The bell rang for lunch and Rhiannon cursed the clock. Now she would have to introduce Kian to Deidre and Rhiannon didn't like that one bit. She relished the thought that Kian belonged only to her, even for a few more minutes more.
She paused in her step. What was that?
"So why come today? Not that it's a bad thing that you came, but why did you decide to start school on the last day of the week?" Rhiannon hedged mentally face palming herself as they stood in line for lunch.
Kian simply smiled, and Rhiannon found she didn't like that smile at all. It was false, an impostor and she never wanted him to smile like that again.
"You know. The usual."
"I doubt anything about you is 'the usual'. Unless you don't want to talk about it, that is. It's fine if you don't, it's none of my business anyway and -" She rambled, looking at him through the corner of her eye.
"My mum got remarried to a total... um... guy. I ended up gaining a step-sister who insisted I get to know the people around here, thus the torture of being new on a Friday." Kian gave her another one of his long searching looks, before adding. "But I have to admit this day has its bright side."
Rhiannon blushed, not sure what to think about anything. Someone knocked into her from behind, pushing her into Kian and she couldn't help but blush even redder if that was even possible.
"Rhiannon, I believe that girl wants your attention." Kian whispered into her ear over the den of noise. She liked the way he said her name it felt like part of a song, the way it rolled off his tongue.
Rhiannon felt warm all over, honey dripping deliciously over her consciousness.
She barely noticed that Deidre was waving frantically, trying to gain her attention.
Deidre tired of waiting, walked up to them. She threw Kian her most devastating smile and Rhiannon cringed within herself. Deidre was beautiful when she was careless. But when she actually tried, calling her beautiful was like calling hell, a sauna.
"Ree, would you care to introduce us?" Deidre purred in her sweetest voice, putting her big hazel eyes to good use. Her entire persona changed around Kian. Rhiannon wasn't sure what it was but it seemed wrong.
She looked at Rhiannon for but a second, urging her to speak.
"Um, Kian this is Deidre Stone. Deidre this is Kian Hunter." Rhiannon rushed, gesturing awkwardly between them.
"Kian - Deidre rolled it on her tongue, tasting it - It sounds so dangerously unique. I find I quite like danger, in fact I love it." Deidre holding her hand out like a lady bestowing her favour and Rhiannon felt a spark of anger burning within her.
Rhiannon held her hands at her sides. She didn't understand this jealousy and resentment she felt towards her friend, all over a guy she hardly knew.
"Thank you. Deidre was it?" Kian shook Deidre's hand.
Rhiannon found herself letting out a relieved breath. She hadn't realised she was holding it in the first place. She couldn't help her satisfied smile at the fact that Kian didn't react in the way most boys would around blonde bombshell Deidre.
Kian was utterly amazing, and Rhiannon knew there had to be something wrong with him. No human boy was this perfect.
Rhiannon turned around, to fetch not only her lunch but Kian's. But when she tried to pay for it all, Kian placed a fifty into the lunch lady's hand, turning away again as if he didn't expect any change.
At least she was pretty sure it was a fifty.
Rhiannon walked to the nearest empty table, bringing the lunch along with her.
"I think Rhiannon fits you better." Kian murmured into her ear, reaching around her to get a cola off the tray. His arm scraped her waist. She couldn't help the warmth that trickled down her spine. Kian was so close that Rhiannon could smell him and he smelled wonderfully of fire and coffee.
"Fits better than what?" Rhiannon demanded breathily, and she realised how dreamy she sounded.
"Ree." He replied, sitting next to her.
Deidre walked past Rhiannon, patting her shoulder and leaning to her ear. "I call dibs on this one, babe. He wouldn't be interested in you anyway." She whispered harshly, before smiling sweetly at Kian under her falsely thick lashes. There was something unnatural in it. Too seductive. She wasn't acting like Deidre.
She shook her head of the thought.
Rhiannon couldn't help but feel that Deidre was right. No matter what Rhiannon did, Deidre would always get the guy. It was just something Rhiannon had to get used to.
"So do you happen to have a girlfriend? If you don't, you do know someone as delectable as you should have one? And I personally know someone who would enjoy the experience." Deidre winked at him. Rhiannon couldn't help but feel shocked at how blunt she was, even for Deidre.
But she guessed guys liked that. She played around with her food on the plate, refusing to look at either of them lest she do something stupid like talk.
"I'm afraid relationships with me don't really last too long. So no to both questions, though I appreciate the thought." Kian answered seriously, giving Deidre the once over before shrugging nonchalantly.
Rhiannon wished that Deidre would just leave him alone, it wasn't like it was any of Deidre's business if or who he dated.
"Ok, mystery boy. Do you like cupcakes?" Deidre asked her face a picture of serenity and seriousness.
"Deidre, you're such a completely lost child. I swear I have no idea what to do with you sometimes." Rhiannon would've laughed if she wasn't slightly annoyed at her best friend at the moment.
Kian replied just as seriously.
"Afraid not. They're just too artificially sweet for my taste, I prefer spices. You know mint, cinnamon, nutmeg and all that. I find I prefer cinnamon, especially." He stared at Rhiannon as he said cinnamon, his bright blue eyes darkening. Rhiannon stared back. He was not at all what she expected.
And she found she liked it.
"Does that mean you're a fan of the Spice Girls? If you are I'm afraid I'm going to have to throw you out of the group, understand me?" Deidre threatened, half-heartedly.
"Uh oh. Don't tell me I've been found out already? My secret shame is out. How will I ever survive when this comes out?"
He chuckled, seemingly wounded. Kian smiled through the apple he was biting into.
"Don't worry you're dirty little secret is safe with us." Rhiannon smiled, after swallowing a bite of her sandwich. Kian reached over and gently pressed his fingers to the corner of her mouth, cupping her chin for a moment too long.
"You had something on your lip." Kian explained, jerking back his hand as if he had been burnt.
Rhiannon almost died, touching her had repulsed him. What was worse was Rhiannon could still feel the place where his touch had scorched her skin and her skin ached for his touch again.
"It wasn't little either, it was a massive blob of mayo." Deidre clipped, wanting to have centre stage once again.
The magic broken, Kian looked back to Deidre as she asked question after question. Rhiannon stopped listening and found her thoughts straying to this weekend. She had to spend it, looking after her grandmother while Deidre went out and broke hearts.
Life wasn't any fair.Wait, when had she ever complained about Deidre's behaviour. What was coming over her?
"...Seeing anyone?"
Rhiannon immediately jumped out of her skin, as she realised Kian was addressing her.
Rhiannon smiled carefully, before delivering an intelligent. "What?"
"Told you she wasn't listening, she does that a lot you know. Doesn't pay attention to a word of what you're saying most of the time, but that's why you know it's safe to tell her your secrets." Deidre flashed Kian a smile.
"But that's why you love me." Rhiannon supplied.
"Yeah, that's why I love you babe."
Deidre grinned and she was Deidre again, the friend who actually cared about her and not a harsh boy-crazy flirt. Something felt disjointed. She looked confused for a second, looking at Rhiannon as if she hadn't seen her till now.
Rhiannon tilted her head curiously.
"I asked if you happened to be seeing anyone." Kian inquired cautiously, looking at her with those deeply blue eyes that seemed to be bottomless. With the sound of his voice, Deidre snapped back fluttering her eyelids.
Rhiannon felt like she would faint right there and then, like some kind of damsel in distress. And it was out of pure embarrassment.
"Rhiannon? As if! Even if guys actually noticed her, she's too serious about her music to ever notice them back." Deidre snorted, before turning to Kian again.
Rhiannon watched as Kian's face dropped a little but that could easily have been her imagination. Guys didn't choose girls like her over girls like Deidre or even the likes of Allegra Hart.
Rhiannon never noticed how low her friend's neckline was until then, and
Deidre seemed to have no problem leaning over the table and flashing Kian her lacy black bra.
Rhiannon rolled her eyes.
"Hey, look girls it's the loser. I can't believe that she's actually got the nerve to sit at our table." Allegra glared at Rhiannon, until her big baby blues were merely slits.
"Speak of the devil..." Rhiannon muttered under her breath.
Allegra was about to drag Rhiannon off the chair when Kian stood up and glared daggers at the Wicked Bitch of Newford. Rhiannon would've dragged him down and made him sit.
If she wasn't absolutely sure he'd just stand again.
"Uh, Kian this is -" Rhiannon started.
"I know who he is, you twit. I met him way before you did. In fact Kian and I go way back. Don't we, Kian?" Allegra boasted smugly, one hot pink finger nail tapping him on the chest. Kian seemed to tense under her touch and whether it was from desire or anger Rhiannon didn't know.
"Unfortunately yes, but that gives you no right to call Rhiannon a loser. She deserves as much respect as everyone else does." Kian snarled, his honey voice turned to pure venom. His blue gaze growing glacial.
"Guess what Allegra? It's obvious he prefers our company to yours now. So you can just go piss off." Deidre growled.
They're like two bitches fighting over a dog, Rhiannon thought. Rhiannon held her breath a second as Allegra's entire body seemed to tense, ready for attack.
The venom that Allegra was shooting her way was amazing, considering that Rhiannon had said next to nothing.
Kian struggled to stay by her side.
"Get lost Daphne, I didn't ask you to interrupt did I?" Allegra waved her away. Deidre hands fisted at her sides, anger flashing in her eyes as she looked Allegra up and down. Rhiannon knew Deidre thought she could take Allegra on, even if it meant a suspension.
"It's Deidre. Deidre, not Daphne you stuck up little -"
Rhiannon grasped Deidre's hand, and shook her head at her friend. Deidre took long, deep breaths before settling to glaring icily at Allegra. Rhiannon kept one hand on her friend's shoulder just in case.
"Kian, c'mon these two are total losers anyway. Come hang out with the people who actually have lives." Allegra smiled, grabbing Kian's hand in hers pulling him towards the table of jocks and cheerleaders.
"Stop, jeez Allegra could you give it a rest. What the hell is your problem anyway? Rhiannon is not a loser nor is Deidre why can't you just be nice, instead of being this spoiled brat?" Kian challenged, standing his ground.
Deidre applauded heartily, laughing as the cheer squad glared at her in unison.
She held up her hands in mock surrender, before flipping them off, smirking at every single one of them.
Deidre looked at all of them one at a time and enjoyed their absolute mortification.
Rhiannon just watched as the gorgeous boy, who was so new to this place practically tear his chances at popularity to shreds.
"For God's sake, Kian. Don't you see what a total loser she is? She's invisible at this school, and you know why? Because I don't notice her except for little Daphne over there. She's a screw up and doesn't deserve the attention of my stepbrother. Unless you want to be labelled a loser for the rest of your high school life that is. I will not allow it, not at my school." Allegra said in a low voice, every word pierced Rhiannon's heart.
"You messed up -" Kian began.
"She's right." Rhiannon told him, touching his arm. She ignored the heat she felt radiating from Kian's skin, ignored the look of betrayal in his eyes. Rhiannon met his eyes and pleaded with him to agree with her.
"She's right, Kian. Go. You shouldn't ruin your chances of actually having a happy high school life because of Deidre or... me." She swallowed down the last word, looking between Kian and Allegra.
Allegra smiled haughtily in triumph whereas Kian blinked, confused.
"I don't need popularity Rhiannon, I've had it and -"
Rhiannon cut him short again. "You say that now, but someday you'll want to be seen and I'd rather not be at fault."
"Rhiannon come on, be reasonable."
"What part of piss off don't you get Kian? I don't want you around alright. Sure I liked talking to someone in music, but you can leave me alone now. I don't need you to screw up the way things are around here alright." Rhiannon said coldly, hoping her lies seemed believable.
Someday he would thank her for this, for not having to be labelled a loser for the sake of two people he barely knew.
"Let's go Kian. You've got so many important people to meet. Let me assure you they're all dying to meet you."
Allegra put hands on Kian and Rhiannon stopped watching.
She took a seat, groaning to herself. She pictured Kian being happily led to a dozen ditzy blonde bimbos and her lips press into a grim line.
"Why'd you do that for?" Deidre demanded, on the verge of shaking Rhiannon of her craziness.
Rhiannon merely stayed quiet, waiting for the bell to ring. She felt dazed as if cobwebs were being slowly swept out of her mind.
"Sometimes I wonder how you turned into such a freaking ice queen." Deidre mumbled, pulling her hair into pigtails.
Rhiannon shut her eyes close and couldn't help feeling that she was missing something. There was this deep magnetism in Kian that made people do stupid things, act certain ways around him. She shuddered at the thoughts she had when he was around. Mean. Nasty. Hateful.
She ran a hand through her hair, she hadn't acted like herself. It was almost like someone had pulled her strings. Rhiannon sighed, she wasn't thinking properly. She felt so drained as if something had sapped at her strength as Kian left.
She wasn't quite sure if getting rid of him was good or bad.