Scars before his crown

Chapter Four

As Lewis walked away, Larry turned to the crowd, with a triumphant grin.

“Thanks for showing up, everyone. Just give me a headcount—I’ll have some top-notch food sent over from our hotel tonight. Let’s make it a night to remember.”

The crowd clapped and cheered, excited by Larry's generosity.

“Larry, you’re awesome!”

“This is so nice of you!”

“I can’t believe he’s really doing this!”

Larry smiled, proud of himself. He looked at Sasha and said,

“My car’s outside. Let’s go eat something amazing at my dad’s hotel.”

Sasha’s eyes lit up. “Alright, let’s go.”

After Larry got the final headcount for the food, he and Sasha headed out.

Meanwhile, Lewis walked slowly back to his dorm, his face full of sadness.

When he got there, the place was empty—not even his friends were around.

Lewis sighed and dropped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.

Memories of Sasha hit him—laughing together, movie nights, eating side by side—each one hurt like a cut.

Frustrated, he walked over to the corner where his old phone was charging. He pulled it out and opened his gallery.

Photos of Sasha. Photos of them together. All just sitting there, staring back at him.

“You cheat,” he muttered under his breath, bitterly. “I swear, when I’m rich, you’ll regret leaving me.” His eyes filled with tears, but he quickly wiped them away. In one swipe, he deleted the photos.

Going through his bag, Lewis tossed anything that reminded him of Sasha. As he did, tears streamed down his face, no longer held back. He tried to hold it together, but the pain and anger flooded him. His heart felt like it was breaking.

Thud!" Lewis fell on his knees with tears in his eyes.

“Mom, Dad, if you were both alive, I wouldn’t be stuck living this crappy life where everyone looks down on me. If you were here, no one would dare talk bad about me. And if you were alive, the girl I loved wouldn’t have left me for someone else.”

After a moment, Lewis pushed himself up from the floor and flopped onto the bed. Just then, the door swung open, and two figures—about the same height as him—walked in, each carrying a bag. It was David and Jude, his closest friends and roommates. As soon as they entered, they rushed over and sat down beside him.

David was the first to speak, his face full of concern. "Lewis, is it true? It's all over the school group chat that Larry Martin just proposed to Sasha."

Jude added, worry evident in his voice, "As soon as we heard, we rushed back to campus. Are you okay?"

Lewis sighed, his eyes far away. “She betrayed me. Sasha’s a cheat. She left, saying she only agreed to my proposal just to get me off her back.”

“Damn it!” David snapped, his frustration evident. “I always had a bad feeling about her. She’s the kind of woman who’ll take a guy for everything and then ditch him. And what about the money she owes you?”

“The $500,” Jude added.

Lewis shook his head. “I’ve lost that too. She’s not going to pay.”

“Huh?” Jude looked confused. “But if she’s with Larry now, why can’t they just pay the $500? For someone like Larry, that’s nothing, right?”

Lewis waved it off, feeling more angry and sad the more he thought about it. “Forget it. I don’t want to think about it. It’ll just give me a headache,” he said.

David put an arm around Lewis. “It’s okay, man. We brought you food. Just eat and rest.”

Jude quickly handed him a pack, but Lewis paused. “I’m hungry, but I don’t have any money, so…”

Before Lewis could finish, David playfully tapped his arm. “Hey, who needs money? Just enjoy it. We’re here to help each other, man.”

Lewis chuckled, a small smile appearing on his face before he shook his head.

“Thanks, but I can’t take it. You guys always buy for me, and it feels wrong.”

Jude playfully tapped Lewis on the chest. “Come on, bro, you’ve bought for us plenty of times too. Besides, this is for you—so enjoy it and stop arguing.”

Lewis sighed, feeling grateful. “David, Jude, you’ve been great friends from the start, always supporting me. Thank you for everything.”

David ruffled Lewis’s hair. “We’re best friends, man.”

After finishing his meal, Lewis lay back on his bed, preparing himself for the classes and work that awaited him the next day. When morning came, he woke up to find David and Jude were already gone. He didn’t think much of it—they had different schedules and weren’t in the same departments.

Around him, a few unfamiliar faces still slept, not paying him any attention. He quickly hopped in the shower and got dressed, then glanced at the time—8:00. Alarm shot through him.

"Damn, classes must've already started. This woman’s going to kill me today," he muttered to himself, rushing out to catch up. When he reached the entrance of his block and stepped into the classroom, he was immediately met with a harsh reprimand from Mrs. Anita. He’d expected this—she never cut him any slack, and his lateness gave her no reason to show him mercy.

Lewis cleared his throat and said,

“Good morning, Mrs. Anita.”

“Good morning?” Mrs. Anita snapped, her voice full of anger. “How dare you come to my class this late?” she yelled.

Before Lewis could say anything, a voice from the back spoke up,

"Madam Anita, it looks like he’s still recovering. He got the shock of his life last night."

The class burst into laughter. Another voice called out,

"He actually thought he was dating Sasha Lynch!"

Laughter and mocking comments filled the room. Lewis’s anger flared, but he kept quiet.

Mrs. Anita’s eyes locked onto him, full of rage. “Come here,” she ordered. Reluctantly, Lewis walked up, ready for whatever was coming next.

“What does the time say?” Madam Anita asked.

Lewis checked his phone and answered, “It’s 8:30 a.m.”

Madam Anita nodded, looking really angry. “Do you think you're so important that you can just walk into my class whenever you want?” she asked.

“I’m sorry,” Lewis mumbled.

“Sorry? My foot,” she snapped. “And when are you going to change out of those dirty clothes? They stink.”

“Stink?” Lewis frowned. “They don’t. I washed them, ironed them, and even sprayed some freshener. How could they smell?” he asked.

“Are you calling me a liar?” Madam Anita snapped.

Lewis sighed. “Madam Anita, I don’t have enough money right now. I’ll buy new clothes when I can afford it.”

A voice from the back teased, “You say you have no money, but you were able to loan five hundred dollars to Sasha Lynch.”

As Lewis stood in front of Mrs. Anita, his coursemates started mocking him.

“Look at his clothes; he probably hasn’t changed them in days!”

“Who does he think he’s kidding, trying to date Sasha?”

“Five hundred dollars? More like he made that up just to seem important!”

Furious, Lewis couldn’t keep quiet anymore. “Shut up, you loudmouth!” he snapped.

Mrs. Anita’s eyes narrowed, and she seized the moment. “That’s enough!” she thundered.

“Lewis Reynolds, your constant lateness and behavior have tested my patience. 

You’re expelled from this class!”