The Script Chapter 2

Honestly, it didn't matter where I went to school.

I was the only kid from our village to make it to a city high school.

At City High, I was ostracized from day one.

I was too poor. Even though I washed my clothes every day, they said I smelled like poverty.

Later, just because the school heartthrob, Asher Kingsley, spoke to me once, I became the target of relentless bullying.

For two years, I studied under siege.

So, this transfer felt like a blessing.

The new kids at Oakwood were nice. They didn't mock my worn-out clothes. Some even shared their snacks with me.

I thought, finally, I can have a normal life.

But I was wrong. Even after transferring, I couldn't escape the beatings.

When the bullies from City High found me, I instinctively crouched down and covered my head.

Their leader was Chloe. She was obsessed with Asher, and her family was close with his.

If any girl talked to Asher, Chloe made them pay.

She grabbed my hair, a practiced move, and hissed:

"Lily, I didn't know you had it in you. You transferred schools and still managed to make Asher talk about you."

"Playing hard to get, huh? You're more manipulative than you look."

Asher Kingsley. Again.

Even miles away, I couldn't escape his shadow.

The first time I spoke to Asher was because he didn't turn in his homework. I was the class rep; I had to ask him for it.

Instead of handing it over, he said something weird:

"Do you know who I am? You have guts, asking me for homework."

"You're interesting. I'll remember you."

At the time, I just thought he was a weirdo. And kind of greasy.

Who cared who he was? All I knew was the teacher would yell at me if I didn't collect all the assignments.

I thought it was nothing. But after school, I was cornered in an alley by a group of girls led by Chloe.

They kicked me, hit me, and warned me to stay away from Asher.

I felt so wronged.

But I was just a powerless girl from the sticks with a dad who didn't care.

When I went home covered in bruises, my dad just cursed: "Useless thing, coming home late? Go make dinner, are you trying to starve us?"

They didn't care if I was hurt, as long as I was alive enough to be sold later.

I thought staying away from Asher would fix it.

But it was useless. If Asher even casually mentioned my name, I got beaten up.

I figured Asher and I were just cursed to be enemies.