In the early hours of the day, Sterling High had already chosen its rumor of the day spreading every corner of the school like wild fire.
Emma Hart.
The charity scholarship student who bravely talk back to Sophia Lane without fear.
The girl who walk around the school wearing Christy Sterling's clothes.
The girl who smiled while been disgraced.
Emma heard the murmurs before she even entered into the school gate.
"She thinks belongs but will never be part of us"
"She's definitely after Christy's money"
"Did you all see how she looked down on Sophie?"
Emma walked straight past them without spearing a glance. Her face was straight and calm but fearless at the same time. But her palms were slightly damp.
She refused to let anyone see fears in her eyes.
At her locker, she had a sharp voice cut through the corridor towards her clapping at the same time.
"Wow! So the poor charity girl has a wardrobe upgrade."
Sophia Lane leaned closer to her against the locker beside hers, chewing gum and making bubbles. Her two close friends shadowed behind her, like loyal dogs waiting for instruction from their royal mistress.
Emma closed her locker and slowly turned towards Sophie with a mischievous smile.
"Beautiful and good morning to you Sophia."
Sophia snorted. "Don't flatter yourself and stop acting like we are on the same level."
Emma tilted her head to the side and whispered. "I wasn't. But thanks for reminding me."
A few walking by passing students froze mid-walk.
Sophia's smile stiffened. "You're playing with fire, be careful or else you will break yourself."
Emma moved closer, close enough that Sophia's fragrance mixed together with her sharp breath.
"I don't play games I can't finish." She said
"If you dare start a game with me, I promised you I will be the one to decide when the game is over." She finished looking at Sophie with a mocking face.
Sophia's hand quickly raised up.
The slap never landed.
"DON'T YOU DARE."
Christy Sterling pushed through the crowd, her heels clicking on the marbled floor and hers eyes blazed.
Sophia's hand dropped immediately.
"Come on Christy, calm down girl it's not what you think it is." Sophia nervously laughed. "We were just having fun."
Christy stepped between them. "Touch her again, and I will make sure you are having fun in another school."
Sophia's eyes widened. The Sterling family and power were not something to play with.
She leaned very close to Emma and whispered, dangerously sweet.
"This is not getting over anytime soon."
Then she walked away.
The crowd scattered.
Christy turned to Emma. "Are you okay?"
Emma nodded. "Yes, there is nothing you should worry about."
Christy connect their arms together. "Come on. Let's get back to class."
Emma allow Christy to pull her along.
But deep inside her heart, she whispered
"One down and many more to go."
In class, the teacher requested for a complete silence.
"Today we are going to have a brain quiz."
Student's groans echoed through the room.
Emma didn't show any sigh of panic at all.
Papers were handed out to all the students and time passed.
When the teacher called for submissions, Emma was the first to hand over her paper.
Sophia glanced at her paper, still half blank.
After quiz, the teacher announced Emma as the overall winner.
"Miss Emma you scored highest score than anyone has ever scored on my quiz."
Christy and some few students clapped while the rest were not interested in clapping for her.
Emma smiled proudly.
A few bypassing students overheard the teacher talking about Emma's scores.
Whispers kick started.
But deep inside her
"If intellectual value is not respected here, then what will?"
Lunch break.
Christy's attention was needed by a senior teacher, so for that she wasn't able to go to cafeteria with Emma. Emma walked into the cafeteria alone carrying her tray, halfway through the room, someone clashed into her shoulder sending her back.
Her tray flew and crashed on the floor. Food splashed, Juice soaked and stained her uniform.
Everybody busted out laughing.
Emma stood frozen trying to recover from her shock, food dripping down her sleeve.
Sophia stood before her, faking shock and fake concerns.
"Oh my God. I'm so very sorry, I promised you it wasn't intentional."
Her friends cracked up louder.
Emma gently kept down the empty tray on the table.
Then she smiled.
"No problem. Accidents happen all the time, don't worry yourself too much."
Sophia was sbaffled.
Emma bend very close and whispered softly to her ears enough for her to hear.
"Some accidents, however return with some compound interest."
Sophia's laughter instantly vanished.
Emma walked pass them cool, composed and stained like a warrior leaving a war zone.
Christy came to the cafeteria scanning for Emma but nowhere to be found.
She asked some of her friendss and they directed her to the bathroom.
Christy found her in the bathroom, washing her uniform angrily.
"Emma! Did Sophie do this to you again?"
Emma brushed off and continued scrubbing her uniform.
Christy's jaw stiffened and dragged Emma's arm with her. "Come with me."
Five minutes later, Emma found herself in Christy's walk-in closet again for the second time. The scent of expensive fragrance filled the atmosphere.
"Pick something and change." Christy said.
Emma rejected the offer. "I can't keep using your clothes."
Christy stroked her gently. "What are friends for, they help and have each other's back always. That's not taking."
Emma's gaze softened.
She chose a simple emerald green dress.
When she stepped out, Christy smiled proudly.
"You look so breath taking."
Emma stared at her reflection in the mirror.
For the first time in her life, she feels like she belonged and all thanks to kind hearted Christy.
And the sensation was so overwhelming.
After school hours, Christy's black luxury car stopped at the school entrance.
Christy warmly smiled. "Come home with me. My elders brother is eager to meet you."
Emma whispered "Daniel Sterling?"
"Who else?" Christy said cheerfully.
Emma swallowed. "Sure"
The Sterling mansion emerged like a palace far bigger than any other house in the neighborhood.
The breath taking view, the marble floors, numerous staff, exotic cars and crystal chandeliers reflecting power.
Christy's elder brother Mr. Daniel Sterling stood at the top of the staircase, tall and handsome.
He immediately lock eyes with Emma.
"So, you are the girl making waves inside the Sterling high school?" he asked
Emma met his gaze. "I didn't make a wave. I just showed up."
Daniel smirked.
"I watched the cctv footage."
Emma's breathed sharply.
"You didn't cry, didn't plead and you didn't attempt to physically retaliate."
Daniel continued. "Impressive."
Emma raised her head and look him in the eye. "I fight my battles wisely."
Daniel stepped aside.
"Dinner starts in an hour," he said before walking away.
Christy leaned close. "I think he likes you."
Emma whispered back, "I think he is watching me very closely."
Christy laughed. "All the same."
But Emma knew very well hunters studied their targets always.
That night in the guest room, Emma stayed in the balcony overlooking the beautiful city view.
Her phone vibrated of a message notification.
Unknown Number:
"You impressively put that mean girl Sophia Lane in her place today."
Emma's fist clenched.
Emma:
"May I know you please"
Unknown:
"Someone who monitors the Sterling high carefully."
Emma:
"You better stop watching me."
Warning the anonymous person.
Three dots appeared.
Unknown:
"You stepped into a battle filed, Miss Hart."
Emma's heartbeat fastened.
Emma:
"Then I planned to survive it, like I always do."
Unknown:
"Survivors don't just survive in this cruel world. They defeat, over throw and then conquer. Choose who you want to be."
Emma switched off her phone and walked to the mirror.
The emerald green dress hugged her frame. Her eyes were sharp aligned with deeper desire.
"I will never go back to being nobody anymore." she whispered to her reflection in the mirror.
Daniel sat in his home office downstairs working on his laptop.
On his laptop screen:
FILE: EMMA HART
Academic ranking: Excellent
Psychological profile: Ambitious, emotionally intelligent.
Threat capability: Emerging
Daniel slowly closed his laptop and smiled.
In a school governed by money and power…
Emma Hart had just debuted her arrival.