Chapter 74

“And you?” Juniper took a step forward, stopping in front of Waheed and looking down at him. “Weren’t you going to kill me?”
Waheed seethed with humiliation but didn’t dare say a word.
“Are we done here?” Juniper asked, satisfied, turning to her three stunned friends. “Back to class?”
“Uh? Yes!” The trio nodded like chickens pecking at grain and fell in line behind Juniper, following her every step as they left.
Only when they were a safe distance away did Waheed dare to scramble to his feet and yell after her retreating back, “You just wait, Juniper! My dad won’t let you get away with this!”
Juniper, who had been sipping her drink, paused at his words. Before she could even turn around, Waheed and his cronies had vanished, running for their lives.
A faint smile touched Juniper’s lips as she muttered a single word: “Amateurs.”
“Holy crap!”
“Holy freaking crap!”
Once the scene quieted down, the staff at the drink shop couldn’t help but exclaim. They had thought those Eclara High kids were about to start something big, but instead, they’d just crashed and burned.
That girl was a total beast. Not only did she take on a whole group by herself, but if they weren’t mistaken, she had barely moved her body during the entire fight. She was clearly a trained fighter.
But they also knew she was probably in for a world of trouble now.
…
Back in the classroom, Juniper was slumped over her desk, sleeping with her headphones on. News of her off-campus fight had already spread like wildfire.
“Is it true?” A classmate cornered Qadir, asking eagerly, “Did she really knock out that bastard Waheed Farley’s teeth?”
“You bet.” Qadir gave a thumbs-up, feeling immensely satisfied. It was about time someone put that punk in his place. He deserved it!
“Juniper is a legend!” The boys around them were ecstatic, demanding every detail.
“Haha, someone finally taught those arrogant Eclara High pricks a lesson. Juniper did a great job.”
“But Dolce turned to glance at the peacefully sleeping Juniper, her voice laced with worry. “Waheed’s family is really rich. They’re definitely going to cause trouble for her.”
She’d heard about a time Waheed got into a fight off-campus and left the other guy with a serious head injury. The victim threatened to sue, but Waheed’s dad just threw money at the problem until it went away. That was why he acted so brazenly, relying on his family’s resources.
“Qadir, I think I just saw a police car pull up to the school,” someone pointed out.
Qadir looked outside. It was true. That coward Waheed must have called the cops. He started the fight, and now he had the nerve to call the police? What a snake!
Just then, Salma appeared at the classroom door, her expression grave. “Juniper, Queenie, Qadir, and Dolce, can the four of you come with me, please?”
Every head in the room turned to watch them, whispering that Juniper was probably done for.
When Juniper was woken up, she was not happy. Her face was dark, and a chilly aura emanated from her.
“Waheed reported to the police that you assaulted him off-campus, and that he’s seriously injured,” Salma said, her brow furrowed. “They need you to come to the station to give a statement. You should all call your parents and ask them to come down as well.”
If it had escalated to the police station and the other party wasn’t backing down, it was better to have family there.
Qadir, Queenie, and Dolce reluctantly pulled out their phones. Only Juniper remained still.
She leaned against the wall, hands in her pockets, her expression sour. Saskia wouldn’t be able to get time off work. There was no one else in her family to call. Who was she supposed to ask?
Juniper took out her phone, idly scrolling through her contacts. Her gaze landed on a name: “Shanley.”