The Billionaire's Miss Nobody

ARIEL'S POV.

Two...

Three...

Four minutes have passed since I started staring at this desk in front of me without looking up at anyone or anything.

Just less than ten minutes ago, someone pushed me rudely and didn't apologize. I walked to my classroom as directed by the school's cashier and people kept pointing fingers at me and making rude statements about me. They weren't even whispering, they all said them loudly as though to spite me.

The worst part was that the button on my shirt jacket wouldn't just close up properly, and it made me look completely rough and unkempt.

My old leather school bag did nothing to help how I looked, but what could I do? That was all that dad could afford to get for me.

I never knew coming to TONNY College would do so much to affect my mental state in just a few minutes and on my first day.

I was used to this kind of life, alright. But then the show of wealth and how everyone looked so perfect was way too intimidating.

I felt the air-conditioned breeze kiss my face and I smiled.

At least, the breeze isn't unkind to me.

"Hey!! Look everyone, there's a new girl!!"

I looked up sharply at the person who had just spoken, and I gasped in utter amazement.

How could a human being be so beautiful? So clean.

I saw her smile at me and I smiled back only for her smile to change to a smirk.

I was still trying to process what the smirk was for when I felt cold liquid roll from my full hair down my skin.

I stood up dazed, gasping for breath.

Someone just poured fresh fruit smoothies on me.

"Wow. The pig is dirty now, just the way it should be."

I could feel my skin crawl.

Both from irritation and because someone just ruined my uniform on my first day at school.

I turned with tears in my eyes and watched how everyone in the class laughed at me, pointing fingers. I couldn't even identify who just poured it on me.

Shutting my eyes and sucking back my breath, I sat back in my seat and took out a napkin to clean as much as I could.

This won't be the first time I've been treated badly, so I will take it all in.

I took out one of my gold bracelets and squeezed it tightly. I've actually had it since I was little and dad gave me two of this kind.

He said to hold onto it whenever I felt very down and get reminded that I am loved, but I particularly loved the silver one so much.

"I'm here for my dreams...." I said silently to myself and sucked in my tears.

The laughter ceased almost at once and I gazed up to see why, then I saw her.

I felt the first person I saw was beautiful, but the lady in front of me was not just beautiful. She was an angel and her skin was literally shining. She looked nothing short of beauty and class.

I saw how every other person looked at her with the same admiration and respect, and I noticed two ladies who joined her in her seat immediately as she sat down. One of them was the first girl who smiled at me first, and I looked up to find her gaze on me, so I looked away sharply.

"I never expected Queen Sally to make it today"

"Gosh her skin is so smooth."

"She looks so beautiful. More than she looked last week."

"Did you see her shoes?"

I heard whispers from all around, obviously directed towards the lady who had just stepped in. I figured she should be someone of high value, but she looked upset that she didn't even respond to anyone.

I noticed the former lady nod towards me and I noticed they looked at me like they were checking me out.

"So, tell me what we have for today?" our first lecturer said as he entered the hall almost immediately.

"This is our first time together, and I believe you all know that we would be better off making some introduction. "Two years is a long time to be together, you know," he added, smiling into the big book in front of him.

"We are going to start with you..." His words lingered as his gaze seemed to land on me for a second.

" ....oh you. What happened to your uniform? "Why is it looking like a mess when today is just the first day of the week, and we have four pairs of uniforms?"

I didn't realize I was the one he was talking to until I felt all eyes on me.

"Th...uhh"

"No one should ask a pig why it looks dirty", a guy from the back said, and the class erupted into a fit of laughter.

I dared not turn to look at the person.

Exhale, inhale. Smile.

Dad taught me to always do that whenever I felt nervous.

Don't cry. Don't cry.

I was completely surprised that the lecturer did nothing to correct him for being rude.

They told me how rude these people were before I came here. How could I have forgotten so soon?

They told me this was a school for the rich and that no poor person could stand up against anyone who was above their class.

It was possible that there were students who were way bigger than even their lecturers.

"I'm here for my dreams" I said to myself again without daring to lift my face.

Dad had informed me earlier last month that I had gained a slot in the school after several attempts at applying for admission.

I didn't have a smartphone, so he literally kept paying at the computer center to check for my name.

TONNY College was one of the biggest musical schools here in the US, and it was famous for being composed mainly of rich kids and already made stars in the music industry who came back to get their legal certificates.

I have always wanted to be here, and although I was told that the poor had a very slim chance of surviving, I was going to prove them wrong.

" Miss, could you please speak for yourse

I did want to say something. Believe me, I did.

"Mr. Francis, I never knew that they also admitted mute students here. In addition to looking like....'that', she also doesn't speak?" That was the voice of the pretty first lady.

Irritation was very pronounced in her tone.

I bit my lips and kept my gaze down. How they did this to me and still tried to make it seem like they knew nothing about it was really daunting.

"Of course not, Ms. Sally. I will address it at once". I felt the class silently watch as the lecturer moved towards my direction.

He called her name and even added courtesy. I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me she was a big name.

I tried to look up at him, but I couldn't for some reason.

"Stand up" he said sternly, and I stood up quietly, still reeking of dried fruits and milk.

"If you do not speak to me, then you have no business being in my class. This is a state-of-the-art institute for music stars and not for people who are mute. "You could as well use the door, miss", I gasped and looked up at him.

I couldn't just be thrown out of class on my first day at school.

No.

"No. I... I'm sorry sir. I can't... you can't send me out of your class like this. "I'm actually new here, and I just resumed today, please" I felt the whole class go quiet and still after I finished speaking.

I get that a lot.

My talking voice sounded so surreal and like that of an angel such that some people wondered if I was human. But I never had friends, just because of how I looked.

"Wow!" he exclaimed. It was possible I mesmerized him too.

"You should be careful next time. Make sure you use the washroom and get cleaned up once you notice a mess has been made on your body. We don't tolerate untidiness around here."

Facing the class, he added, "As future stars, you must learn to flow with this essential skill of cleanliness."

He turned to me this time.

"Is that okay, Miss..."

"Ariel"

"Miss Ariel?"

"Yes, yes sir"

The rest of the classes before the break period were not fun because my classmates, even without knowing me, kept throwing indirect shades at me due to my size. If I wasn't so used to being humiliated in public, I would probably have had a panic attack.

Someone even called me "Ariel the Alien" and the whole class adapted to it.

During the break period, which was supposed to last for an hour and a half, I tried finding my way around to the cafeteria, but every student I walked up to for directions simply shunned me. Some completely ignored me like I was invincible.

I smiled at myself at intervals.

I wasn't going to let anyone make me feel miserable after resuming school and on my first day.

Or so I thought.

I bought my meal from the cafeteria with a special ticket I'd been given, but I noticed there was another line where only a few students went through, and they all looked so clean and, well, very wealthy.

I took my food to a spot at the far end and tried to eat when I noticed the three ladies from earlier looking intently at me.

I saw the Sally lady stand up with her meal and head towards me and the other ladies followed suit.

When she reached my seat, she smiled warmly at me while the other ladies took their seats opposite mine.

What was coming was not something I would ever have imagined.

Sally literally emptied her food tray on me.