The Way You Love Me: A High School Bully Romance

by Lannah Smith

  John turned to him. "Because you do nothing but hurt her."

  Something flashed in Haru's eyes, something I couldn't read, before they froze again. "And again, I fail to see how our relationship has anything to do with you."

  Slowly unlacing my hand from John, I whispered, "Just leave me alone, Steele."

  "Terry," Haru prompted angrily.

  Turning my back to John, I walked swiftly to Haru. When I got close enough, his hand came up to grab my arm and pull me close.

  "You know you'll pay for this interruption right?" he muttered coldly.

  I felt myself pale. "I-I'm sor—"

  I didn't finish.

  I was so stunned to see Haru's face and grip disappeared. The fierce whack of John's fist hitting his jaw sounded revoltingly in the air and Haru lost his balance at the unexpected attack, falling to his side on the ground.

  With a gasp, I stood in front of John's body and spread my arms wide. Kabakura and two of Haru's bodyguards had appeared, their expressions hard, with the full intent to subdue John.

  "Go," I whispered to John over my shoulder.

  The anger seeped out of his features. "Terry—"

  "You've done enough," I said shakily, watching as the bodyguards helped Haru up the ground. "Just go."

  "Please, Terry—"

  I turned, leaned in and shrieked, "Go!"

  It took a lot, but I didn't flinch at the depth of pain in John's eyes as he stepped back from me.

  Then he turned and, without a backward glance that made my heart break, John walked away.

  The bonfire was as large as a house, the sparks flying well above the treetops. The flames swayed high against the night sky while gray smoke was being carried aimlessly by the warm summer wind to the throng of excited and drunk people that all stood and partied around the great fire.

  Skull did his fires like his parties, enormous to the point of ridiculousness and danger. John had talked to him about it, asking him to keep the fire down, telling him that he needed to watch over his guests if he didn't want any of them to be burned alive. But the moron was already drunk and didn't give a fuck. So it was up to John to stay sober, or as sober as he could be since he too had a lot to drink already, and make sure there wouldn't be any casualties.

  In truth, it wasn't really up to him. There were people they'd designated to keep watch over the others. But John couldn't stay still, couldn't participate in this party with a smile on his face. His thoughts kept straying to Terry, to what he'd seen that night, to what he'd heard.

  Sitting on a log by the bonfire, he stared at it, lost in his thoughts, trying to make sense of everything that had happened.

  "She's getting married."

  John didn't believe it at first.

  He thought Vincent was telling him a joke, a cruel joke.

  But his bodyguard wasn't laughing.

  "You're not kidding," he murmured, alarmed. "And let me remind you that she's still in high school. She can't get married."

  "Yet," was Vincent's empathetic reply. "But let me clarify. There are rumors of a pending merger between the Sakurai-Evans Group and the Cameron company. And there are also rumors that in order for that to happen, a marriage will have to take place between the two families."

  "Rumors," John growled. The hell was Vincent telling him rumors for? He gave him the job so he could find out what was troubling Terry these days and what her brother was up to. He didn't have much patience for rumors. He needed to know the truth.

  Vincent nodded. Then he gave him the large brown envelope he was holding. "The rumors have weight. Trust me." John opened the envelope and he continued to speak, "There are pictures of Terrence and Haru Evans in various indoor and outdoor meetings with Mona and Patrick Cameron in there. There are also documents there collaborating the merger rumor and documents of ongoing activities for its effect in the future. And there are pictures there of Terry going into the Cameron home last month and more pictures of..."

  John wasn't listening anymore. He was looking at the pictures, specifically at Terry's face. In each picture she was in, her face was tense and strained. Her smiles were forced. Her expression was resigned. And her body screamed for relief from this ordeal she was in.

  His gut twisted as the alarm returned, sharp and vicious.

  Was this marriage the reason why she was avoiding him? Why she wasn't giving him another chance? Why she was so closed to all possibilities of them getting back together?

  Or was she trying to protect him?

  From Haru?

  He crumpled the pictures in his hands.

  That must be it.

  Haru and his family's wealth may not be on par with the Steele family coffers but the man was a threat when riled. And John was still a teenager, a brat in Haru and Terry's eyes.

  So that must be fucking it.

  "Where are they now?" John asked Vincent.

  Vincent stared at him with a frown.

  Then he said, "Dinner with the Camerons. Her father arrived from Japan last night and requested this meeting."

  Shit.

  Shit, shit, shit.

  "Young master, I advice you not to do anything reckless. The bonfire party is tonight, isn't it? Your friends are waiting for you."

  "And if I don't heed your advice," John asked darkly as he threw the envelope to his bed and picked up his car keys from the nightstand.

  Vincent let out a long suffering sigh. "Then, like always, I will be watching."

  John didn't give a fuck if he'd be watching. As long as he didn't interfere.

  And he didn't.

  Not when he seized Terry from the restaurant and took her outside.

  Not when he exchanged words with her, and eventually with Haru.

  And not when he punched him.

  But it didn't mean Vincent wasn't going to nag him.

  That wasn't wise of you, sir.

  That was what he texted John when John was in the car and driving away after his heated confrontation with Terry and her asshole brother.

  And by that, I meant punching the heir of the Sakurai-Evans Group and possibly making an enemy of him.

  Vincent didn't need to spell it out for him. He still didn't give a fuck.

  I'll keep an eye out for any retribution. That means overtime. Have fun at the party, young master.

  His bodyguard's text messages were drenched with much sarcasm. The man was angry. And John tried to give a fuck but he just couldn't. Wasn't this was why his father hired people like him for? To fix his irresponsible and wild son's problems? He'd be well compensated for this, John would have to make sure, so Vincent would stop annoying him with overdone graciousness.

  The bonfire was becoming weaker and John gathered some sticks to keep the fire well fed. His right hand throbbed painfully from the excessive blow he gave Haru and he made sure not to move it too much. But he didn't regret hitting him. The only regret he had was not getting to throw one at Ethan. Hell, but that two-faced teacher was going to regret ever messing with him when the school year starts. John was going to make fucking sure he will.

  One by one he threw the sticks into the fire. He was so distracted by his deep thoughts he didn't see Leon making his approach.

  "Is your right hand still hurting?"

  Startled, John missed the fire and the stick soared into the other side, hitting someone on the head. He straightened and glanced at Leon, then at his hand.

  "No," he answered. It was a weak lie. He knew that and Leon knew that. "And what do you mean still? It's not hurting at all."

  Leon gave him a look. "You're right-handed, John. Right-handed all your fucking life. So, tell me. Why were you using your left hand all night?"

  "Hell," he muttered. "It's always been impossible to lie to you."

  Leon sat next to him and stared at the fire. "So?"

  "Fine," he clipped. "I punched somebody. Happy?"

  "Depends on who you punched."

  "An asshole."

  "Want me to do someth
ing about him?" Leon asked, concerned.

  He shook his head. "No, don't get involved. It's my fight."

  It was his fight, he realized with a start.

  It was up to him to fight for Terry. It was up to him to take her back, to protect her, to make her happy. It was up to him change his future, their future.

  He wasn't going to wait anymore. He was a fool to decide on giving Terry all the time in the world to rethink about them.

  It was time to take her back.

  "Want me to take a look at your hand?" Leon spoke and John focused on him.

  "And make people think we're holding hands?" he scoffed. "Fuck, no."

  Leon looked like he wanted to hit him but thought better of it. John went back to staring at the fire, already making plans. His mood was better, his stance now laid-back.

  Fuck, yes, but he was fighting for Terry.

  Leon Gage was blocking my path.

  I was so surprised, I couldn't control my reaction and I blinked. This was the first time I've ever been this close to him.

  "What are you doing here?" I spoke slowly.

  He didn't answer my question. Instead, he asked in a monotonous voice, "You're still here even if it's summer?"

  Um, what the heck?

  "I'm in the student council now," I answered slowly. This was also the first time I've ever spoken to him and even though I wasn't afraid of him after knowing what I know, I still knew that I had to tread carefully. "They asked me to come for orientation."

  "Hmm," he murmured to himself.

  I stared at him, squaring my shoulders, waiting for him to say something else. He said nothing. In fact, he looked like he was waiting for me to say something. Shaking my head, I took a step to the side to make my way past him. But he blocked me again. I glowered at him.

  What the heck did he want from me?

  He didn't speak for awhile and I grew cautious. Mustering up my knowledge of karate, I took a deep breath and waited for him to do his next move. But when he finally spoke again, he took me by complete surprise again that I lost my composure.

  "John will pick you up next Friday," he said.

  Before the breath could entirely evacuate my lungs, he went on speaking.

  "He'll pick you and Hannah up for Sophia's birthday," he clarified. "You will be there to celebrate it with her."

  "Are you asking me or ordering me?" I seethed.

  "You'll come," he deadpanned.

  This high-handed bastard.

  "No, I won't," I replied in a hostile voice.

  Leon's brows rose. "It's Sophia's birthday. I thought you were friends?"

  His words gave me pause.

  Yes.

  We were friends.

  I was genuinely treating her as such now. But I wasn't putting myself in that unfortunate situation where I'd be confronted by John and end up hurting each other in the process again.

  But this would make Haru happy.

  This would make Haru lose a little of his anger.

  A week ago, as my brother had told John, we'd gone back to the restaurant and to our table. The minute I went back, I apologized profusely to the Camerons for leaving them like that but they were too bowled over by the sudden appearance of the Steele young master to think that what happened was suspicious. They all have such high opinions of the Steele family that when I tried to explain, to lie about what happened, they merely said it wasn't their business.

  "It's alright, dear," Patrick told me as Ethan nodded in complete understanding. "He must have had something very important to discuss with you if he couldn't wait for after dinner."

  Dad too was bowled over. He even said to me that I should have invited John to dinner with us. All I could give him was an awkward laugh. Invite him to dinner with us? I wasn't signing that death wish.

  Haru had excused himself as soon as the apologies were over, telling Dad someone from Japan needed him to call as soon as possible. It was a lie, of course. The place where John punched him had begun to bruise and he didn't want any of them to notice.

  For days after that, I feared Haru's punishment. But he'd gone back to Japan without a word to me. Nevertheless, this did not alleviate my worries. It just meant he was postponing it.

  Still, this was a good chance to make it up to Haru. I first needed to run this with him though to see if he would grant me his permission. I didn't want him hearing this from the bodyguards he left me. And I hoped he wouldn't give it.

  I really hoped.

  Gritting my teeth, I said, "Fine. I'll think about it. But if I'm going, you don't need to have someone pick us up. I can drive myself and Hannah to wherever you want us to go."

  "It's pretty far."

  "I'll drive," I insisted.

  Leon shrugged. "Suit yourself. I'll text you the details."

  "You don't have my number."

  "I know someone who does."

  I slid my gaze away from him and crossed my arms. I wasn't taking that bait. Leon then turned and walked away. But then he stopped and my body, which had begun to relax while he was leaving, turned solid again.

  Looking over his shoulder, Leon told me, "Don't give him a hard time."

  I blinked, confused at the sudden change of his voice which was thick and hoarse.

  "Who?" I asked innocently.

  He stared at me for a longer moment then shook his head. The he disappeared down the hall.

  When he left, my heart broke and I felt my eyes sting.

  Because it hit me just then why his voice had changed.

  It hit me that he was holding back emotion.

  Chapter 32

  No one batted an eye at the two clearly underage teenagers inside the classy and elegant bar.

  No one thought it was unusual, or illegal for that matter, for two teenagers to be sitting inside the VIP booth, looking like they belonged and have been going to bars since they were children.

  Everyone minded their own business in this place. Everyone who was anyone knew to keep their mouth shuts or face the wrath of the owners. And everyone knew who the two were and how close they were to the said owners.

  Bored out of his mind, John finished studying the inside of the bar and the people drinking and chattering and turned to Leon, who was slumped next to him in the booth.

  "Why did you have to bring me along?" he grumbled, munching on a fry.

  Leon looked at him. "You owe me, remember? For agreeing to your ludicrous plan? It's the first time I'll be celebrating Sophia's birthday with her. You think I didn't want it to be just the two of us at the beach?"

  "It'll be fun with more people," John said in defense.

  Leon raised an eyebrow. "Fun? I was into the idea when you said I should invite her friends. I didn't think you'll all come too. You're all are just going to piss me off, I know it. Now that I think about it, we should just scrap this beach party. If you think I'm letting Sophia wear a fucking bikini with you assholes around, you've got another thing coming."

  "You, sir, are selfish. And I've already promised to never take my eyes off Terry, which is not difficult by the way. Rohan won't even look at Sophia, the brat hates her remember?"

  "And Skull?"

  John blinked. Fuck, Skull was a wild card.

  "I'll choke him for you if he tries something funny with your girlfriend," he offered. "No one is allowed to mess with your girlfriend. I'll state that rule right and clear. And didn't you say you'll help me? Didn't you say you'll grant me an opportunity to talk to Terry straight?"

  "Yeah, but does this have to be on Sophia's birthday?"

  They were going around in circles again. But this time, John knew this wasn't about Sophia's birthday. From the way Leon was so irritable and difficult, this was because they were here, in a bar, waiting for its obnoxious owner.

  "I would have said we're even then but this is asking too much," John sulked. "I don't want to be here."

  "That makes two of us. Now shut up. He's here."

  John turned his head in time to see
James Black enter the bar. His eyes were scanning the patrons as the staff helped him off his jacket and gloves and John considered leaving, to hell with Leon. But then his eyes stopped when they found them, narrowing dangerously and John knew it was too late to betray his best friend.