"Hey Ma'am, you aren't paying attention", Mrs. Ellen shouted in a usual manner. * doesn't she ever realize who I am?* Kyle Serena Mc-Velli thought arrogantly as she sat crosslegged at the backseat. This was the Queen Bee of Tenic High School, a place where everything and anything could happen to anyone. Although Mrs. Ellen was insistent on drawing her attention back to the class, Kyle wasn't having any of it and couldn't be bothered to respond. As a Mc-Velli, she was rather proud and none dared to trouble her at Tenic High, except on rare occasions when some new students didn't value her existence. Of course, she was a very beautiful girl, hot, rich and domineering with a long , shiny blonde curly hair and a model figure. she had all it took to be popular and deserving of her status; a personal driver, celebrity parents and an ex boyfriend of similar class.

Kyle was infact, a more of a spoiled, average intelligent model and she loved to show off while boosting her popularity. She loved summers and vacation which was spent with her friends, Clarabelle Acousta and Mirabelle Pellet.

As the young missy she called out to remained unresponsive, Mrs. Ellen walked to the back row and snapped her fingers at Kyle's face.

"I'm talking to you miss Mc-Velli, stand up this instant!"

"ugh.......stinks. Did you just return from the toilet or something....." , Kyle hissed while holding her nose. The entire class burst out laughing. Mrs. Ellen was furious,"did you just say that I stink?! quickly stand up, right now!!!

"ma'am Ellen, shouldn't you change your pickup line? it's so wierd to repeat it.

"you......" The whole class burst out laughing again.

"would you mind going back to what you were doing over there, I do not have time for this", Kyle said while glancing at her wrist watch covered in gold slits.

"really now, well I think you'll have the time when we speak to Principal Lance's in his office. Move out!!!" Mrs Ellen commanded and stormed out of the class while Kyle heaved a sigh and drawled behind her. The moment they both left the class, it became noisy.

recess..........

Clara and Mira both waited patiently outside principal Lance's office for 5 minutes.

"Kyle!" , they both called when Kyle came out of the office with a smug smile.

"I'm fine, we should go."

As they went towards the cafeteria, Mira brought out an expensive looking earplug and put it on her ear.

"um..girls, what do you think about my new earplugs? From Pixies."

"what's so special about it?" Clara snorted. She was Kyle's most loyal friend and she could do anything for her, Mira, though, was carefree, and a 'fiesty girl with venomous tongue. She had nothing to worry about.

" well you should take a good look or you'll regret it..."

"Oh stop it....you....what the fudge!!!!that's JC Marlon's earplug!!! it's so cool" Clara said excitedly and started bootlicking Mira. It attracted the attention of some other students nearby.

"Hey Mira,.....cool earplug by the way".

"Mira, can I borrow it next Friday?"

"wow!! It's so beautiful.where did you get it?"

By then, the three eye-catching girls had reached the cafeteria and were heading towards their seats under the attention of everybody. Then they dropped their bags and sat down crosslegged while some fans ran over to them with bags of food.

" Hi Kyle, I got these for you."

" Kyle, you can have mine if you want."

meanwhile, Clara went to get their food and handed it to them. "thanks", Mira said and dug in without paying further attention to her surrounding. She had etiquette but was also a fast eater.

Suddenly, the slightly noisy cafeteria went cold, and murmurs followed as everyone turned to the entrance of the cafeteria. Tyler West, the country's Prince was coming to the cafeteria for lunch which was a rare occurrence. The girls ogled him blatantly and squinted, while struggling to catch his eyes and some glanced at the empty seat at Kyle's table anticipating that he was heading towards her direction. To their surprise, Tyler turned to the last table at the end of the cafeteria and sat down, then he made a call and a young butler soon after walked in to drop his lunch.

*look that's Tyler West.oh! he's so hot..

*I really wish he's my Boyfriend, he looks so........

* shh! do you want to get in trouble. that's Kyle's ex. she'll skin you.

*yeah, whatever....

*he's a hottie...

Tyler was busily eating and scrolling through his phone when Kyle dropped her spoon and went to his table. She attempted to give him a peck and sat beside him as he didn't decline or react to her presence.

"babe"

Tyler looked away from his phone to spare her a glance before he looked back to his phone,"hey", he replied unenthusiastically.

"I was wondering if you could um....take me out for shopping after school, there this....."

"sure, I got it", Tyler interrupted rudely with a poker face."anything else?"

"well, my fans want another video of us at the museum from last week, I don't know if you would like for us to......"

"I got it", he interrupted again."you can go now".

"I...... won't you walk me back to my table and join us?"

Tyler chuckled ,"tsk" , his almond eyes gave her a once over,"leave."

"look Tyler, whether you like this or you don't, it has been prearranged by our parents. We should make it look real...like we're a couple. I want you to cooperate with me."

"......."

"Tyler, are you listening to me?"

"........"

"whatever, I'm only doing this so that we get back together, can't you at least see that?"

"I see, keep trying."

With that, Kyle blasted, she stood up to throw a fit when a hand dropped on her shoulder.

" hey Kyle, they're all watching", Carl warned chuckling as he drew a seat opposite Tyler and sat down with his food. At the kind reminder, Kyle drew out a fake smile and waved at Tyler," I'll be going then" . She pecked Tyler again and walked back to her seat alone resentfully.

"he's so unbelievable", she muttered gritting her teeth in anger.

"are you okay?" Clara asked out if concern.

"shut up!!! ugh......so hateful I don't wanna hear it?" Kyle insulted Clara to vent her anger, and continued to eat afterwards when she had calmed down.

"Kelly! Kelly!!.....Kelandra ! where are you?" Mrs Stevens shouted from the kitchen as she dished out food. "I'm upstairs mom"

"come down for lunch sweetie", Mrs Stevens stood with an empty tray by the stairway after setting the dishes on the dining table.

"Just a minute!" Kelly shouted in response after which sounds of clattering and brushes and a few unmistakable musical instruments followed suit. Mrs Stevens pulled off the purple apron she was wearing and went to the table to wait. she sat down next to Kelly's younger brother, Julian. Julian had baby brown eyes, curly brown hair and a cute harmless look. He took after his father as he was a handsome little man. Julian was 7 years old and was in middle school. He was intelligent and smart, same as Kelly. He sat on the dining table expectantly with a bored expression. "isn't she done yet?"

" you haven't cleaned up your room, have you?"

"only vacuuming", Julian shrugged,"Kelly offered to help me clean it up"

"Julian!" Mrs Stevens berated sternly," how could you let your sister do all the work?"

Julian pouted acting spoiled,"I'm exhausted, mommy...."

Mrs Stevens or let's say Madison, Maddie for short sighed and pointed to the stairway, "Go, help her. right now!"

" but...."

" no buts, just..."

A sound of light footsteps came running downstairs to the dining area interrupting the mother-son duo's banter. "don't worry mother, I'm done cleaning the rooms already."

*oh! my poor baby must've outdone herself. Did you get hurt ?", Maddie exclaimed checking Kelly all over.

"Tsh, overdramatic", Julian snorted, "mommy's better off an actress, you know...in the movies".

"shut it you...you just wait", Maddie threatened. Julian made a face at her and they were about to go off when Kelly spoke up again," Oh you two should stop and eat or the the food gets cold".

"fine, let's eat", Maddie said while pushing the sauce to the middle of the table and at Julian's reach, although she was glaring at him, her eyes were filled with love and satisfaction.

The Stevens just arrived at Bond Strife, Plain town at Florida. They had relocated because of Maddie's work. It had been years since they stayed together, Julian never knew their father and considered him to be non-existent. Kelly too didn't know who her father was, only Maddie. And she wasn't willing to tell them because it was so complicated to explain. Anyway, they leaved happily with the money Maddie earned as a model and with her money, she managed to lure them away from the topic of their dad. As they ate, Maddie noticed that Kelly was distracted, so she paused eating.

"Kelly? are you okay? what's on your mind?"

Kelly raised her beautiful brown, thoughtful eyes," actually I'm curious, which school will I be enrolling in?".

You mean your school, just that?"

"mhm", She nodded."Jerry told me that the schools here are really interesting."

" of course it is, don't you find it familiar?" Julian butted in and Maddie choked on her food.

"really mother?" Kelly curious eyes stared while handing her a glass of water out of concern.

"Ahem... actually we may have or haven't*cough* been here before*awkward laugh*, let's eat" she changed the topic with a fake smile on her face. Dr Karen told her before hand to not tell Kelly a thing and to let her figure it all out calmly.

Kelly, Kelandra Stevens was just an average girl. What an understatement!!! She wasn't too tall, but she was what they described as *a beauty that brings down nations* She was as carefree as the breeze, intelligent and a cute. She had a short temper and sometimes, she was a daydreamer. Her eyes were brown and her light brown hair was very long, and tied into a neat but high ponytail. She liked to sing and model just like her mom. She also had inborn talent for business dealings, but Maddie never let her show up at any company. She basically went to school or the hospital or she was at home.

"about school, I talked with your uncle Jeremy and he arranged for you to study at Tenic High School and all the procedures are settled. It's just that you'll be taking a bus on your first day and you might trek a bit. But, I'll get you a driver before Tuesday, okay?"

"okay mother."

"mommy, what about mine?"

Josephine Langford middle school, I'll bring you there myself okay?"

"okay mommy." "great, you too can have a nap. I need to process some files at the bureau, okay?"

" well, I'm a bit sleepy, I'm going upstairs," Kelly said and stood up to go in.

"I'm tired too", Julian followed behind her to go upstairs after clearing the diner table. Kelly went into her room and lay down on the bed facing the ceiling, filled with the excitement of going to Tenic High School. Before she knew it, she was fast asleep.

🎶cause it takes a lifetime

it's gonna be so long before I look into your eyes

to stare at my wonder, my starry night 🎶

Carl sat on the balcony singing loudly with a melodramatic tune in the evening. His bad boy aura was gone. The cool, calm and collected Carl was also gone. It was a rather loquacious teenager sitting on the balcony, Carl Cosmo Smith, singing freely while watching the road and behind him in a ludicrously furnished room, Tyler sat down in Carl's study with a laptop and a German business file doing some harsh paperwork. He seemingly had no objections to the noise because he had his ears plugged to shut the noise out. After a while, he paused to take a sip of wine but before continuing his work, a knock interrupted him. He removed the earplugs and sat up straight. Carl too was startled that he fell back into the balcony and resorted to leaning on the pillar."come in." The butler walked in and bowed curtly.

"sorry to disturb the young masters, miss Mc-Velli request to meet you at the banquet as scheduled, it is time to get ready". "got it, you can leave", Tyler said without looking up.

"but young master..."

"do I need to repeat myself?" Tyler raised his voice slightly. The butler nervously retreated. Tyler raised his head to see Carl's smirk."what?"

"how long are you two gonna keep acting?" he asked while changing his clothes.

"until I find someone better", then Tyler stood up and walked out of Carl's room.

"hey wait!!!"

In a few minutes, Carl came downstairs on a white tuxedo and matching blue tie. Kyle was seating in the living room impatiently. He walked across her to the wine cellar to pour himself a glass of sparkling wine.

"Carl..." Kyle called out after a while. Carl ignored her sipping from the glass.

"Carl, I'm talking to you!!!", she said again buh Carl didn't spare her a glance.

"Carl! I'm talking to you!" she lost her cool. Carl stopped sipping and raised his eyebrow "why? do you think you deserve my time?"

"hmph" she snorted,"even Tyler has to listen to me. you can't treat me as you like". Carl simply ignored her childish words and continued sipping his drink.

"where's Tyler?"

"..."

while the atmosphere in the room gradually rose up, Tyler finally came down clad In a black tuxedo and red tie looking attractive. Kyle practically had stars in her eyes,"babe, you look gorgeous". She came close to grab his arm but he stepped back lightly alienating her. He instead pulled Carl with him and got into the car.

Mc-Velli Villa.............

Everywhere was bustling and busy in the family banquet hall. Old master Mc-Velli sat at the head of the table along with his age grade and other members of the Mc-Velli family. The middle aged and young socialites invited were exchanging pleasantly. Some others were on the dance floor.

Three cars arrived in turns at the gate, the first car was opened by a butler. A pair of bodyguards alongside Kyle stepped down. The second car revealed Tyler and Carl both looking outstanding among the socialites present. They both walked in together. The third car was opened and another set of bodyguards came forward, it was the West couple. Ernesto West got out and led his wife out of the car before they both headed towards the Mc-Velli Villa. They looked very much in love with each other and was all smiles as they walked in. Kyle eventually managed to get to Tyler and slake her hands into his arm with a smile while Tyler maintained his indifference with his other hand in his trouser pocket. As soon as they reached the head table, Kyle's face became arrogant and pampered. She quickly flew over to her grandfather's arms. " hello grandfather", she greeted entwining his arm. Tyler bowed slightly,"hello old master ".

Ernesto and his wife also exchanged pleasantries with the Old master and Kyle's parents.

Soon Mr Mc-Velli, Kyle's father stepped out to welcome the guest that gathered and expressed his wishes for longevity for the old master Mc-Velli and then under the fawning eyes if the reporters he announced the purpose of the banquet. It was for the meeting of a few foreign business men that were interested with investing in the economy of the Floridians and he also exposed the dark horse in the economy.

"Hey Ty, whatcha think about this Triad Design company? it seems like it'll definitely develop quickly in this part of the state", Carl asked glancing sideways at Tyler with a glass of wine in his hand.

"It should." Tyler answered coldly as he watched the owner of the company introduce and promote the company."Since it is a multitask company, they don't have to depend on other companies to lead the trends. Design and modelling may seem similar but they have separate styles and measures".

Carl nodded in agreement, then with a glance he spotted a redhead among the guest. " hey, isn't that Darrell Stewart? he's back?"

Tyler looked at the person for a while, the other party also cast an eye contact across. They simultaneously nodded in greeting and turned away.