloon pump. "Not really, we're not...together."

She patted my back in an assuring manner. "Don't you worry girlie, its only a matter of time."

"I'm not worried, far from it actually."

"I can tell that he really likes you, a lot. You're also the only girl I've seen him hanging around with."

"That's because he makes it hard for people to be around him."

"You're an exception then." She nudged my shoulder with hers, nodding her head in the direction of Jordan who was back with a new stack of chairs. "Look how hard he is trying to be around you."

My eyes swiveled towards him, travelling down from his pinched eyebrows to the rolled up sleeves that put his biceps on full display.

The next couple of hours flew by with me attempting to not get distracted every time he came in, it was almost as if I had some sort of built-in detector that would alert me of his presence.

Without meaning to, my mind lingered back on Gina's previous words as Jordan and I descended the stairs leading to the school's parking lot.

"You're awfully quiet." He remarked.

I chewed my lip. "Just tired, I guess...thanks for your help today by the way, I wouldn't have gotten it all done so quickly by myself."

He stopped walking and turned to me with a serious expression. "If there's a next time, come to me."

Involuntarily, my thoughts flitted back to earlier when he was too preoccupied with what he was doing to notice me creepily peeping at him and then to Gina's words which were stubbornly loitering in the threshold of my mind.

"Yeah, okay, I will." My eyes flicked to the blue-black bruise on his forehead. "Sorry about the bump, it wasn't on purpose I swear."

"Not a big deal."

"It looks kind of bad, does it hurt?" I stepped closer and stood on my tip toes so I could better inspect the bruise.

Unconsciously, my hand reached up to give it a tentative brush as I winced when my finger tips came into contact with his skin.

"Jordan!" I jumped slightly from the ear piercing shout and quickly retracted my hand.

Veronique came into view looking as if she had just gotten out of a magazine shoot, save for the haughty glare directed at me.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"I was just about to leave." I answered, taking a step away from Jordan.

She narrowed her eyes, clearly not believing what I had said. "You better be-"

"Vee." Jordan intercepted, shifting her attention towards him. "What are you doing here?"

"To see you, silly!" She pranced forward and elbowed me further to the side. "We haven't been hanging out much and I missed you! Don't you miss me?"

"Maybe another day Vee, I still have school tomorro-"

"Oh my god! What on earth happened to your face?" She shrieked.

"Calm down, it's just a little bruise."

"You don't deserve this, my poor baby." She cooed, clutching his face tightly with both of her hands.

Not wanting to extend my unwelcomed presence any longer, I started backing away from them. "Um...I'll be leaving then."

"I'm leaving with you."

"No no, it's alright. You should stay."

"I'm driving you home." He stated with a tone of finality, peeling Veronique's hands away from his face.

"Jordie, she already said its fine, leave her be." She gave an irritated sigh as Jordan advanced towards me.

"Yeah, I've called my chauffeur, he should be arriving soon."

"No." He insisted. "I'm taking you home."

"Jordan!" Veronique marched up to him. "Why are you doing this? Are you leaving me for her?!"

Jordan pinched the bridge of his nose and uttered in frustration "Quit being a child and go home, Vee."

"Not without you!" Realising she was getting more agitated by the second, I pleaded wordlessly to Jordan to calm her down before this could get even more out of hand.

Instead of doing that, he grabbed my forearm and dragged me away, blatantly ignoring her gasps of shock.

"You're choosing her over me? Over me?" Disbelief swarmed across every inch of her face as she stood in front of us, blocking our path. "Are you insane? Who is she to you?"

If I had thought that things could not have gotten any worse, I was proven dead wrong when Jordan snaked his arm around my waist, pulled me into his chest and proclaimed loudly without even a bat of his eyelid.

"My girlfriend."

♛

HAPPY 2021 PEEPS!! Hope you all had a wonderful new year🥳🥳🥳

I dedicate the first update of this new year to all of you, my friends, who have so kindly supported & showered me with the love I definitely don't deserve🥺🥺🥺

School just started this week & while I was initially lazy to write, your comments have given me the much needed push which was crazy since I basically finished this chappie in a day!!

I have noticed many new readers & commenters & I want to let you guys know that I am so so thankful for every single one of you:,,)

Comment what you're expecting for this story & if you're liking it so far!!

LOVE YOU GUYS LOTS so stay safe & well!!

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xoxo
xuan