Chapter 5

Chapter 6

“I can’t believe that happened to you.” Danielle frowns as we enter the school gates and I shrug.

“I’m used to it by now if I'm being completely honest.” She frowns and I look away. She came home only a little after I fell asleep last night, and ranted on and on about her date and how great it went. I breathed a sigh of relief knowing he wasn’t a douche and that he made her happy, even if it was only one date.

My eyes landed on Sammy, who leaned in the same spot, just staring at me. It was getting creepy. I looked away and walked faster into the school hall, as Danielle lagged behind.

“Can you come on?” I tilt my head at her and she nods.

“I’m coming.”

“You’re waiting for him aren’t you?”

“Is It that obvious?” I give her a small smile and decide that I would wait with her.

He shows up just a few minutes later and she blushes as he hands her a bouquet of flowers. And engulfs her in a hug.

“Thank you.” She squeaks before clearing her throat. He nods at me then whispers something in her ear to which she giggles.

Feeling like I'm interrupting, I take a step away and use my feet to play with some of the pebbles on the ground.

If Danielle was happy, then she was happy.

#

I hated chemistry.

“I can’t believe I got a freaking D again! I studied so hard.”

Danielle scowled at the paper in front of her and shoved it into the folder. As for me, I got a fat F, and I crushed it and threw it in the bin.

Without saying anything, we walked outside the classroom only for me to collide with a hard body. I take a step back to find Samuel looking down at me, and my breath hitched in my throat.

Even Danielle stuttered from behind me.

The entire hall was silently looking at us, some with their eyes filled with fear.

“Loa.” He melodically calls my name and I gape.

“I-"

“Let’s speak outside.” He nods towards the door and I frown.

“About what?” He doesn’t answer just turns to Danielle who visibly flinches and takes a step back.

“Carter is waiting for you by your locker, you should go.” He says.

“I’m not leaving her wi-“

“Notice,” He starts sternly, his eyes darkening and my frown deepens. “that I didn’t ask a question.”

“Its okay D, I'll be back soon.” She gives me a worried look before throwing him a weak scowl and hesitantly walks off.

He holds out his hand, and I quickly avoid them, basically sprinting outside.

“Why are you being a jerk to her?"

“I wasn’t. I made a statement.”

“You made a demand.” I fold my arms and he tilts his head.

“What happened to your face?” He raises his hand to touch the bruise and I move away.

“Nothing happened."

“Doesn’t look like ‘nothing’."

“Well, it is.”

“Are you being abused? Is someone bullying you again? You can tell me.” He prods and I clench my jaw.

“I’m fine.”

“Let me help you.” He ducks his head to look at me, coming closer and my heart rate quickens.

“I don’t need any help.” I defend, standing my ground and he’s silent.

“Are you afraid of me Loa?” He asks are lowly, his face cold.

“Should I be Samuel?” I ask in the same tone and he swallows.

“No, you should not.”

“Then I am not.” We continue staring at each other heatedly, and I’m sure everyone was scared for me but I was being honest when I said that I wasn’t afraid of him. And I’m not sure why.

“Come with me after school.”

“Where?” I question.

“Wherever you want to go, I’ll take you."

“I don’t date,”  I warn and he shakes his head.

“It isn’t a date.” I pounder on it and slowly nod. A ghost smile caresses his face and I gulp, hoping I don’t regret this.

Danielle is going to kill me.

#

Anywhere you want to go.

I guess that's why I was now at a local bar a good four hours from my home. I had told Danielle that I had some things to take care of, and she eagerly agreed. At least Carter was keeping her company; I finally learned his name today.

"So a bar?" Samuel questions from the booth and I nod, almost happily. "Why?"

"Because I've never been to one," I answer simply. He leans back in his seat and stares at me.

"You're always looking at me at school, why?" He shrugs and says no more.

"You're not drinking any alcohol by the way. I suggest you enjoy the smell." I crinkled my nose. It smelled like sweat and sex. And I would know what both smelt like; my house always had a similar smell. "Loa."

"Yea?"

"Will you tell me about you?" I look up at him, and he was now leaning forward.

"Um . . . w-what would you like to know?"

"Anything . . . everything."

"I hardly know you." I laugh

nervously.

"To be fair, I'll tell you about myself."

"There are some things I can't . . ."

"I understand, I as well." The ghost smile returns and I find myself slowly giving him one of my own.

"Alright well. . . My name is Loa Vera-"

"Your name is strange." He comments and I chuckle.

"I take no offense to that, I like it. Kinda like Aloe Vera."

"It's bitter." He raises an eyebrow at me and I nod.

"But has healing properties, and it's also known for numerous things like curing acne, soothing cuts, and burns."

He nods approvingly, "Continue."

"I'm 17, I uh . . . what else?"

"What do you like to eat?"

"Oh . . . well, I don't eat much but I like pizza?" I just choose any food, mainly because there was a very small number on the things I've eaten before.

I haven't even tried Lasagna.

"What's your favorite color?"

"I don't have one." I bite the inside of my cheek.

"What about you?"

"I like yellow."

"Yellow?" I repeat surprised and he nods.

"Symbolizes hope. The sun will shine tomorrow type of shit. I need it." Samuel seemed so weird. Everything he said, he said it in almost a monotonous tone, and his face was always stone cold and stern.

"I have a question." He stays quiet.

"Are all of the rumors true?" I ask reluctantly and he tilts his head.

"What do you believe?"

"I haven't known you long enough to decide."

"Depends on what you've heard. Believe the worst of the worsts, they may be true. Anything less means that I wasn't angry . . . my anger is either at 0 or 100, there's no in-between." A shiver runs down my spine at how serious he sounded as if he isn't talking about how heated he could get.

"Have you ever . . ." I took a deep breath. "Sought help?"

He smirks, and that's the closest have seen to a real expression on his face. "I'm sure you heard that one, my previous anger management teacher was only recently removed from the hospital after I put him in a coma."

I was silent, unsure of what to say.

"Still not afraid?" He whispers, leaning closer and my breath hitches.

"Would you hurt me?" I ask and something flashes in his eyes, his arrogant demeanor dropping.

"I would never." I gulped, nodding slowly.

"Then I'm not afraid." I don't know what happened but he just seemed as relieved as he nodded at me, his tense composure dropping.