"Uh oh, where can I go?

Everybody's watching me.

I go through all the trouble

of keeping it within my walls;

I try to be as subtle as I can."

     ◘ ◘ ◘ 

"Let me get this straight. Your engagement to Asher Dane is a business ploy?" I said, summing up everything Emily had just told me into one single statement. Emily chuckled nervously and tucked a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear. We sat in the middle of the beautiful park in front of the school, where students enjoyed sitting on the freshly-cut grass and chatting with their friends, playing Frisbee and even painting. It was a few days after I discovered about their engagement, and I managed to wring out small bits and pieces of the entire story from Emily but today, she finally told me everything.

"Yes?" She answered, almost as if she herself was unsure. "Okay, I've told you that my parents own banks, and so does Asher's parents. They want to merge the two companies together because that way they can stay at the top. Does this make sense? I feel like it doesn't make sense. Oh god, am I rambling again?"

"Emily, calm down! Deep breaths," I hurriedly said, rubbing her back to get her to relax. She tended to ramble when she got too excited or nervous, and every time she does it I get worried she'll talk the breath out of her lungs and collapse. It's that intense.

Emily took a few deep breaths and calmed herself down, fanning herself with her dainty manicured hand.

"Alright, better?" I asked, and she nodded. Suddenly, she groaned loudly and buried her face in her hands.

"I don't want to get married. Especially not to someone I don't even love!" Emily's exclamation came out muffled, but I could still clearly hear what she said. For once, being wealthy didn't seem so fortunate.

"Why don't you tell your parents?" I suggested softly, patting her back. She shook her head.

"I can't let them down like that. This is their legacy. I'm continuing their hard work by doing this. There's no other way my family's company can thrive more, unless they merge with Dane Corps.," Emily sighed, looking dejectedly at her feet.

"Is this engagement thing made known public?" I asked curiously after some silence. Emily shook her head slightly.

"Not yet. Right now, Asher's parents and mine want us to 'date'. Or publicise ourselves. Make the world think that we are really dating," Emily muttered. Is that why Asher asked her to meet him in his room the other day? To perhaps discuss their engagement?

"But what about this?" I asked, pointing to the grey cardigan she was wearing. Immediately after I pointed it out, Emily turned a bright pink.

"He lent it to me last night. We were out and it was cold," Emily explained quietly, absentmindedly fingering the soft grey wool.

"Why are you still wearing it, if you didn't like him?" I decided to ask, pushing my limits. Emily cringed after I asked the question, and I was about to take it back before she opened her mouth to speak.

"I'm confused, Lexi. And scared. Sometimes when we're alone, he's really sweet. But other times...," she drifted off, staring at the rustling trees in front of us. Emily didn't need to elaborate further.

"Seriously? Is everyone in this blasted Academy blind or what?" He cursed, narrowing his eyes at Emily. She bowed her head, "Sorry."

"For the last time, sorry doesn't cut it. Especially when it comes from you, Emily."

"Do you think he...likes you back?" I asked, stealing a quick glance at my new, yet close friend. She sighed, before shrugging.

"I don't know. He...he hates me. He's against the whole engagement and thinks I'm some sort of gold-digger," Emily mumbled. My jaw dropped in surprise and a sudden surge of irritation ran through my veins.

"How are you a gold-digger if you're probably jaunt as wealthy as he is?" I blurted out, utterly flabbergasted.

Emily laughed and shook her head, "He's like that. Very negative."

"If this was any other situation, I would try to comfort you. But I really don't know how to right now. I'm sorry for being such a shitty friend," I said quietly, biting my lip. To my surprise, Emily let out a small giggle.

"My, we're talking as if I just told you I'm pregnant or going to die! We're a tad bit over dramatic, aren't we?" Emily laughed, nudging me with her shoulder. I couldn't help but grin and share the laugh too.

"I hope things work out in your favour, Em. Really. Even though Asher kind of sucks," I said, and we both burst out laughing again. After we simmered down, Emily suddenly looked a bit worried.

"What's wrong?" I asked, concern lacing my tone.

"I just don't know what to expect from the other students once they find out we're dating. The Winter ball will be the first event we will be attending as dates," Emily explained, nervously biting her lip. I nodded in understanding, patting her back lightly.

I stared ahead, observing the students around us for a bit. How do all of them manage to look so carefree and happy? From what it seems, their very existence seemed to be a business tactic, a way to continue the legacy of whatever businesses their families ran. I glanced at Emily, who had an expressionless look on her face. The light breeze blew at us, making goosebumps appear on my skin. I sighed.

"I don't know what to expect either, but I'll stand by you no matter what. If any Barbie or Ken tries anything funny, I'm here to kick their asses for you," I said firmly. Emily's worried expression quickly dissipated and was replaced with a shy, grateful smile.

"Thank you, Lexi," Emily murmured, drawing me in with a quick side hug. I let my head tilt back and laughed lightly.

"Welcome, Em. Now come on, let's go to the canteen, I'm starving!" I cried, quickly getting up and grabbing her by the arm. Tugging her lightly, I whined, "Let's go, let's go, let's go!"

"Okay, okay!" Emily squealed as I pulled her up, laughing loudly before quickly clearing her throat. She yanked her arm out of my grasp and her held it close to her, staring at the ground, her cheeks tinted pink. I raised an eyebrow at her sudden change of behaviour, and glanced around me.

"What?" I whispered, staring at her strangely.

"We...we shouldn't be so loud in public," she mumbled back, glancing around but keeping her head down. My mouth formed an 'O' shape as I realised what she was talking about. We were acting too rowdy when we were supposed to act all posh and elegant and quiet.

"Okay," I mumbled back quietly, straightening my blazer. If it was under any other circumstances, I would probably glare at anyone who dared to cast us a judgemental stare and point my middle finger at them and yell at them to Live a little!

But of course, I didn't. I was here on scholarship, and as awesome as having all my expenses paid for, that also means the school can easily expel me if I was misbehaving and I wouldn't have enough money to continue to study here. And I couldn't let that happen, no way.

I thought back to January Falls, the small, middle-of-nowhere town I came from. I thought back to the fact that I had nothing to lose, coming here. The fact that no one would miss me, since after all I was just a poor outcast that kept to herself. I felt my hands clench into fists. No, I will not go back there.

"Come on," Emily murmured, keeping her head low and walking towards the Student Welfare building, a huge two-storey brick building that contained the canteen, student lounge area and counsellor offices.

As we entered the canteen, I immediately noticed how the students discreetly quietened down, giving us weary glances and whispering to each other.

"Hey!" a feminine voice barked from behind us. Turning around, I came face to face with none other than Bianca Harding herself. Today, she wore her usual fitted uniform, complete with her pink hairband. The only thing different about her was the scowl on her face. The first time we met, she had a smug smirk on her face. Now, the scowl on her face was angry and almost sinister. It didn't go past me the way her tiny hands were clenched so tightly her knuckles were white. Adia and Marissa didn't look extremely thrilled to see Emily and I either.

I glanced around me, noticing how everyone seemed to be on the edge of their seats, watching our exchange intently.

"Who do you think you are?" Adia seethed, stepping forward and towering over me. While Bianca was petite and slim, Adia was tall and curvy. I had to admit, her height was intimidating.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I mumbled, frowning slightly. Marissa rolled her eyes, but offered no words.

"I told you to stay away from them," Bianca sneered, shoving her phone in my face. On the digital screen was a shaky picture of Logan and I, on the first night I was at Meilleur. That was taken when he was showing me where my dorm was.

"He offered to help me find my dorm room. I got lost," I muttered, swatting her arm away. Bianca narrowed her eyes at me.

"Stay away from them. Or you'll have to answer to—"

"Answer to what, Bianca?"

Hushed and excited whispers were heard throughout the canteen, which was no surprise because the Royals hardly spoke to the general student population unless they absolutely needed to.

"A-Asher!" Adia stuttered, looking starstruck for a moment. Asher Dane casually strolled towards us, abandoning his seat at the Centre table, the table that was solely reserved for the four boys only. The three boys barely even cast a look our way before returning to their food.

"We were just telling them the rules," Bianca explained innocently, and I felt Emily stiffen beside me as Bianca shot Asher an innocent, flirty look.

"Well, you're disturbing us," Asher stated, and Bianca pursed her lips. Adia and Marissa had the decency to look at least slightly embarrassed. Bianca jutted her chin out, glaring straight at Emily and I.

"If we didn't teach them a lesson, no one will," she stated, flipping her perfect curls over her shoulder. "Remember what I said, girls. Goodbye, Asher."

With a sharp flick of her wrist, Adia and Marissa quickly followed her out of the canteen.

"Thank you," Emily murmured, glancing shyly at her fiancé. Asher looked down at her, and I could've sworn his expression softened at the sight of her for a second before hardening back to stone.

Asher glared at me and nodded at Emily stiffly and returned to his seat, but not before saying, "I didn't do it for you. They were being a nuisance."

Emily bit her lip, disappointment flitting through her features. Glaring at the back of the rich heir's head, I nudged her and gave her a small smile, "Let's go munch."

Through the few encounters I've have with Asher Dane, I could safely say the guy's not exactly my biggest fan. I'm not complaining, though, because I wasn't very fond of him either. In fact, I'm pretty sure you can classify our feelings for each other under Hate. The problem was, I knew that being Emily's friend would mean having many more of such encounters with him, and possibly his friends. And that's what worries me. A lot.

Why, you may ask? Because I knew for a fact that their parents owned or funded several buildings in the school, which meant the faculty staff and Principal worshipped the ground they walked on. They could easily have me expelled if they saw fit. Yeah, it's quite scary how much power and influence they have over Meilleur.

They didn't even need to try and they were already everyone's favourite topic to gossip about. And trust me, sometimes the things these students gossip about were some of the dumbest things I've ever heard.

You know why Yuko Hideyoshi came to attend Meilleur? Because he is actually a product of a scientific experiment and was made artificially in a laboratory, which granted him with photographic memory and a knack to scowl. The Japanese government is after him because they need him to find out a vaccine for the new-age virus that popped up in Africa, but he cold-heartedly refused because the scientists that created him forgot to install emotions in him!

Ever wonder why Logan Marshall stopped composing music? He's a part of the Russian Mafia now, it doesn't matter that he's Latvian, or that he doesn't communicate with anyone other than his only three friends. Why would joining the Russian mob prevent him from composing music? We don't know, but it's a good story, right?

Asher Dane, ever thought about why his hair was white? No, of course it's not bleached. He's actually born with stark white hair because he's not even human. He's the last surviving one of his alien species and was sent to Earth after his planet got burn into bits. And no, he's not Superman.

And now, Robin Clair. Why was he always frowning, you ask? 'Cause he's in the illuminati, that's why.

I am not joking. I literally heard people gossip about them like nobody's business. Some were pretty believable, like how Robin Clair is the youngest billionaire in the world or how Logan Marshall modelled for Calvin Klein. But the other things they say about these boys? Un-freaking-believable.

And sure, there were plenty of other popular and equally as attractive kids on the grounds of Meilleur, like Cody Ellington, the mulatto that was the star track team captain and models for Abercombie & Fitch.

There was also Josephine Lim, the Singaporean-born Chinese that spoke seven languages fluently. Her charisma and bubbly personality makes her one of the most popular students in Meilleur, and she eventually obtained the title as Student Body President, where she regularly tries to improve the school system and organises the many school events, dances and trips throughout the year.

There was Jayda Graves, the beautiful, young Hollywood star and aspiring screenwriter. With jet black hair and a killer smile, she has an army of salivating and horny boys at her fingertips.

Jonah Graves, the twin of Jayda Graves that was the school's resident bad boy. Adorned with the signature Graves' jet black mane and a bunch of tattoos that only added to his dangerous aura, he lived up to his name by regularly getting into trouble. His popularity has only since skyrocketed when he announced that he was now dating Siobhan Lanigan, the female equivalent to him.

Siobhan Lanigan, the girlfriend of Jonah Graves is a fiery Irish descendent that spent her days at Meilleur wreaking havoc in people's lives. The tough prankster could make you quiver in your seat with a single glare, as the students said. I, however, never saw her around. Mainly because she hardly attended classes despite maintaining a near perfect overall grade.

And finally, there were the Barbies, which consisted of Bianca, Adia and Marissa, and of course their bunch of cronies that sported the same, arrogant glare whenever they saw someone that didn't quite 'match up' to their standards.

There were the stereotypical Club Presidents, some of which were really cool and others, not quite. There were the rich kids, well, richer kids. You have to come from some kind of money to be able to attend Meilleur in the first place. There were the geniuses that, as hard as they tried, could never top Yuko Hideyoshi. Aspiring artists and musicians and could never quite match up to Asher Dane and Logan Marshall. And then there was Robin Clair, who no one could ever live up to.

And then there was people like me. The scholarship students. Students who were practically Meilleur's community service projects, to show the world that Hey! We're not closed off or arrogant, we welcome you poor folks here too! And it was frightening, to say the least. Because I was constantly surrounded by people who never failed to remind me how different we were, that I was not part of their world at all. I was just an outsider looking at them through the protective glass bubble that surrounded them and kept them from escaping their world of riches and glamour.

     ◘ ◘ ◘ 

Updates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Song of the Chapter: Everybody's Watching Me // The Neighbourhood