Anabella, with her signature confident smirk, stepped in front of them, effectively blocking their path. Her sharp eyes darted between Olive and Lara, a glint of mischief dancing in her gaze.
"What do you want? Need soone to get you another strawberry drink?" Lara shot back, stepping protectively in front of Olive. Her tone was sharp, and her glare could have cut through steel.
Anabella ignored Lara entirely, her focus unwavering as she fixed her gaze on Olive. "If you know what’s good for you, I’d advise you to et on the rooftop," she said with a sly smile.
Before Lara could retort or Olive could respond, Anabella turned on her heel and sauntered off, the smirk never leaving her face.
Lara clenched her fists, ready to go after her, but Olive placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "Just go ahead and fill out your college form," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "I’ll join you soon."
"You’re really going to et up with that witch?" Lara asked incredulously, her eyes wide with disbelief and irritation.
Olive nodded, her expression calm. "Yeah, I need to hear what she has to say. She’s just an attention seeker. Let her have her mont, it won’t last long anyway."
Lara let out an exasperated sigh, her anger still simring. "If she tries anything shady, don’t hold back. I don’t care if she’s got your secret or not, I’ll be more than happy to kick her so hard she won’t walk straight for a week."
To emphasize her point, Lara banged her foot against a locker, startling the nearby students. They turned to look at her, their expressions ranging from curiosity to annoyance. Realizing the commotion she’d caused, Lara raised her hands apologetically. "Sorry!" she called out, swallowing hard. The students, though still bemused, eventually turned back to their own business.
Olive couldn’t help but chuckle at Lara’s fiery display. She rolled her eyes playfully and said, "Lara, you’re so dramatic sotis. But I appreciate the support."
"I’m serious, Olive," Lara insisted, crossing her arms. "Be careful around her. She’s up to no good, and I don’t trust her for a second."
"I will," Olive assured her with a warm smile. "Now, go fill out that form. I’ll et you soon."
Still grumbling, Lara nodded and headed toward the college counters, throwing one last concerned glance over her shoulder. anwhile, Olive took a deep breath and began making her way to the rooftop, her mind spinning with thoughts about Anabella’s motives.
As she climbed the stairs, Olive couldn’t help but wonder what Anabella was plotting this ti. Staying away from Lucas had been hard enough, but why was Anabella calling her out now? The pieces didn’t fit, and Olive couldn’t find any reason that made sense.
When she finally reached the rooftop, she found Anabella already there, leaning casually against the railing. The city stretched out behind her, but her attention was focused entirely on Olive. As Olive approached, Anabella turned, her smile smug and her eyes glinting with amusent.
"You’re here," Anabella said, her voice dripping with mock surprise. "I honestly thought your little guard would stop you."
Olive stopped a few feet away, crossing her arms. "What do you want, Anabella?" she asked, getting straight to the point.
Anabella chuckled softly and pushed off the railing, taking a few steps closer. "Oh, nothing much. Just a little favor."
Olive raised an eyebrow. "A favor?" she repeated skeptically.
"Yes," Anabella said with a smirk. "Instead of facing humiliation in front of the entire school or worse, the world, don’t you think it would be better if you left Belmont voluntarily? No drama, no problems."
Olive’s expression darkened as she tried to make sense of Anabella’s words. "What exactly are you saying?"
"I’m giving you a chance," Anabella continued smoothly, her gaze piercing. "Leave this school on your own terms, and no one will ever know about your little secret. No one will know you’ve been disguising yourself as a boy to attend Belmont."
Olive’s stomach dropped, but she refused to let it show. "You told to stay away from Lucas, and I did," she said, her voice rising with anger. "Now you’re asking to throw away my education, my future, the future I’ve worked so hard for all just to please you? Are you insane?"
Anabella tilted her head, her smirk deepening. "It’s not like Belmont is the only school in the world, Olive. There are plenty of other places you could go. And to sweeten the deal, I’ll even pay you. Two thousand dollars, in cash, right now. You can use it to start fresh at a new school, far away from here. All you have to do is fail your upcoming exams and disappear. Leave Belmont, leave Lucas, and leave my life."
Olive stared at her in disbelief, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "You’re out of your mind," she said, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. "You think you can buy off? You think I’m just going to throw everything away because you’re too insecure to handle Lucas being around ? You’re pathetic, Anabella."
Anabella’s smirk faltered for a brief mont before she regained her composure. "It’s your choice, Olive. But rember, secrets don’t stay hidden forever. If you don’t take this deal, don’t bla for what happens next."
"I’m not going to do that, Anabella," Olive said firmly, her voice unwavering and her expression hard with determination. "I’m not going to fail my exams just because you want gone. I’ve already agreed not to attend Belmont College, but failing my exams willingly? Disappointing myself and my parents, who have so many hopes for ? That’s not happening. Keep your ridiculous offer to yourself."
Her words were sharp, etched with conviction, and each syllable carried the weight of her anger and resolve.
Anabella’s smile didn’t waver, but her eyes darkened slightly as she tilted her head. "Wouldn’t their high hopes be shattered anyway when your little secret gets out? A video like that could ruin everything." She paused, letting the threat linger before shrugging casually. "But, honestly, I’m not interested in going that far anymore. Since you’ve already promised to leave Lucas and attend another college, I’m fine with it. Go ahead, write your exams, pass with flying colors, good luck with that," she finished, her smile fake and taunting.
Olive frowned, her eyes narrowing as suspicion crept into her thoughts. Why did she change her mind so suddenly? she wondered. Was she expecting to refuse her offer?
Anabella seed to sense Olive’s unease and quickly filled the silence. "I really don’t want to cause anyone’s downfall anymore. I’ve been doing so thinking, and I’ve decided I’m okay as long as you stay away from Lucas. Once you keep your distance, I’m good." Her voice softened, but the smile on her face didn’t reach her eyes. "I guess I got a little carried away earlier, worried about things I didn’t need to be. But now that you’ve made it clear you’re not attending Belmont college, I’m calm. So, goodbye for now."
With that, Anabella turned and strode toward the rooftop exit. Her footsteps were steady, her head held high, and the sa smug smirk still tugged at her lips. Olive watched her go, rooted to the spot, her mind racing with unanswered questions.
Anabella disappeared down the stairs, leaving Olive alone and confused.
________
At the bottom of the stairs, Lara was waiting, her arms crossed and her body tense as she glared at Anabella.
"What did you do?" Lara demanded, her tone sharp and accusing.
Anabella didn’t so much as glance at her. She brushed past Lara without a word, her smirk widening as she descended the last few steps.
"Fuck you," Lara muttered under her breath, her voice dripping with disdain. Without wasting another second, she turned on her heel and hurried up the stairs toward the rooftop to find Olive.
________
anwhile, Anabella walked out of the school building, her steps slow and deliberate. A satisfied smirk played on her lips as the cool breeze tousled her hair. Her destination was clear, her mind alight with sches.
The abandoned building am ca into view after walking for so minutes, a dilapidated structure where she had once run drugs with Jessica and her friends. The place reeked of decay and bad mories, but for Anabella, it was ho to her darkest plans.
Inside, Ethan stood leaning against a crumbling wall, a cigarette balanced between his lips. Smoke curled around him, his expression indifferent yet expectant.
"As expected," Anabella announced as she approached, the smirk on her face widening. She grabbed a cigarette from the pack in Ethan’s hand and lit it, inhaling deeply before puffing out a cloud of smoke. "She declined my offer, just like I knew she would."
Ethan let out a low chuckle. "Of course she did. You didn’t really think she’d take the easy way out, did you?"
Anabella laughed, a cold and hollow sound. "Oh, I didn’t think for a second that she would. But now it’s ti to move on to the real plan. Your plan." She exhaled another plu of smoke, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Let’s see how she manages to pass her exams now, let alone attend any college. And let’s see how her parents handle their ’perfect daughter’ falling apart." She sneered, the cigarette dangling from her fingers. "As for Lucas, he’ll hate her. He’ll despise her with every fiber of his being. She’ll lose everything."
Ethan took a long drag of his cigarette and smirked. "Poor girl. She doesn’t even know what’s coming. But hey, she had her chance. Now it’s on her." He flicked the ash onto the dirty floor and grinned. "My mission starts now."
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