BRIANNA

39

"Don't fall for his perfect looks. He is trouble, and if you want to live a peaceful life in this school, you will stay away from him or any of his friends," Sarah warned, her tone earnest and almost motherly. Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of experience.

"Why do you say so?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. It's not like I want to be friends with him, but I couldn't help wondering why she was so adamant about steering clear of JC and his entourage. There had to be more to the story.

"Well, for starters, does the name JC ring any bells to you?" Sarah's question seemed almost rhetorical, her eyes searching mine for any sign of recognition.

"No, why?" I responded, feeling a bit out of the loop.

"Who owns Brooklyn International School?" She asked, her eyebrows raising slightly as if the answer should be obvious.

Jacob Charles, of course. Everyone knew that. Brooklyn International wasn't just any private school; it was the most prestigious, the most expensive, and it produced some of the brightest minds in the country. It was common knowledge, almost a part of American folklore, who owned this institution. "Jacob Charles, of course. Who else?"

"And that doesn't tell you anything?" She sighed, her patience wearing thin. "Ok, fine. Let me tell you: JC is Jacob Charles Jr. He is the son of our school owner, and that is the reason why he is our golden boy. He is a playboy, and everyone knows it. His mother is the minister of health, Jacqueline Charles."

My jaw dropped slightly. JC, the enigmatic boy with the piercing green eyes, was not just any student. He was practically royalty here, the son of the school's owner and a prominent government figure. No wonder everyone seemed to tread carefully around him. Sarah continued, her voice a mixture of disdain and resignation.

"He has three best friends, if you can call them that. First, there is Callum Davis. His father is a renowned chef and owns about six restaurants in New York City. Callum is an only son and the sole heir to his father's empire. The funny part is that he knows nothing about cooking, and on top of that, he is a spoiled brat. He is also the biggest jerk of the four."

I marveled at how much Sarah knew about these boys. It was like she had a dossier on each of them, filled with every detail of their privileged lives. "Then there's Kyle," she continued. "The youngest of four kids, which means he is also the favorite. His father is a movie director, and his mother is a neurosurgeon. His parents allow him to do whatever he wants with his life, and he is a douche like his friends."

"And the other one is Noah Anderson. He is the eldest of two kids and the favorite. He is also from a rich family, an heir to Anderson Inc., one of the biggest companies in New York. He is kindhearted but rarely shows it."

Sarah leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I'll keep on telling you to stay away from them. Even though I told you that they don't date, it doesn't mean they are available."

"How do you know all this? Are you friends with them?" I asked, incredulous at the depth of her knowledge.

"What?! No! I would never be friends with those assholes. I hate them. They think they own everything in this world, especially this school. I know JC's father owns this school, but that doesn't mean as his son he should behave like he also owns it. It's really annoying."

I could understand what she meant. There are lots of people in this world who think they own everything and everybody. It was an unfortunate but common occurrence.

"Besides, even if they do date, the L-train will never allow any girl to date them," Sarah added, her tone darkening.

"L-train? What is that?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"Just girls who believe they were meant to be with JC and his friends. I know that if those boys would date, the L-train will make sure to give the girls in question a hard time. They would make their lives a living hell."

I was intrigued. Who were these girls? What gave them such power? I was sure they must be from very rich families as well for them to think they were the only ones who deserved to be with JC and his friends.

"I know you might think I'm lying, but I'm telling you, those girls are your worst nightmare. You don't want to mess with them, not even once," Sarah warned, her expression deadly serious.

Her words painted a vivid picture of the school's social hierarchy, a landscape fraught with peril and power plays. It was clear that navigating this new environment would require more than just academic prowess; it would demand social acumen, caution, and perhaps a bit of cunning. I was determined to make my way here, but Sarah's warnings echoed in my mind. This school, with its golden boys and L-train, was a battlefield in its own right, and I would need to be prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.

"Just girls who believe they were meant to be with JC and his friends. I know that if those boys would date, the L-train will make sure to give the girls in question a hard time. They would make their lives a living hell."

I was intrigued. Who were these girls? What gave them such power? I was sure they must be from very rich families as well for them to think they were the only ones who deserved to be with JC and his friends.

"I know you might think I'm lying, but I'm telling you, those girls are your worst nightmare. You don't want to mess with them, not even once," Sarah warned, her expression deadly serious.

Her words painted a vivid picture of the school's social hierarchy, a landscape fraught with peril and power plays. It was clear that navigating this new environment would require more than just academic prowess; it would demand social acumen, caution, and perhaps a bit of cunning. I was determined to make my way here, but Sarah's warnings echoed in my mind. This school, with its golden boys and L-train, was a battlefield in its own right, and I would need to be prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.