Serena's pov:
The door slammed behind us, and I almost tripped over my own feet as Sarah yanked me inside. We were the first ones in the classroom empty chairs, clean board, the faint smell of chalk and disinfectant. She let go of my wrist like she hadn't just tried to dislocate it.
I blinked at her. "Okay… do you always drag friends into empty rooms or am I just special?"
She gave me a quick glance, then looked away. "I..look, I just didn't want anything happening to you out there Serena."
That apology from earlier was still sitting on my tongue like a sour candy. My brain wanted answers, but before I could push, the door creaked again. Students started filing in, loud, laughing, tossing backpacks. My chance evaporated. Sarah slid into the seat beside me, calm like nothing happened, while I sat there buzzing with questions.
The teacher walked in with that stiff, over-practiced smile teachers wear when they're already tired of life. She introduced herself, then, as if remembering she had a new puppy to show off, turned toward me.
"And this is Serena Williams," she announced, like I was some random poster child for transfer students. "Everyone, say hello."
"Hello," they chorused, unbothered.
I gave a tiny wave. Couldn't they at least pretend I was Nicki Minaj or something?
The class started, but ten minutes in, the door opened again and everything changed.
They walked in.
The A4s.
Aaron Rodgers leading, Ace Montana right behind, Alex Gregory with that bored smirk, and Antonio Brown trailing like he owned the hallway.
The air shifted like somebody turned the volume down. The teacher froze mid-sentence. Every single student gasped, squealed, or whipped out their phones like paparazzi on steroids.
"Oh my god, Aaron, can I take a pic?!"
"Alex, smile for us!"
"Antoniooo, wave!"
"Ace,look at me please!"
Even the teacher was fumbling with her phone, trying not to look obvious.
I swear, if aliens had landed in the middle of the room, no one would've noticed.
Everyone except Sarah. And me.
Sarah was doodling in her notebook like royalty hadn't just walked in. I, on the other hand, just sat there blinking, trying not to choke on secondhand fangirl squeals.
Aaron's gaze swept the room like he was personally checking for dust. His jaw tightened. "Why isn't our classroom ready yet?"
Wait. Their classroom?
I leaned toward Sarah. "They have their own classroom?" I whispered.
She nodded without looking up. "Mm-hm."
Of course they do. Because normal classrooms are for peasants.
The teacher stammered, voice shaking. "I…I was told it will be ready soon. Please, just a little longer…"
Aaron narrowed his eyes, every word sharp. "It better be."
And then, just to prove how much of a menace he could be, he turned toward us.
Toward me.
He walked over slowly, each step heavy like the soundtrack of a villain reveal. I didn't blink. Sarah didn't flinch.
He stopped right in front of me. His eyes locked on mine.
"I'm watching you."
Before I could even process what that was supposed to mean, he tossed the handkerchief he'd been using to wipe some sweaty student's forehead right on my face.
Yep. Germs. Straight up,face to face
My jaw dropped as laughter and gasps filled the room. I pulled the disgusting thing off and glared at it like it personally insulted me. He didn't even wait for a reaction. He and his perfect squad just walked out, leaving a trail of chaos behind.
"And that's what photosynthesis means"
The teacher tried to keep going like nothing happened, fumbling her way back into some ramble about photosynthesis. My brain couldn't latch onto a single word. I was still staring at the handkerchief like it was radioactive.
By the time the bell rang, I was already halfway out of my seat, ready to chase Sarah down.
She walked fast, like always, but this time I wasn't letting her escape. I caught up with her just outside the classroom, practically jogging to keep up.
"Okay, nope,not this time,you don't get to just walk off like nothing happened. I have questions, Sarah. Big ones. Why did you apologize to your own brother? Why does the A4s more like a$$holes even exist? A4s my foot and what? seriously, what gives them the right to strut around like they own the school? Why do they treat students like them this way? Why do they have a different classroom? I thought Only rich or high class people go here,are they different?"
Her shoulders stiffened. She slowed a little but didn't turn. "Serena…"
"No. Don't 'Serena' me. You apologized to him. To him. I mean, he literally manhandled you, and you apologized? What even is that?! I don't care if he's your brother, That's harassment Sarah and seriously…a wet handkerchief on my face,and the teacher…ughh say something Sarah"
She finally opened her mouth, looking like she might actually give me something… anything when the universe decided, once again, to cut me off.
Because, of course, the cheerleaders showed up.
Enid, Sofia, and Debra the holy trinity of glitter and bad attitudes. They popped up out of nowhere, perfectly in sync, all hair flips and fake smiles.
"Well, well, if it isn't the new charity case," Enid sang, eyeing my clothes like she'd never seen jeans before. "Where'd you get that shirt, grandma's closet? Or you inherited it?"
"Or maybe a thrift store dumpster?" Debra added, snickering loud enough for the crowd gathering behind them to hear.
I bit my tongue so hard I tasted blood. The hallway was already buzzing, students whispering, pointing not just about my outfit, I could feel it. They were still hung up on the fact that I'd shoved Aaron freaking Rodgers earlier. Their looks said it all: She's doomed. Dead girl walking.
I opened my mouth, ready to shoot back, when….
SPLASH.
Cold. Soaking. Shocking.
Water poured over me, seeping into my hair, my shirt, dripping down my face. My backpack slid off my shoulder and thudded onto the floor. I froze, water pooling around my sneakers.
And then the laughter came.
It rolled down the hallway like a wave, echoing, sharp, merciless. Phones came up instantly because of course someone had to get this on video.
Heat burned behind my eyes, not from the water, but from the humiliation. Every muscle in my body screamed at me to run, to disappear.