Chapter 86: So you are the leader
[Outside Hill Valley Academy]
"How dare they blame you for stealing their role! You worked hard for it, Big Sis. It’s their fault they couldn’t impress Director Wilsmith." Betty’s voice was sharp with indignation, her brows furrowed as she walked alongside Anna.
She knew Anna’s talent—everyone did. That was why Wilsmith had personally chosen her. But the way the others whispered, twisting it as favoritism, made Betty’s stomach churn with anger.
Thankfully, Director Wilsmith had stood firm, clearing the matter then and there. Still, sparing those girls from being handed over to the police didn’t sit well with Betty.
"By the way, who were those girls, Big Sis?" Betty asked, her eyes narrowing curiously.
"Mary and Jane. They were at the auditions," Anna replied casually, though she missed the flicker of recognition that crossed Betty’s face.
"Mary and Jane?" Betty repeated, her tone uncertain. The names struck a chord of familiarity. Quickly, she pulled out her phone and opened a picture before shoving it toward Anna. "Are these the same girls?" she asked, blinking up at her innocently.
Anna frowned and nodded. "Yes. Why? Do you know them?"
Betty’s lips formed a small pout as she answered, "They were students here—but they got expelled yesterday because someone parents complained about them. However I also heard they were taken in by the cops which also made the acadamy take quick actions against them"
Anna’s jaw dropped. "Taken by the cops? But I spared them... Director Wilsmith and I already settled the matter."
’Did Ethan—’ Her thought broke off abruptly. She glanced at Betty, uncertainty flashing in her eyes.
"What else did you hear? Who detained them? Why?" Anna pressed, her voice urgent now.
Betty blinked, surprised at the sudden sharpness in her tone. Slowly, realization began to dawn on her. "Big Sis... if it wasn’t you, then who—"
Her words trailed into silence as both sisters exchanged a look of unspoken suspicion.
Anna reached for her phone, thumb hovering above Ethan’s contact. Yet she didn’t press call. Something gnawed at her, holding her back.
If she and Wilsmith had agreed to let the matter rest, then who had pulled strings to put Mary and Jane behind bars?
The thought unsettled her deeply, the silence between her and Betty heavy with unease.
"Maybe it’s for the best," Betty said, her tone tinged with relief. "Those two were nothing but a pain—always bullying students into doing their assignments or running errands for them." Her lips tightened as she remembered. "They even made me carry their bags for a whole month because I wouldn’t obey them."
Anna’s eyes darkened. "What do you mean? Did they bully you too?"
Betty hesitated, then forced a small, awkward smile. "It wasn’t that bad. I managed to get through it. And now... now they won’t bother me anymore."
Anna let out a long breath. Betty said it lightly, as though she’d brushed it off—but Anna knew scars like that didn’t vanish so easily. They lingered.
"Betty," she said firmly, reaching out to squeeze her sister’s shoulder. "If anyone ever tries something like that again, remember—you have me. Just give me their name, and I’ll show them what hell looks like." She cracked her knuckles, eyes flashing.
Betty giggled, the tension breaking. "Big Sis, you look so cute when you’re angry."
Anna froze. Those words... she’d heard them before. Her expression faltered as a memory of Daniel surfaced—his teasing tone, his smug smile.
’Why am I suddenly thinking of him again?’
Ever since that charged moment between them, her thoughts had been a mess, drifting back again and again to his kisses, his touch, the way he unsettled her.
"Big Sis? Where are you lost?" Betty’s voice tugged her back to the present.
Anna forced a smile, shaking her head. "Nothing. Just... remember what I said."
This time, Betty nodded with sincerity.
"Okay, Sis. I should head back. I’ll see you tomorrow." She slung her bag over her shoulder and waved before turning toward the academy gates.
She had met Anna during her break, but with classes about to resume, she hurried back inside.
Only, the moment she stepped through the gates, a group of boys blocked her path.
Betty’s steps faltered. Clutching her bag tightly, she tried to steady her voice. "Theo... why are you blocking my way? Move—I’m getting late for class."
She attempted to walk past, but Theo stuck his leg out deliberately.
Betty stumbled, crashing to the ground with a startled cry. "Ah!"
Laughter erupted around her.
"Hahaha... what a weakling. Can’t even walk properly," Theo sneered, towering over her as his friends chuckled.
Betty shot Theo a furious glare as she pushed herself back onto her feet, brushing the dirt from her clothes.
"Theo," she said firmly, her voice trembling with anger but not fear, "I told you—I’m not doing your assignment. And if you try to force me, I’ll report you to the principal."
Her warning, however, was met with mocking laughter.
"You think you can just say no and walk away?" Theo sneered, stepping closer. "You really believe you’ll get off that easily? Remember what happened the last time you refused me?"
His smirk widened, cruel and deliberate. "Do you want me to repeat it—and make you the class joke all over again?"
Betty’s hands curled into fists at her sides, her jaw tightening as memories surged back. The humiliation burned fresh—the day he dumped trash on her in front of everyone, leaving her reeking and in tears until she had no choice but to leave and return home.
Betty’s eyes blazed, anger burning hotter than the shame Theo had tried to chain her with. She swore she wouldn’t bow her head this time—but she also knew if she fought back, he would make her life even harder.
Just as her resolve began to falter, a voice rang out, calm yet sharp, cutting through the air.
"And what makes you think she’ll ever obey you?"
Betty’s eyes widened. Her head snapped toward the sound, relief flooding her chest as she saw Anna striding toward them.
Anna’s appearance was disarming—those soft, rounded cheeks gave her a doll-like look, hardly the image of someone who could strike fear. Yet her eyes... her eyes carried something far sharper.
Theo snorted with laughter. "Well, what do we have here? Another target. But she doesn’t even look like she belongs here."
"Have you seen her before?" he asked, glancing at his friends.
They shook their heads, snickering.
"Maybe she’s a new student," one of them mocked, earning another round of laughter.
"Big Sis... what are you doing here?" Betty whispered, still startled.
Anna stopped beside her sister, her gaze never leaving the group of boys. "I told you to reach for me if someone dared to bully you," she said softly, her voice laced with steel. "I just didn’t expect it to be this soon."
Her eyes swept over each of their faces, steady and unflinching, before settling on the boy in front—the one who had blocked Betty.
"So you’re the leader," Anna said, her tone even but sharp as she locked eyes with Theo.
The boy smirked, unbothered, though something in her piercing look made him stiffen for the briefest moment.
"She thinks she’s scary," Theo muttered under his breath, though his eyes lingered on her longer than he meant them to. She might not look intimidating with her soft figure, but her beauty was striking—enough to make his mocking words falter at the edge.
"Listen, fatty," Theo sneered, swaggering forward. "If you’re not a student here, then I’ve got no reason to waste my time scaring you."
His gaze dragged over Anna’s fuming face, lips curling into a cruel grin. "But I do have every reason to scare the life out of you."
Anna’s own lips curved—not in fear, but in defiance.
"Funny," she said coldly, "because I’ve got every reason to scare the hell out of you."
Before anyone could process her words, Anna’s fist shot forward, landing squarely against Theo’s jaw.
The crack of impact echoed through the courtyard. Gasps rippled across the space as Theo stumbled back, crashing to the ground with a groan.
His friends froze, stunned into silence.
Anna shook out her knuckles and deliberately stepped forward, her gaze slicing through the group. With each step she took, the boys instinctively stumbled back, their bravado faltering.
Her presence filled the air, heavy and unyielding—not because of her size, but because of the fire in her eyes and the unspoken promise that she would not be trifled with.