Chapter 10 – Trouble
–LIA’S POV–
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I had watched Blake beat the shit out of him. This wasn’t possible. Zane couldn’t have showed up with no bruising to his face. It had only been a day. Was he wearing makeup?
I almost stepped forward to approach him, but stopped myself. The Hounds were with him. I didn’t know if they knew he’d been. meeting me. And from the way he did not stop to say anything to me, it seemed that they didn’t. But what was going on?
“Hey gorgeous,” Blake’s voice called, making me tear my gaze from Zane. Blake walked up to me, and his face looked untouched as well. I was certain I’d heard his nose break, so what the hell was happening? “How are you?” He smiled at me, as though everything was perfectly normal, just how it was supposed to be.
As though he hadn’t dragged Zane out of my house and into the forest with murder on his mind. As if he hadn’t snapped at me.
I stepped away from him, my eyebrows knitting together. “What… how do you look like that?”
Christy snickered. “What do you mean, Lia? I know he’s good looking, but it is how God created him.”
“Goddess, apparently,” I muttered.
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Blake smiled. “And you are?” he asked Christy.
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She gave me a shove. “You’re not gonna introduce me to your boyfriend?”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I said at once. For some reason, my gaze shifted to Zane who was a distance away, with his friends. The ghost of a smile appeared on his face as soon as I said that.
“I’m not?” Blake asked, his face falling.
I glanced at him, frowning. “I… we never… you mean–”
Blake burst out laughing, and shook his head. “Just messing with you, Lia.” He glanced at Christy. “I’m not her boyfriend. As yet.”
“As yet…” Christy sang, making suggestive sounds.
Heat rose to my cheeks. “Shut up, Chris.”
Blake chuckled.
“Anyway,” she said, sounding unnecessarily sweet, “I’m gonna leave you two love birds alone. For the first time, I’m not anxious about The Hounds being close by. Thanks for that, Blake. Thanks for taking care of her.”
“I’ll always take care of her,” Blake promised, and warmth
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spread in my chest.
“Aw,” Christy cooed. “Alright, bye bye. See you in class.”
She walked away, leaving me with Blake.
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Now I could ask him. “Where did you go that night, Blake?” I asked. “I saw him break your nose. How is it not broken?”
Blake frowned. “He didn’t break my nose.‘
“He did,” I replied. “I know what I saw. And what I heard.” I reached up and touched the bridge of his nose, examining it.
Blake laughed, taking my wrist and pushing my hand away. “What are you doing, Lia? My nose is fine.”
“It shouldn’t be!”
“You’re upset that my nose isn’t broken?” he asked.
“Yes, I mean, no, I’m confused.”
“You’re confused whether you’re happy or sad about my nose not being broken?”
I frowned. “No. I’m confused about what’s happening.”
Blake leaned in, instantly making my heart race. “What’s happening, Lia, is that you’re falling in love with me. You’re
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Chapter 10 – Trouble
imagining things.”
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I blinked. “I—I’m not… and even if I was, why would I imagine your nose breaking?”
“Maybe you’re into violence.” He shrugged.
“Blake…”
“Lia…”
“Something is wrong,” I stated. “Things aren’t making any
sense.”
Now he sighed, the previous amusement diminishing. “Do you want me to go and break my nose? Will that relax you? I can do that.”
“Of course not,” I said softly.
“Then please,” he took my shoulders, “relax. Stop overthinking it. You were very tired that night, Lia. Have you considered that you might have misunderstood a few things that happened? Or didn’t happen?”
I thought about it. He was right. I hadn’t slept at all the entire night before. Maybe I was imagining things. Maybe I was delusional.
‘So you’re saying you never came to my house?”
Chapter 10 – Trouble
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“No,” he laughed, “I’m not saying you’re cuckoo. I’m saying that your brain is exaggerating things. I did come to your house, I did find Zane in there, I did fight with him. But no one broke anyone’s nose, legs or arms. It was a petty fight. Look at Zane, he’s fine too. You think he’d be looking like that if there was a serious fight between the two of us? I’d mess him up.”
I think I knew that. But only if Zane wasn’t fighting back.
“You’re right,” I said softly. “That makes a lot of sense.”
“It does. Now we’re getting late for class. We don’t want you losing your scholarship, do we? Let’s go.”
I nodded, biting my lip as he took my hand and started leading me away. I went with him, but turned my head to glance at Zane. He was already looking at me when I did, and he winked at me, making me quickly look away.
“You good?” Blake asked, looking at me.
“Yes, yes. Let’s go.”
I heard a faint chuckle behind us as we turned the corner.
Blake and I had most classes together and the entire time, he remained stuck to my side. I didn’t mind it at all, because for the
Chapter 10 – Trouble
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first time, I wasn’t bullied. Whenever anyone tried to make any sarcastic comments or throw any insults my way, Blake was quick to shut them down, making it absolutely clear that I wasn’t to be messed with anymore. As the day passed, I forgot about everything that happened on my birthday, and I forgot about Zane Adams.
The last period approached, a class both Blake and Zane shared with me. Zane usually never showed up for it, so I was completely relaxed.
“Today was so calm,” I said to Blake. “This is the first time I’ve taken classes so peacefully.”
He grinned. “I’m glad I could help.”
“I don’t know what I’d do without you, Blake,” I said softly.
Before he could respond, the door of the class opened, and in strolled Zane Adams. All heads turned to him, including Blake’s.
And well, mine.
“Look who decided to show up.” Even the teacher was surprised to see him. “Mr. Adams, if you’re here to cause chaos, just leave immediately. I will not tolerate any misbehaviour in my classroom.”
For some reason, Zane glanced at me when he said that. “Don’t worry, Mr. Hall. There won’t be any misbehaviour at all.”
Chapter 10 – Trouble
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A shiver crawled through me, my heart beat picking up. I looked away from him, shifting my gaze to Blake. The softness in his eyes had vanished, his entire body tense.
Zane, on the there hand, walked towards me,
casual and easy
as ever. He dropped his bag beside me, and I held my breath, glancing at Blake to see his reaction. Blake looked like he was ready to kill him once again.
Apparently, Zane was also watching him, and he chuckled in victory and moved on, taking the seat just behind mine. I let out a slow breath.
“Let’s go to the cafeteria,” Blake said, grabbing my hand under
the desk.
I frowned. “No. I have to take this class.”
Blake clenched his jaw, looking away from me.
I swallowed, feeling uneasy.
“Trouble in paradise,” Zane whispered behind us.
I turned to him, shooting him a look. “There’s no such thing,” I stated. “And mind your own business.”
Zane smiled at me, placing his hand under his chin. “I am.” He winked again.
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Chapter 10 – Trouble
I sucked in a breath.
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“Mr. Adams,” Mr. Hall snapped, making me flinch and turn away from Zane. “I will see you in detention.”
“She was talking to me,” Zane whined dramatically. “Lia is the one you should give detention to!”
“No, you shouldn’t,” I said, trying to defend myself. “I was just–”
“Both of you,” Mr. Hall cut me off, “out of my class. Right now. I don’t have time for this.”
“Bingo,” Zane whispered, loud enough that only Blake and I heard him.
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