BENEATH HER SCARS

The noise from the crowd filled the schoolyard, loud like the sound of a thunder, going up and down with each pass, tackle, and score. The smell of fresh grass mixed with the excited energy of the students. It was game day at Rosewood Elite, and everyone was watching the football field.

"Aria, sweetie!" her mother called out to her as she ran out the front door that morning, holding a colorful lunchbox. "You forgot this!"

Aria had rolled her eyes in a rude way but took it anyway, more to end the scene than out of gratitude. Her mother, always looking gorgeous and classy, lightly kissed both of her cheeks before moving back. Her father, Daniel Richmond, a powerful businessman in Rosewood, walked up to her, opened his briefcase and brought out some money.

"Here," he said with a warm smile, slipping a folded bundle of cash into her hand. "Just in case you need anything. And remember don't let anyone dim your light."

He kissed her forehead gently. For a brief moment, Aria's smile softened. That was the only place where she ever allowed herself to be vulnerable wrapped in her father's pride and protection.

Aria Richmond stepped out of her white SUV like a queen leaving her throne. Her shiny black hair shined like the morning sun, and her school uniform fitted her slim body perfectly with her designer sunglasses covering her eyes, but they couldn't hide the proud smile on her face. And on her...

Now, as she dropped off at the school gates, she cat-walked through the hallways with student staring at her, trailed by her two ridiculous friends. Tina holloway a fake friend to Aria who also has a crush on Jayden and Bella frost a two faced friend, always at the juicy part of the friendship who kept closeness with her because of her status and influence.

Aria dressed to match but always a step behind, they followed her like guards, whispering just loud enough for people to know they were talking about them.

"She's giving a straight fashion style today," Bella breathed, eyes scanning Aria's outfit.

"Straight killer," Tina agreed, flipping her honey-blonde hair.

Aria didn't respond. She didn't need to. The murmurs around her were music to her ears. Envy. Admiration. Fear. It was all the same to her. She had built this empire with charm, cruelty, and unshakable confidence and no one dared challenge her crown.

Except one.

She looked quickly toward the football field and there he was. Jayden Stone.

He was tall, handsome,striking hot, and effortlessly cool, Jayden was the son of the school's owner, heir to everything that glittered. His jersey clung to his lean muscles, and as he walked across the field with practiced ease, the crowd hailed him. His brown skin gleamed with sweat, his dreadlocks bouncing with every move. The ball left his hand in a perfect spiral, sailing into the arms of Elijah Beamont, who was the star wide receiver. Who was always jealous of Jayden because he was the head of the football team and also because Jayden was the overall best at what he does. He also has a crush on Bella

Touchdown.

The girls screamed out his name but Aria's heart didn't.

Not outwardly.

Inwardly, though she couldn't look away. She had watched Jayden from afar for months, making her obsession known to him with different tactics. She took note on the way he laughs with his friends, the way he ignores the attention been shown to him. It infuriated and fascinated her which made her like him the more, she was deeply drawn in her thoughts when he walked past her in the hall barely noticing her.

Unforgivable.

"God, look at him," Tina sighed, biting her lip.

"He's so dreamy," Bella added. "But he only has eyes for the field."

Aria smirked. "That's because his head's full of sport."

Tina and Bella laughed like hyenas, desperate for her approval. Aria's gaze shifted to the others on the field locking eyes with Zayne Carrington, Jayden's best friend and the team's loyal quarterback who glanced their way and waved towards them but was nonchalantly ignored.

Zayne has always had a crush on her. Everyone noticed it. He didn't tend to hide it. But Aria on her own path didn't waste time on shunning him away, not when the main dude(jayden) was ignoring her.

Then there was Marcus Jameson(MJ) Jayden's right-hand lineman. A powerhouse on the field and a jokester off it and also one that hates one being bullied and a very good friend of Hope.He high-fived Elijah Beamont, who was now flexing for the crowd, winking at both Tina and Bella.

"Did he just wink at me?" Bella gasped.

"Please. He winked at me," Tina snapped.

Aria rolled her eyes. "He probably has a twitch."

They all laughed again.

From the sidelines, Coach Desmond Voss, also the school's principal, blew his whistle, signaling the end of the morning game. The crowd began to disperse, and students flooded toward the school building, still buzzing with energy.

Aria walked ahead, her skirt swaying with calculated grace. She passed by her class teacher, Miss Carolina West, who offered a polite nod. Aria returned it with a perfect, pretty smile.

Inside the halls of Rosewood Elite, her kingdom resumed. Lockers closed loudly, students whispered, and everyone watched her as she walked by. Even the teachers seemed to move more gently when she was near.

She was Aria Richmond. Queen Bee. Untouchable.

But even queens rarely see the storms gathering just beyond the palace gates.

Elsewhere in the city, at the heart of a humming industrial complex, Mr Richmond stood inside his office overlooking the floor of Richmond Manufacturing.

He was in high spirits. The company was thriving, the press loved his recent charity gala, and his daughter was still the jewel of Rosewood. But today, something else warmed his heart.

"Mr. Davies Thomas," he said, shaking the hand of the man standing humbly before him. "You've outdone yourself this quarter. Your designs have completely changed how we run our delivery section.

Thomas Davies, an older man with rough hands and kind eyes, blushed beneath his dark skin. "Thank you, sir. I just do what I can."

"Well, what you've done has earned you this." Mr Richmond pulled a certificate from his desk and handed it to him. It read: Engineer of the Year.

Mr Davies blinked, stunned.

"And that's not all," Mr Richmond continued. We're promoting you. Bigger office, better pay. And... I realized from our last conversation that your daughter has been struggling with school fee even with her great performance in her institution?

Mr Davies throat tightened. "Yes, sir. She's incredibly smart and wishes to be an advocate for the helpless someday."

Mr Richmond smiled. "Then let's help her get there. I'm giving her a full scholarship to Rosewood Elite, effective immediately."

Mr Davies froze. "Sir... He could barely speak,this is the greatest reward given to me and I don't know what to say."

"Continue with your good works. And more blessing to come."Mr Richmond said smiling.

As Mr Davies left the office, overwhelmed with joy, he could barely wait to get home to share the good news with his daughter Hope and tell her that her dreams of achieving her ambition has finally come.

Back at Rosewood Elite, Aria stood in front of her locker, flipping her compact mirror closed with a snap. She had everything under control.

At least, she thought she did.

Far from the glamour, behind the doors of privilege and pride, fate had just made its next move. And soon, a girl from Loven Street would walk into her world not with riches or reputation, but with something far more dangerous.

Hope.