章 14: Chapter 13
Another day dawned at Grimstone Institute, and Dolores navigated the bustling hallways, the weight of textbooks cradled in her arm. The day held a new wrinkle – Ms. Ethans' surprise announcement. Dolores and Ivan, an unexpected pairing, had been assigned a collaborative art project for Founder's Day. The news sparked a mix of emotions within Dolores. Sure, it meant more work squeezed into her already packed schedule, but the thrill of creating art and having it displayed for the entire school overshadowed the inconvenience. Also, Chloe had revealed her involvement in a Founder's Day theatrical production – a play about the school's founding fathers. Dolores envisioned the bustling hallways buzzing with activity, celebrating Grimstone's rich history.
Suddenly, a familiar face popped into Dolores' line of vision, momentarily shattering her daydream. Axel, a smirk plastered across his face, stood in front of her.
"Hello, sunshine," he greeted, his voice dripping with a warmth that felt insincere to Dolores. Her initial annoyance flared, and she cast him a narrowed look.
"What do you want, Axel?" she asked curtly.
Axel, unfazed by her chilly demeanor, continued. "Word says you're quite the artist, Torres," he spoke, his tone laced with amusement. "Maybe you could whip me up a masterpiece, huh?"
Dolores scoffed, a sound that echoed through the hallway. "You wouldn't understand art even if it slapped you in the face," she retorted, her voice laced with disdain. Inwardly, she imagined slapping the arrogant smirk off his face.
Axel chuckled, the sound lacking any genuine humor. "Come on, Torres," he persisted. "I'm a connoisseur of all things beautiful, you know. I'm sure your art is...interesting."
Dolores darted a quick glance around the hallway, a sliver of relief washing over her when she saw Axel's posse nowhere in sight. What was he doing lurking in the junior wing anyway?
She glared at Axel, her jaw clenched tight. "I'm not interested in empty compliments or your attempts at… whatever that was," she declared. "I'm here to focus on my art, and that has nothing to do with you."
Axel's smile stretched wider. "You're no fun, Torres," he drawled, his tone laced with a mocking disappointment.
She retorted, her voice rising a notch. "You and your ilk only appreciate things with a hefty price tag, not the soul poured onto a canvas."
She glanced around noticing the gazes of other students that bordered a glare. Great, just great.
Axel's grin faltered for a brief moment. "Oh, I think I know more than you think I do, Torres," he countered, his eyes glinting with a knowing light that sent chills down her spine.
Dolores scoffed, muttering under her breath. "Says the person who couldn't recite the names of the founding fathers," she mumbled, her voice laced with disdain.
Axel's carefully constructed facade crumbled. His face contorted in a snarl, and his eyes narrowed. Before Dolores could react, he lashed out with a swift kick, sending her beloved textbooks tumbling to the floor with a sickening thud. A wave of fury washed over Dolores, momentarily eclipsing the sting of her ruined books.
With a triumphant smirk, Axel turned on his heel and stormed off down the hallway, leaving Dolores fuming in his wake. Her heart pounded with a mixture of anger and hurt. The audacity of him!
Dolores, consumed by the fiery embers of anger left by Axel's encounter, began gathering her scattered textbooks, frustration mounting with each misplaced page and toppled notebook.
A voice spoke down the hallway. "Did you see that?" a girl exclaimed, her voice laced with a mixture of shock and amusement. The girl, a petite blonde with bright pink streaks in her hair, stared intently at Dolores, her eyes wide with what appeared to be thinly veiled curiosity.
"I thought Axel broke up with Calantha over the summer break," the blonde continued, addressing a taller girl with a sharp bob haircut. "Seems like Axel's got a taste for the new fish in Grimstone." Her voice held a tinge of malice.
A third girl, shorter and mousy-haired, chimed in with a sneer. "Scholarship girl," she scoffed, "probably throwing herself at him. Typical."
Calantha, her face flushed with indignation, slammed her locker shut with a resounding bang. Her light brown eyes, usually warm and welcoming, now blazed with fierce protectiveness.
"Taylor," she said, her voice clipped with disdain, "I thought I told you spreading gossip was beneath you." Her glare was like a laser, pinning the blonde girl in place.
Taylor, momentarily flustered, stammered, "Jeez, Calantha, it was just an observation!"
Calantha wasn't appeased. She turned her steely gaze towards the two other girls, Tiffany and Jordyn, who stood awkwardly beside Taylor. "Don't you two have classes to get to?" Her voice brooked no argument.
The two girls, subdued by Calantha's unexpected intervention, mumbled apologies and scurried away down the hallway.
Calantha watched Tiffany and Jordyn disappear around the corner. Taylor, lingering a moment longer, let out a low scoff, a sound that dripped with disdain. Rolling her eyes dramatically at Calantha, she muttered something under her breath and finally sauntered away, leaving Calantha alone.
Dolores, oblivious to the drama that had just unfolded, was down on one knee, diligently gathering her scattered textbooks and notebooks. Frustration etched lines on her face as she muttered under her breath, each dropped page a testament to Axel's unwelcome intrusion.
Calantha crouched gracefully beside her, startling Dolores from her reverie. "Here, let me help you with that," Calantha offered, reaching for a notebook.
Dolores looked up, blinking in surprise. "Oh," Dolores stammered, the encounter with Axel still leaving her flustered. "Thanks, I…"
They finished gathering the books in a comfortable silence. Standing up, Calantha extended a hand towards Dolores, her light brown eyes filled with warmth. "I'm Calantha," she introduced herself, her voice gentle. "And you must be Dolores."
Dolores accepted the handshake, a hesitant smile gracing her lips. "Yes, that's me," she confirmed.
Calantha. arched an eyebrow. "Was Axel giving you a hard time?" she inquired, her voice low and laced with concern.
Dolores hesitated for a moment, then muttered a reluctant, "Yeah."
Calantha's lips pursed in a thin line. "He can be such a…" she trailed off, searching for the right word.
Dolores, unable to contain herself any longer, blurted out, "Douchebag?"
Calantha's lips twitched into a reluctant smile. "Spot on," she agreed. "Listen, if he bothers you again, don't hesitate to report him to the dean. Trust me, a detention for a little 'accidental' bump is nothing compared to a formal complaint."
Dolores scoffed inwardly. A complaint about Axel? Grimstone seemed to operate on its own set of rules, and she doubted a little brush with a jock would ruffle many feathers. "He… hit me with a basketball," she spoke, "but of course, nothing happened." She shrugged, the memory leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.
Calantha's eyes narrowed. "Anyway, I should get to class. But seriously, don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything."
With that, Calantha turned and walked away, her light brown hair bouncing with each confident stride. Dolores watched her go, a strange mix of emotions swirling within her. Calantha, had extended a surprising olive branch.
She seems nice, Dolores thought
The whispers in the hallway seemed to follow Calantha too, but instead of malice, there was a hint of respect, a recognition of her power within the school hierarchy.
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