Chapter 20

"Hello... Can you please come to the school field?" James spoke to someone on phone.

"Do You think this will work?" David asked

"I hope it does. Because just as Liam is running mad for Cassandra, I am also running mad for her" James replied.

"Hey... Guess she is here. I have to get going" David said and left.

"I thought I won't see you" James said with a smile.

"Why?" Gabriella asked.

"Nothing... Just wild imaginations" James said.

"So... Why did you call me?" Gabriella asked.

"I miss you... And your almighty brother won't give us a chance to talk" James said stressing the phrase 'almighty brother' which made Gabriella laughed.

"So.... Will you please be my girlfriend?" He asked with a hopeful look.

Gabriella knew she feel same for him but how to say yes is the problem.

"Gabriella?..." James called when she remained silent.

"Yes!..." Gabriella said and ran away feeling shy.

James stood there immobile, did she just accept? Like Gabriella is now his... Like his alone...

.....

Cassandra was with Liam when Jane ran over to them.....

"Cassandra... The principal said you should be in his office as soon as possible" she said.

"Why?" Cassandra asked.

"I don't know... But I don't think it's something good" Jane said with a concerned tune.

"Ok.... I should go over and know what's up" Cassandra said.

"I should come with you" Liam said.

"Don't worry I'll be fine" Cassandra said with a reassuring smile before heading for the principal's office.

"I hope this has nothing to do with you" Liam said with a hard glare causing Jane to flinch in fear.

.....

When Cassandra stepped into the principal's office, Kate, and her friends where there. This is bad she thought.

"Good day sir" Cassandra greeted.

"Miss Vincent... Kate's phone got missing and you are a suspect" The principal said.

"Phone? I don't think I have anything to do with that"Cassandra defended herself.

"Sir... She's lying why not check her laugage and every other thing that belong to her" Kate retorted.

"I think that will be a good move" the principal said thoughtfully.

"Let's go then" he added and they all went to cassandra's tenth. When Cassandra brought out her laugage, the principal started checking. After a while, he brought out a phone.

"Cassandra, what is this? We don't tolerate theft in this school. I expected you of all people to be good and careful since you are on scholarship" The principal said angrily.

"But sir... I don't know anything about this" Cassandra said with tears streaming down her eyes.

"Then how can you justify this? You have to face the disciplinary committee" the principal said, then gave Kate her phone and left .

"Let's see what Liam would do about this...." Kate said mockingly and left.

Cassandra stood there crying for a long time.

"What's wrong?" Liam asked as he stood beside her. His heart clenched painfully in his heart. He just can't bare seeing her like this.

"I... Was... Accused.... For.... Theft..." She said between her sobs.

"But You don't believe that right?" She asked but Liam did not reply

He just looked at her for a while and left without a word. This made her cryed even more.

....

Later that day, all the students gathered in the hall. Cassandra was kneeling in front of every one and the principal told the students she stole Kate's phone. Everyone was surprised... "She looks like someone who can't even hurt an ant" someone whispered.

"She will receive fifty strokes and will be suspended for two weeks next term. This should be an example to other students" a member of the disciplinary committee said. And the beating was about to start.... A man raised his hand and and was about to start logging her. Cassandra closed her eyes anticipating the stroke but it never came, instead, she felt someone hug her from behind and taking the stroke for her.

"I won't ever let anyone hurt you... I promise" the person behind her to whispered to her ears.

"Liam?, what are you doing here?" She asked.

"Protecting You" was his simple reply.

"And what the hell do you think you are doing?" The principal asked angrily.

"Sir... Cassandra is innocent,and if you insist on punishing her, punish me instead. I took the phone and dropped it in her laugage." Liam said with a serious tune.

"A hundred strokes for him" the principal said angrily and left.

"Liam... You don't have to do this... It has nothing to do with you." Cassandra said, but he could not reply because two guys took Cassandra away holding her firm.