Let Me Love You

I sighed a million times walking from the house to the car parked in front of the street. I stared at the house for the millionth time, trying to will my feet to move. I hated staying with my stepmom Mabel and it was obvious she shared that same idea. I'd be pissed too if my husband slept with some random person two days after our marriage.

I went inside and just my luck,Mabel and my half brother Ryan were in the living room. I greeted out of habit even though it was so unnecessary. I never got answered.

I was about to go to my room when Mabel called me. "A word?"

I followed her to the kitchen obviously because she didn't want her son to hear our conversation. Maybe she was finally kicking me out. She had no use for me anyways. Dad had already signed the divorce papers.

"I received an email from your school this morning. "

"I swear to God he punched me first. It was self defense. "

She looked at me like I sprouted two heads and I took that as a cue to shut up. "There was a gas leak in your school yesterday. And quite unfortunately,there was a student smoking not far from there. There was a fire."

I looked at Mabel as she talked. She always talked to me like I was a child. It pissed me off. "Okay?", I asked trying to hurry her up.

"Students have been dismissed. I talked to your father and you're starting school with my son next week." her expression was tight as if to say there's no room for complaints.

I nodded with a curt smile on my face. "Okay then."

A smile was far from my face. Ryan went to a private school that brought out the pricks in people. I had had my fair share of them to last me an entire lifetime.

...

"Wake up." A voice said while aggressively smacking me with a pillow. I knew Mabel couldn't be bothered to wake me up so I was rather surprised to see Ryan.

"Yes how may I help you?"

"Are you a log? Why are you still sleeping? It's already 7 a.m"

I must've still been sleeping because there was no way in hell Ryan would be bothered to go to my room just to tell me I was running late. "Do you care about me?", I teased.

"You wish. I have some rules for you. I expect strict adherence to them."

"You can't be serious." I said slipping out of bed. I went to the bathroom and are surprised Ryan is still following me. "Go away. Do you want to see me naked?."

"Not even as a corpse. Don't talk to me when we get to school. In fact, pretend as if you don't know me and I'll do same. You're not allowed to tell anyone we're related."

I rolled my eyes and continued brushing my teeth. "The surname doesn't give it away huh?"

"There's something called coincidence moron. That's all for now. Also, with that pace, you're going to be late."

...

Well Ryan wasn't a know it all prick because I wasn't actually late. I handed money to the taxi and was sure I had to pick my jaw from the floor. This place had rich and fancy written in bold letter and neon signs.

Mabel instructed I go to the administrative office so that's where I was headed. I didn't make two steps before a storm of students - mostly girls - were running towards me. Were people here very welcoming? I even considered running but that'd make me look like more of an idiot.

I plastered the most polite smile I had in my emotions archive and waited for my welcome. A garland or bouquet of roses maybe. Not only did they run right by me, someone dared to shove me. I fell on grass in the least but still. That was rude. I turned to see who they were so excited to see.

My overactive imagination told me it was a celebrity. I started racking my brain for any celebrity who was popular enough to gather so much attention. My brain came up with a million names. I am a total sucker for hot celebrities. The car door opened and the smile on my face fell so fast someone might've had to catch it. They were students. Students!

I stood up on my own accord and started heading for the administrative office I was to be at anyways. The screams turned into hushed whispers and I so had to turn. The tallest of all the guys was following me.

The faster I walked, the more he tried to match my pace. I tripped on a step and when I was a hundred percent sure I was going to fall, break my neck and die, someone held my waist; my lower body pressed against theirs. Gasps erupted from the crowd and I swear my whole body turned red with embarrassment.

"I prefer my foreplay not in the open." Came a deep voice. I stood up on my own and turned. Half the school was staring at me with wide eyed expressions.

My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water as I looked for what to say. "You're a complete idiot." Was what left my mouth. If people were surprised before, I wouldn't know what they would've been then.

I ignored everybody and headed for the office like I was to do since. There was a little line that had no trouble lessening. I walked into the office and a woman with the brightest smile on earth looked at me.

"Hi. I'm Lisa Thompson. I'm new here."

"I see." She said eyeing my jeans and jumper. I couldn't have thought of something more casual could I ?

She handed me my uniform and class schedule. I thanked her with a smile, trying in no way to compete with the huge grin on her face. I reached for the door, my heart almost falling in my appendix because the guy from earlier was standing right there.

"Yellow doesn't look good on you?" He said actually having the guts to touch my jumper.

"Well I'm sorry. I've been to busy with my life to impress you. I'll let you know when my schedule is free."

He apparently didn't appreciate the sarcasm but I couldn't find it in me to care. "What's your name?"

I stopped walking and turned to face him. "Fuck off. I don't have time for bougie arrogant assholes like you. Understood?"

More gasps erupted in the hallway and I wondered what this school had with gossip. The guy grinned, backing off nonetheless. The bell rang making me officially late for my first class of the day. Math!

I was so elated when the ending bell went. I gathered my few pieces of nothing and was about leaving when three girls stood in my way. From my experience back in my former school, I balled my fist and waited patiently for someone to hit me first. Nobody did. All that happened was a staring competition I was apparently partaking in.

"You're not even pretty", said one of the girls. I looked at her and no doubt, she was prettier than me. Too bad I never showed my insecurities.

"Yeah. I wonder what Jake saw in her." Another concurred.

"Who's Jake and what did he say he saw?"

They looked at me like I was an idiot but little did they know I got that look everyday of my life since I turned seven. Luckily, they're still nice enough to answer. "Well,if you must know, Jake is the hottest boy in the whole damn school."

"No. Elliot is hotter. He's cute and nerdy and dreamy."

"Ignore Cassidy, she has a fetish." One said to me pointing to the chubbiest of them three.

I wondered why I watched a couple of females squeal over a couple of males but I did. Humans are unpredictable. "What's with the hype?"

"What's your name gorrila girl?"

"I do not look like a gorilla. In fact, forgive my asking. I'm going home."

Cassidy ran to me holding me in place. "Stace is a moron please ignore her. I'm Cassidy. That's Anastasia and Mona."

I gave them half assed greetings the totally deserved. "Lisa."

"So, Lisa", Mona said holding my other hand. "What on earth did you do to get Jake to talk to you? Are you into voodoo and stuff like that?"

"Don't be an idiot", Anastasia said interrupting the sentence I hadn't yet formed. "She would've been hanging beads and vibes from her neck if she were voodoo. It's something else."

"Maybe the fact that I don't understand what the Jake hype is all about. He's as human as me." I couldn't say them because they sure didn't behave like humans to me.

Mona cleared her throat. "Let me tell you what the hype is all about. Jake Demidov, yes of Russian descent. 18 years old. Born on the 16th of February. He's an aquarius. Totally compatible for my sign. Also, he's the leader of H4."

I burst out laughing and the girls didn't know why. "H4? Is that like a secret service or something?"

"Elliot,Hanson and Brandon are in H4. Their the hottest, cutest and richest boys in the school." Cassidy said. "Jake's father has so much shares in the school it's absurd. "

"Cool. He's a rich prick then. I'm off." Before I was pulled back to the bottomless pit of gossip, I ran like my life depended on it.

...

Ryan and I ended up getting home at the exact same time. His excuse was always extra curricular activities - which I doubted he did, but I didn't have any. Gladly, Mabel's car wasn't in the garage.

"You messed up big time." Ryan said and I had to be sure I was the one being spoken to.

"Me? You're talking to me?"

"No. Abraham Lincoln was behind you." He finally got the door opened.

I followed suit,removing my shoes like the civilized person I was. Ryan walked all over Mabel's floors with muddy shoes and she didn't give a shit.

"What did I do this time?"

"Messing with Jake. You could've apologized and minded your business but you just had to talk back. You called him an idiot for god's sake."

I scoffed. "You too? Jake is only human. Stop treating him like he's more. He was the one that came after me in my defense. I'm innocent."

"Jake is unpredictable. You're in for deep trouble."

"Thanks for the advice brother dear. I'll keep it in mind." I went to my room after my fake through my teeth smiles. I changed out of my irritating uniform. They made us wear a skirt. I asked if I could get trousers but I had to meet the principal if I wanted to do that. The grey didn't even match my skin tone.

I stripped, took a nice cold shower and threw myself on my bed in nothing but my under garments. My phone dinged with a notification. I ignored it and continued staring into space. It went off again and again till I was sure the poor device was going to explode.

Pissed, I snatched it from the nightstand. People were following my Instagram account. I hadn't opened the app in months, preferring to use my phone only to read and doom scroll on YouTube. I opened the app and three followers had turned to seven hundred and two.

There was a direct message in my inbox.

The_Jakey ༎ຶ⁠‿⁠༎ຶ

How very original. I had seventeen messages from that human in less than forty five minutes. I was ready to ignore the chat when one popped up.

The_Jakey༎ຶ⁠‿⁠༎ຶ: Stop pretending like you haven't read my texts. Respond.

Me: Go away weirdo. I'll block your ass .

He sent me more messages but I disconnect the internet. I flopped on my back and immersed myself into a world of literature.

...

The next day, I made sure to stay clear of the three bad wolves. Of course, I received stares and some dared to ask for my number.

By lunch period, I went crazy. I stood up to head for the cafeteria like others were doing when some plastic surgery looking guy held my arm.

"And how may I help you?".

The audacity of the guy to ask if I was willing to have sex with him because they assumed that was what Jake and I were doing. I almost punched him in the mouth. Instead, I said,"I'm sorry but I'm not in the mood for a herpes injection."

I was on a witch hunt for Jake. Students had already started hearing to the cafeteria so that was where I was headed. The building was big and with a high rise ceiling so finding him proved a little difficult. I walked through the crowd of students- who were obviously staring at me - and bingo. Jakey was sitting in a corner.

"You narcissistic asshole!". I snatched the can of soda from the table with them and poured it on both his face and jacket. If I was expecting a reaction, it never came. Jake stared me down. Every body went quiet as if also anticipating his reaction. My face reddened with shame and I walked away. It was quiet even after I left.

I had been in that school for barely two days and my face had already popped up on three gossip sites. How did I know? The three bad wolves. From the cafeteria, I went straight to the library. I had a free period after lunch which I was so gladly going to skip.

I was neck deep inside my book when I felt a presence in front of me. "I've told you I'm not interested. Go away."

"Jake is livid Lisa. He wants to talk to you." Someone, Elliot maybe said. I raised my head to the both of them.

"Tell him no thank you. I have nothing to say to him."

"I believe you do. Just come with us."

Curiosity did get the best of me so I walked with them. When we passed classrooms and were headed for the Janitor's closet, I paused.

"If this is some sort of abduction, I'm going to scream so loud the principal will hear me. " I kinda sorta threatened. I wasn't intimidating enough because the boys paid me no mind. They opened the door and entered in. I poked my head in and for the second time since I started my education here, I had to pick my jaw from the floor.

There was a huge ass television in front of me, three couches and various bean bags, a while snack bar and about three arcade games. Maybe perks of being in a private school was having an underground arcade.

"Excuse us boys. " Jake said sitting on one of the couches. The boys left so I used that as an opportunity to pick a packet of chips and sit.

"I don't remember offering you a seat."

"And I don't remember asking you if I could sit." I opened the chips, pouring in a mouthful. "Why do you want to see me?"

He threw the jacket he was wearing on me. "You've ruined my jacket."

"No," I said still munching on chips. "I poured soda on it. You take it to the dry cleaners or ask your nanny to wash it for you and it'll be good as new. "

His jaw set and I could tell he was angry or something close to that. "Pay for it."

"Fair enough. How much do I owe you?" I searched for the little scraps of money in my pocket.

"Sixteen million."

"Ha ha. Very funny. How much is it. I don't got all day. "

Jake stood up from his seat, taking steps closer to me. I shifted in my seat as his gaze belittled me. "That is a one of a kind pogo jacket. You don't get it from a store you know. You have it made. Who's your father? I'll have him pay for it."

"Where the hell is he going to get sixteen million from?. He'd probably punch you in the mouth for asking him that. "

"You don't have any money. What's your family business?."

"Impregnating women and a million child support cases." Apparently Jake didn't find my joke funny because he only got even more annoyed.

"How the hell did you get into this school? Don't tell me you're a scholarship student. Are you?" He asked almost repulsed. I was feeling something I hadn't felt in a long time - inferior.

"Well screw you very much. I'm leaving."

"What about my money? Replace my jacket."

I throw it at him. "Shove it up your large nostrils." I stormed out knowing I was shit deep in trouble.

The day felt to go by very slowly. I wanted to leave ASAP but no, I was forced to endure the cruelty of life in the form of Chemistry. I was doodling on my notes when a knock on the door caught my attention.

"Excuse me Mr. Harris but Lisa Thompson is needed in the principal's office." As I stood and followed, I tried thinking of what I could've possibly done on my second day of school. All of them fell back to one possibility. Jake Demidov.

My guess was true because the first person I saw stepping into the office was the arrogant human. He gave me a lopsided grin I downright ignored.

"Please take a seat Miss Thompson." I smiled faintly at Mr. Alphonso before sitting. "A complaint about you reached my desk not long ago. Do you know what this is about?"

"No sir I do not." Apparently it was flu season because there's no other reason for Jake to cough. I gave him a look he returns. He meant war.

"Mr. Demidov here complained of you destroying his jacket for no reason at all. There have been students come to me as witnesses so there's no denying it. You're to compensate him."

I get ready to argue but Mr. Alphonso raises his hand. "There's no room for arguments. That's the final say. The matter had better be resolved before the end of the day else you're in for suspension."

I slammed my hands on the desk. "Outrageous. You're going to suspend my ass for a stupid jacket I'm pretty sure is contraband."

"You watch your language when you step foot into my office understood? Go settle your dispute with Mr. Demidov before the day is over. Leave."

Seeing it was too late to plea, I left. I could feel Jake's arrogant presence behind me. "I hope you're happy. You're indeed an asshole."

Getting home, I called dad eighteen times. I can't lie I was surprised he didn't pick. I didn't even think he had my number. I also considered asking Mabel for the money but I was never in the mood to be reminded of how much of a mistake I was.

Frustrated and annoyed, I decided to open my IG. Jake had left a new batch of messages ready for my ignoring. Only, this time, I didn't ignore them.

Me: What do you really want from me? I seriously don't have sixteen million for you.

The Jakey༎ຶ⁠‿⁠༎ຶ:Your first class tomorrow is P.E. Meet me in the locker room.

Me: The boy's locker room? I'm not a pervert.

The Jakey༎ຶ⁠‿⁠༎ຶ: I heard Hanson's mother's bank gives great loans.

I didn't send him another message again.