Her prey

Noah so wanted to avoid all kinds of trouble but of course, troubles found their way to him. He looks around to search for help but everyone in the cafeteria tried to avoid eye contact with him. Everyone knows not to bother the most powerful gang of the school.

Noah understood his situation, it surely was the one difficult to get out of. He lowers his head in defeat. This type of reaction is what Ava enjoys the most, to see her prey helpless in front of her.

George, on seeing his best friend in trouble, runs straight towards them.

He puts down the food and the juices on the table, "Can you please stop bothering him? What did he ever do to you?" George manages to say under the strong glares he was receiving from others.

"Umm. Let me see" Ava pretends to think deeply. "Well, yeah, I don't want to. What you gonna do about that?"

"I won't let you bother him." George says boldly.

Ava gets up from her seat and goes near George, "Oh really?"

George tries not to back down, but Ava's personality is too strong. Ava looks at Allen with a knowing smile. Allen takes the juice that George kept on the table and pours it on top of Noah.

Noah startles at this sudden action and was about to get up when his eyes meet Allen's, and he sits down quietly.

"Oops, what should we do now? Poor clumsy Allen. But I thought you were not going to let that happen, right?" Ava says while stepping closer to George.

"You! I.. I am.. I am going to inform the teacher." George manages to spill not knowing anything better to say cursing himself in his mind. 'Seriously George? That's all you could think of?', he mentally slaps himself.

"Wow, brilliant. Aren't you the smartest one of all? As if that is going to solve everything. Go do it or shall I go and inform them myself?" Ava gets near Noah and holds the other juice glass. Noah flinches at her action much to Ava's amusement. 'Cute', she thinks.

"My dad, James Collins, is one of the most important trustees of this school. I don't think he'd appreciate anything being said against his only daughter, Ava Collins." Noah was surprised on hearing Ava's father's name.

James Collins was a well- known name in the underworld. Also covering up his work with his well- established business was not something new amongst gangsters, even police do not pay mind unless it is related to a major event, yeah, they get paid well to act blind.

Ava walks towards George.

"Or maybe you would like to take his place?" Ava was about to pour the juice on George when,

"Stop, no, no, don't." Noah says getting up from there and stands in front of George.

"You seriously tried to stop me?" Ava groans. No one has ever interfered in her business when she is trying to have some fun.

"Please, let him be. He… he got nothing to do with this.. please." Noah pleads. George tries to push him aside, but Noah does not move.

Ava hands over the juice to Gray, "So, you will take responsibility for his action?"

"Ye,.. yes, I will." George was about to interrupt but Noah holds his hand making him stop. Seeing their close friendship made Ava feel a bit strange.

"This seems interesting. So, you, Noah Carter, are gonna be my punching bag from now on. You do what I want you to do and whenever and wherever I call you, you will have to be there, no matter what."

"But… this is not fair I…", Noah was trying to reason.

"You don't decide what's fair or not… Or maybe you don't want to save your friend." Ava looks at Gray who goes near George.

"No, no… I will, I will do what you want. Don't drag him into this." Noah says defeated.

"It is settled then. Listen, everyone!" Ava goes on top of the table.

"This nerd, Noah Carter is going to be my prey for this semester. Do not get involved in any matter related to my gang and him or else you will be the one switching places with him." Ava warns.

Everyone in the cafeteria avoids eyes with them, some feeling pity over Noah's situation, but no one can help him or more like no one dares to help him.

Ava and her friends give an evil smile with satisfaction.

Ava gave a last glance at Noah, pats his head, and says, "Let's go guys. We need other things to do as well."

Ava and others leave the cafeteria.

"Why did you, Noah? You know who she is and what her gang does? She is ruthless. Last time, they bullied a girl so much that she had to transfer to a different school, and that too when she begged them to let her go. They are very powerful." George says as he cleans the mess from Noah's t-shirt and hair.

"I had no choice. I couldn't get you involved when all she wanted was to target me." Noah says while walking towards the restroom.

"But Noah, this ain't gonna be easy. You know that."

"Hmm, I know." Noah says in a low voice.

Ava and her friends were sitting in the schoolyard when Cole asks,

"Ava, why did you choose to bother that nerd? I don't think he did anything for any of us to get offended."

"I don't know Cole. It's just. The moment I saw him running away in the parking lot, the whole thing kind of bothers me. I guess it's just how week he is that makes me wanna push him even further to see how far he can hold on to." Ava answered although not being too sure herself. She does not understand why she was getting satisfaction from bothering Noah who literally did not offend her or her friends. This was the first time she chose her prey who did nothing against her in any way.

"Well, whatever it is Cole. I do not know but I enjoy seeing him all scared and still somehow, he stood up for his friend. He seemed kind of cool, I must say." Olivia comments.

"Yeah, I know right. I did not think he would even courage to get up from that seat after Allen's threat, let alone speak." Gray laughs.

"He with his 'Ye,.. yes, I will.' Hah hah, it was such a sight to see. When Allen got near him, he was literally going to pee his pants if we pushed him further." Cole mimics Noah and everyone laughs except Ava.

"You got us a good one Ava, this semester is going to fun. I still don't understand why you are bothering him who got nothing to do with us, but that nerd is a good catch." Gray says while grinning.

Allen did not say a word. He was just observing Ava's reaction to other comments, which were not her usual reaction as she was not enjoying what others were saying about Noah.

"It is surely going to be fun to torture him.", Olivia says.

"NO. HE IS MINE. I mean he is my prey and only I am allowed to bother him." Ava says while others look at her, surprised.