Twisted Intentions

~ Part 1 ~

I sigh as I stare up, my heels clicking loudly on the cobblestone path under my feet. I'm about to drown in my depression completely when I an energetic voice cuts off my train of thought.

"Serena! Hi!" I turn just as a girl with bouncing dark brown curls waves excitedly. Her entire aura screams sunshine and positivity. Skirt hiked up shorter than mine, little pins on her bag and the end of her tie. And she looks excited to see.. me?

"Um, hi? How do you know my name?" The hesitance is clear in my voice, I've always been a bit standoffish. Not sure how to interact with someone quite so happy. "Thank god I found you, I'm Lyla! Your guide today! I'm going to show you around a bit, maybe point out a few cliques to steer clear of. Trust me, this place can feel like a shark tank, and you don't want to bleed in front of some of these people."

A small smirk manages to make its way onto my face, "You make this place sound like a battlefield."

Lyla laughed easily, looping her arms with mine as she tugs me towards the entrance. "It can feel that way sometimes."

"This place is insane." I mutter, taking in the large gothic academy again as we walk slowly to the path together now

"So are most of the people in it." She quips softly and I let out a small laugh. Scanning the grounds when my eyes lock with two sets that were already on me.

One is lying down on his back, arm behind his head and a charming smile stretched across his full lips. His uniform is pressed, the top buttons undone and his sandy blonde hair falling around his forehead and ears in soft waves. Baby blue eyes bright and inviting as he watches me.

The other sits upright, his arm stretched across the back of the desk as he drags from a cigarette in the other. Sleeves rolled up, laying across the arm of the bench next to him. His long fingers decorated with a few dark colored rings, his dark green eyes narrowed and assessing as they drag up and down my body. His eyebrow arched with a small barbell sticking through the skin.

My pulse jumps unexpectedly, a warm strange feeling running over me and I almost shiver. The. Look away abruptly. What the hell?

"Who are they?" I tug her arm, her head whipping over to the bench with a sigh. "The one laying down is Hayden. And the other is Zane, my older brother." My eyes snap to hers, wide and studying her face closely.

"Your brother?" I blink, looking back over to see them both standing now. "Yes, they're.. intense. Just keep your head down and stay out of their way. They're not like everyone else."

Before I can ask her what that means she pulls me towards the entrance, both of the men splitting up and out of sight.

Right. Keep my head down and stay out their way, shouldn't be too hard right?

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    "Stupid fucking thing." I groan, kicking my locker and yanking the padlock once more.

"Need help?" His voice is low and smooth, startling me enough that I jump back and come face to face with the one Lyla called Hayden. His blazer is still undone, tie missing around his neck as he smirks, the dimples showing in his cheek and I swallow hard.

"Oh I'm, it's okay. It's just the lock but I'll get it." I protest when he takes hold of the padlock, still in my hands. His are warm, his long fingers taking hold slowly. My lips part, looking and meeting his sparkling eyes and step back when he invades my space suddenly, taking the small sticky note from my hand and twisting the number into the lock. It clicks open easily.

"Wha-?" He open the door, hooking the lock onto the inside and leans back as he watches me.

"So you're just a lock expert or something?" I joke dumbly, cringing and he lets out a small huff. "Something like that."

I dig the books from my locker, eyeing him as he just stands there. "Well, um th-"

"Sit with me at lunch?" He asks and I blink at him rapidly. What?

"Oh um, I don't know I was hoping to meet with Lyla." My voice is quiet and unsure, fumbling with my books in my locker for longer than necessary.

"Ah, you can't. Different lunch hour for Sophomores." He says matter of factly and I bite my lip nervously, his eyes locking in the action. "Oh. Well I don't know.."

"I'll keep an eye out for you." He interrupts me, just as a loud thud makes me jump. I stare behind him, seeing his friend Zane glaring at us from his locker just a few rows down.

Hayden looks over his shoulder briefly, smirking and seemingly unfazed by Zane's blistering look. "Well, I'll be keeping an eye out for you. See you around, Serena." He turns, walking over to Zane and throwing his arm over his shoulder. Both of them turning to look at me before sharing a dark look with one another.

Later, I spend my lunch hour sitting out by the side of the school. Puffing off of a joint and trying to get through the rest of the day without anymore fumbling. My second class professor is a total tool, his creepy eyes leered at me the entire lesson and I just needed to get away.

Tipping my head back, I watch the smoke billow above my head and disappear into the sky.

"If you're going to smoke in my spot you have to share, it's the rules." I jump half a foot in the air, my hand on my heart as it pounds just below the surface. Zane stands there, hands in his pockets and pierced eyebrow raised as he eyes me up and down.

"Jesus, warn a girl before you come lurking up close." I growl, earning a small smirk from him. He gestures to the joint in my hand and I lock my eyes into his.

Taking another puff, I watch his green eyes narrow as I blow the smoke toward him. "There, breathe in deep." I mock, so tired of keeping my mouth shut.

Stepping toward me slowly, he tugs the joint from my fingers. I'm about to protest when he shakes his head, daring me with one look to push him and I take the warning.

Placing it to his lips, he takes a long drag while watching me closely. "Saw you and Hayden getting cozy." He says, his long fingers gripping the joint tightly as his rings glint in the sun, grabbing my attention once again.

My eyebrows raise, not having expected this from him. "It's not my fault, he came up to me." I mutter, taking the joint back from him and pulling slowly. "I didn't do anything, he invited me to sit with him but." I shrug, and he sucks his teeth.

"What? He's not good enough for you?" His voice turns taunting, daring me to insult his friend. Or maybe more than a friend? 

"I'm confused, are you claiming your territory or trying to wingman?" I ask dryly, gasping when suddenly he leans in close to me. "I'm telling you that he is mine." he says low, craning his head so he's level with me. "Are you sure he knows that?" I ask despite my raising heartbeat and he smiles.

"But, I'd be willing to share, as long as you're mine too." I blink at him, shocked by his directness and a little turned on before stepping back. I take one more puff before putting it out against the side of the building.

"Not interested." I say, shouldering past him when he grabs my arm and spins me around. My back is pressed firmly against the building, his arms caging me in as he leans forward. His smell invading my senses completely.

My eyes flutter when he presses forward, his chest grazing mine and my breath falters. "What are you doing?" My voice is shaky and I curse myself internally, not wanting him to see my reactions. He smirks, leaning in further and running his nose against my throat as he inhales deeply.

"Seeing how pretty you smell, I can't wait for my bed to have your scent mixed in with ours." I gasp sharply, my eyes bulging out of my head and he smirks wickedly.

"You're insane." I whisper and he chuckles deep, pushing away from me and stepping back with one more long look up and down my body.

"Maybe." He growls, "But you'll learn I don't say things I don't mean. See you soon, Serena."

I stand with my jaw hanging open as he turns around, walking around the building and leaving me dumbfounded and aroused. I need to stay the hell away from those guys.