From Bully To Beloved

BONUS CHAPTERS (BIANCA ASHTON)NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

“Come on, Bianca,” Cherrel urged, fearing Jaxon’s wrath if they missed the train.

“I’m coming,” panted Bianca, hastily grabbing her backpack. “You didn’t give me much time to get ready.” Breathless, she raced down the path, ignoring her untied shoelaces, muttering, “Don’t fall, don’t fall.”

Friends for 15 years since boarding school, Cherrel’s assertiveness had always overshadowed Bianca’s independence. “Run, Bianca!” Cherrel shouted, making a dramatic entrance onto the train, pulling Bianca aboard. “Jump!”

Tripping and drawing stares, Bianca recovered in the carriage. “The train wasn’t leaving, Cherrel,” she whispered, embarrassed.

“It might have,” Cherrel retorted matter-of-factly. “Let’s find our seats. I hope Jaxon sorted it out.”

Reluctantly heading home to Iowa with Cherrel for the break, Bianca felt emotionally coerced. Despite attending Columbia University together, she couldn’t escape the tradition of staying with Cherrel’s family, who generously housed them in an Upper West Side apartment.

Bianca Cherrelished Cherrel’s parents like her own, but the thought of facing Jaxon, Cherrel’s older brother, made her uneasy. Despite her long-standing, unspoken crush on the handsome and brilliant Jaxon, he saw her as his sister’s friend. Jaxon, heir to a billionaire’s fortune, had comforted Bianca during her homesick days, creating fond memories of midnight snacks and scary stories. Bianca chuckled at her fantasies, resisting the urge to divulge them to Cherrel.

Avoiding the subject, Bianca smiled as Cherrel thanked her for joining the holiday trip, expressing how much she meant to her. Touched, Bianca reassured Cherrel that it would be a memorable Christmas. Cherrel, excited about the upcoming shopping spree, hoped Jaxon would persuade her parents to buy her a new car.

Mocking Cherrel’s driving record, Bianca teased her about totaling three Mercedes in three months. Despite their banter, Cherrel was thrilled when Bianca suggested they share a car. Bianca appreciated Cherrel’s non-judgmental attitude about their differing financial situations and looked forward to buying a 2004 Toyota Corolla from her professor.

As they discussed post-graduation plans, Bianca expressed concern about needing a job to stay in the city. Cherrel, filled with enthusiasm, envisioned them exploring the country after college, but Bianca’s focus was on securing an income for her future in the city.

“Sure, sure,” Cherrel replied casually, engrossed in her phone. Jobs held little significance for her, having grown up in one of the country’s top 100 richest families according to Forbes. She suggested Bianca ask Jaxon to hire her in one of their companies, assuring her it would alleviate financial concerns.

Smiling, Bianca declined, expressing doubt that Jaxon would want to hire her. Cherrel insisted he would, praising Bianca’s intelligence and mentioning how Jaxon often wished she were his sister.

Remembering Cherrel’s previous comments, Bianca concealed her disappointment. She didn’t want Jaxon to see her as a sister; her desires were more sensual. Recalling a painful moment when she witnessed Jaxon with another girl, she had longed for a different connection with him. Obligated to join Cherrel for Christmas, Bianca couldn’t escape the emotional blackmail.

Cherrel playfully suggested that Jaxon might like Bianca more than her, sparking laughter between the friends. They bantered about Bianca’s pie-making skills and joked about Mrs. D’s job, lightening the mood as the train departed from the station.

“Cherrel, wake up. We’ve arrived,” Bianca said, shaking her friend’s shoulder as she stood up, feeling a bit stiff. She brushed her long hair back, hoping it didn’t appear as frizzy as it felt, and smoothed her skirt. Suppressing the urge to check her makeup in a mirror, she didn’t want Cherrel to question her sudden vanity. Bianca wasn’t about to reveal that she was aiming to look good for Jaxon, especially since many girls tried to befriend Cherrel just to get an introduction to him. She didn’t want Cherrel to think she had joined the ranks of those seeking Jaxon’s attention.