“Guys, we’ll be back in a minute, grab a table,’’ Malik orders. His brothers nod leaving us to go find a table. When we start walking towards the exit he places one hand on my lower back then leans in to whisper close to my ear, sending shivers down my spine as usual. “Oh and don’t think I didn’t notice your hand,’’ he growls.
Well shit.
I nod my head again, not really into the idea of making a fool out of myself again by saying something stupid. Great, now I have that bloody song in my head-you know the one, ‘then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like I love you.’ I think I may have bumped my head back in the cafeteria because I feel like I’m going crazy.
Malik walks me to the boy’s gym room to grab me a spare shirt. Once he walks out with it in his hands he gestures over to the girl’s gym room for me to change.
It doesn’t take me long to get changed into his shirt, in fact, I think I spend longer smelling his scent on it than I do actually changing. My cheeks heat when I hear him cough.
“Did you just smell my shirt? Do I smell that bad or something because this isn’t the first time I caught you sniffing me?’’ he grins when I turn to face him.
“I… um… yes, it smells good okay,’’ I glare, giving him a warning look to not say anything else.
“Ahhh, so I smell good huh?’’ he smirks.
I roll my eyes before shoving past him out of the girl’s changing room. We’re walking out just as a group of girls are walking in. They see me first, sending me a glare, but turns into a gasp as soon as they see who is walking behind me. I end up laughing at their quick change in facial expressions; not bothering to look back with what I’m sure will now be death glares on their faces.
“Jesus the girls in this school are unbelievable,’’ Malik mutters under his breath when he catches up to my side. “You look good in my shirt by the way,’’ he whispers next to my ear, sending my whole body alight.
I’d have to agree with him. I love the way his shirt bags from my body and how the sleeves look rolled up, but the best part, I love the way it smells on me. I give him a sly smile not wanting to let on how much it pleases me that I’m wearing his shirt. He must read past it though if his smirk is anything to go by. Damn, nothing gets past him. He grabs a hold of my hand chuckling to himself as we walk back towards the cafeteria. I don’t even feel panicked or even free my hand from his which surprises me. Jesus, I’m literally putty in his hand. I’ve never reacted like this about a boy before, not even one I had crushes on from afar. What the hell has happened to me since I came here?
We walk into the cafeteria the same way, both holding hands, ignoring the stares from the other students. I honestly thought when we got there he would pull away from me, embarrassed to be seen holding the new girls hand.
People whisper around us, but I tune them out, not wanting them to ruin my moment with Malik. After all, I may never get a chance like this with him again. Plus, I couldn’t care less what they thought about me anymore. I’ve never done anything to any of them, but they’ve seemed to have made it clear I’m not welcome here. For whatever reasons they are, I don’t know. I don’t care to know. Some people are just that small minded that they will pick the smallest thing just to pick a fight against you or to fit in with the popular crowd.
“Awwwwww, look at you two all loved up,’’ Max calls sweetly.
“Shut up,’’ I frown.
“Just think, you’re like my sister in law now,’’ he chuckles earning a slap from Malik across the head.
“Too soon to be mentioning marriage bro?’’ he snickers, earning a glare from both of us as we take a seat opposite them. Denny is sitting next to Myles who is watching his brothers with amusement. I really want to laugh at Denny’s wide eyed, open mouth expression, but I don’t want her to think badly of me.
“You two…You are… How did I not know this? When did this even happen, girl? You’ve been here what? Two days? I’ve been trying to get… it doesn’t matter, but seriously, when?’’ she rants her cheeks pink.
“She’s a fast mover Denny. It was me yesterday, today Malik, tomorrow Myles. I have to, no, I need to warn Maverick and Mason,’’ Max exaggerates grabbing his phone from out of his pocket, and quickly dialling a number. I laugh when someone answers causing him to move the phone away from his ear.
“I love you too brother. I have some concerning news,’’ he says in a posh voice making me grin. He stands up, pushing his chair back before giving me a playful wink. “We have a nympho living next door to us. Yes Joan’s Granddaughter. It sounds cool and all when I say it, but bro, she’s got Malik wrapped around her little finger. Next it will be her body…. yeah… don’t talk wet it’s in the middle of the afternoon,’’ he says rolling his eyes. “Anyway bro, I got A’s to get. I just told you. Err… about our next door nympho. What does that have to do with you? Are you serious? Bro, she got me yesterday and Malik today, tomorrow the world,’’ he shouts down the phone, before pulling it away with a scowl. “He put the phone down,’’ he frowns looking genuinely upset which makes me laugh harder.
“Did you just call her a slut?’’ Denny asks in complete shock.
“Um… did you hear the word nympho?’’ he teases.
“I did, but I think it’s rude, and to be honest, the statement coming from you is hypocritical.’’
“Oh babe, I’m playing with my bro. Have you seen the way his hands are clenched like he wants to sucker punch me from across the table? Or that he keeps looking at Harlow expecting her to burst into angry tears? I’m loving it,’’ he laughs, that’s when I notice Malik’s hands are in fact balled into tight fists resting on his knees.
“So let me get this right before you go over to the girl that’s been eye fucking you since you stood up…’’ Denny starts.
“She was doing it before, it’s why I stood up,’’ he grins down at Denny. “Just doing my duty.’’
“Anywayyy,’’ she replies slowly rolling her eyes. “So you liked insulting a girl who doesn’t deserve it to get a reaction out of your brother just so you could get a smack in the teeth?’’
“He won’t smack me,’’ he says confidently, but I notice him giving Malik a quick look to make sure.
“I wouldn’t be so sure,’’ Malik growls.
“Love ya, but I gotta leave ya. Later babes, oh and Myles, can you make sure you take notes in last lesson for me?’’
“Urm, why?’’ Malik asks, his face looking like stone.
“I need to go to the dentist?’’
“You don’t have an appointment for the dentist. Granddad arranges them all and he always has you two go together,’’ Malik interrupts sounding much older than his years.
“I have the shits?’’ Max continues.
“You look fine to me,’’ I butt in rolling my eyes.
“Thanks,’’ he grins giving me a wink. “She thinks I’m fine,’’ he taunts Malik earning a chuckle from Denny.
“Your funeral. Make sure whoever the skank is that she’s worth it because Maverick is going to go nuclear on your ass when he finds out. Which he will, he always does.’’
“Like he didn’t skip school. Sometimes he acts more like a dad than a brother,’’ he snaps before rushing over to the girl that had been eye fucking him.
“Maverick is going to be pissed when he finds out,’’ Myles adds again in a lower tone than Malik used.
“Yeah, well, we’re not his keeper. Maverick needs to know we can’t make him do anything,’’ Malik shrugs.
“Hey, I have to go, want me to walk you to class?’’ Denny asks as Malik and Myles’s end their conversation.
“Yeah. I have free period last lesson so I’m going home early today,’’ I tell her standing up. A hand reaches for me, stopping me, causing tingles to spread up my arm. “Yeah?’’
“I’ll meet you after the next period ends then. I have free period too, so we can go back together to get something to eat and then work on our project,’’ Mali
k tells me.
“Okay. Um… want to meet me at the Oakland building by the stone bench?’’
“Sure. I’m in Bernard’s Hall, so it might take me a few extra minutes to get to you.’’
“That’s fine, I’ll meet you there,’’ I smile, blushing when he gives me that sexy grin of his.
By the time my last class had finished I was exhausted. Whether that was due to the anxiety attack I had last night or from the long day, I have no clue. My hand is still throbbing and has bruised nicely thanks to it going untreated.
I wait for Malik outside the Oakland building at the front of the school. He said he’d be late, so I take a seat just outside on the stone bench I mentioned to him earlier. I’m just glad I won’t have to wait in the freezing cold. Today is warmer than it usually is, but with it being the middle of Spring that’s not all that shocking. Then again, weather in England is pretty messed up. I’d be surprised if we don’t start having heat waves in the Winter and snow in the Summer. I miss the days when Spring was Spring, Summer was Summer etc. Winter can kiss my ass. It’s my most hated season, but I think it’s only because the majority of the year is freezing. My favourite time is Spring, it’s when my mom would go out in the garden and plant all her favourite flowers. She only got into gardening just before I started high school and it wasn’t long before it came another one of her hobbies.
Five minutes pass thinking about my mom in her garden back home when a shadow falls across me, blocking the sun from warming my skin.
“Hey are you ready?’’ I ask Malik, only to stand up and find Davis instead of Malik standing over me with a sneer upon his face. “What do you want?’’ I ask sounding bored, but inside my mind is screaming at me to walk away.
“You’re a fucking bitch do you know that? You’ve got a lot to learn little girl. I’m sure your boyfriends filled you in on what happened to the last girl that fucked me off,’’ he sneers.
“Do you mean brushed you off?’’ I snap, my stomach twisting. Is he on about the girl Denny was trying to tell me about yesterday? We never did get to finish that conversation and I wish we did now.
“You’re all talk Evans. Once I’m done with you, you’ll wish you never stepped foot in this school. Come in here with your high ass attitude, thinking you can talk to people how you wish. You’re in for a big surprise.’’
“And why is that? Because you’re going to make my life hell? News flash, there is nothing you could do to me that would hurt me,’’ I snap, my voice rising from the anger boiling within me. How dare he? Who does he think he is? I have a feeling not a lot of people listen to his warnings and get beaten down a lot; so he gets his kicks out of picking on innocent girls. It’s the only way boys like him can. I know the sort; after all, we had a few at my old school, but none as vicious as Davis. Something about him though has me feeling on edge. Yeah, he’s creepy, comes across as a serial killer, but it’s more than that. He has so much dark brewing inside of him that I would be surprised if he even had a beating heart.
“Is that a challenge,’’ he sneers stepping into my space.
“Move back,’’ I warn, holding my hand up, but he just smacks it away, hard, making me hiss out in pain when he hits the bruise that he made earlier. “I mean it,’’ I warn, my voice shaky as my confidence fades.
It happens so fast, his hands are on my shoulders, shoving me back, making me fall back until my back lands on the stone bench I had just been occupying. I land on my back with a grunt, the air getting knocked out of my chest.
Looming above me, he gives me an evil grin, his eyes raking my body as a cold chill sets upon me. The way his eyes rake over me is unnerving, and I wish I had the courage to cause a few lacerations to his body. Like a lot. Just the thought of causing him bodily harm has me grinning. On the inside of course, I’m not that stupid.
His body moves forward, his face getting in mine with a glare. I wince, my eyes watering as he grabs my face, his fingers digging into my cheek and chin making me look at him. Something tells me him being here isn’t a coincidence. Someone must have overheard mine and Malik’s conversation earlier in the cafeteria. It has to be that or Davis is stalking me. I’d prefer the first if I’m honest.
“I’m going to have fun with you. Bitches like you deserve to be taught a lesson.’’
“Get away from me,’’ I choke out, my nerves sky rocketing out of control.
With one easy swift movement he has me standing back up on shaky legs before pushing himself up against me. “You tell anyone, and I mean anyone, and I’ll make sure your Grandma doesn’t sleep soundly through the night again,’’ he must see the shock written on my face cause he makes a noise that sounds like a chuckle. “Oh, I know all about your busybody Grandma Harlow,’’ he taunts looking smug. “I also know where she leaves her spare key, but even if I didn’t, I know how to break through any lock in the neighbourhood without ever being caught. You should remember that. You’d be wise to, because one word to anyone and you’ll never know when I’ll be coming for you, it will be when you least expect it and mark my words, I’m going to fucking love destroying you.’’
He doesn’t say anything else as he forcefully grabs my face again sharply, most likely leaving more bruises on my pale skin. He pinches so hard that I close my eyes in pain. I should have kept them open and stayed alert when I feel his hands push at my chest.
My first reaction is to try and stop the fall, but his forceful push has my back smacking off the stone bench before I roll off the other side onto the grass. My body cries out in pain, but somehow I manage to keep myself from crying out. I quickly stand up preparing for another physical attack, but he’s gone by the time I look around, causing a rush of coldness to sweep through my body.
Wanting to get home and away from him in case he changes his mind and comes back, I grab my bag, shove the book I’d been carrying from my last lesson and head off towards the exit in a mad dash.
I’m in such a mad dash to hightail it out of there that when I get around the corner I bump into a hard body. I cry out a blood curdling scream when I feel my body being steadied. My whole body flinches from the touch and moves back away from him.
“Harlow? What’s wrong?’ a husky, worried voice asks.
“Malik?’’ is all I manage to cry out when I open my eyes. I fall into his arms, my world closing in around me. I’m praying like hell he doesn’t leave me here, not when Davis is lurking around or when I don’t know what he meant by ‘the last girl’ when he threatened me.
Chapter Six
It’s dark when I wake up in an unfamiliar bedroom. I know I’m not in my room because the bed smells different, but kind of familiar, and the bed feels smaller than my double bed my Gram’s had bought me before I moved in. The smell reminds me of the boy I’ve been infatuated with since I met him just over 24 hours ago. How much my life has changed over the past few weeks?
Sitting up I reach over to the bedside table, my fingers blindly searching for a lamp. When I find it, it takes me a few minutes to locate the actual switch. The room is bathed in light and with my first look around, I had guessed right on where I am.
Had Malik carried me all the way home, or did he get someone to pick us up? The room is empty with no signs of Malik. Getting out of the bed I look down with a loud squeal. I’m naked from the waist down bar my panties.
Oh my God, I am so going to kill him, I fume. Heading for the first set of drawers I grab out a pair of boxers knowing they’ll just be like wearing a pair of shorts if someone was to see me. How dare he strip me naked? Heading for the door in search of Malik so I can murder him, my eye catches a note with my name on it placed on the bedside table by the lamp. Picking it up angrily, I read the note, an evil smirk crossing my face as an idea pops into my head.
In the shower, so if you wake up don’t panic. I’ll be back in a few.
M
Moving down the hall to where I hear the shower running, I don’t even bother to give him the chance to cover himse
lf as I barge in unannounced. The door to the bathroom slams against the wall with force making me jump. Steadying my nerves I move over to the shower and rip the shower curtain aside only to let out a loud scream, my eyes frozen on the male body in front of me.
Jesus no, this can’t be happening.
Quickly placing my hands over my eyes so I can’t see I’m realising it’s too late. Even with my eyes closed and covered the image of the naked man in front of me will be forever burnt in my mind.
“Well, are you gonna stand there all night or you going to get in,’’ the male teases.
“By your invitation, I’m guessing you’re Mason,’’ I snarl, wondering why I’m so angry when it’s him I walked in on, not the other way around.
“Oh Baby, you’ve guessed right. Now take off your clothes and come on in, you’re making me uncomfortable standing there in all your clothes,’’ he drawls, my body backing away from the shower. I end up bumping into the sink behind me, letting out another squeal when I move my hands away from my eyes to steady myself. Before I know it, a wet body is standing next to me with his hands on my arm to help steady me.
“Woah there. Steady on. I should have taken Max’s warning earlier to heart. Although, he didn’t say how hot you were either,’’ he winks.
Another squeak leaves my mouth making him chuckle, “Please cover yourself up,’’ I beg.
“Hey what’s all the… what the fuck Mason, get some clothes on. What the fuck you doing naked in front of Harlow,’’ Malik growls, his voice full of anger when he sees me.
“She walked in on me bro, don’t lose your boxers,’’ he says, but then I sense him staring at me before he mutters, “Or just get another pair,’’ he says with a grin to his voice.
I want to roll my eyes at him, but I’m too embarrassed to move or to reopen my eyes. His penis was there, right there in full view. My first live penis and it’s with a complete stranger. I never wanted my first penis sighting to be like this. Just thinking about it has my cheeks heating.
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