28. Heartburn

Joel

It's done.

I did it.

I'm sitting in front of the computer, data and figures facing me.

Christian Meyer's project is all in my computer, ruined.

It took me a long time to hack it cause the system was very protected.

But now it's all gone.

I messed it all up and they won't be able to save even just the half of it.

I made sure for the project to be unfixable.

Tomorrow 'Meyer Team' will be faced with some serious financial problems and a ruined project.

They'll bankrupt if they don't come up with a solution within a week.

I get out of the project's system and close my laptop.

The clock on my bed's nightstand says 2am.

Damn it, five hours has passed since I opened my computer?

I need to sleep, or I'll be a walking zombie in the morning.

Something brushes my feet, and I smile when I look down.

''Hi Popsicle.''  I whisper and scoop her at my arms, ''Why aren't you sleeping?"

My cat brushes her head at my chest, purring.

Popsicle is three years old, I got her on my fourteenth birthday when she was just born.

I found her in front of my house's gate, in a bad condition and her mother had died.

She looked really cute even that she was wet, and her eyes were unopened.

I wanted to save that cat, and I begged my father to allow me to keep her.

He said yes just because it was my birthday.

I named her popsicle because my mother loved popsicles. I don't know if she still does.

We both share the same birthday.

She's like my best friend.

I lay down on my bed and Popsicle snuggles close to me.

She's really fluffy now, her gray fur shines.

I lay on my back and look at the ceiling.

I can't stop the thoughts from forming on my mind.

What will happen if they really bankrupt?

Olivia's life will be destroyed?

She won't come to 'Royal Academy' anymore?

''She'll be gone, Popsicle.'' I whisper to my cat, ''She'll disappear from my life, and I won't see her again.''

She meows and I pet her head.

Why does it bother me?

Why the thought of not seeing her again makes me feel this vulnerable?

''After all, is what I wanted since the beginning.'' I whisper. ''It's what my father sent me there for.''

I sigh and kiss my cat's head.

☯☯☯☯

''Why do you keep looking at your phone?" Avril asks, ''The teacher gave you a warning eye through all the lesson.''

"As if I give a fuck.'' I say.

Literature is not that important as the thing that I'm worried about.

The news about Meyers financial problems should have dropped by now.

Did they save the project?

That's impossible, I ruined all of it.

My phone rings and I quickly look at it.

Father: Good Job.

He sends me a link about the Meyers, and I quickly click at it.

The successful company of Christian Meyer in danger to bankrupt?

Yesterday late at night 'Meyer Team' employees discovered that something was wrong with their project (something that they kept hidden from us) and then they found out that the project was completely wrecked and impossible to be fixed.

Their partnership for this project, the Russian company named 'Rosneft' is really angered about this issue and is demanding that if 'Meyer Team' does not fix this problem as soon as possible they will have to pay them back.

What will happen with the companies?

And what is Christian Meyer doing about this?

I smirk while reading it.

Father said good job.

Pride and happiness blooms in my chest.

''Oh my God, you did it?" Avril says and I smirk at her. "Holy shit, this is huge!''

''But how did they find out about it this fast? '' she asks referring to the journals.

''Bad news spread faster, dear siss.'' I wink, ''But I'm sure that father had to do with this.''

''You mean he paid the journals to spread the news?" she looks at me.

"Maybe, I don't know.'' I shrug.

''Oh God, I can't wait to humiliate Olivia now.'' she says, and my eyes go immediately to Olivia who's chatting with her friends at the front of the class, ''Quick sent me that link.''

''I don't think-'' I start but Avril grabs my phone and sends the link to herself.

''The sugar over there will pay for choking me on Friday and looking you on that fucking room.'' she says and passes me the phone.

The reminder of Olivia locking me there makes me smile.

The little fighter.

I was surprised seeing her in that locker, and the fact that we were alone did something to my brain.

She distracted me pretty good actually, I really fell for it.

I was locked there for straight three hours, until the janitor came and opened the door.

I tried calling Avril and Luke million times but there was no signal.

"What's with you and calling her sugar?" I ask her and put my phone to my pocket.

''Well, she's all nice and kind and acts sweet.'' she shrugs, ''Daddy's spoiled princess'' she rolls her eyes.

''I don't think we should do anything. Like let's just discuss it with father first.'' I say.

"There's no need.'' she walks over to her desk.

I look at her and then at Olivia who's smiling and talking enthusiastic.

Her smile makes my heart burn.

Olivia

It's lunch time and we're sitting at the cafeteria.

Weird, the Cullens aren't here.

''Do you think the Cullens will do something to us because I locked Joel in the locker?" I ask and reach for my sandwich.

''Oh, now you're thinking about it?"  Lucy says with a glare, and I roll my eyes.

''Why would they do something? He completely deserved it.'' Andy speaks.

''Yeah, but that doesn't stop them for taking revenge on us.'' I drop my sandwich on the plate.

''You're thinking ridiculously.'' Andy says and I shrug.

At the moment I reached for my sandwich, another plate placed in front of me.

It's full of food.

I look around and see that another one is placed in front of my sister too and Joel with Avril are smiling at us.

Luke walks slowly toward the couch and sits there. Not looking at us.

I look at the food and back at them.

''What is this?" I ask them confused.

''Well.'' Joel says loudly, ''Since the Meyers are bankrupting, we need to help them right?'' gasps erupt around us, and my face fell.

Bankrupting?

What the hell is he talking about?

''It's not that much, but I think that you'll appreciate a good food.'' Avril smiles.

I look at Lucy and she looks at me too.

Confusion is written on her face.

''What are you talking about? What bankrupt?" I ask and my phone rings with a message.

'All about time.'' Joel says looking at his phone, ''Royal Academy News posted about it too.''

Everyone is gathered around us. They are looking at their phone.

Some are laughing, some are confused.

I reach for my phone with shaky hands and read the post.

My heart drops.

Huge news my Royal Academies!!!!!

THE MEYERS ARE BANKRUPTING!

Yes, you read that right, Meyer royalty is towards its end.

The huge project of Christian Meyer is all destroyed (for unknown reasons...or maybe someone did it?) making 'Meyer Team' have some financial problems. And also, they are in a conflict with the Russian company 'Rosneft'.

California is blowing with the shocking news of 'Meyer Team'...and our school is going to blow too!!

What has Olivia Meyer and Lucy Meyer to say about this?

Are you okay girls?

What will your daddy do this time?

Will he save the family's business, or you'll leave this school as poor?

XOXO Your Royal Academy News.

''What the hell?" I get up from the couch.

No, no, this can't be happening.

This is not true.

''Did you know about this?" I ask Lucy and she shakes her head.

''This is not true.'' I yell, ''Who the fuck spread the fake news?"

"The news are all over the country, of course it's true.'' Avril says.

''I'll call mom.'' Andy says going away.

Aunt Michelle is the CEO of a journaling company, she'll definitely know about this.

''Don't worry we'll help you out.'' Joel smirks and pushes the plate closer at me in the table, ''Starting with the food.''

''We don't need your help even if we were bankrupting.''  Lucy says.

"But you do need it.'' Avril smirks, ''Come on eat it don't be shy.''

"There's no reason to be shy.'' Joel looks at me, ''It's plain food, but starving people appreciate everything, right?"

I hate them so, so, much.

''I'm not a starving person and my company is still powerful, don't worry.'' I say my chest raising and falling.

"I didn't know you were delusional.'' Joel laughs and I glare at him.

''Hey, Olivia, if you don't have a place to stay anymore, I can tell my mom.  She can find you a place in 'Stray People House' very easily.'' someone says and everyone around us laughs.

Oh my God this is not happening.

''I'm not-''

''Olivia, just leave it. Let's go home.'' Lucy says.

I can't go and leave my pride die behind me.

''Lucy, you can take the food. Olivia's pride doesn't let her do it.'' Avril says.

"There is no pride if you're starving, Olivia.'' Alexa laughs.

''Call dad.'' I turn to Lucy, ignoring them.

"I did, but he's not picking up.'' she tries calling him again.

''Liv.'' Andy comes.

"Tell me is a lie.'' I approach him.

''It's true.'' he says with a sad face.

''Oh my God.'' I rest my head at the palms of my head.

''But mom said that the company is in danger to bankrupt not bankrupting. So, we still have some hope.''

''How the hell did this happen?" I yell.

"Mom thinks that an intruder did it. Because the project was working fine until last night.''  Andy speaks.

An intruder.

Was working fine until last night...

The project.

''Do you have something to say Olivia?" people start speaking around me.

"Lucy are you poor now?"

"You won't come to this school anymore?"

''Are the Cullens the most powerful now?''

''Lucy, are you giving up the school's president place?"

''Olivia are you-''

''Enough!'' I yell, ''Shut up. All of you. Enough.''

Everyone is standing still, including the Cullens.

''Get the fuck out of here!'' I yell at them, ''Get out.''

''Okay, fuck off people. Show is over.'' Andy raises his voice.   They start rushing out of the cafeteria and I take a deep breath.

Avril starts laughing and clapping behind me.

I turn and glare at her.

''Sorry, my first time seeing you angry and actually yelling.'' she continues laughing, ''She looks cute, doesn't she, Joel?"

''She does.'' he speaks while holding eye contact with me. My breath catches my throat.

''I know what you meant, I did it on purpose.''

"May I know why, mister Joel?"

"Because you're cute when you're angry.''

Memories of him on that empty class come on my mind and I shake my head to erase them.

This is not the moment brain. Focus.

I look at Joel with my teeth clenching.

An intruder.

It was working fine until last night.

''It was you, wasn't it?" I breath out and he raises his eyebrows.

I rush closer at the table and throw the plate full of food toward him.

He dodges it and the plate falls on the ground.

''You did it!" I push at his chest.

''Why everything that happens to you, you blame it on me?" Joel speaks.

Is he seriously asking me that?

He did all those terrible things to me and now he's asking why I'm blaming him?

I always thought that Joel Cullen is bad. But he proved me that he's way worse.

He's a devil.

Lucifer's competitor.

He does bad things just to fulfil his ego. He manipulates you. Makes you believe that actually inside him lives good. But in reality, inside him is just pitch black.

There's no good in him. No light to survive in his darkness.

He does everything he can do in the name of his last name.

He's evil.

He drowns you and then blames it on the water.

He hates me that much damn it?

''You...why?'' I say, my voice in a whisper. ''You hate me that much? You want to see me suffer? You want my family to suffer that much?''

''I'm your enemy.'' he says his jaw clenching.

''No, you're cruel.'' I say and look at his siblings, ''All of you are. There's no human inside you. You make others suffer. You don't care about nothing except yourselves. You make others feel pain just so you can satisfy your ego.'' they stare at me with no emotion.

''Do you want to know what I think of you?" I say looking at them, ''I think that you are useless and worthless.''

Avril and Joel look at me in unison.

There is something in their eyes...it looks like hurt but I refuse to believe it.

I don't believe that they hurt from my words.

Luke looks up too.

Recognition is in his eyes. As if he has heard those words before.

''Your father must feel very ashamed that you are his kids.'' their face drops.

''Oh my God, Joel, take her away from me!'' Avril screams, ''Get her away from me or I'll do something I shouldn't do.''

I look at them in confusion.

''What you have daddy issues?" Andy laughs. ''Look at the great Cullens!''

I glance at my sister, but she's looking at Luke who is clenching Avril's shoulders.

''What if I did it?" Joel speaks and I turn at him. ''What will you do? You will cry?" he lets out a humorless laugh.

''I don't care about your feelings, you hear me?" he stalks closer to me, ''I don't give a fuck about you. I came in this school to destroy you and your fucking family. I told you since the begging that you'll leave this school weeping. Why are you so surprised about it now?"

Because you made me believe something else damn it!

You made me believe that there is good in you.

You made me believe that you were nice and sweet.

You made me believe that maybe we can stop being enemies.

Why did you fucking flirt with me every day if you were going to do this to me?

Why did you fucking kiss me?

Why do I still have the memory of your lips until this day?

Tears are gathered on my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall.

''I hate you so much.'' I say and his pupils dilate, ''I hate you with all my soul, my heart and my body. I hate to look at you, I hate to talk to you, I hate it when you talk to me. I hate it when you call me princess. I hate you damn it! I wish I never met you. I curse the day when I met you every time. I curse it and I hate it. I hate it that you kissed me. And I hate it that you act like nothing happened. I hate you so much!''  a traitor tear escaped.  I quickly wipe it, but it seems that all of my tears are traitors

He looks at me in hurt. His breathing is hard, and his jaw is clenched.

''You shouldn't have come to my party then.'' he says, and I let out a humorless laugh.

''Oh, so it's my fault?"

"Yes. If you didn't come none of it would have happen.'' he says.

''You fucking kissed me Joel, and you're blaming me for it?" I yell.

''Whoa, whoa, wait a fucking minute!'' Andy speaks.

"What kiss are you talking about?" Avril asks.

Andy and Avril are looking at us in horror.

Luke and Lucy are looking at each other in concern.

''You two kissed?" Andy looks at me.

Joel sighs and rubs his forehead with his hand.

''No, we didn't...no'' I say.

''What do you mean no? You just said-''

"Just leave it Andy.'' I yell.

''Olivia, dad is calling.'' Lucy speaks, ''We have to go.''

''See you never.'' Avril says.

I narrow my eye to her, ''I will-''

''Olivia.'' Lucy yells, ''Come on.''

I glare at them and follow my sister.

''You too Andy.'' she calls.

I glance at Joel for the last time and he's looking at me too.

He doesn't look okay.

But I don't care.

I hate him. I hate him so much and I'm sick of it.

But why does my heart burn when I look at him?