Emma Hart quickly learned that in Sterling high school kindness is earned that comes with a price.
The next morning, with her head help up Emma walked through the school gate. She spent the next twenty minutes clutching the hem of her uniform . Her shoes were neatly polished unlike yesterday and her hair was tied in a simple ponytail as usual, so She would not look like she didn't belong.
Reality slapped her the very moment she stepped into the hallway.
A group of girls stood by their lockers gisting when Sophia Lane and her friends started laughing when Emma passed by.
Sophia whispered, just enough for Emma to hear.
"Charity girl."
Another girl giggled. "So out of place, do you think she can use a gold spoon?"
Emma stopped walking immediately and slowly turned around to face the girls .
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "What's the problem?"
Emma smiled . "No problem. Just want to make sure I heard you right."
Sophia smirked. "Oh! What did you hear then?"
Emma stepped very close to Sophia, close enough that Sophia's laughter faded away.
"I heard all what you said, unfortunately a girl thinks money buy manners, unfortunately it doesn't." Emma said softly
All the girls gasped.
Sophia's cheeks turned red. "Where do you get the audacity?"
Emma leaned slightly. "As someone who earned her way here. Can you say the same for yourself?"
Silence followed.
"Emma!"
Christy's voice echoed through the tension as she rushed toward the commotion. "What's happening guys?"
Sophia changed her expression instantly .
"Nothing, Christy. We are getting to know your friend."
Christy glanced between them. She just smiled but didn't look convinced.", Emma, I saved you a seat next to me."
Emma nodded and followed her.
Immediately walked away, she could feel Sophia's burning gaze on her back.
This school is going to be a tough one.
And Emma is not willing to bow for nobody.
During class, Emma answered every single question asked correctly. When the teacher asked a very tough math problem, non of the class were able to answer but Emma gracefully stood up, walked to the board, and solved it in matter of seconds.
Chalk dust fell. The room was as silent as a grave yard.
The teacher smiled proudly. "Good job, Miss Hart that's very impressive."
Christy gently clapped smiling. A few students joined in. Others looked very irritated.
Sophia said under a breath, "Show off."
Emma queitely went back to her sit sat down without a word, but deep inside her heart she is bloomed with satisfaction.
If they wouldn't respect her just because she isn't rich at least they will respect her for her brain .
Lunch break.
Christy stepped out to attend to her teacher. Emma walked alone to the cafeteria carrying her tray. a
Halfway there, someone "accidentally" pushed her away.
Her tray fell on the floor.
Rice and sauce splashed on the floor and across Emma's uniform.
Everybody burst out laughing.
Emma froze, staring at her stained uniform.
Sophia stood there, fake shocked. "Oops. Am so sorry my bad. These corridors are so crowded."
Her friends chuckled.
Emma slowly dropped the tray down.
She then slowly looked up.
Sophia expected Emma to be angry , embarrassed or cried but to her surprised she only smiled and looked away.
"Don't worry, accidents normally happens " Emma said
Sophie was surprised and flustered.
Emma stepped closer and whispered to Sophie.
"But one day, just one day you will slip and fall in front of all the students and when the time comes nobody will help you up"
Sophia's smile faded instantly.
Emma turned around and walked out of the place annoyed with her stained uniform like a war flag.
Christy walk into the bathroom and found Emma scrubbing her stained uniform in the sink.
"What happened to you Emma!?"
Emma shrugged. "I tripped on my way to the cafeteria."
Christy immediately knew what happened by mere looking at Emma face then her uniform .
She reached out and said. " Emma Come with me."
Christy walk Emma to her bedroom and leads her to her walk-in-closet in just five minutes
Emma gasped at the view in front of her blouses, dresses, skirts, shoes and bags all beautiful and screams expensive.
"Pick one and change quickly," Christy said.
Emma stared. "I can't."
"why can't you, are you going to walk around with a stained uniform like a stray human ," Christy replied.
Emma hesitated, then slowly picked a casual white blouse and skirt.
Christy smiled when she stepped out of the bathroom changed out of the stained uniform.
"You look perfect."
Emma glanced at her reflection in the mirror.
She looked different.
Cleaner and fresh, suddenly something twisted in her chest.
That evening, as Emma prepared to leave, Christy walked her to the front door.
"Look Emma you need to be formal with me so, you don't have to pretend with me anymore. If anyone try anything funny with you or hurt you, don't hesitate to tell," Christy said.
Emma looked at her.
This girl is rich, powerful, admired and loved by all have no idea how hefty life could be. Emma smiled gently. "You're very kind, Christy."
Christy grinned. " What are friends for."
Friends??
The word friends keep echoing repeatedly in Emma mind as she stepped out into the night.
Emma's mother noticed the new clothes she walk in home with
"Emma? Where did these come from?"
Emma paused. "A friend."
Her mother smiled. "That friend is such a beautiful soul."
Emma she walked straight to her room and locked the door.
Then she stood in front of her old cracked mirror and whispered to her reflection.
"This is just the beginning."
Meanwhile, in the Christy's mansion, Her brother Daniel watching the cctv footage.
He saw the incidence that occurred in the corridor and also the cafeteria incidence.
He saw the way Emma acted towards Sophie, the way she smiled while politely delivering threats to Sophie.
Daniel leaned in his rocking chair.
"That girl cannot be defeated," he murmured.
"And people who cannot be defeated either escalate up."
He paused.
"Or destroy everything that comes their way."
Emma Hart had just survived her first encounter.
But the battle for Christy Sterlings world had just get started.