Chapter four
Ethan looked at the envelope he was holding. The envelope Ethan held was a sleek, black invitation with silver lettering. The message read:
"You are cordially invited to a night of revelry and celebration at the esteemed Derek's residence.
Join us for an evening of music, dancing, and merriment as we gather to celebrate Derek's twentieth birthday.
Date: Tonight
Time: 8 pm
Location: Derek's Estate
Come prepared to impress, as the crème de la crème of our social circle will be in attendance.
RSVP: Not required, but your presence is expected.
Dress Code: Formal attire
We look forward to seeing you there.
Sincerely,
Derek"
Ethan's eyes narrowed as he read the invitation, sensing a hidden agenda behind Derek's grandiose language. The party wasn't for people like him. Ethan wondered why Derek would invite him to the party.
With the book clutched in his hands Ethan continued on his little journey to see Tessa. Reaching her dorm, she could hear the faint whispers of her voice and that of some of her friends.
"Do you love him?" A voice asked
"Who?" Ethan could recognise Tessa's voice. "Don't play dumb, okay. We all know that you are messing with him." Fiona said with a wide grin.
"Why would you dare someone so far below your standards? We all know Ethan isn't up to your level except for the fact that he is brained. What do you see in someone like him?" Another friend of Tessa's said with laughter,
Ethan clenched his fist in anger; his blood boiled, and he wanted to push the door open, but then he stopped. Tessa hasn't spoken; he would like to hear what she had to say.
"Didn't you say that there is a vacancy in your house? I mean, your parents would be more than happy to give the young man a slot to be your nanny." Cinderella said, looking at Tessa.
"Can't believe you left Derek to be with him."
"What are you doing?" a voice said from behind Ethan, and he froze. "Are you eavesdropping on what they are talking about? Who are you?" The voice asked again, giving Ethan little or no time to answer all the questions.
"I am not going eavesdropping or anything." Ethan replied. "Then why are you here!?" She drew attention to Ethan again.
Tessa and the rest of the girls immediately stood up and walked out of the dorm only to find Ethan standing face to face with Isabella. "Do you know him?" She looked at the rest of the girls. "Who doesn't know the bookworm?" Fiona replied with her hands crossed. "I don't know him. Why should I?" Isabella replied, walking into the dorm.
The girls all looked at Ethan with disdain before walking into the room. They leave Tesa and him alone. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" Tessa looked at Ethan with her gaze hardened. "Are you ashamed of me?" Ethan asked, feeling a little odd.
Tessah didn't answer the question but simply grabbed her books from him. "Did you do it?" She asked, opening the book. A soft smile played on her lips. "Thank you, Ethan." She said slowly and kissed him on the cheek.
Ethan tried to kiss her on her lips, but then she averted it. "I am going to see you tomorrow." She said almost immediately and banged the door in his face. "What was that?" Ethan said slowly, about to walk away when the door opened. "Do you mind?" Tessa looked at him giving Ethan some dollar note.
"Don't worry, I did this for you, babe." Ethan replied, not sure what he was feeling.
Tessa smiled and slammed the door again.
"She loves me. She can't do this to me." Ethan murmured as he grabbed the envelope given to him by Derek. He knew he had to attend the party just to prove to Derek he is not scared of him. He opened the envelope and read again.
All the elite students in the school were going to be there. He needed an outfit. Ethan bit his nails; the thought of collecting the money Tessa wanted to give to him gnawed at his mind again. But then, that would only make him less. The day was a busy one for Ethan as they just completed the midterm test.
The scores were supposed to be updated while the list of the best students was to be updated on the school wall. Many wondered who was going to come out on top, while some whispered that it was going to be Ethan.
Derek had always bribed his way to the top, but many were eager to see if he could best Ethan, who won the scholarship for the best student in the school.
"Aren't you nervous?" A voice asked from behind, and Ethan turned to see it was Dylan. "Nervous? Of course not." Ethan replied. He looked at Dylan, and the look on his face said otherwise. "Well, a little." Ethan said truthfully. He looked at his first watch and saw that it was almost time for Derek's party. "Let's talk later."
Ethan raced into his dorm and picked out his best clothes. He was soon on his way to Derek's villa where the party was supposed to be held. He was lost in thought when he saw a lot of fancy cars and not only that, but expensive wares. Ethan looked at himself and for a moment. He wished he had seated this one out.
"Look who is here; isn't this our scholarship student? How dare you lie about it?" Derek shouted at him. Everyone turned to look at Ethan, including Tessa, who had been at the party. "He lied?" One of the students said with disbelief.
"Can you stop this, Derek? Let's just have the party in peace. You don't have to do this." Tessa said with anger in her voice,
"Are you angry that I am exposing your boyfriend's dirty secret?" Derek barked. The word hit Ethan to the curb that he plunged Derek, but he was stopped by his minions. "Is that why I am invited? To make a mockery of me!" Ethan shouted at Derek. His eyes darting among the students as they all took their time to record what was going on.
"Yes, you are way beneath me, and to think that you can date my girlfriend, then you are nuts. Tessa is mine!" Derek said with a mean face. Ethan looked at Tessa, who seems to be defending him. "Tell him, Tessa, tell him I am the only one for you." Ethan said, looking at her face.
The tension is as high as everyone looked at Tessa, expecting her words.