Oops, Wrong Girl to Bully Chapter 13

Bella's POV

I'd been having a perfect day.

Shopping at Westfield with my girls. Kai and the guys tagging along. Everyone's eyes on me like they should be.

I was wearing my new Free People top—the one that cost $120 but looked effortless. My hair was perfect. My makeup was perfect.

Everything was perfect.

Then this nobody showed up and ruined it.

Aria Sterling.

I almost didn't recognize her.

The girl I'd shoved into that desk had been plain. Forgettable. The kind of girl who blended into the background with her awful braided hair and those tragic bangs.

But this?

This girl standing in front of me looked dangerous.

Her hair framed her face in layers. No more bangs hiding those freaky green eyes. And her face—

How did I never notice her face before?

High cheekbones. Full lips. The kind of features that belonged on Instagram models, not some loser Omega's daughter.

And the way she was looking at me. No fear. No nervousness.

Just cold amusement.

It made my skin crawl.

"Well?" I pressed. Kept my voice sweet. "Are you here to see Kai?"

I felt his arm tense under my hand.

Good. Let him see what kind of desperate stalker she really was.

Aria tilted her head slightly. Like she was considering something.

Then she smiled.

It wasn't a friendly smile.

"Does his family own this mall?"

I blinked. "What?"

"Simple question." Her voice was casual. Almost bored. "Does Kai's family own Westfield?"

"I—no, obviously not—"

"Then what the fuck does it matter if I'm here?"

The curse hit like a slap.

Around us, people's heads turned. A mom with a stroller shot us a dirty look.

I felt my face heat up. "Excuse me?"

But Aria wasn't looking at me anymore.

Her eyes slid to Kai. Traveled up and down his body slowly. Deliberately.

Then she laughed.

"You actually think I came here for him?"

The words hung in the air.

Kai's face went red. I felt him stiffen beside me.

"Aria—" he started.

"I'd rather go to the zoo and watch the gorillas," she said. Her voice was light. Conversational. "At least they're entertaining."

Someone gasped.

One of the football guys made a choking sound.

My brain went blank.

Did she just—

"This?" Aria gestured at Kai like he was a piece of furniture. "Not even remotely interesting."

Kai's POV

The words hit me like a physical blow.

Not even remotely interesting.

I stood there, frozen, while my brain tried to process what just happened.

"Dude." Arthur grabbed my shoulder. "Did she just—"

"Holy shit," someone else breathed.

Aria didn't even look back. Just stood there with her arms crossed, waiting for us to move.

Like we were blocking her path.

Like I was in her way.

"Wait, hold on." Marcus pushed forward. "Aria, you literally wrote Kai a love letter last week. Like, a three-page love letter about how you've liked him for months."

She turned her head slightly. Not enough to actually look at him. Just enough to acknowledge he'd spoken.

"And?"

"And?" Marcus laughed. Nervous. "And you said you've been crushing on him since freshman year started! You brought him Gatorade after every practice! You helped him with his homework! You even signed him up for that volunteer thing at the animal shelter!"

"Your point?"

The casual tone in her voice made my stomach twist.

Arthur stepped up. "You literally spent months following him around like a puppy! Everyone knows you were obsessed!"

"Obsessed." She said the word like she was tasting it. "Interesting choice."

"It's true though!" Another guy chimed in. "You were always there. Always helping. Always—"

"Acting like his personal assistant," Aria finished. "Yeah. I remember."

Bella squeezed my arm. I barely felt it.

All I could do was stare at Aria's profile. At the way she stood there looking bored while my friends tore into her.

This doesn't make sense.

She'd spent goddamn months making herself useful. Bringing me drinks. Doing my algebra homework when I had practice. Remembering which volunteer activities I needed for college apps.

I'd thought—

Well, I'd thought it was normal. Girls did stuff like that when they liked you. Made themselves available. Helpful.

And yeah, maybe I'd taken it for granted. But that's how it worked, right?

Alphas didn't chase. We were chased.

I'd been the most wanted guy in school since middle school. Girls left notes in my locker. Baked me cookies. Showed up to every game wearing my number.

Aria had just been one of many.

Except she'd been different. Quieter. More persistent. Never pushy, just... there. Always there when I needed something.

And I'd never questioned it because why would I?

But now she was standing here saying I wasn't interesting?

That she'd rather watch gorillas at the fucking zoo?

She's playing games, I told myself. She has to be.

"You're using reverse psychology," I said. The words came out harsher than I meant. "You think if you act like you don't care, I'll suddenly be interested. That's what this is, right?"

She finally turned to face me fully.

Those green eyes locked on mine.

And there was nothing in them. No hurt. No embarrassment. No desperate hope that I'd notice her.

Just cold amusement.

"You actually believe that?" she asked.

"It's obvious."

"Is it?" She tilted her head. "Or are you just so used to girls wanting you that you can't handle when one doesn't?"

My face burned. "That's not—"

"Let me make this really simple for you." She took a step closer. "I. Don't. Want. You. I don't think you're interesting. I don't think you're attractive. I don't think about you at all."

Each word landed like a punch.

"In fact," she continued, "the only reason I'm even talking to you right now is because you're blocking my way to the food court."

Arthur made a sound like he'd been strangled.

Someone else whispered, "Oh my God."

Bella's hand tightened on my arm. "Aria, that's really rude. You don't have to be so mean just because—"

"Because what?" Aria's eyes shifted to Bella. "Because I realized I was wasting my time?"