Elena

Chapter 6:

(Elena's POV)

I didn't know how I managed to walk back into that classroom...

After what I did.. Fucking god..

I just slapped him.. I just slapped Xavier....

The moment I stepped into the classroom, I felt it.

The shift. The weight of every single stare.

It was different now.

Yesterday, I was just some poor girl who didn't belong.

Today?

I was the girl who slapped Xavier Knight.

I swallowed hard, forcing my feet to keep moving, even as the whispers rose around me.

"She actually hit him."

"I can't believe she's still showing her face."

"She must have a death wish."

I refused to let my face betray any emotion as I walked toward my desk.

But I could feel it.

The tension. The waiting.

And then… the scrape of a chair.

I didn't have to look to know who it was.

Xavier.

I heard his footsteps before I saw him. Slow. Purposeful.

Like a predator circling his prey.

Then, just as I reached my desk—

His hand slammed down in front of me.

The class went dead silent.

My heart leapt to my throat as I finally lifted my gaze.

He was standing in front of me. Too close. Too smug. Too powerful.

That stupid, lazy smirk was still on his face, but his green eyes?

They were dark. Dangerous.

He was pissed.

Good.

I straightened my shoulders. "Move."

He let out a slow chuckle. "Or what, sweetheart? You gonna slap me again?"

The class erupted in whispers.

I ignored them, keeping my glare locked on him. "Keep pushing me, and maybe I will."

His grin widened. "Damn. You really don't know when to quit, do you?"

I gritted my teeth. "No, Xavier. I just don't take crap from entitled jerks like you."

Someone gasped. Nathan, one of Xavier's friends, whistled under his breath.

Xavier's smirk didn't waver.

But his eyes?

They flickered with something darker.

"You think you're something special, huh?" he murmured, tilting his head. "Some tragic little fighter, standing up to the big bad rich boy?"

I refused to look away. "I think you're used to people being too scared to call you out on your bullshit."

A few students sucked in a breath.

Xavier chuckled, shaking his head. "You talk a lot of shit for someone who doesn't belong here."

I clenched my jaw. "And you act like you own this place just because Daddy's money paid for your grades."

More gasps.

A few students hid their laughter.

Xavier's smirk froze for half a second.

Then, in a blink, he leaned down, so close our noses almost touched.

The air between us grew thick. Heavy. Unbearable.

"You have no idea who you just messed with, sweetheart," he whispered, voice so low only I could hear it.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I wouldn't back down.

I refused.

So I lifted my chin and whispered back, "Then show me."

A muscle ticked in his jaw. For the first time, I saw something flash in his eyes.

Annoyance?

Amusement?

Something else?

Before he could say anything, the teacher walked in.

"Take your seats," she said, her sharp gaze landing on us. "Now."

Xavier didn't move.

Neither did I.

For a long, suffocating moment, we just stood there.

Then, finally, he let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head.

"See you soon, sweetheart," he murmured before stepping back and taking his seat.

The second he was gone, my breath came rushing back.

My hands were shaking.

The entire class was still watching me like I had just signed my death sentence.

Maybe I had.

But one thing was certain—

This wasn't over.

Not even close.

—

After School –

By the time the final bell rang, I was drained.

I shoved my books into my backpack, avoiding every single stare.

Lena caught up to me in the hallway. "Elena, you okay?"

I nodded, even though my entire body was on edge.

"You seriously have a death wish, don't you?" she muttered, shaking her head. "No one—no one—goes up against Xavier like that. And survives."

I forced a small smirk. "Well, I'm still standing, aren't I?"

Lena sighed. "For now."

I exhaled, adjusting my backpack. "I just want to go home."

She nodded. "I get it. Just… be careful, okay?"

I offered her a small smile before heading out of the school gates.

The cool air hit my face, and I finally let out a breath.

Today was hell.

But I survived.

For now.

—

Home -

I collapsed onto my bed the second I got home, exhaustion weighing me down.

Noah was in the living room, muttering about his math homework. Mom was still at work.

I just needed to breathe.

Just one moment of peace.

Then—

My phone buzzed.

Once.

Twice.

A dozen times.

My stomach dropped.

I reached for my phone, frowning.

And then—I saw it.

100+ messages.

Texts.

Group chats.

Notifications.

And at the center of it all—

A video.

I clicked it, my fingers shaking.

And there it was.

The moment I slapped Xavier Knight.

Captured.

Uploaded.

Shared.

Already going viral.

The comments were worse.

"Holy shit, she actually hit him."

"Xavier's gonna ruin her."

"Does she think she's some main character?"

"Say your prayers, girl. You're done."

I dropped my phone.

My chest tightened.

My breath hitched.

This wasn't just a school rumor.

This was everywhere.

And Xavier?

I knew he had seen it.

I knew he was going to come for me.

Because this war?

Had just begun.

—