Gonna mess you up

“I’m telling you, Ivan Mikailov is a fucking psychopath.”

Blair only rolls her eyes at me while I’m making a fuss.

“You sister is only six, she could be lying or imagining things,” Blair counters as we begin to head to the school hall.

All Sevit High students from all year levels are being summoned to the hall for an important presentation that I’ve never heard about until this morning. It’s all shrouded in mystery as no one seems to be certain of who will be presenting to us and also the content of this abrupt presentation, that beckons the whole school to listen on.

“Kids don’t lie about stuff like that!” I protest. “They lie about not having ice cream for lunch at school, about how great at drawing they are and about not peeing their pants until they’re eleven years old.”

I bite my lip as I begin to have flashbacks about the things that I’ve personally lied about as a small child.

“That was a bit too descriptive,” Blair drawls out quietly, as she scans my beetroot face. I clear my throat to mask my embarrassment.

“Bottom line is: no kid is going to go around lying about seeing blood and being scared of their father,” I deadpan. “There’s something off about that family and I’m going to find out what it is.”

“The detective in you is thriving,” Blair gushes sarcastically, as we near the entrance.

It takes a while for the whole hall to settle down. Back at my old school, our hall was ultimately our gymnasium. It could barely fit us all and we had to sit on the floor for more than an hour instead of having the privilege of sitting on chairs like here at Sevit.

I take a seat next to Blair in the center, where the podium can be clearly seen. Our principle takes the stage and I can see the assistant principal sticking closely to him like a shadow.

“Good morning students and teachers, as you know, I am Mr Hawks here at this wonderous school.” He gestures to our hall, glass windows lining above, as rays of sunlight seep through to create small rainbows ahead of us.

He clears his throat a bit and adjusts his glasses before continuing. “We all know that this school holds immense expectations of its students. You are not the average joe.”

Translation: You are not poor.

I hear a few snickers from the students at his old fashioned saying.

“You are heirs of our economy, the heirs to our society and our futures. This is why you must do your very best and make your parents and this school proud. We are very near the end of this journey together. I want you all to stay motivated and continue to work hard for our school. This is why I have invited an important guest. An alumni. A role model for you all to look up to.”

I can see many students on the edge of their seats now, and I too can’t contain my curiosity as I hold in my breath.

Mr Hawks beams at us before revealing, “Please welcome our new school board director, Ivan Mikailov!”

A few squeals can be heard from the girls amongst the applause, but I can only really hear the pounding of my heart and the creeping feeling of nausea inside me. Blair beside me slaps me on the shoulders with an excited grin, whilst clapping intensely.

I don’t spare her a look but look on to Ivan, striding to the podium with a dapper tuxedo on, the lined pants accentuating his long legs, and the black suit making his gelled platinum blonde hair stand out even more.

He smirks at the reaction of the crowd, his eyes still hold that fearless arrogance and lethalness to them that I only seem to recognise.

Girls and guys like Blair beside me only sees it as his oozing charisma, his swoon-worthy and dazzling smile, but I see more to it.

I see evil.

“Hello fellow students, I’m Ivan Mikailov as you all may know,” He speaks slowly, letting every word be heard clearly. “I was a Sevit High student here too like you a few years ago. I’m happy to now be the board director of the school council and hope to make beneficial changes from now on. If you have any proposals, or requests please do come see me.”

I furrow my brows in confusion at how ‘normal’ he seems, how easy for him to switch ‘on’ and ‘off’ like that from the arrogant creep from last night, to a respectful scholar by day. It makes me shudder at his ability to change and pretend so easily.

“As you may be aware of, I am destined to take over my father’s company. We have expanded tremendously from just selling designer bags, to branching out to clothes and other accessories. We have managed to make a brand for ourselves. We now own shares from various hospitals and am managing many, many banks across the world. Life isn’t just one single aspect of just fashion or just healthcare and politics.

This is why my father has chosen to take on so many projects from all factors of our society. We are looking to dabble in the food industry, buying a few restaurant chains to even further expand our empire. We are international. We are unlimited. We are unstoppable. And you can be too.”

He pauses to take in the erupting applause from the crowd who are hanging onto every word he’s saying. It seems that what he’s saying is inspirational, but all I can hear is him shamelessly boasting about his future.

“Please welcome my father now, Klaus Mikailov.”

I sit up straighter and crane my neck up to see Klaus himself coming from the sides up onto the stadium, with similar attire as Sebastian. However the aura is different, he is not here to boast about his achievements, because he doesn’t need to.

The monstrous applause and respect from the students and teachers are enough.

“I’m not a man of many words,” He says. “If you’re not going to achieve what your parents have set out for you to achieve, you do not belong here.”

A wave of silence washes over the hall.

A corner of Klaus’ lips quirk up into a menacing smirk, his intense gaze lingers on everyone as he scans the crowd. “If you are only here to play with your parent’s money, I suggest you walk out the door right now.”

I look around, actually expecting someone to stand up and walk out the door, but nobody does.

“I am pleased to announce that I will be running as Mayor-”

Suddenly, before Klaus can continue, a few gasps can be heard. I unconsciously look back to see a figure in the swamp of seated students, standing up with a playful grin on his lips.

It is Elijah.

We all watch in shock as he begins to walk out the door, slamming it with a bang.

I whip my head back to access Klaus’ reaction. A side of his lips jerk up like it’s having a spasm. He eyes, like a snake’s, glares at Elijah’s back and for a moment, it feels like he’s possessed because he suddenly snaps his head to the side like his neck has been broken and then he abruptly grips on to the podium tightly, his fingers digging into the wood and his body slightly shaking with fury.

It only takes him a while to relax, just in time for the students to pay attention to him again. He regains his posture and clears his throat loudly, but I see right through his little act.

Before he speaks, his eyes snap to me suddenly. We lock eyes and his gaze sends me chills.

Afterwards, I walk with heavy steps around the corridor feeling uneasy at the task I am taking on for my club.

“What are you waiting for?” Naomi asks, as she watches me pace around outside the school council’s office.

“I-I’m nervous,” I say.

I can only chew on my nails at the fact of having to even converse with Ivan Mikailov. No one knows he’s my step-brother. And no one knows how much of a fucking creep he is.

I want nothing but to just run away right now.

Suddenly, the doors to the office clicks from the inside. My reflexes and survival instincts cause me to flee down the corridors.

“Arden!’ I can hear Naomi calling for me. “It’s only Kelly!”

I still don’t stop running. It still doesn’t make things any better.

I slow down, when my ears catch a sweet tone ringing from one of the rooms in the empty corridor. I approach the sound that slowly rings more clearly in my ear, the closer I get to the music room.

I open the door slightly to look through a small crack and see Elijah, with his feet up on the table and a guitar in his hands, with his head lifted up and him singing beautifully in content.

It's a song I don't know, but his velvety voice melts my ears. The song ends all too soon, and I can't help but step in and ask for more.

"Wow, don’t stop." I say gleefully. His eyes widen as he takes me in, and sets the guitar down on the table.

"What are you doing here?"

“Your voice is just…" I struggle to find the right words. “Sexy.”

He scoffs. "There many other things about me that are sexier, but okay." He puts his feet on the table again, and two hands behind his head with ease and a smirk on his face.

"So you’re really just here ‘playing’ with your parents' money?” I raise my brows at him, referring to how he stood up boldy in front of the whole school, before Klaus and the principal at the morning assembly.

"You don’t believe it?"

I hop on a table next to him, and we sit side by side. "I’ve always wanted to know… What do your parents do?"

He glances at me with furrowed eyebrows, but answers anyway. “My father handles drugs.”

My jaw drops and I’m confused, because that’s not what the rumours say. “I thought you owned a pharmacy chain?”

"Well.... That too I guess...." I narrow my eyes at him but he only shrugs nonchalantly. I decide not to question any further about that.

“What does Grayson’s parents do?” I ask, recognising this to be my opportunity to get to know Healers more. “I already know that Kai is like me.”

Elijah begins to laugh, his grass green eyes shining brightly and I honestly have never seen him laugh like this. He’s always just chuckling or smirking at the many girls that come his way. This is a real laugh. One that is genuine and not for show.

“Arden, you seem to think Jace and all of us are all like super rich or something, but Grayson is actually like you.”

I point to myself with a baffled expression. “Me?” I ask incredulously.

Elijah nods in amusement. “Yes. You. A scholarship student.”

I gasp way too dramatically that Elijah feels the need to jump off the table away from me.

This is such a revelation to me. All this time, they were the golden boys, the privileged and the wealthy. However, half of Jace’s posse are just like me. On a scholarship, using their hard work to get to where I am.

“B-But they barely even come to school. How do they maintain the scholarship?” I ask.

“Well, as you know, Kai is a fucking genius. He’s always scored one of the highest in the school. The school can’t kick him out. As for Grayson, Jace kind of backs him up.”

I scoff. “It’s nice to be friends with Jace then,” I say. I suddenly feel an overwhelming sense of melancholy, hitting me like a wave at the mention of his name.

“Where is Jace anyway?” I ask.

“Why? Do you miss him?” His lips quirk up again, as he stands up. His body relaxes into a confident stance and he approaches me.

I avoid his boring eyes and feel myself flush a bit at the fact that I actually miss seeing Jace around, and our little banters.

Elijah comes close and since I'm sitting in the table, we're now eye-level, so close that I can see his clear dark skin, and the piercing green eyes that seems to be able to see through me.

"You do, don’t you?”

I snorted. "Why-why would I?"

He bites his lip playfully and gestures to himself. "You’re right, why would you think about any other guy when I’m right in front of you." Before he can even make a move, I flick his forehead with my fingers and he pulls away instantly, gripping his forehead.

"The fuck you on,” I shout.

After he has recovered, he scoffs and looks at me scornfully. "I can fucking hit a girl you know!"

"You probably hit like a fucking girl too!" I shoot back, crossing my arms.

“Hey.”

A deep voice breaks up our fight and we both look to the door. Grayson stands, leaning on the door sill, wearing a dark shirt and faded blue jeans.

I can now differentiate them. While Jace and Elijah are always rocking some brand name clothing, I can now notice how Grayson has never worn anything flashy. But because of his impeccable looks and muscular body, he can make anything he wears look like they belong on the runway.

“Jace told me to tell you that we have a meeting tonight at the safehouse,” He says, without even a glance at me.

Elijah side glances at me mischievously, making me feel uneasy. “Want to come, Arden?”

“Are you fucking mental, Eli?” Grayson hisses, narrowing his eyes at us.

“Calm your ass,” I start, approaching him. “I won’t come. But you need to come with me, I need to give you something.”

Grayson towers above me, and raises his brows. I begin to walk out of the door, hoping for him to follow me too, but he doesn’t budge.

“Come on!” I gesture for him to follow me. He hesitantly obliges and I can feel his thudding footsteps behind as I lead him to the lockers. I take out a small gift bag from my locker and am about to give it to him when I begin to notice the many eyes on me.

People who are loitering around the hallways, halt their conversations to spy my interactions with Grayson.

“Um, can we go somewhere else?” I whisper.

I sneak a glance up at him to see him rolling his eyes at me, gritting his teeth in annoyance at my request.

“Meet me at the back of the school in five minutes,” He hisses back, huffing a heavy sigh as he brushes past me

I nervously hang around, waiting for everyone else to stop paying attention to me. I begin to sneak off to the back of the school, where I remember getting into a heated argument with Grayson and Jace when I wasn’t fully aware of their identities.

I now laugh at those memories, but still feel a sense of guilt when I recall the awful things I had said to my saviours. I see Grayson already there, leaning against the brick wall with his hands in his pocket like he’s right off a magazine.

“Hey, why aren’t you in uniform?” I ask as I approach him. He straightens up upon seeing me and crosses his arms.

“I only dropped by to check up on Eli,” He lazily replies.

“Why does he need to be checked up on?” I ask.

“Why do you ask so many questions?” Grayson shoots back, his tone laced with annoyance that I’m already used to now. “Now what did you want?”

I roll my eyes at his blunt straightforwardness, but give him the bag. “Here.”

He takes it and peers inside. He raises his dark eyebrows at me once he realises what it is. “You called me out just to give me my hoodie back?”

“There’s Jace’s shirt in there too,” I whisper. “I want to say thanks again. I know you were actually the one that stayed by my side that night when I was sick. I really am thankful,” I say sincerely.

He looks down momentarily, with heavy eyes like he’s unsure of what to say. “It’s not that big of a deal,” He says briskly.

I laugh a bit, and he seems taken aback by my reaction as he gazes at me with curiosity. “I’m sure it isn’t to you. But it is to me. Even when you guys saved me last time, I can’t seem to stop being grateful to you.”

“Next time, stop getting into such situations and maybe we don’t have to save you again.” Even though he isn’t smiling, there is something in his tone that is slightly playful.

I extend a hand to him, and he looks at it with slight confusion. “Let’s call a truce and be friends.”

I bite my lip in anticipation as his eyes glaze at me, scanning my face and then fleeting to my extended hand. His eyes, usually dark and even empty at times, now are lit with curiosity and even a tint of amusement.

He lifts his large hands slowly and begins to graze mine slightly before a sudden voice causes him to retract his hand and our heads whip to the source of the low voice.

“Grayson.”

It is Irisa Mikailov in our Sevit High uniform, the attire making her look preppy. The navy skirt rises just above knee caps, and the blazer fits her figure nicely, making her waist look even smaller.

I look up to Grayson who now is completely taken aback by her presence and I have never seen him so out of his element before.

Irisa glides our way, her posture always upright and her movements, always graceful.

“What are you doing here, Gray.” Irisa smiles seductivle, her blue eyes turning into a sparkling spring.

Even I am captivated by her compelling smile and flirtatious eyes, fluttering at Grayson. I can’t help but think how pretty she looks if she’d smile like this often.

“Irisa,” Grayson whispers breathlessly. They seem to know each other, and I shuffle my feet awkwardly at their encounter that makes me think that they have maybe dated before.

“What-what are you doing here?”

Irisa chuckles lightly, raising a hand to cover her mouth. “I asked first.”

I can see Grayson’s grey eyes turn into beads as he glares at her, with his jaw now locked. He is no longer shocked by her appearance but is now shooting darts at her with his eyes. His facial features become hard again and I recall this look to when we first met. His burning hatred for me back then has now been directed to Irisa instead.

“It’s none of your damn business,” He spits. I recoil a bit at his intensity, but Irisa is not fazed the slightest.

“Of course it is,” She exclaims, her eyes now shifting to me. Her lips curl into a smirk and her eyes remind me of her immense hatred towards me. “I need to know what my little sister is doing with my ex-boyfriend.”

Grayson’s head whips to me. “What does she mean?” He asks through gritted teeth.

I widen my eyes, suddenly feeling pressured at his pressing gaze. “I-I-”

“Her whore of a mother married my father,” Irisa replies blankly.

Before I can fire back, Grayson grips my arm tightly, and pulls me back just as I am about to lunge at her. “Shut up, Irisa.” He growls.

I look up at him, surprised by his defensive response and Irisa’s eyes turn into beady orbs as she stares at his hands on mine.

Something in Irisa’s head clicks, as she scoffs in realisation. “Don’t tell me you like this bitch or something.”