Charity Case (Kings of Knightswood Academy Book 1)

by Ivy Clyde

  I felt my own mouth hanging open at his little speech. He looked like a completely different person as he spoke about his family business and where he aspired to take it. There was so much warmth and enthusiasm in his beautiful eyes it affected me too.

  “We will be working on this for the rest of the year and next,” I said. “I’ll be happy to work on any of the projects in this field. If there’s a particular topic you want to pursue, I’d be up for it.”

  “Sounds great.” He flashed me another smile, taking my breath away.

  I nodded mutely, lost for words. Liam was acting normal and friendly. While I was definitely used to him being prickly, this was something I had to get used to.

  “I’ll need some time to choose the exact project,” said Liam. “How about I text you when I’ve made a choice?”

  “Do you have my number?”

  “Of course. My mother gave it to me before she left.”

  I nodded, thinking of Clara who’d really trusted her son to look after me. Liam had been a complete asshole to me until the time he pushed me into the swimming pool. Something changed inside him after that. Even though he’d been ignoring me after the incident, at least he hadn’t said or done anything to hurt me. He’d even stood up to Brianna to protect me in the cafeteria.

  “Any idea when she’ll be back?” I asked.

  “My father’s surgery was finished a few days back. They should be back by December.”

  The bell rang for the next lesson which happened to be English. There was no time to spare as we packed up our things and rushed towards the main school building located far from the science wing.

  The rest of the month progressed with teachers trying to cram in as much of the syllabus as possible before the holidays. Winter break lasted two weeks at the academy, giving students who lived further away a chance to spend time with their families.

  I bought another portable heater for my cabin which was like an icebox without any heat. Any time the wind speed picked up, it got even colder. Ruben’s special hot chocolate blend kept me warm every night. Dinner in the cafeteria also began including a selection of warming soups and stews every evening. All in all, I was well taken care of.

  On the first day of December, we were greeted by Christmas decorations in the cafeteria hall. Beautiful green firs were erected all around the room, decorated with frosty, silver ornaments.

  The air of excitement affected me too, bringing a grin to my lips as I followed Zoya into the cafeteria. She was speaking very fast about a ski trip she’d arranged with Jonathan on the weekend before Christmas.

  “You have got to come too, Paris,” she insisted, tugging my arm hard.

  “Why do you want me there? You can use the opportunity to bond with Jonathan.”

  She pouted. “Jonathan said he won’t go unless you go too.”

  “I don’t know,” I said, taking a seat at our customary table. “Liam said his parents will be returning this month. If things are cool, then maybe I can come. I want to use the break to research universities. Now that I know what I’ll be working on for my Physics project, I can search for schools with the best available facilities in that area.”

  Zoya groaned. “It’s Christmas! You’ve got to take a break from studying.”

  I grinned, picking up the menu.

  Choosing oatmeal and coffee from the selection, I gave my order to the waiter who’d come to stand near our table.

  “I really want to go on the trip,” she said in a whiny voice. “Please, Paris?”

  “Give me some time to make up my mind,” I returned. “Besides, have you asked Aunty Cathy yet? What if your stepdad doesn’t allow you to go?”

  She shrugged. “That’s a different matter. I want to make sure you’re up for it before telling them I want to go.”

  I chuckled. “There’s still a few weeks left. If things work out, I’m ready to go.”

  Zoya was pacified with that. Taking her phone out, she began texting one of her classmates about an assignment while I started on breakfast.

  Midway through the meal, Liam and Gabrielle stopped at our table.

  “Mind if we sit here?” asked Gabrielle, flashing a grin at both me and Zoya.

  Zoya fluttered her eyelashes at him immediately and nodded. Closing her phone, she stared at him with open liking as he took the chair beside mine. A twinge of annoyance shot through me. Zoya already liked Jonathan. Why would she need to flirt with Gabrielle too?

  She’s just being friendly, I told myself, surprised at the sudden possessiveness I felt towards Gabrielle.

  Liam and Gabrielle ordered their breakfasts. Gabrielle leaned in his chair and cast a gaze around the cafeteria. Since it was Friday morning, the place was packed.

  “My parents are arriving today,” said Liam. “I’m sure they would both like to see you.”

  Liam took me by surprise again. “Are you going home today?” I asked.

  “Yeah. I’ll pick you up after school. Wait for me by the main gates at six.”

  “So you’ll get to have Paris with you all weekend?” asked Gabrielle, turning his jewel-like eyes on his best friend.

  Liam shrugged. “You had her all to yourself that other weekend.”

  Gabrielle chuckled. “So you’re keeping a tab, huh?”

  Liam didn’t reply, picking up a knife and fork as the waiter placed his plate of eggs and bacon before him.

  I exchanged a look with Zoya. She definitely thought Gabrielle liked me. In all honesty, I liked his warm, cheerful personality too. Not to mention how easy he was on the eyes. But every time I looked inward, my heart would be torn between him, Liam and Nikolai.

  They all had different traits and personalities but I felt attracted to them all. My feelings for them confused me so much, I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to choose between them. So for now, I decided to go with the flow. Only time would tell who truly liked me back.

  A gasp escaped me as I felt a sudden hot splash on my arm.

  “Oops! My bad,” said Holly, covering her mouth. She’d let her hot coffee splash all over the sleeve of my right arm. I could see the struggle she was having keeping the triumphant smirk off her face.

  Gabrielle grabbed paper napkins and immediately moved to my side to dab at the spill. Liam sprang to his feet, stopping him.

  “Don’t do that. It will worsen the burn.”

  Without a word, he quickly removed the button at my wrist and rolled back the sleeve. I bit my bottom lip, urging myself not to curse or cry out. The coffee was very hot. She’d probably just got it from the machine in the corner and dropped it on me.

  “Pour some cold water over her arm,” said Liam, his gaze focused on the large red patch on my upper arm.

  Gabrielle picked up a glass of water and poured it over the burn. A hiss of relief escaped me. The cool water definitely felt good.

  “She needs to go to the nurse’s station,” said Zoya, looking worried. “The burn is looking bad already.” She was right. The red was getting darker.

  “Why is everyone fussing over the help?” said a cold, snide voice. Brianna had come to stand beside Holly, looking on the scene with her dark eyes.

  “Buzz off, Bri,” said Gabrielle.

  “Gabe!” shouted Holly with a frown. “Don’t talk to her like that.”

  “Don’t act like you didn’t do it on purpose,” spat Gabrielle, looking furious. He cast his cool gaze on Brianna. “Didn’t Liam and I already warn you about the consequence of messing with what’s ours?”

  Holly’s scowl matched Brianna’s.

  “Come on,” said Brianna, pulling on Holly’s arm. “We’ve spent enough time on the charity case.”

  “Bitch,” muttered Zoya under her breath, glaring at their backs. “Let’s go put some aloe and ointment on the burn. Severe ones can leave scars.”

  I looked between Liam and Gabrielle, realizing my body was pressed against both of them while they tended to me. “Thanks,” I said in a low voice. “Maybe it’s best to p
ut some salve on it.”

  They took a step back from me. “I’ll come with you too,” said Liam.

  “There’s no need,” said Zoya, pushing him away with her shoulder. She was tiny compared to him but she seemed to swell with rage. “Every time you get near her, she gets hurt.”

  “Don’t say that, Zoya,” I mumbled.

  “Well, it’s the truth, isn’t it?” she retorted, shouldering both our bags. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  I mouthed a ‘sorry’ at both Liam and Gabrielle before following Zoya out of the cafeteria.

  Once we were outside, I stopped her. “I’ll go get treated,” I said, pulling on the straps of my bag. “It’s almost time for classes. I don’t want you to be late.”

  “It’s fine,” she said, still looking annoyed.

  “I’ll be okay,” I assured her, taking my bag and coat from her. “It’s not so bad. Honest.”

  She fumed, glancing back at the cafeteria. “They’ve got it in for you,” she shouted with frustration. “They just can’t stand watching Gabrielle be nice to you.”

  “I know,” I said with a low sigh. “I’ll meet you later for lunch. See ya!”

  I hurried away before she could follow. The pain from the burn was increasing. I didn’t want her to see my expression and feel worried for the rest of the day. Taking a deep breath, I hurried towards the infirmary.

  I felt pain from the burn all through the day. The nurse assured me it wasn’t a serious one and that using the cream and aloe gel she recommended would make it better in a week. To make things worse, my stomach started cramping. My period was definitely on its way.

  After classes got over, I returned to my cabin to pack some books and clothes for the weekend. I was eager to see Clara that evening. Instead of a coat, I pulled on a woolen poncho so it wouldn’t rub over the burn patch on my upper arm.

  It was dusk by the time I reached the academy gates. It was no longer congested as most of the crowd had dispersed between four and five P.M. Liam’s silver-white Rolls Royce rolled to a stop beside me. I checked my watch. I was fifteen minutes early.

  The door at the back opened for me.

  Shouldering my bag, I climbed inside the car. The vehicle jerked into motion, throwing me backward before I’d even had time to settle down properly. My heart came to a sudden stop as I noticed the person beside me.

  It was Brianna.

  “It was my mistake,” I said immediately, straightening up. “I thought this was Liam’s car. Just drop me here. I’ll walk back to the gates.”

  Cold amusement lit up her dark eyes. “Of course, you thought it was his car. We drive the same model.”

  “Tell the driver to stop,” I said.

  “No.”

  I stared at her. Brianna was clearly enjoying the look of panic on my face.

  “Are you serious? You’re kidnapping me?”

  “Kidnapping?” Her eyebrows rose high on her forehead. “This is not kidnapping. I’m never going to ask money for you.”

  “Then what?” Frustration rose inside me. I knew she was toying with me but for what?

  “I want to punish you some more,” she said, narrowing her eyes at me. The car was going at a dangerously high speed now. Within the past few minutes, we’d left the academy far behind and were on a deserted highway.

  “Oww!” I bit out, clutching my stomach. A particularly bad cramp assaulted my lower tummy. A few seconds later, I felt hot liquid wetting my panties. “Shit!”

  “What’s the matter?” asked Brianna, frowning at me.

  I shifted in the seat and lifted my ass. A red patch was spreading on the immaculately clean seat cover. It was even more noticeable because it was pristinely white.

  “Eww! You bitch!” shrieked Brianna. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “It came early,” I mumbled.

  “Johan!” she screeched. “Stop the car immediately.”

  The car came to a skidding stop.

  “Get out!”

  “What? Here?” We were parked in the middle of nowhere with nothing but woods on both sides of the road. I didn’t even know which way we were heading.

  “Make her get out!” shouted Brianna, her dark eyes shining with cruelty.

  The door opened beside me and a hand clamped around the spot on my arm that had the burn injury. I shouted at the man but he was a loyal server, forcefully dragging me out of the car. He pushed me to the side of the road with enough force to make me fall on my ass. Brianna threw my backpack and travel bag at me, not caring they hit me in the face.

  Within seconds, the car speeded away, leaving me alone by the deserted roadside.

  26

  Paris

  Just as I was thinking the day couldn’t get any worse, rain started pattering down on me.

  The skin on my arm tingled with pain, my stomach ached bad enough to bring tears to my eyes, I had no tampon or sanitary napkin on me and now I was getting drenched in the cold drizzle that soaked through my clothes. How wonderful for Paris Johnson, I thought amusedly as a sob wracked through me.

  My phone rang shrilly in the quiet surrounding.

  Taking it out of my bag, I looked at the screen. Liam was calling me.

  “Where are you?” he asked as soon as I picked up the call.

  “I don’t know.” My voice sounded broken even to me.

  “What’s wrong, Paris?” he sounded anxious. “Tell me exactly where you are.”

  I looked all around the dark area without a single lamp post. “Someplace not too far from the school,” I said through a sob. “There’s nothing around here. It’s all woods and rain.”

  “How did you end up there?”

  “Brianna.”

  I heard a sharp intake of breath followed by a muttered curse. “Stay where you are,” he said in a grim voice. “I’m coming to get you. Stay by the road so I can see you.”

  “Okay.” The call switched off. I slowly pulled myself to my feet. My stomach hurt badly. My clothes were wet and dirty. “I’m such a mess,” I moaned softly.

  About ten minutes later, light from sharp headlights suddenly flooded the street. My gaze took in the figure sitting at the driver’s seat. It was Liam.

  He got out of the car and rushed towards me. “Paris? Are you hurt?”

  I stared at him and shook my head.

  “Come on,” he said, giving my arm a gentle pull to make me move towards the car but I stood rooted to the ground. “Paris?”

  “I started my period.”

  Now, it was his turn to stare at me. “Okay,” he said slowly with a nod. “Let’s go sit in the car.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t have protection.”

  He looked confused now. “Protection?”

  “I don’t have a pad or tampon,” I blurted. “I might make a mess of your car seat. That’s the only reason Brianna threw me out of her car and didn’t take me further away than this.”

  “Why would you get into a car with her?”

  “I didn’t want to. Her car looks the same as yours and when she opened the door to me, I thought it was you and got in.”

  Closing his eyes, he rubbed at his forehead. “Stupid girl.” When he opened his eyes, he looked anxious rather than condescending. By now, he was drenched too. He exhaled a long breath and suddenly pulled me into a hug. “Thank god, you’re all right.” He held me tight against him, burying his face in the side of my neck. “I was so worried you’re hurt again.”

  “My stomach hurts.” My voice came out muffled as I remained squashed against his hard chest.

  Taking a step back, he gently rested his hands on my shoulders. “Come on,” he said, tugging at my wrist. “Let’s get you out of the rain first.”

  To my surprise, he led me to the car and opened the passenger side door. “Get in.”

  “But -”

  “It’s fine, Paris,” he said in a soft voice. “If things get messy, I’ll have someone clean it up later. For now, let’s just get you out of the rain
.”

  “Hold on,” I said, taking my coat and placing it on the seat before getting on. When I was seated, he moved forward to secure the seat belt around me. The warm interiors of the car instantly made me feel better.

  Liam put my bags in the back and climbed in beside me.

  The relief spreading through me at the moment brought a fresh wave of tears to my eyes.

  Liam started the car and soon we were on the road back to the city. The cramps loosened up a little and soon, my misery left me.

  Glancing at Liam, I found him focused on the road ahead. It was heavy traffic in the city streets at that time of evening. Suddenly, I realized we were nowhere close to the Davenport mansion.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “I’m taking you to a hotel,” said Liam. “I don’t want my mother seeing you in a state like this.”

  He stopped the car in front of Royal Mirage, a five-star luxury hotel in the city. Bright lights washed the front of the hotel. Water jets from a nearby fountain glowed in rainbow shades. Valets in pristine white suits welcomed their posh guests. I stared out of the window, embarrassed to an inch of my life.

  “I can’t go in there looking like this,” I said at once. “I thought you would take me to a motel or something.”

  “Why would I take you to some shady motel?” he asked with a sudden smirk. “Besides, what you plan to do there can be done here.”

  I glared at him. “There’s no way I am stepping out of this car,” I said, folding my hands across my chest.

  Liam climbed out anyway. The back doors of the car opened and a valet took my wet bags out. Another man climbed in the driver’s seat with the key.

  “Miss?” said the man with a pointed look.

  I looked out of the window once more. Liam waited for me with a patient look in his eyes. His dark hair was sleek with rainwater but he still managed to look handsome in his drenched academy uniform. Exhaling a long breath, I climbed out of the car and quickly tied the sleeves of my coat around my waist. It was awkward but sufficiently hid my ass.

  “Come on,” he drawled. “We’ll catch a cold at this rate.” He started walking inside the hotel just as I reached him. Feeling completely out of place in the glittering entrance hall, I kept my focus on Liam, following him blindly through the lobby until we reached an elevator.