forum Under The Painted Sky (O/O CLOSED)

Started March 18, 2019 by Deleted user

tune

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"You still haven't answered my question," Sterling pointed out. "I can't tell if that means you're protecting someone — though I would guess not — or if I'm right."

“What reasons do I have to answer to you?” Eden scoffed, shaking her head. “You’re being annoying, and I dislike being annoyed, transfer student.”

"I would be less annoying if my question was answered, pained princess," Sterling replied with a small smirk.

Eden slapped her hands on the desk, pulling herself to her feet. Upon hearing the noise, her classmates immediately quietened down. Eden paid them no attention—she simply set her gaze on Sterling, her eyes hardening.

“Ah, you really are annoying,” she breathed out, clenching her fists. “If you like your face the way it is, I suggest you watch it.”

Sterling's smirk didn't waver, but his eyes did soften. Looked like he'd hit a soft spot, and she didn't like that very much…

"Sure," he murmured quietly. "I'll keep myself in check."

Eden took her seat again, folding her arms and leaning back. Right before the teacher entered, another student came inside. He supported a black eye and another bruise on his cheek, along with a bandage over his nose. Upon seeing Eden, he bared his teeth. The younger girl merely lifted an eyebrow, closing her eyes as if to tell him he had asked for it. It offered her no amusement, but it was her life. She was the one who chose it, after all.

“‘Suppose that answers your question, no?”

Sterling looked toward the front of the classroom and grinned. Now that was awesome. The girl could definitely stand her ground.

"That it does," he answered. "Well done."

That caused her lips to twitch a little, but she held back the chuckle. If he was surprised by that, what would he think after he learned what she truly was?

Eden chose not to respond. She didn’t have any reason to, after all. The teacher stood in front of the classroom and clapped his hands.

“All right,” he said, looking over at the students. “We have a new student today, right? Would you please stand up?”

Sterling sighed and did as asked. It would be the same for every class he attended, no doubt… He glanced around the room and shot everyone his signature smirk, some of the girls blushing at the sight.

Eden nearly snorted. Of course. It wasn’t a surprise to her. The reactions he received wasn’t, either.

“You missed quite a lot of the first chapter,” the teacher started, clasping his hands. “If you need any help, I’m available after school. For now, though, I’d suggest you get someone to tutor you…” his eyes roamed around the class, finally resting on Eden, who had her eyes closed. “Ah, Eden. Perfect.”

Eden’s eyes snapped open and she glared at the teacher. “No.” She responded bitterly. The teacher shook his head.

“Eden, you’re a star student, but your behavior is getting out of control,” he said to her. “Perhaps socializing would help. No more arguments.”

Eden gritted her teeth.

"Yes, sir," Sterling agreed with a nod. "Thank you. May I sit, now?"

“Yes, you may,” the teacher nodded, and began his lesson. The entire time, Eden chose not to pay attention. Throwing her bag on the ground next to her chair, she lifted her legs on the desk, pushed her head back and closed her eyes. That was how they all wanted to play this, huh? Trying to cage her up? She’d cause more trouble. She’d create more problems. They wanted to tighten the leash on her? She’d bare her teeth more. She’d sharpen her claws. She worked this hard to be the way she wanted to be—to be this way. She wasn’t going to be controlled. She would not be a puppet anymore. She was an untamed animal, and she would remain that way.

Sterling couldn't help but watch the mysterious girl while class went on. It was funny, how she managed to completely ignore everything, and yet the teacher had said she was a good student… What was she hiding under that fierce façade?

“Eden,” the girl’s eyes opened slowly upon being called by the teacher. “Would you mind answering this question for us?”

The teacher held out a marker and Eden stared at it for a couple of seconds before she pulled herself off. She walked towards the front of the class, took the marker, and slowly began to write. When she was done, she handed him back the marker and took her seat again, making herself comfortable in the same position.

“Perfect,” the teacher nodded before he went on with the class.

Brains. That’s one thing she was hiding. The girl was obviously smart if she didn’t even have to pay attention to know how to do the work. Why wasn’t she in a higher class? Sterling was sure she could handle the work…

Upon feeling eyes on her, Eden furrowed her eyebrows, opened her eyes and looked at her side. She cocked her head a little, quirking an eyebrow as if to ask, “What do you want?”

Sterling smiled a little, giving her half a smirk. “Nothing. I’m just observing. You’re smart, even if you don’t pay attention.”

Eden sighed, lowering her head and closing her eyes. This man certainly had the guts. What would his reaction be when he learns of her position? Surely he’d leave her alone.

When it was time for lunch, Eden immediately pulled herself off of her desk. She grabbed her bag and threw it over the desk, satisfied with the way students backed off to let her pass.

She wanted to cool off. Would there be someone to start a fight again? Throw a punch so she’d have an excuse to throw one back? Shaking her head, Eden made her way to the school’s ground.

Sterling pulled his lunch (curtesy of his mother) from his locker and glanced around the halls. He didn’t want to go sit in the cafeteria, knowing that the girls would be all over the “mysterious new guy” and all. A familiar shape caught his eye, and he smiled a little to himself as he recognized the girl as Eden. Maybe he would ask her about that tutoring…

“Hey, tutor. You free?” he asked with half a smirk when he’d caught up to her.

Eden nearly groaned out loud, but maintained her blank expression. She was confident that she had lost him, but getting rid of a bug was proving to be rather difficult.

“No,” she replied curtly, refusing to even look at him.