Chapter 9 Jealousy Stings

Serena's POV.

Just as I was about to make a run for the door, it burst open and I gasped, my heart racing.

Penny stormed in, her eyes blazing with anger.

"So, you're the fool who refused to open the door, huh?" she spat at me, her voice venomous.

But I barely registered her words. My attention was focused on the empty space behind me.

Richard was gone. I let out a sigh of relief, but it was short-lived. How had he vanished into thin air?

Before I could process my thoughts, Penny's hands clamped onto my cheeks, her fingers digging deep into my skin.

"You fool!" she hissed, her breath hot against my face. "How dare you act like you can't hear me? Are you mad or what?"

She yanked my hair, and I struggled to free myself, but that only seemed to enrage her further.

Her hand rose, ready to slap me, but just as her palm was about to make contact, someone caught her wrist, holding it in mid-air.

I lifted my gaze to see my rescuer, and my heart skipped a beat as I met Richard's piercing eyes.

Penny's face flushed with shame, and she took a step back, her eyes darting between Richard and me.

"What do you want to do, huh?" Richard asked, his voice laced with disgust, his eyes narrowing at Penny.

Penny stuttered, "Emm, uh, Richard, it's not what you think..."

But Richard raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical.

"Then what?" he pressed, his tone firm.

Penny's words faltered, and Richard's gaze turned stern. "Leave the poor girl alone. Focus on yourself," he advised, his voice firm but gentle. "It makes no sense that you're so invested in her."

As Richard spoke, he reached out and gently removed a strand of hair from Penny's face.

Penny's eyes fluttered closed, he leaned and whispered something into her ears, soft giggle escaping her lips.

A pang of jealousy stabbed at my heart, like a sharp needle piercing my skin. I felt a surge of possessiveness, my mind screaming that Richard's touch, his attention, belonged to me, not Penny.

I shifted my gaze, trying to think straight but it was hard.

Penny's shrill voice cut through the air, "What are you still doing here? Get out!"

I nodded, swallowing hard, and quickly walked away. As I departed, I heard Penny's soft moan, and a fresh wave of jealousy washed over me.

That should be me, not her.

Ava growled angrily, and I couldn't help but wonder why she was so upset. Wasn't she the one who had abandoned me, leaving me wolf-less and vulnerable?

I felt a surge of resentment towards Ava, but it was quickly overshadowed by my frustration with Richard.

One moment, he had gazed at me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat, and the next, he was giving Penny the same piercing stare.

Who the hell does that?

I felt like a fool for thinking Richard had any genuine interest in me. What had I been thinking?

I trudged into my next class, my emotions in turmoil. As I sat down, my legs gave out from under me, and I crashed to the floor.

The classroom erupted into laughter, and I felt my face burn with humiliation.

I stood up, my eyes scanning the room, and that's when I saw it - my chair, broken and they had arranged it in such a way that I won't know.

My gaze snapped up to Ross, who gave me the middle finger with a sneer. I felt a sting of anger, I needed no soothsayer to let me know that he was the one who did this.

I can't believe that aside Penny, I have to also deal with Ross.

I bit my lip hard, fighting back tears as I gazed at the shattered remains of my chair.

I tried to fix it, but it was hopeless. The pieces wouldn't fit back together, just like my shattered dignity.

Penny and Richard strolled into the room, and Richard's eyes locked onto mine. For a moment, we just stared at each other, the tension between us palpable.

Then, he turned to Penny and kissed her ear, sending a pang of jealousy through me.

He walked over to his seat, leaving me feeling like I'd been punched in the gut.

I scanned the room, desperate for a place to sit, but every seat was taken. No one wanted to sit with me, the outcast.

Just as I was starting to feel like I couldn't take it anymore, the teacher walked in, a stern expression on her face.

Students scrambled to take their seats. The teacher's gaze remained fixed on me, her eyes narrowing.

"Get yourself a place to sit, or do you need a reminder for that?" she asked, her tone dripping with disdain.

I stuttered, my words tumbling out in a nervous rush.

"I...I...I don't have a place to sit."

The teacher's expression turned cold, and she spat out her next words. "If you don't have somewhere to sit, then you leave the class."

I nodded, but just as I was about to turn and leave, I heard Richard's deep voice cut through the silence.

"I don't mind sharing my seat with you," he said, his eyes locked onto mine.

My heart skipped a beat as I met Richard's gaze. A flutter of surprise and gratitude danced in my chest.

Why was he doing this? I could feel someone's gaze on me, I turned around and my eyes met with Penny. Her eyes were blazing fury.

The teacher's voice made me shift my gaze from her.

"Someone is offering you their seat, please go sit."

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and trepidation.

As I made my way to Richard's seat, my heart began to pound in my chest. I sat down beside him, our thighs touching, and a spark of electricity ran through my body.

But then I realized, sitting down beside Richard but that was my biggest mistake ever.