Remi POV

It's been a week since my world turned upside down. I've been absent from school, dedicating my time to helping my sister recover in the hospital. And let me tell you, it's been a journey of self-discovery. I've changed, guys. I've been visiting Lilly every day, dressing up nicely, and even earning compliments from her. My step-sister Amelia's been a constant presence too, supporting us both despite her own family drama - like her dad, my ex-stepdad, breaking up with my mom. Yeah, that happened. He's out of the picture now, and Amelia's still been a rock for us.

But things took a weird turn when my mom started bringing home a string of guys, parading them like trophies. I couldn't handle the awkwardness, the moans, the whole spectacle. I told her straight up - it's disgusting, and these guys don't truly care for her. I know you might be thinking, "Isn't this the same girl who...?" But no, I've grown. I've learned.

Damion's been visiting, but it seems like he's only interested in Amelia now. I try to brush it off, but it stings. And Michelle? Radio silence. No apology, no explanation. But the cherry on top? Scrolling through social media and finding my nude pictures plastered online. Yeah, that happened. My heart is still reeling from the shock.

It was another Monday morning, and Principal Allison had instructed me not to miss school this week. My mum agreed, and I honestly didn't know how to face school. I got up from bed, prayed for my mum and sister at the hospital (my mum was still with her), took a short bath, wore a baggy jeans, an ordinary top (which made me look like I had pimples on my chest), and an hoodie. I boarded a taxi to school, feeling apprehensive.

As I walked through the school gates, I heard snickers and insults from my Students.

"Slut!" someone shouted.

"Bitch!" another chimed in.

"How dare you let your nudes go online? You think that would help?" someone whispered.

"She wore only a bra and thongs last week, trying to get Jake's attention," another student said.

"She isn't dressing bitchy, guess she learned her lesson," someone else commented.

"She's a slut and an attention seeker," another voice added.

Tears streamed down my face as I tried to ignore the hurtful words. But I wasn't paying attention to where I was going and accidentally bumped into Sasha, spilling coffee all over her short dress.

"Slut, watch where you're going!" she snapped, her eyes blazing with anger.

"Sorry," I apologized, trying to move away.

But Sasha held my hands and slapped me twice, hard, on the cheek. "Why are you back? Idiot, thought you could take my place? Thought you could take my boyfriend?"

"Sorry, can I go now?" I asked, trying to escape.

But Michelle intervened, "Shut up and don't talk when she's talking."

I'd had enough. I slapped Michelle back and shouted, "Bitch!"

Jake pinned me to the lockers and slapped me, while Adam and Derek started punching me. The students gathered around, recording the scene with their phones. Adam held one of my arms, and Derek held the other.

"Open her mouth, Jake," Sasha ordered.

Jake forcefully opened my mouth, and Sasha spat three times in it before slapping me again and leaving with her crew. I sat on the floor, unable to speak, as the students continued to laugh and mock me.

"Up, Remi, they're all bitches," someone said.

I looked up to see Amelia and Damion standing over me, concern etched on their faces.

Amelia and Damion helped me up, and we retreated to an empty classroom. I felt a mix of emotions: shame, anger, and frustration. "Why are people so mean?" I asked, my voice shaking.

Amelia gave a knowing glance, and I realized she was trying to tell me that I had been just as cruel in the past. I felt a pang of guilt and regret.

Trying to change the subject, I asked, "So, are you guys a thing now?" I was curious if they were dating.

Amelia laughed and said, "Eww, no! I'm a lesbian, Remi. I used to have a crush on you, that's why I always wanted to talk to you." Damion smiled at me, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

Damion asked, "Why did you ask?" and I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Nothing," I said, but he raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Amelia excused herself, leaving Damion and me alone. "Where were we?" he asked, his eyes locked on mine.

I tried to brush it off, saying, "Damion, I only asked a question." But he stepped closer, his face inches from mine. He dragged me into a kiss, and this time, it was perfect. The world around us melted away, and all that mattered was the sensation of his lips on mine. It was like a symphony of emotions, a dance of desire and passion.

As we broke apart for air, Damion asked, "Will you be my girlfriend, Remi?" His eyes sparkled with hope, and I felt my heart soar.

"Yes, of course, finally!" I exclaimed, my voice barely above a whisper. I meant to say "yes" with more conviction, but my emotions got the better of me.

Damion smiled, relief and happiness etched on his face. We shared another kiss, and I knew in that moment that I was exactly where I belonged.

As I walked out of the empty classroom, hand in hand with Damion, I felt a flutter in my chest. My first class was geography with Amelia, while Damion had maths. "Bye, bae," he whispered, pecking me on the cheek before leaving. I blushed hard, and Amelia noticed from afar.

She walked towards me, a curious grin spreading across her face. "So, what's the gist?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I smiled, still feeling the warmth of Damion's kiss. "He asked me to be his girlfriend!" I squealed, barely containing my excitement.

Amelia beamed. "That's amazing! But, um, we have a meeting with Principal Allison."

I rolled my eyes. "Why does she hate me so much?"

Amelia dragged me to the principal's office, where we were greeted with a stern expression. "Good morning, girls. Please, take a seat."

We sat, and Principal Allison began, "Firstly, how's Lilly doing?"

"She's recovering well, still in the hospital. I'll visit her after school," I replied.

The principal nodded. "Good. Now, about your college applications... Your grades, Remi, are not impressive. Some colleges came to review your records, and unfortunately, none accepted you."

My heart sank, but she continued, "So, we've decided you'll take the NYC exam. If you score at least 70%, you'll get in."

I hesitated. "But, I'm not exactly a genius..."

Amelia chimed in, "That's why I'll tutor you! We have until Friday, and I'll make sure you're prepared."

Principal Allison nodded. "Today's Monday, so let's get started."

As we left Principal Allison's office, Amelia promised to tutor me at her place tonight. I was excited to spend time with her, but also nervous about seeing my ex-stepdad, who always called me mean names.

Classes were a nightmare. I was constantly bullied, with people shouting "Slut" and other insults. It was exhausting and frustrating. I felt like I was walking on eggshells, never knowing when the next attack would come.

At lunchtime, I sat alone in the cafeteria, waiting for Amelia and Damion to arrive. But before they could join me, Jake appeared, holding my phone. "Bae," he said, trying to sound charming. I rolled my eyes and dragged my phone from his hand, ignoring him.

But Jake wouldn't leave me alone. "You look disgusting," he sneered, and I felt a surge of anger. I wasn't dressed provocatively, and I hadn't worn makeup. I was just trying to blend in.

Jake continued to taunt me, and I tried to ignore him. But he wouldn't let up. He dragged my head and pushed it into the bowl of pasta I was eating. I felt humiliated and angry.

Just as Jake was about to do more damage, Damion appeared out of nowhere. "Leave her alone," he growled, his eyes blazing with anger.

Jake sneered at Damion. "Bro, longest time, you finally decided to talk to me?"

Damion didn't hesitate. He stood up to Jake, his fists clenched. "Shut the fuck up," he said, his voice low and menacing.

Jake laughed, but Damion was serious. The two of them faced off, their eyes locked in a fierce stare-down. Amelia rushed over to help me clean my face, and I watched in awe as Damion and Jake began to fight.

At first, Jake seemed to have the upper hand. He landed several punches, and Damion stumbled backward. But Damion refused to give up. He rallied, his fists flying as he fought back. Jake was taken aback, and for a moment, he stumbled.

That was all Damion needed. With a fierce cry, he launched himself at Jake, pinning him to the ground. Jake struggled, but Damion was too strong. He punched Jake again and again, until Jake's face was bloody and battered.

Finally, Damion stood up, his chest heaving with exhaustion. Jake lay on the ground, moaning in pain. Amelia helped me to my feet, and we watched as Damion stood over Jake, his eyes blazing with anger.

"Don't ever touch her again," Damion growled, his voice low and menacing.

Jake nodded, his eyes wide with fear. And with that, the fight was over. Damion had won, and Jake had lost. Big time.

Author note:

Hey everyone! I hope you're all doing amazing! I just wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for all your support. Your votes, comments, and encouragement have meant the world to me! Honestly, without you all, I might have given up on my writing journey. But your enthusiasm and kindness have kept me going!

Now, I'm excited to share a sneak peek of my upcoming story with you all! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the cover -

do you like it, or do you think I can do better? Let me know in the comments below! Your feedback is invaluable to me! Thanks again for your unwavering support. You guys rock!

Enough talking,let's dive back and listen to Remi