Chapter 9 She-devil

• Alexander King leaned back on his sofa, his elbow resting over his face, eyes shut tight unable to sleep. His breathing became hotter and heavier by each second.
• And it was all because of her.
• Lena...
• No...
• Nadia....
• He remembered the first time he saw her. Back in middle school.
• He had been a child actor then-famous, adored, the golden boy on screen. But in reality? He was just an awkward kid with crippling social anxiety and panic attacks.
• His family was wealthy and his school prestigious.
• That day, the teacher had introduced a new student to the class.
• "Class, this is Nadia. She'll be joining us from today."
• The moment she stepped in, the entire room seemed to hold its breath.
• She looked like something straight out of a fairy tale. Long, flowing red hair, big green eyes, like a doll come to life.
• The other kids whispered about her rare beauty in awe. Someone said they have seen her on TV before as a child model.
• And Alexander? He did notice her beauty like the rest of the kids, but he looked once and then quickly looked away.
• He didn't stare nor show obvious interest like the rest.
• He had learned that attention only brought unwanted interactions, forced conversations, anxiety.
• But somehow, that was what caught Nadia's attention.
• Unlike the other students, who admired her from a distance, she marched straight toward him.
• Alexander felt his stomach twist as she stopped beside his desk.
• She turned to the boy sitting next to him and smiled sweetly.
• "Can we swap seats..please?"
• She blinked her eyes cutely and the poor boy didn't even hesitate.
• You can't say no to a girl like that. He felt privileged to be the first guy she talked to. His friends teased him and he went on daydreaming about a date.
• And just like that, Nadia took the seat beside Alexander.
• Nadia had begged. No, she had tortured her parents to send her to this school.
• She had cried, thrown tantrums, and refused to eat for days.
• Her parents were rich, and she got her own money as a popular child model too but not as wealthy as the elites who attended this school.
• It took endless pleading and stubborn determination, but in the end, they gave in.
• And all for one reason.
• Alexander King.
• She had watched every one of his films. Read every article about him and follow up news about him. Obsessed.
• She didn't just want to meet him. She wanted to know him, and date him, even.
• So the moment she walked into class and saw the famous boy sitting there, looking out of place despite his popularity.
• It triggered that all boys looked like they would have fought for her attention but he didn't bother to even stare at her.
• So,she made up her mind to take the desk beside him.
• When she sat beside him, Alexander's fingers twitched nervously on his desk.
• He didn't look at her, but he could feel her presence.
• Too close.
• Then, she leaned in and whispered softly.
• "You're not very friendly, are you?"
• Alexander stiffened.
• She smiled at his reaction and extended a hand.
• "I'm Nadia."
• He hesitated. Then, slowly, he shook her hand.
• "I am Alexander".
• "Who doesn't know you,I am a big fan".
• She replied and bit her lips.
• From that day onwards, Nadia made it her mission to invade Alexander's space.
• She would always brush against him accidentally, and found excuses to talk to him.
• Whenever he was alone, she would find him. If he was walking with his friends or a group, she would run and hug him, as if they were dating dating already. Then blew a kiss and walked away, leaving him flustered and embarrassed everytime.
• One afternoon, when all the other kids were outside for recess, Alexander stayed behind to read in the classroom.
• Nadia, of course, stayed too.
• "I like books," she had said, plopping down beside him.
• He glanced at her skeptically. She wasn't the type to read.
• Nadia had the main character syndrome and would always go out to flaunt her beauty and get some attention from male admirers then reject them all.
• And that day ,she decided to read with him.
• It was distracting for Alexander.
• Minutes passed, and just when he thought she would finally get bored and leave, she did something unexpected.
• She leaned against him.
• His breath caught.
• Her head rested on his shoulder, her beautiful red hair tickling his arm, the scent of vanilla and something sweet wrapped around him.
• Alexander froze for a minute then he continued his reading.
• A few minutes later, he noticed Nadia had fallen asleep. His fingers twitched as he resisted the urge to shift her away.
• That moment, his eyes fell on her face.
• For the first time, he let himself really look at her.
• She had tiny freckles across her nose,her plumpy lips were naturally pink, soft and slightly parted as she breathed. And just below her chin, there was a small mole.
• His fingers itched to touch it.
• His hand lifted, moving almost on its own-
• Then her eyes fluttered open.
• Green met Icy blue.
• He froze, caught in the act.
• She blinked sleepily at him. Alexander was about to apologize when she tilted her chin up and kissed him.
• His first kiss.
• His first love.
• And just like that-he was hers.
• Alexander King blinked out of the flashback, his jaw tightening.
• Then he scoffed,as he ran a hand through his hair.
• "I never knew the devil she was."