Claire Olsen had a great crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him. But Zion had his eyes glued at the school's 'It girl' Maddie Jennings. Claire couldn't compete with Maddie who was every boy's dream girl in school. She hid her feelings for Zion and just satisfied admiring him from afar. But a series of events led Claire closer to Zion in Senior High and that made her feelings for him intensified- growing from infatuation to love. She tried to act normal and fought hard to hide her feelings when they were together. At some points, she avoided him, but the more barrier she put between them, the more he barged into her ordered life.
"Infatuation is when you find someone who is perfect. Love is when you realize that they aren't and it doesn't matter." - Pinterest
Claire's POV
Oh no! I'm going to be late.
I was running now, like running for my life. My heart was pumping so hard, my skin was cold as ice and sweat ran down my spine.
Whew! I stopped for a while, catching my breath.
I couldn't miss the school bus, I have a long quiz in my first subject, Math. I have to do good in school, being in my last year in high school so I would qualify in a scholarship program.
I wiped the sweat off my forehead then checked the time on my wristwatch. Shocks no... then I started to run again to the bus station.
I heard a car horned behind me. It was Ashley Farris. My stepsister.
Ashley opened her car window and yelled at me. "Run faster Claire!" Her laughter echoed in the air. She was the reason why I was hurrying right now. She made me iron her school uniform again and again to make sure that there was no single crease left.
Ashley and I were both seventeen, but she was a month older than me. We were both Seniors at Riverview High School.
We looked totally different. She was a blond while I have jet black hair. She was short and curvy while I was tall and skinny. Okay... very skinny. I didn't understand why I was so skinny. I tried to eat plenty and take multivitamins daily, but still I was skin and bones.
She always competed with me eversince we met. In the house, she wanted to get my dad's attention. She got my room and my stuffs. Dad tried to please her by buying whatever she wanted. Everything became in her favor.
Ashley was a smart girl also. We competed each other in school. We were both in the Top Ten Students. But I always got the highest rank and that was very upsetting on her part.
Her mom, Aunt Abby married my dad seven years ago. It was so sudden. I just lost my mom - she was hit by a car. I was still grieving when dad got married again in just two months. Mom was not even cold in her grave.
I lost my dad two years ago in a fire incident and that made my life became a calvary. Aunt Abby and Ashley made my life miserable. They stopped treating me like a family. I became a squatter in my own house.
Don't worry Claire, one more year and you'll be free. I murmured to myself.
I was just in time when the school bus arrived in the bus station. I was so relieved.
I saw my bestie, Rhea when I entered the bus. I sat down beside her and put my maroon Jansport backpack in front of me.
"Hi Claire. You look like a mess."
"I know right." I combed my long tangled hair with my fingers and fixed my eyebrows with my fingertips. I was so conscious with my eyebrows because they were so thick like those of the werewolves and pointing everywhere. I have to flattened them and kept in place all the time.
"Did you finish your Science homework?"
"Of course. I finished it early this morning." I smoothened the creases of my uniform and tightened my tie.
"I'm not sure with my answer in number ten. Can you help me on it?" Rhea pleaded.
"Of course. No worries."
My heart skipped a beat when I stepped out of the school bus. I saw a familiar car turned around the curb heading towards the school's main entrance. A black Mercedes-Benz with a custom license plate. PETRAKIS.
I stopped at the side of the road, waiting for the car to pass by. The windows were tinted black, so dark that it was impossible to see inside. I kept my eyes fixed on my shoes, embarrassed to be caught looking at the car.
Zion Petrakis was inside the car. The most popular boy in school. A heartthrob. Tall, handsome with a beautifully lean muscular body. He walked with grace, pride and confidence. Very athletic. He was the captain of the school's football team. Many girls admired him and sought his attention. Yeah. I liked him too. A lot. But unlike the others, I was contented admiring him from afar.
The car parked outside the school's lobby. Zion went out, with his black backpack slung over his shoulder. He looked so fresh with his dark straight hair glistened. Obviously wet from the shower.
He was greeted with his best friends Harry Allen and Israel Yasin. The three of them were inseparable since pre-school and together they played in the football team.
"Claire, I'm going to talk to Miss Murphy. Just go ahead." Rhea said.
"Okay. I'll see you in the classroom."
I was approaching the lobby to where Zion, Harry and Izzy were standing and praying at the same time. Please God, let them go inside. Let me be invisible that they wouldn't notice me.
I sighed a good relief when I managed to pass by in front of them unnoticed. But I was wrong, it was just a temporary bliss.
"Hi Claire." I heard Israel a.k.a. Izzy said behind me.
I stopped and spun around, staring at him, then at Harry and Zion. "Hi."
Harry said 'hi' back, but Zion just smiled and looked away.
Izzy did not hide the fact that he liked me. Ever since in grade school, he was into me. He sent me gifts, brought roses, love letters and chocolates. He even wrote poems for me, but I couldn't teach myself to like him more than just a friend. I didn't feel the same way he felt for me.
It was always Zion. I didn't understand myself why. He didn't do anything to make me like him. He never talked to me. He ignored me like I did not exist. I hated myself that I kept on thinking about him and deep down inside of me I knew that he probably haven't thought about me once.
I excused myself and walked in a hurry away from them, almost running. I just slowed down when I was out of their sight.
I passed by the bulletin board and stopped to check for any announcements and reminders. A leaflet about a free trip to Korea for top students caught my attention. I was reading it when someone stood beside me - Alex Gomez, one of the student activists. He posted a list of Top Ten Students Who's Hot And Who's Not, covering the leaflet I was reading.
"Not again." Facepalm.
As usual. I was at the Top Ten List Of Who's Not.
This became my burden every school year. But I learned to view it in a positive way. Who cares. It was only a list made by student activists. Sarcastically speaking, I should be flattered because I went down in the ranking from second to fourth.
But still, I checked the list. As expected, Zion Petrakis was at the top in Who's hot, he always did, followed by his friends, Harry and Israel. Zion's ex-girlfriend, Maddie Jennings, the popular 'it girl' in school was also included as well as my stepsister Ashley.
"Stupid list." I heard a familiar voice said behind me. I looked around and saw Zion. We were so close, that our face almost collided. I could smell his scent, like a combination of soap and cologne, and the warmness of his body vibrated through me, like a current. I've never been this close to him ever and the feeling was so electrifying.
I stepped back and looked around. He was alone. I wondered where his friends were.
Zion looked at me and I looked back at him. His dark eyes were sharp and assessing, holding my eyes still. But I couldn't continue looking at him, his stares and nearness made my knees so weak. It would be so embarrassing if I fell down on his feet.
He grabbed the list of the Top Ten Who's Hot And Who's Not , crumpled it and threw in the nearest bin. Then he was gone in a blink of an eye.
Chapter 1 1
19/09/2023
Chapter 2 2
19/09/2023
Chapter 3 3
19/09/2023
Chapter 4 4
19/09/2023
Chapter 5 5
19/09/2023
Chapter 6 6
19/09/2023
Chapter 7 7
19/09/2023
Chapter 8 8
19/09/2023
Chapter 9 9
19/09/2023
Chapter 10 10
19/09/2023
Chapter 11 11
19/09/2023
Chapter 12 12
19/09/2023
Chapter 13 13
19/09/2023
Chapter 14 14
19/09/2023
Chapter 15 15
19/09/2023
Chapter 16 16
19/09/2023
Chapter 17 17
19/09/2023
Chapter 18 18
19/09/2023
Chapter 19 19
19/09/2023
Chapter 20 20
19/09/2023
Chapter 21 21
19/09/2023
Chapter 22 22
19/09/2023
Chapter 23 23
19/09/2023
Chapter 24 24
19/09/2023
Chapter 25 25
19/09/2023
Chapter 26 26
19/09/2023
Chapter 27 27
19/09/2023
Chapter 28 28
19/09/2023
Chapter 29 29
19/09/2023
Chapter 30 30
19/09/2023
Chapter 31 31
19/09/2023
Chapter 32 32
19/09/2023
Chapter 33 33
19/09/2023
Chapter 34 34
19/09/2023
Chapter 35 35
19/09/2023
Chapter 36 36
19/09/2023
Chapter 37 37
19/09/2023
Chapter 38 38
19/09/2023
Chapter 39 39
19/09/2023
Chapter 40 40
19/09/2023
Other books by Your Majesty
More