10

Paige

I looked around at the other students, they were all minding their own business.

I checked the medicines, there was a sachet for fever, another one was for cough and colds. It might be another trap.I sat down and placed the bag of medicines in my bag. I've no plan on taking them any way.

Khrysie's eyes followed my bag. I'm sure she knew something. I listened to the class and afterwards left for the cafeteria. Many students started whispering when I entered the cafeteria with Aicko and Shari.

I got a healthy meal and ate it while I studied for my quiz on the next period. I suddenly felt thirsty.

I stood up and went straight to one of the cafeteria's vending machines. I got a can of soda. I know it really isn't good for my health but after 3 days of drinking nothing but water and medicine. I needed a break.

I opened the can and moved it to the opening of my mouth. Suddenly someone took it away from my hand before my lips could even touch the lid.

"You can't have this." Blake brought the soda to his mouth and drank it.

I frowned. "Why?!"

He finished the soda and threw it to the trash can on the side of the vending machine. "Coz I said so." He walked away leaving me glaring at him.

"Jerk." I whispered to myself.

I went back to my seat and found a bottle of water on my my side of the table beside my food tray.

"Who's this?" I turned to Aicko and Shari who were both busy reading and writing.

They looked at the bottle. "Isn't it yours?"

"No, it isn't." I shook my head and took a seat.

"Well we don't know."

I looked at it, it seemed clean. But I knew better than to drink from it, I learned my lesson not to leave my guard down.

I ignored it and brought my attention to my schoolwork.

I suddenly heard some girls from the other table gossiping.

"Did you hear that Blake Carlisle got detention?" one of them said.

"Yeah, my brother said that he saw him mopping the floors in the library."

My eyes widened at the news. But I kept silent, I wanted to be the one to make him feel sorry, I didn't want our problems to reach the office.

After break we headed back to our classes. I had Anthropology. I walked in the room and spotted Blake in his seat, he locked eyes with me as always. Why does he love doing that?I looked away and shifted my stare to Kile, to my surprise he was also looking at me, He immediately looked away when I caught him staring.

I walked to my seat, ignoring Blake's eyes on me. I opened my bag and brought out my Anthropology book. He suddenly moved his chair closer to me and whispered in my ear.

"Did you drink the water?"

So it was him who left the water bottle on our lunch table. I knew it.

I turned my head to him. "I don't know what you're talking about." I lied.

He then leaned closer to me and reached his arm into my bag and pulled out the water bottle that I've kept from a while ago. Shit I knew I should've just thrown it.

He took my hand and placed it between my fingers. "Drink, puppy." He smirked.

Why does he want me to drink water so much? I'm not thirsty and I know better than to accept  anything from Blake Carlisle. I rolled my eyes and placed the water bottle on his desk. "What if I don't want to?"

"Then I'll feed you."

My eyes widened. What did he just say?

"So." He eyed me. "Are you going to drink it or not?"

An idea popped into my head. "Fine." I said and opened the bottle cap, I lifted the bottle closer to my lips. Blake watched my every movement. It was a tiny inch close to my lips when I suddenly turned to bottle to Blake and forcely poured the water all over him.

His eyes widened as the water streamed through his now drenched uniform. "What the hell!" He stood up and glared at me.

I stood up aswell to find myself on his chest level, but I kept my chin up and my back straight. Both of us were ready to strike.

"Paige! Blake!"

We turned to our teacher who stood at the door to the classroom.

"That's it, I've had enough of this, both of you to the guidance office now!" She pointed towards the door.

I wanted to protest and looks like so did Blake but the anger of our teacher was evident so we both ended up leaving the classroom together. I caught Khrysie's glare.

"She always gets Blake into trouble."

I rolled my eyes and walked past her.

Blake and I walked through the halls going to the guidance office. His uniform was drenched and so was his hair. Serves him right, for making me freeze last week and for making me miss 3 days of class. What I did to him wouldn't make up for all the things he's done to me ever since I got here. Someone's gotta have to make him get a taste of his own medicine.

But he hasn't done anything to me back at the classroom, why did I pour water on him? I asked myself. Ugh! Because he's forcing me to drink it. But what if he didn't have any bad intentions? No he's Blake Carlisle, he'd always have the worst intentions.

That's when I realized how quiet he was as we walked. It was so unlike him. I surveyed his appearance again, he looked hot as his dark wet hair fell on his forehead. Shit what are you thinking Paige?! He's an ugly jerk!

Then I felt sorry for pouring water on him as he silently shivered because of his wet uniform. Wait No I'm not sorry!

We got to the guidance office and got surprised to see the guidance councilor already waiting for us at the door. "You two." She pointed to us. "Come inside." We followed her in and she sat on her table, Blake and I sat on the chairs infront of her desk.

"Oh dear Mr. Carlisle you should get changed before you catch a cold." She pointed to Blake's wet clothes.

"I don't want to." Blake immediately said.

The guidance councilor rolled her eyes. "Stubborn as always." She then faced me. "Why is it that not a day goes by without you fighting?"

"Because he's so immature." I crossed my arms.

"Because she's a puppy."

"I'm a human for heaven's sake, how can you not understand that?!"

"Because I don't want to."

"Oh yeah I forgot you're a monster."

"Enough!" The guidance councilor banged her desk.

Blake and I went silent.

"You two are like cats and dogs." She rubbed her head."

The jerk sat back and crossed his arms.

"You both leave me no choice." She rummaged through her drawers and pulled out a dark blue folder. "You both are becoming a disgrace to this school. I'm sorry to say this but you need to be punished." She started to write in the folder.

Shit! I can't get detention, I've got a lot on my plate. I rubbed my head in frustration.

Blake complained. "So how long will the detention be?"

She looked up to us. "Oh no you both won't be getting detention."

Yes! I relaxed my shoulders and leaned on my chair. Blake seemed relaxed as well.

She continued. "But you will get something even worse."

My eyes widened. "W-what?"

"I'm making you two stick together for 2 whole weeks as punishment."

"Wait are you serious?!" Blake stood up. "I ain't staying with that puppy."

Excuse me? Does he think I want to stay with him either?!

"I don't want to be with that jerk either." I stood up as well.

"Sit down for heaven's sake!"

We both sat down.

The guidance councilor took out her glasses and stared at us. "You both proved that you couldn't stand each other that's why this punishment is what's best for you."

We were about to protest when she shushed us. "2 weeks." She made a number two using her fingers. "And if you still don't get along by then I'm going to extend it to a month until you both get along." She said firmly.

I knew better than to protest anymore.

She eyed us and continued. "You both should stick with each other while in the cafeteria or in school, except if you have different classes and you may separate in the afternoon for training." Blake was about to say something but she glared at him which made him quiet.

"As I was saying, you should also be together during weekends, but the dorms are definitely off limits. Also don't even try to fool us because I've got your class schedules in my records so I'll get to monitor the both of you and I shall also appoint the knights to make sure that you're together during the weekends. Don't even try to fool the campus hologram, they can keep watch if you both are abiding to your punishment"

I was about to say something when she silenced me again.

"I don't want to hear any more questions about it, now you two off to your classes." She pointed to the door.

Blake scowled and left hurriedly, I followed him silently.

To my surprise our class ended while we were at the office. I had Music class next, I had no idea of what Blake's next class is, I didn't care.

I proceeded to the auditorium where my next period is. I entered the room. Suddenly I got confronted by Khrysie, behind her were Nile, Eloise, Diana and Isabel. Ugh these Princesses again.

"Excuse me." I passed by Khrysie and tried to squeeze myself away when Diana and Isabel pulled me back to face Khrysie.

"What?" this Russian's annoying me.

She scowled and walked closer to me. Her height towered mine. "Who do you think you are?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Why are you always getting Blake into trouble? She brought her head lower to my level. "Did you know that he had to wake up early to mop the library floors because of you?! Shameless commoner."

So it was true, he did get detention because of me.

"Well I have nothing to do with it."

She rolled her eyes. "Yes you do. You're such a loser and a tattle tail, you told the office about what he's done to you."

"Are you mad!? How can I tell the office if I was confined to my dorm the whole time?"

"Ugh!" She exclaimed. "You asked to be his target, now face your consequences, be the commoner you're supposed to be." She turned away. "Come on girls."

Anger boiled inside me. "And you." I called. "Are you going to be the spoiled Royal that you are?"

I heard her make a curse in Russian and charge back at me. "You bitch!" Her hand came flying to my face.

I was ready to dodge her slap when a hand suddenly stopped her.

The reaction on her face instantly changed and her eyes went to the person behind me. "B-Blake."

"Don't touch her." Blake's voice screamed authority.

"I-I-uh." Khrysie started to stutter and got her hand back then hid it behind her back.

Blake suddenly pulled me to his side. We were so close that I could smell his perfume. Wow this jerk doesn't smell like the trash that he is.

"You all listen to me." His voice was firm and echoed throughout the auditorium making everyone turn to him. "I don't want to see anyone touching what's mine." He pointed to me. "Including her."

"Oooh." Everyone said.

"Did he just call her his?" someone said

"Oh my gosh are they a thing?"

I frowned What the hell?! What am I to him, an object? And why is everyone getting the wrong idea?! I tried to move away from him but he kept his tight hold on me. Asshole!

He turned back to Khrysie. "Understood?"

Anger and fear was plastered on Khrysie's face, she turned around and left. Her group of girls tailed behind.

When they left, I tried to get away from Blake when he pulled me again to his side.

"From now on, I want to see you by my side." He fixed his eyes on me. "Ok Puppy?"

"Asshole!" I pulled away from him.

Before I could say anything the door of the auditorium opened once again and the guidance councilor walked in, she sat on one of the seats and had her eyes on us.

"You see puppy." Blake whispered. "The more you cooperate, the faster we can get this stupid punishment done." He brought his lips close to my ear which made me shake. "So are you going to cooperate or not?"

I breathed in. "Alright." What did I get myself into.

A smirk formed in his lips. He started to walk going to the front seats of the auditorium. My eyes widened when he pulled me with him. I expected his hold on my arm to be hard, rough and with force, but it came out gentle. Not what I expected.

I caught everyone's eyes on me, I didn't miss Khrysie's glare. Do Russians love to glare? He lead the walk and I just followed him until we got to the front seats, Ram sat there with three vacant seats on his left, his eyes widened when he saw us.

He was about to say something when Blake shushed him. "No questions, I don't want to hear anything." That made Ram quiet and just eyed us teasingly.

Blake sat down beside Ram and knuckled his head while Ram was laughing. I just stood there.

Should I also sit with them?! I looked back and saw the guidance councilor looking at me. She nodded at me and I got the message. Ugh! I don't want to sit with them, I have no problem with Ram but I don't want to sit with Blake.

"Sit." Blake pointed to the chair beside him.

This Jerk! He's really treating me like a puppy. I had no choice, I looked at the two vacant seats on his left. I tried to sit on the one away from him leaving a seat between us but he suddenly pulled my arm making me sit beside him.

"Waaw!" Ram acted shocked and placed his hands on both sides of his cheeks. "I cannot believe what I'm seeing here."

"Mind your own business Ram." Blake knuckled Ram's head again. "I'm just teaching my puppy to sit." Blake chuckled. Why is his chuckle so annoying?!

"Asshole!" I hissed.

Blake smirked. "Pup-

"Who's an asshole?"

My eyes widened when Kile suddenly sat at the vacant seat to my left. He got shocked as well to see me.

He raised his eyebrow and looked at Blake.

"No questions. Blake doesn't want to hear anything." Ram mimicked Blake and laughed.

Kile sat beside me. "I was never gonna ask."

I found myself in between Kile and Blake. The teacher entered and climbed up the stage then started discussing about the history of music. We didn't have armrests or desks since we were in an auditorium, all we had was our cinema like chairs so we just listened.

It's hard to listen when Blake is this close beside me. He's capable of doing anything so I felt restless. Kile on the other hand kept his attention to the teacher. I tried to peek at Ram but he was on the other side of Blake.

The auditorium was airconditioned so it was hard to not feel the cold. I tried to hug myself but it was no use since my hands were cold as well.

Kile glanced at me but brought his look back at the teacher. I turned to my right and almost slapped Blake's face when I found him leaning close to me.

"Do you feel cold?" He raised his eyebrow.

I slightly pushed him away to not get the attention of others. "Why do you care?"

"Do you feel cold?" He repeated his question.

"It's non of your business."

"Do you feel cold?"

One more time and I'm really going to punch him.

"Yes! I am." I raised my voice but only loud enough for him to hear. Wait Paige why did you say it?!

"Then deal with it." He chuckled and brought his attention back to the teacher.

I rolled my eyes. The voice of the teacher combined with the cold makes me sleepy. I was about to drowse to sleep when someone handed me a bag of popcorn.

"You want some?" Ram whispered.

I came back to my senses and sat up straight. "N-no thanks." My eyebrows furrowed. "Is that even allowed here?"

"It's not." Ram smiled then offered some to Kile and Blake but they both refused.

Where did he get the food? And how does he manage to bring it here? I thought food is not allowed here in the auditorium.

After a few more minutes of discussion the teacher then brought out a triangle from her pocket and dinged it then left the stage.

Everyone started to stand up. I thought we were about to leave when I realized that they weren't leaving the room but they were climbing the stage and going behind the curtain to the back stage.

Suddenly the red curtains of the stage pulled up revealing musical instruments elegantly positioned. My mouth dropped at the beautiful sight.

The other students left behind the curtain. I watched as Ram and Kile followed but Blake didn't move a muscle.

"Aren't we going in?" I asked.

"There isn't a we."

I rolled my eyes.

"Hey." I looked up at him. "I have football practice so I have to go."

I nodded. Finally we can be separated. I started to walk away.

"Hey Puppy!" He called again.

I turned to him. "What is it this time?"

"I'll see you later." He smirked then left.

Ugh! I hate him so much. I followed the other students behind the curtain and was surprised to see different rooms inside, each room was made of glass so you could see what's happening inside. I spotted Eloise and some other girls in one room doing the Violin, I even saw Ram in another room holding a guitar.

"Ms. Bennet?" I turned to see the music instructor looking at me. "what instrument do you play?"

I scrunched my forehead. "I-uhm don't know how to play any instrument." I told the truth.

"Oh dear." She held her chest. "We aren't used to having students who don't play anything." She thought for a second "Why don't you just proceed to that room in the far end corner, there aren't much students for this session."

Playing musical instruments never accured to me, probably because my mom doesn't know how to play anything and Aiden never taught me to play the guitar.

"Oh ok."

"Wonderful." The instructor pointed to the room on the far end corner. "Enjoy!" She smiled.

I smiled back at her then walked towards the room that she pointed. I was expecting to see some students playing flutes or maybe any other instrument but instead I saw an empty room with a grand piano in the side.

I entered and approached the piano. I don't know a thing about this instrument all I know is that it's so gorgeous. I looked around and it seemed like no one was around. I sat down on the piano stool and opened the cover revealing the keys.

I tapped my fingers on the keys and started pressing them making an off key sound. Gee I'm bad at this.

I started to play some keys and enjoy my time while no one's watching. I laughed at myself. I must look so stupid.

"Wrong key."

I jumped in my seat and saw Kile standing by the door way. His face was serious but I could tell that he was just laughing.

"I have no idea of what I'm doing." I sighed.

He looked around. "You want me to teach you?"

"Y-you play?" Stupid Paige! Why would he be here in this room? Of course he plays.

He sat beside me. "Of course I don't." He said sarcastically.

I frowned. "Haven't I already taught you how to converse properly?"

"I know how to converse." He folded his polo a little revealing his the veins in his arms. I can't deny it, it looked attractive.

"Whatever." I faced the keys. "So can you play something for me?"

He thought for a moment. "Sure."

He started playing a slow, sweet melody. The song was full of emotions and rhythm. I watched the way his hands moved around the keys slowly. He's really good.

When he ended it left me awestruck. "How did you learn how to play?"

"I was given lessons when I turned 6."

"Now I'll teach you." Without warning he took my hand and placed it on the keys. Then after teaching me how to press the keys he then took my hand again and placed it on a few keys. "That's C he said."

I tried to focus but I just couldn't, there was a weird atmosphere between us now. Here I am with the Prince and a piano. I just can't help but blush.

My blushing stopped the second I turned to my left and saw Khrysie in the other room raising her eyebrow at me. Why does these walls have to be glass?!

After the class I had track practice. I texted Shari and Aicko that I'll meet them at the Sports fields. I met up with Aiden at the front of the school and we both drove going there.

"I heard you both got called to the guidance office." Aiden kept his eyes on the road.

"Yeah."

"What happened?"

"Nothing." I lied, I know that He'd just sermon me if he knew that I had to stick with Blake for 2 whole weeks. Best if he knew nothing.

When we got down we part ways. I went straight to the track field and found my teammates talking about something. "There you are Paige, our captain said."

I smiled at them. I noticed that Eloise was avoiding me.

Our coach approached us. "Listen up team!" We huddled around him. "Our tournament starts next month and we've got a long list of school's who wants to play with us. So I want the best performance out of all of you, understood?"

"Yes Coach!" We chorused.

We all went to the benches to wear our running shoes.

"Who will we be playing against?" I asked the team.

Ella one of my teammates tapped my back. "You don't need to worry about us, the only challenge we have are the Beltane Academy girls track team other than that, were good to go."

"Are they fast?"

"Really fast, they're the reason why all of our team's trophies are silver. They've got gold." My other teammate said.

"But I wouldn't worry about them." Ella our team captain joine the conversation. "What I am worried about are the Knights from Hawk ridge Academy."

"Why? Are we going to play against them too?" Lucy the youngets in our team asked.

"No." Ella shook her head. "They're an all boys school, they're always the best when it comes to sports, they leave our boy teams in the dust after every tournament." She sighed.

I frowned. "Are they that good?"

"Believe me, they are really good." My other teammate said.

After our conversation we started running again then our coach called us again to clear up the lanes. "I want running matches." He looked at his clipboard. "First up, Ella and Ruby."

Ella and Ruby came out of the crowd and shook their hands. They did their starting position on the lanes and when Coach's whistle blew they sped off. They both were our best sprinters. They ran through the whole track filled and Ella came back first, Ruby wasn't that far behind.

"Good job Ella, Ruby you're improving." The coach nodded at them then looked back at his clipboard. "Next up is Eloise." Eloise went to the lane and started stretching. "And Paige."

Oh God, I didn't expect to be called this early and to compete with Eloise. I walked to my lane and positioned myself.

Coach started. "Ready." We kept our eyes on the road.

"Set." I lifted my foot a bit.

"Go!"

We both sped off. I couldn't tell who was faster between us coz we were both running at the same pace. Sweat dripped from my forehead and tiredness filled me in. I glanced at Eloise, her face was serious and stern. She looked as if she really wanted to win. I tried to advance but she advanced aswell, we were really at the same pace.

To my surprise we were both near the finish line. I stopped glancing at her and continued to run towards the finish line. When I got there the coach whistled. I looked back to see Eloise and got surprised to see her beside me.

"You came exactly the same time." Coach chuckled. "I must say you both are really fast, keep it up."

We both smiled. I badly wanted to sit but I know that it aint allowed.

While other pairs ran I took a seat on the bench and so did Eloise.

"Nice game." I smiled at her.

She didn't mind me.

I laughed. "You really hate me don't you?"

Her eyes widened and faced me, she was about to say something when she closed her mouth again and looked back at her water jug.

"It's ok." I laughed. "I get that a lot." I turned around and started to walk back to the lanes.

"It's not that I hate you." Eloise said.

I turned around to face her.

"You just don't know where you belong."

I sat down beside her and crossed my arms. "Why do you think so?"

She crossed her arms aswell. "You broke my friend Diana's heart when she saw you with Aiden, you did the same to Bellona when she saw you with Kile, back in the riding range, and you make Khrysie insecure when she sees you with Blake coz she likes Blake." She rubbed her head, "Almost all my friends hate you."

What on earth?! Is that their reason of hating me? Is it my fault that Aiden's my best friend? Is it my fault that Kile was instructed to teach me in riding class? And is it my fault that Blake's a lunatic? NO it's definitely not!

"How about you?"

Eloise sighed. "I don't hate you, but I have to."

"You don't have to like me or be my friend." I smiled at her. "I just hope that we can get along."

She nodded.

After practice I ran back to my bench and drank a lot from my water jug. I got a towel and wiped it around my sweaty face, I looked down at my sleeveless shirt and legging. I really need a shower.

I hung my duffel bag around my shoulder and dialed Aicko on my phone.

"Hello?" Aicko's said.

"Hey, I'm done training you?"

"Oof not yet, you can come here for a while we're almost done though."

"Alright."

I ended the call and inserted it into my pocket. I started walking out of the track field. Suddenly someone snatched my duffel bag away from my shoulder.

I immediately frowned and when I faced the one who took it. "Give it back!"

"No can do puppy." Blake and slung it to his shoulder.

I frowned and tried to grab it from him. He held my duffel bag high in the air so that I couldn't reach it. Damn it, he's so tall!

He had a hoodie on that said Football team and his hair seemed wet from the shower. I glared at him and stood on my tippy toes trying to reach it.

To my surprise he stood on his tippy toes too. Now I can never reach it! "Just give it to me you jerk!"

"Nope." He suddenly pulled me as he walked to the parking lot.

What the hell?! I tried to pull back but he wouldn't stop walking. "What are you doing?! I glared at him."

He turned to me and raised his eyebrow. "I'm going to take you home."

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:))