Loveliest Regrets

Briar's POV

Rosé, my friend, shouted from a distance, "Briar, you can do it!"

I gulped hard as my throat was dry, took a few steps towards the corridor I turned back and saw five bastards, signaling me to go forward.

I was scared and trust me that's an understatement

Of course, who wouldn't be? I was given a dare to steal the student record book from the principal's office. I still don't understand why do they want it? But recalling back our game last night at the dorm, I cursed under my breath for choosing dare.

"Fuck you." I mouthed and saw them giggling at me from a distance.

It was cold, yet a stream of sweat ran down my spine and every step felt like dragging a brick by each of my shoes. I was clearly reluctant to move forward, but there's a fine line between apprehension and achievement. And I was very arrogantly trying to challenge my fear.

Tightly holding the door handle of the office, I looked through the key hole, enquiring if someone was in there. Luckily there was nobody. I slowly opened the door and tiptoeing, moved forward. My eyes moved all around the room.

As sophisticated as a room can be, the principal's office enhanced the huge chandelier just with its dark walnut wood covering the entire place. The outer office wall had a huge painting of three wild horses dominating the centre.

The lush carpet draped beside the rich couch reminded me of how this simple piece of furniture was my sole reason to ever stand in the student council elections. I was still in middle school when I realised the senior student council always had access to this beautiful office, which made me want to also become a part of the same. As childish as it may seem, I was still able to achieve my goal.

Well, the chances of me being caught was less since, the school captains are allowed the access to the outer office, where I was most likely to find the book. I had no time to kill so, I started searching. But sadly, I saw nothing but numerous magazines and newspapers.

The habitat of the place is always strangely dense and extremely quiet. I could hear my breath and each step I took, with great accuracy even though my movements were faint and voiceless. I eagerly wanted to move out of the office and kept praying to find the printed work.

I looked all through the outer office but couldn't find it. Then my eyes shifted to the inner office's wooden door which spelt 'Wilson' on a silver plate shining as the light of the chandelier hit it. Resisting to push off my values of a good school captain to the edges, I suddenly was reminded of the absence of our principal. She has been out of the school for about a month now, so the chances of someone showing up were equivalent to zero.

After debating for another second, I slowly opened the door and stepped inside. Goosebumps rose all over my body, considering how chilly the room was. My eyes roamed around and landed on the precious material I was looking for. The student record book, kept in the shelf behind the principal's chair like a trophy decorated in a podium.

Mind was filled with ecstasy, the kind of excitement I felt on my birthday last year. Just when I was about to take it, I heard someone coming out of the washroom. 'FUCK!' A gasp almost escaped my mouth but I smashed my hand against my lips hurriedly sliding behind the principal's table.

For the first time in my life, I was scared to breath. Somehow, I sensed the person was on the other side of the room, so, I decided to take a sneak peek. Landing my eyes on a man in a black shirt. Running my brain motors, I recalled all the staff members of the school, but this person was unknown to all my possible guesses. I had questions.

Who was this man?

Just after a few moments I saw him removing his shirt and my eyes were blessed with the best part of his back. Man was built like a sculpture, with his skin shining like an invisible armour. The urge to get a closer look at him was intense, I had never seen a man with such an outstanding physique. Either he was a model or a Greek God, because I was ready to assume I'm hallucinating and this is probably a dream.

My eyes became greedier and I crawled out, towards the side of the huge table, in an attempt to look at his face. I quietly peeped but he was facing the little mirror hanging on the wall beside the window, only his back was visible to me. I was currently friends with the floor so, I was blocked out from his vision.

But, Lord, even his back was a sight and that butt. I was fangirling.

"God is great. God is amazing." I mouthed to myself.

Ever seen a man walking happily on the side of the road, but a car comes a splash a chunk of muddy water on the happy man, making him question his existence and regret ever leaving his house at seven in the morning for work, wearing his favourite white shirt? Yes, I ramble.

Same happened with me.

Enjoying an unknown man's back view, without his permission was fitted to be considered a punishable offense by God. I got imbalanced from the uncomfortable position I was sitting in and fell down with a thud on the carpet. "AH!" I involuntarily winced in pain. Assuming he turned around and saw me flat landed on the ground, a mixture of anxiety and embarrassment was all I felt at that time.

My heartbeat was quick already, when sweaty palms were invited with double anxiety. Without looking up to his face, I managed to get up and stood straight with my head down aiming to be judged for my indiscrete behaviour.

"I-I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, sir. I didn't know y-you were here." I stuttered, trying to let out some sensible words but failing miserably.

"Even if I was not, I don't think any student is allowed to enter the principal's office without prior permission." He said, sending chills down my spine. Though his voice was the definition of classy. A perfect combination of deep and heavy tone.

He clearly didn't sound pleased yet he was calm. Every word which left his mouth was making me even more tensed.

"I know s-sir." I said, too scared. I was blank.

And his awareness of me being wrong just made the environment worse for me.

"I think you don't know. That's why you came in here." He said in a calm voice.

"I'm sorry sir. This won't happen again." I said with all the courage I could've gathered in a decade and bowed down, hurriedly moving towards the exit. Because I knew if a few more seconds passed, I would start wishing for the ground to open up and swallow me inside.

"Wait." I heard his voice, demanding enough to pause my feet involuntarily.

I turned around and saw his face. My eyes were wide in shock. It was practically not a face but rather a carved sculpture, straight out a phenomenal painting. He was gorgeous, almost as pleasant as a dream. He was a man too beautiful to exist. With his hair was perfectly pushed back exposing his forehead I realised his eyebrows were even thicker than mine.

The fresh serenity of his face and the natural pink blush spread across his cheeks just made his skin glow, dominating the dark aura of the place. His features sharp and defined, yet a soft radiance echoed through his surroundings. And his lips were the best, with their perfect natural pink tint.

His greyish eyes staring into mine seemed like a deep snowy forest with secrets begging to be discovered. He was unbelievably stunning. It felt as if someone has carved every detail of his face.

He simply didn't seem real, but was.

"Shouldn't I punish you twice." He said, with his gaze plastered on me, different to my bewildered look mixed with anxiety.

"You came in without asking me and now, are leaving without any permission, again." He said with a great emphasis on every word.

He then furrowed his eyebrows reading my name badge.

"Miss Briar Carrington." He said with a little smile unexpectedly appearing on his extremely beautiful face.

Was he teasing me?

He crossed his arms signaling me to come near him. I slowly moved forward taking unwanted steps, biting my tongue. Completing the hardest five feet journey in his direction, I stood in front of him. The close proximity gave me the idea of this man's height. His tall body was towering over my short one. My head was still down. I wasn't able to gather the strength to raise my head after the 'so-called' offense I had committed.

"Look up Briar." he said in a softer voice. And I looked up after my name left his amazing lips.

"You seem like a good child. That's why you're the head-leader of the Amber House. Right?" He said politely. I nodded with guilt filling my eyes like a pool.

"So, tell me very honestly. Why did you come here?" He asked turning his tone a little strict.

"I-I umm sir, actually I" I stuttered. I was done with words. I felt like a little child who doesn't know how to speak.

He sighed making me scared. He took a step forward making the tension to build higher in my brain and stomach.

"Look, I'm not letting you go unless you tell me what you were doing here. Don't worry, this conversation will stay between us." He said in soft voice, again, but he just made me more nervous.

Calculating every possible outcome of this situation, I decided to test this man first. Assuming, he definitely was not a part of the school authorities, I decided to flow with the benefit of doubt.

"Sir, you won't tell anyone right?" I asked with fear never leaving my voice. He chuckled a bit and hummed, nodding.

"Actually, me and my friends were playing truth or dare. And they gave me a dare to steal the student record book from the principal's office. I thought it would be easy because Mrs. Sofia Wilson is not present in the school." I said in a low voice, as if doing so would lower the intensity of the offense.

"So, you thought you can easily steal the book?" He asked, slightly furrowing his eyebrows.

"No sir! it was just a dare. I was not at all interested in that book, but my friends gave me the dare." I said truthfully, strangely feeling better somehow.

Looking at me he took a deep breath as if studying me. He then said, "Tell me the names of your friends."

"No!" I blurted out immediately.

Fuck. This isn't going right.

"I mean, please sir, don't punish them. I swear I didn't see the book and promise you that me or my friends wouldn't be responsible for playing this kind of a stunt, ever again." I said with an unimaginable amount of courage. But I was almost a breath away for tearing up very badly. I could feel the water making my eyes moist.

He stared at me for a few seconds creating this panel of death silence, increasing my heart rate. I waited eagerly for his words, expecting to lead to the worst.

"Okay." He finally let out, grabbing my attention as if he owns it.

"I'm trusting you, Briar. This should be the first and the last time. If I catch you again then not just you, but even your friends will face the consequences. Alright?" He said raising his eyebrows. I nodded and rushed out the office, like a hurricane.

I ran through the corridor with tears in my eyes. I was still confused whether they were tears of joy or sadness. Joy, for being able to escape from the problem and sadness, for making a very bad impression on such a handsome man. But I was happier because I don't think I'll ever meet that handsome man again.

I mean, I'm sure he's not a teacher here. Right?

Briar's POV

I was walking with heavy steps in the corridor. Trying hard not to cry, simultaneously cursing under my breath in every possible way there is. Regretting every taking birth, I was going through a roller coaster of emotions, feeling self-hatred dominating all the others.

My legs were weirdly shaking with a trail of shivers running up and down my body. I didn't enjoy the feeling and was fighting to distract my mind when I heard a hustle as I reached to the main pathway. Many students were moving towards the main hall, I presumed. My attention was grabbed by the assembly bell ringing and I started walking with the students.

"What's happening?" A student asked me.

"Don't know. I myself just heard the bell." I said shrugging my shoulders.

"Some students were saying that it's for some special announcement." Another girl behind me said.

"Maybe?" I said and kept walking till I reached the hall.

I was curious, just like majority of the people around. Hanging my hands lose I was just looking around for my friends. The noise was loud, just like every morning. I went to the front, where all the captains stand every day. The lack of motivation to engage in any sort of conversation was very well visible on my face.

I usually smile and chit-chat with students around, but in that moment, I just wanted to go and sit down somewhere. I was exhausted with no interest to even look up and make eye contact with anybody. Luckily, students were already standing in cues, so I didn't have much work, other than just standing in front.

Taking a deep breath, I made myself ready, because being a head-leader gives me a sense of self awareness and I have to be responsible. Whenever I come on this spot, I forget everything. It's like some invisible force reminds me that I have a position. An honour. A post. And I have to handle it.

Soon the 'special assembly' begun. A voice could be heard which was different from the crowd. It was grabbing everyone's attention and too, made everyone silent. The voice belonged to Mrs. Jones, our history teacher. Also, my favourite person in the school.

"A very good morning students." She said in her usual cheerful voice.

"Good morning, teacher." All the students said in unison.

"As you all know that our principal, Mrs. Wilson is not present these days, due to her medical illness. We must keep her in our prayers." She said, reminding me of how I decided to take advantage of this fact and gloom took over once again.

"As she's not able to join school, a new principal has been appointed to work on her behalf. So, I now invite our new principal, Mr. Gareth James Wilson." As her sentence completed, all the students clapped welcoming our new principal.

As the man came on stage my eyes and mouth went wide open seeing him stand at the podium. My smile faded away little stream of sweat escaped from my scalp. And the main reason for that was the man himself.

The handsome man who caught me in office, is our new principal!

I was utterly shocked and I saw my future filled up with fog. I nervously jittered at the slightest of provocation, because this situation was worse than a nightmare. I was trembling and apparently, I would pass out too, because I sincerely wished for the ground to swallow me inside.

Each cell in my body was alarmed and I tried to make out every little possibility of me just escaping the scene and hiding in the most unknown corner of the world, in short, just never be seen again. I just prayed keeping every good deed on stake just to not be noticed by this man ever.

Like that would work.

He looked far and wide with my manifestation failing miserably, because right when his eyes reached my direction, he looked at me as if studying my appearance and face. My eyes widening and breath losing its balance was enough to make him slightly smile. He was teasing me again.

I could see many girls squealing from behind seeing, that the man was not just young but even drop dead gorgeous. I don't blame them for fangirling, because I was doing the same a few minutes ago. But knowing my first impression in front of the new principal was that of a thief, I wasn't happy, rather despair was holding sway over my entire brain.

Why is he, our principal?! Ugh.

Briar's POV

For the first time in my life, I felt like I shouldn't have been the head-leader.

"Good morning, students." He said, bending to speak in the mic. I could hear some girls from behind, already falling for him.

"Due to some very severe reasons Mrs. Wilson is not present amongst us. She may or may not be able to join the school again. As already said by your teacher, we must keep her in our prayers." He continued.

"I look forward for having an amazing time with all of you, because everyone has something new to teach in your life. It depends on you, how you take it. Thank you. Have a great day everyone." He said and smiled, with the claps roaring the hall once more.

He stepped down the stage and walked out the door, right in front of me. My breath being uneven, as it had been, a heavy feeling my chest just never left. The drum started playing, indicating the students have to be dispersed. I almost jolted when someone tapped my shoulder as I was deep immersed in the thought of the early morning incident.

I abruptly turned around and saw Mrs. Adrienne, our staff manager, standing with a few folders in her hand.

"Good m-morning ma'am." I stuttered as her presence was sudden.

"Are you okay?" she asked looking concerned, because I rarely act so out of the place.

"Yes ma'am, I'm fine." I said, nodding, letting out a weak smile.

"that's good. Also, Mr. Wilson is asking for the student council. You take all the students with you, to his office quickly." she said and I just nodded, trying to register the hasty occasion.

But as reluctant as I was, I still had to call out for the student council. Knowing what happened in the gallery at daybreak, my steps were unwilling. Having our little crowd on the way to his office, wasn't too bad, but my mind revolved around bad outcomes. I just kept thinking about what's going to happen once we reach there. Is he going to tell everyone about what I did?

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck." I mumbled under my breath.

I stood in front of the huge gate and slowly opened the door, raising my heartbeat in the process. The incident was very fresh in my head and so is his' according to my assumption. I knocked on the inner office door, revealing only my face to the person inside.

"May we come in, sir" I said in low, sweet voice.

He looked up and his sarcastic smile appeared just when he saw my face. From the morning till now, the sheer thought of him making fun of me inside his brain was very much visible from his facial expressions. Even though his smile was like as pleasant as a dream, I was only unnecessarily bothered by it. Not in a good way.

"Yes, please come in." He said, standing up from his seat, making his way in front of the huge table.

An involuntary annoyed expression came on my face and I heard him chuckle a bit. But I did not dare to make eye contact with him. I don't want to make things more awkward and embarrassing between us. Because he seems to thoroughly enjoy it while I pray to commit non-existence. We all stood in front of him and he folded his arms around his broad chest.

"Good morning." He said with a comforting smile.

"Good morning, sir." We said in unison.

"So, do you know why I called you all here?" He said and I shook my head.

"Well, you all know I'm new here." He said, letting out a chuckle.

"So, in the beginning I really need your help. Okay?" His smile was so warm that everyone seemed to get comfortable, with his voice calm and pleasant to my ears.

"Sure, sir." Our head-girl responded with others nodding in agreement.

"Great. So, as we're going to be working together, I need to know all your names, I don't promise to remember them all at once. But I will try my best." He said, making the environment as calm as possible.

"And firstly, let me introduce myself. I'm Gareth." He said and suddenly turned his face towards me, looking at me briefly. I swear, butterflies evaded my stomach.

"And I'm just like all of you. So, no need to be scared to say something. Feel free to give any kind of suggestions. Though, this is our little secret. Okay?" He said making all of us laugh a bit, and all of us nodded. Then he dismissed us.

We were all leaving the room, but a voice halted my movement.

"Umm Briar! You wait here a minute. Others may leave." He said, with his eyes stuck on me. And just like the morning, I looked down cursing him under my breathe.

Why did he only stop me?! There are so many girls who would love to do his work.

"If you're done mumbling, then give these files in the staff room to Mrs. Adrienne. Also inform in the office that I will send the signed letters, to the head manager, after the seventh period." He said with that teasing smile.

Is he a mind reader?

I smiled politely, moving towards his table picking up the files he asked me to. Just when I turned around, I heard him again,

"Miss Carrington."

My breath hitched and looked back in terror only to find him smiling. I hate how his face is so beautiful, but his smile reminds me of Satan.

"Yes, sir?" I asked, with my eyes widened, waiting for his response.

He gave me a blank stare with a slight smile never leaving his gorgeous face. placing his elbows on the table, in front of his chest, he crossed his fingers. And insignificantly placed the tip of his chin on his fingertips. He looked amused, or perhaps he relished tormenting me.

The urge to run away from the spot was dominating every single brain cell. I promised to myself that once I make my way out of his office, I will never go back in again.

"These files." He said pointing to the other set of files placed in front of me.

"Not those." He continued looking at the folders in my hand.

"Oh, s-sorry, sir." I stuttered again. At this rate he can assume I have a childhood-onset influency disorder.

Gosh I'll kill these bastards for giving me that dare. Only if they haven't given me that dare and I would've never come in his notice. Moving out as quickly as possible, I rushed with the folders in my hand, trying to run far away from him.

"Please God, I hope I never see him again." I said looking up, ready to collapse on the floor.

I did his work and then dragged my feet to the class. As usual they were all shouting and screaming. You know the classroom. If a teacher is late for just five minutes, then the class becomes like a concert stadium. Well, I entered in that ongoing concert and made my way to the empty chair which was reserved for me, by Gretchen. The class was yet to start, so I had a few minutes to relax.

I sat beside Gretchen and banged my head on the table.

"What happened sunshine?" Bianca, who was sitting behind said.

"Y'all are assholes." I said, leaving the effort to raise my head and talk to them.

"Are you're still mad because of that dare?" Ariana said, lightly patting my back.

"Seriously sorry, Briar. We thought, nobody would be there since Mrs. Wilson isn't in school. Nobody goes to the office in the morning anyways." Rosé said, bending beside me, rubbing my hand, trying to comfort me.

"I'm not mad. But because of that dare I came in notice of the principal. He doesn't leave a single chance to tease me." I said getting irritated.

"He is new, Briar." Charlotte patted my head. "And more importantly, he is drop dead gorgeous. I don't think anyone would leave him alone. So, the chances of you running into him are very little." She did point out a notable detail. I nodded.

"And babe, it's his first day at school, coincidentally he only knows your name, that's why he asked you to do his work. Soon when he'll get to know other students, he won't bother you much. So, don't worry and chill." Gretchen said pinching my cheeks.

"I hope so." I said, taking a deep breath.

I want to stay away from him as much as possible.