CHAPTER 2

Faye's

The next day, Kaycee and I met at a local café called 'The Box'. It's quite popular around this part of Los Angeles because a lot of people from different schools came here just to hang out and enjoy coffee, so the customers that this café gets are only teenagers. But in my school, Pendleton high, this cafe is like considered to be the only spot where you can find the most popular group from school.

On one table, you have the cheerleaders that were ogling at the hot barista that personally went over to their table just to get their order. No surprises there. The cheerleaders from my school are not those typical ones that parades around in their tight fitting cheer leading uniform with pompoms in their hands.

These girls are like considered to be the baddest thing in town. With their makeup and hot and badass outfits and the fact that majority of them are daughters of the most well known gang leaders in Los Angeles, they get noticed where ever they are.

Here's the thing about Pendleton high. It's the only school in the world where Mafia's, gangs and drug Lords or any other dangerous people there is, sends their children to. In other words, it's the school where you're mostly known to be someone's daughter or son if they're running a mafia or a gang or has their own powerful empire to run.

You won't find any normal guy or girl that goes to our school where they come from a normal family background. Besides, this school was built for students like us and not everyone in the world knows about it. For most people, they think it's the school for trouble students with bad reputations. Yeah we do get that a lot, but only if you knew.

"Oh god, check this out." Kaycee's voice snapped me out of my gaze and I looked at her phone that she was holding it up for me to see.

The minute my eyes quickly settled on what was showing on her phone screen, I grabbed the phone from her hand and nearly melt at the sight in front of me.

Two words;

Jonathan. Shirtless.

Holy...crap.

Here's one of the things we mostly do when we hang out. And that is just to stalk Jonathan's i*******m account and since we don't follow each other for obvious reasons, Kaycee does and she keep me updated on each and every recent post. His jawline is what I'm really obsessed with.

It's so perfect that I sometimes wonder, how can a hottie like him be perfect in everything in the looks department?

And his abs. Oh lord, why are you making me suffer like this?!

I kept scrolling and I frowned when I saw a picture that was posted two days ago, and it was him hugging a pretty girl with strawberry blond hair, from behind. I dropped the phone on top of the table and passed it back to Kaycee.

"What's wrong?" I picked up my cup of coffee and took a long sip while my eyes are glued to the front counter.

"Oooh. New flavor of the week, I guess."

"I don't get it! I tried every single time to get rid of this dumb feelings for him, but it doesn't work. Why is that?" She switched off her phone and turned her head to the side, to look at me.

"Maybe that's because he's your first love?" I chuckled dryly.

"First love my ass. It's just a crush."

The bell that was hanging above the glass door of the café, 'dinged' loudly indicating that someone is either leaving or coming in. As soon as I looked up to glance at who it was, my breath automatically hitched on my throat and my heart beats faster then normal.

Jonathan.

He causally walks in with his two friends right behind him and they all made their way to the front counter. Their presence alerted almost everyone inside the café and I caught the cheerleaders perking up in their seats and immediately checking their appearance on their compact mirrors.

His two best friends TJ and Luke leaned next to his sides smiling and probably charming the cute girl with braids on the front counter. Just like Jonathan, they don't lack in anything in the looks department. They're both six feet tall and very good looking and on top of that, they're both gang leaders.

They leaned back on the counter and then glanced around the café. I turned to the side and since my hair was up in a high ponytail, I hid my face with my hand covering the side of my face.

"Act normal kayce." She looked at me and then glanced at the boys.

"Too late they're coming over right now." I started panicking.

"What?!"

Before he even said anything, I can already feel him standing in front of us.

"Hey ladies." His deep masculine voice erupted goosebumps all over my skin.

I removed my hand and then slowly looked up at them. This, was actually the first time he even made an effort to come and talk to us. Even to me!

"Sup Jonathan?" Kaycee greeted back acting casually without a care in the world.

"Hey kay. Long time no see Faye. Where were you these last few days?"

Wait a minute. He noticed I was not in school for the past few days? I thought he barely knows that I still exist?!

"Paris. Here and there all over France. Dad had me going to training sessions with professional mentors from France." I finally managed to say back and he just nodded.

"We missed you at school." I spluttered.

"Missed me? Wh-why would anyone miss me? That's ridiculous." He folded his arms across his chest and gazed down at me.

"Everyone missed their Royal princess at school. I guess, it's not normal for us for not seeing you more often. Well for some of us." I quickly tucked an imaginary hair strand behind my ear.

"That's-"

"Ryder." A familiar deep voice growled from behind them and they looked back and saw Jake standing by the doorway of the cafe with Toby and Mike, his own two best friends whose also our cousins. And beside Jake, was his girlfriend Madison.

"Move away from their table, now." Jake commanded, making Jonathan and his friends to chuckle.

Oh

Everyone at school knows about Jake and Jonathan's rivalry. So if they unexpectedly ran into each other then a fight will obviously happen, that's why they're all turning around in their seats just to watch them bicker endlessly, back and forth.

"Sure your majesty. But why are you so worked up? I was just talking to them."

"We both know very well, that you always have a secret motive with everything you do. So I suggest you leave before things get messy." Jonathan chuckled loudly again.

"Aye Castillo, this is a public café, and it's where everyone hangs out at. You can't make me leave just because you're Royal."

" Try me."

"Gladly."

And just like that, Jonathan started walking up to Jake but TJ and Luke stopped him from doing so while Toby and mike did the same with Jake, including Maddy who was pulling his arm back.

"Aye, fellas! No fights in my café alright? Any personal business you need to take care of, take it outside please." The café manager who looked like he's just in his early twenties, yelled from the doorway of his own office located further inside.

Jonathan shrugged away the boys hold on him while Jake carefully removed Maddy's hand from his arm but held her hand instead.

"Don't talk to Faye or kayce, Ryder. I mean it!" Jonathan smirked.

"You can't keep controlling her and you can't stop me either."

"I will if I have to make you distance yourself away from her."

"You said that as if she's still a baby."

"She is, my baby sister and I'll do anything just to keep you away from her."

Jonathan glanced back and stared at me while smirking.

"Hear that Faye? He still thinks you're a baby that needs her older brother's protection. Don't be surprised if he's also the main reason why you can't have a boyfriend yet and why guys rarely asks you out."

Anger and annoyance bubbled up within me. I rarely lose my temper cos one of the main reasons is because I have a good girl reputation to maintain. But with because of what he said and what Jake thinks, I really feel like shooting someone to death right now.

I stood up from my seat and walked past Jonathan and then glared at Jake along the way out, with Kaycee trailing from behind me.

"Screw both of you!"

And then I left without a second look back.