One: The phone call

There was a loud chittering and chattering amongst the crowd in the school premises.

"My arms are tired from carrying these books around," a fair blondie whined to her friend.

"Sorry Poppy..... Oh look it's errand boy, he'll help you for a few bucks." The other girl replied.

"Hey errand boy!" Poppy yelled out, calling the attention of not only Ivan but some other students.

Ivan jolted to the direction where Poppy stood and some other students laughed and mocked him. "You called?" he said without a feeling of shame.

Poppy giggled. "Yes, carry my books for me and I'll pay you a hundred dollars." She commanded in her tiny voice.

"Right away." Ivan instantly collected the books with a hearty smile on his face.

Poppy arrived at her dorm and collected her things from him. "Here you go," she threw a fifty dollar note at him.

"But you promised a hundred!" Ivan panicked.

"I changed my mind." The lady replied.

"But.."

"Go away you ragged imbecile! Your stench is ruining the air." She yelled out angrily.

"Smells like poverty." Poppy's friend giggled.

Poppy slammed the door at his face and Ivan walked away sighing.

The college of Imperial Blue-blood in England, IBB for short was one of—if not the best—prestigious higher institutions in the world. Only the children of well respected and powerful people in the world had the chance of enrolling.

Ivan Shay felt so lucky to be within such walls. Ivan always dreamt of going to college, becoming a billionaire and taking care of his parents and loved ones so he worked hard day and night so that dream could be achieved. He scores himself a scholarship at IBB and then gets a part time job at the schools canteen.

Of all of his amazing qualities, handsome physical features and charismatic mannerisms, Ivan was still lacking. He had no more than two shirts and two pants, and only a pair of shoe that had been a gift from his mother.

Things only got worse for him when his parents were diagnosed with stage two lung cancer.

Ivan had to work extra to pay the hospital bills and a never ending list of IOU's.

Ivan was nearly done with his chores for the day. Although he was slightly tired now, he aimed his target to getting one last job before he called it a day. His eyes scanned around, hoping one of the students would need an errand boy.

"Stinky boy!" A familiar voice yelled out from behind, and Ivan rolled his eyes in frustration. It was none other than his bully, Charlie the richest kid in school.

He was the high-and-mighty of IBB, in his own words, he considered himself higher than the others since his father was the sponsor of the school. The only thing Ivan feared more than death was loosing his job so he always played Charlie's games.

"Good afternoon to you, Charlie." Ivan found himself saying, with a half smile plastered on his face.

"Is there anything good about this afternoon?" Charlie frowned. He was tall and handsome with blonde hair. He was the ladies charm too.

"I'm sorry–"

"You son of a ...." Charlie muttered as he punched Ivan in the face.

Ivan winced in pain, his hand not leaving his now bleeding nose.

"Charlie don't touch him, don't let his poorness rub off on you!" One of Charlie's minions said and they all laughed.

Ivan fell to the ground groaning in pain while they laughed at him.

Charlie kicked him repeatedly. "Why are you on this earth, you don't deserve to be alive!" He yelled out.

"Charlie, wait stop. Were not trying to kill him, not now at least." Another member of Charlie's cliche said as he pulled Charlie away from Ivan who was already bleeding through his nostrils.

"Arghh! He's just so freaking annoying!" Charlie fumed.

"Deep breaths now." The other guy said.

"Get up!" Charlie commanded, and he obeyed. "Look at me." Ivan hesitated before obeying but as soon as he raised his head to look at Charlie, Charlie spat at his face "You were actually going to look?" He said in disbelief. "You don't deserve to catch even a glimpse of what wealth looks like."

Ivan clenched his fist in rage but did nothing. What could he possibly do? He saw the frustration on Charlie's face, and terror lunged at his throat.

"Oh look, my shoe is stained with filthy water." Charlie said in disgust. "This is your fault stinky, what shall we do now?"

"This isn't really my fault, you spilled the water." Ivan finally responded.

"Oh you speak now, okay but that's not what happened is it guys?" He asked his minions and they all shook their heads disagreeing with Ivan. "You spilled that water on innocent me and they all saw it."

"What! No..."

"At least that's what I'll tell your boss," Charlie said, cutting Ivan off.

"What shall I do then?" Ivan asked, bowing his head.

"Good boy," Charlie replied, patting Ivan's head, "let me think."

"Oh I know, let him lick it off," One of Charlie's minions voiced out.

"Good idea." Charlie answered smiling.

"I won't do it!" Ivan yelled.

"Hmm okay, that won't be a problem. Pack your things and leave then cause you'll be fired by tomorrow."

"No I... I'll do it." Ivan submitted.

Charlie placed his foot out and Ivan bent to lick it but before he could, a lecturer walked by, eyeing Charlie suspiciously. He saw the observant glare of the lecturer and quickly left Ivan alone.

"Come on, boys." He muttered and the battalion of friends left did according to his commands.

Ivan's hand pressed firmly to his stomach, accessing the damage done. He felt a person standing behind him, so he turned to find out.

"Are you okay?" A tall slender girl I soon recognized as Tara, asked.

"Yea Yea, I'm fine." Ivan said without raising his head up. He was embarrassed but tried not to show his feelings.

She came closer trying to confirm if he had indeed been fine. Ivan pushed her away, surprised by the sudden closeness.

"I'm fine, Tara." He said again, then turned to leave. She wasn't supposed to see him like that. He was a coward, and that trait of his was not one he wanted her to see.

As he turned away to leave, he felt his phone buzzing in his pocket. He brought it up to see the caller, and he felt his heart beat suddenly come to a stop.

Fear gripped his insides tight.