His cronies were stunned. No one in this area ever dared to defy Waheed. Juniper was the first. She was unbelievably audacious.


    "Nothing to say?" Juniper shot Waheed a cool nce. "If you''re buying something, get in line. If not, get lost."


    Ignoring thempletely, she turned to the counter and calmly ced her order. "I''ll have a lemonade, half sugar, no ice."


    "Uh, okay!"


    Dolce, snapping out of her daze, scurried back to her spot and quietly ordered.


    "Waheed, that little bitch just humiliated you!" one of hisckeys hissed. "If word gets out that you can''t even handle a girl, how are you going to show your face in Era City again?"


    Waheed was used to being in charge, and he had never been so disrespected. That struck a nerve. He had to defend Ynda''s honor.


    This girl Juniper had been thrown out into the slums, with no one to care about her. So what if she died? Besides, his family owned everything around here; erasing some security footage would be a piece of cake.


    "Like hell you''re getting a drink!" Waheed threw his cigarette butt to the ground, rolled up his sleeves, and stomped toward Juniper.


    "Smash all their drinks!"


    Today, he was going to teach these arrogant students from Aurora High a lesson they''d never forget. From now on, they would know to bow their heads whenever they saw an Era High student.


    “Juniper, look out!" Queenie screamed, trying to run and stop him, but it was toote.


    Juniper, her back to Waheed, didn''t move.


    Her hearing was exceptionally sharp. The instant Waheed was close enough to touch the cups, she sidestepped to the right and shifted her left leg slightly forward.


    Waheed''s upper body lunged into empty space. His feet tangled, and he lost his bnce, pitching forward uncontrobly.


    BAM!


    His face mmed directly onto the counter. He bounced off it and crumpled to his knees on the floor. A pained grunt mixed with the sickening thud echoed through the shop.


    "Aghh-"


    Waheed staggered to his feet, wiping his face. His hand came away covered in blood. A gash was split open on his forehead, his nose was bleeding, and he''d lost a few teeth. His face was already swelling up, a pathetic, mangled mess.


    "Waheed!" His cronies stared in disbelief.


    Waheed hadn''t even touched Juniper. How did he end up like this?


    Queenie and Dolce were still processing what had happened. Clutching their freshly made drinks, they backed away to stand beside Juniper, utterly bewildered.


    "What just happened to him—?”


    "He must have lost his footing," Juniper said, taking a sip of her milkshake. Delicious!


    "My face, my face..." Waheed trembled with pain and rage. He pointed a shaking finger at Juniper and snarled, "Get her! Grab that bitch!"


    "If she fights back, beat the shit out of her," he raged. "My dad can afford to pay for a hundred dead peasants from Moulnds!"


    "Yes, Waheed."


    At hismand, the cronies stripped off their uniform jackets and advanced menacingly toward Juniper.


    "Juniper, we have to run!" Queenie and Dolce shouted in unison. These guys were known for being reckless. No matter how badly the other person got hurt, they always walked away without consequences.


    "Hm?" Juniper stood her ground, took a few more sips, then handed the cup to a terrified Dolce. “Hold this. Stand over there. Don''t spill it."


    The two girls just stared at her.


    "Wait." Juniper couldn''t resist. She took the cup back and had another sip. "This is really good. I''m getting another er."


    What? Dolce and Queenie were dumbfounded. Was this really the time to be reviewing milkshakes? A whole group of guys was about to beat up one girl... She was going to get destroyed!