Hey everyone! I can't wait for you to read this chapter! Btw, does anyone watch Law and Order? I just got done with an episode and woah, plot twist!!! Anyways, I'm super tired but remember to read, vote, and comment. Love you guys!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
By the time we get back into the school parking lot it's around 11:00, almost time for AP Chemistry at 11:10. Braiden parks the car and steps out, shutting the driver door. I'm about to get out to, but he beets me to the passenger side and swings open the door for me. Alice climbs out on her own with a smile from ear to ear on her face.
"Thanks." I mumble, keeping my eyes trained on the ground.
I appreciate his gesture, but I also don't want him feeling like he should treat me differently out of pity.
"Hey," he says, tugging on my hand as Alice winks at me and continues walking ahead of us.
I look up at him through my lashes and meet his forest green eyes. "Are you going to be okay?"
Tears well up in my eyes because of the way he cares and because everything from today is just overwhelming. I hate myself for being so weak over this.
"Ugh," I quickly wipe my tears away, "I'm fine. I should not be crying over this."
Braiden's hand comes up to my cheek when I look away and softly wipes away the last of the tears. "Ryan," he whispers, tilting my head to look at him, "never be ashamed of what your feeling in front of me. I want you to feel like you can cry when your sad, laugh when you're happy, hell, I don't care if you punch me when you're angry! As long as your just being real."
His words make my whole body warm up despite the chill in the air, almost like a warm sunny day. A smile starts to grow on my face and once it starts to form I can't stop it. Nobody's ever treated me so perfectly and I have to admit, it feels amazing.
Slowly I stand on my tiptoes and press my lips to his. His eyes widen since I make the first move, but he recovers and quickly responds. Slowly, he starts backing up and my body rests against the cool metal of the car. When our lips touch its like a flower finally bloomed and my body craves for more of him. He slowly takes my bottom lip into his mouth and nibbles it, tugging slightly.
"Eep!" I sound comes from one of the vehicles nearby causing us to pull away.
"Huh, okay Alice, c'mon out." I sigh, even knowing right away it's her.
Slowly, she stands up from behind the silver Porsche in front of us with a guilty look on her face.
"Hi." she says with a small wave.
A raise an eyebrow at her trying to act disappointed and Braiden clears his throat even though we're both grinning.
"Fine, I'm sorry." She groans. "It's just you two are so adorable, I mean who wouldn't swoon at that? But I totally get it. I'm acting creepy and I won't watch you guys make out anymore."
A disgusted look crosses her face as the words leave her lips. "Okay, I hear how weird it sounds out loud."
I roll my eyes at her, but then burst out laughing. She's so boy crazy it's not even funny, well it it, but ya know. All of us walk into the office of the school, luckily Alice is with us so it's not as suspicious.
Mrs. Dartwell's eyes snap up to ours and then squint into tiny slits.
"Well, what do we have here? Skipping again?"
Her tone is so condescending and all I want to do is shut her mouth.
"Actually," I start, gritting my teeth, "our car broke down so we had to call a tow truck and then wait for it to be repaired."
I flash her the most sickly sweet smile I can muster, keeping with the 'good girl' disguise. She raises her eyebrows and tilts her glasses onto her nose but doesn't question any further when she sees Alice vigorously nodding her head.
"Alright, get to class, here are your passes." She snaps, scribbling out the time and our names then waving us through.
I snatch the pass quickly from her hands, fighting the urge to roll my eyes and hurriedly walk out the door, Braiden and Alice not far behind.
"Alright, see you guys at lunch, have fun in AP Chemistry. Not." Alice jokes, waving us off as she heads to her next class.
"We will. Remember, mouth shut." I pretend to lock my lips and throw away the key.
"Ma'm yes ma'm." She salutes, then turns around leaving Braiden and I.
He's been pretty silent since meeting my grandma, and I can't help but wonder why. When I glance over at him he seems to be deep in thought. Furrowed eyebrows and tight lips, almost like he's worried about something. Either way, he still looks amazingly perfect and I can't tear my eyes away.
"You're staring."
His voice makes me jump and I shake myself from my thoughts.
"Was not! I was looking out the window."
He looks behind him only to stare at a set of lockers. "Sure, it must be an invisible window."
My cheeks flush at the pathetic excuse and I know he caught on.
"Whatever. You just looked worried or something, I don't know. Are you?"
He pauses for a moment, takes a deep breath then starts talking. "I'm just worried about going to this class. The way this Mr. Meade dude acts towards you freaks me the hell out."
Aww, how sweet, he's watching out for me.
"Me neither. There's definitely something weird going on. Plus he has the cobra tattoo which means he's for sure associated with Damien. It's just a matter of me playing a pretty good bait so we can get information." I reply, hating the fact that I have to get close to this guy.
The worried look Braiden was wearing turns angry. "About that, I don't like how Jackson's making you bait. That's downright dangerous. From now on I'm coming with you, or monitoring you around these guys."
The look on his face is pure determination and I know he's not going to compromise his answer.
"It's alright, Braiden. That's just part of the job. Now c'mon, we've got to get in there." I gesture to the door down the hall.
He doesn't answer, just nods and we silently walk into class. Luckily the door is open. Instead of Braiden sitting in the back he walks to the front with me and plops down in the seat next to mine. Once again, Mr. Meade has a smirk growing on his face.
"Well hello children. A bit late are we?"
Instead of responding, I walk up to his desk, slam my pass down and walk back. "Nope."
"Bailey, I will not have you talk back to me." He says, raising his voice.
What does he mean talk back? I answered his question!
"Trust me, you'll know when I talk back." I respond. Okay, that's sass right there.
He walks to the front of my desk and leans down. "I suggest you watch that tone or else-"
"Or else what?" Braiden cuts in, and Mr. Meades attention flicks to him.
"And what are you doing up here, your assigned seat is in the back of the room." He sneers and the class is now fully paying attention.
Braiden sits up straighter meeting his stare. "Well last time I checked I don't take orders from you."
The class erupts into a series of "ooos" but the teacher gets even more irritated.
A smile makes its way onto my face. Go Braiden!
"That's enough!" Mr. Meade slams his fist on the table, echoing through the room and quieting down the class immediately. "R-Bailey you will stay after class." My heart leaps when I hear the start of my real name. "And you," he sneers at Braiden, "if you so much as break one more rule, you're out of my class. Now everyone back to work."
I'm about to point out the unfairness of the situation, but he shoots me a glare that shuts my mouth.
Another agonizing, silent hour later, and the bell rings.
"I'll be outside the door." Braiden whispers in my ear and I nod my head.
Just as I'm picking up the rest of my books Mr. Meade appears in front of me. Way too close by the way.
"Hello there, Ryan." He smirks and I'm slightly taken aback.
"Who's Ryan? My names Bailey." I say, playing dumb seeing what else I'll get out of him.
"Cut the act, Ryan. Don't think I don't know who you and your little friend, Braiden are."
"How do you? Who are you working for?" I interrogate him, pushing until he breaks like glass.
"You'll find out soon enough." He whispers, breath grazing against my ear.
"Who are you working for!" I scream, pushing him off me.
Instead of moving he grabs my face and pulls it close to his. "Listen to me, Ryan-"
Before he can finish Braiden storms in through the door, shutting it on the way in. "Get your hands off her asshole!"
"What are you going to do about it?" He snarkily asks back.
"This." Braiden raises the tranquilizer gun and the dart sticks in his neck.
His body crumples to the floor, releasing me. Just before his eyes close, he whispers something I barely hear.
"You'll be meeting him soon."