chapter three

"Gosh it's so cold today," I shivered lightly rubbing my arms as the cold winter air kissed my arms and legs.

It was Monday, I was on my way to school but the cold was just unbearable and worse off I didn't have any warm clothes or a hoodie that could protect me from the cold, the only thing I had was a thin sweater and some torn pants.

Just great!

I walked in the quiet streets, shivering like a chicken drenched in water until---

"Hey Princess," I heard that husky voice again and my heart beat increased as he caught up to me walking alongside me.

'Oh God, this man will get me into trouble!' I muttered to myself while scanning the road to see if mom's car was anywhere in sight.

If she saw me talking to a man right now then she would definitely kill me!

"You are shivering," he removed the hoodie he had on and handed it to me saying,

"Here wear this, it will help,"

"No, thank you," I brushed him off picking up pace, trying to create a distance between us but as if he had inhuman speed, he caught up to me and held my shoulders, forcing me to stop walking.

"Le -- let me go," I stuttered feeling scared out of my mind that he was going to kidnap me. No, I didn't want to get kidnapped and there was no one passing around to help me!

"I'm not going to hurt you," he removed the backpack that was on both my shoulders,

" I just don't want the most important girl in my life to freeze to death," he muttered under his breath then proceeded to dress me up in the sweet-smelling brown, fluffy and warm hoodie that instantly made me feel warm.

"There. Better, hm?" He asked and I shyly nodded my head averting my gaze.

"Victoria," I said lowly and it's like he heard me because he responded,

"That's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl like you. Nice to meet you Victoria, but I will let you go on your way now, it won't be good if you are late for class. Have a good day, Ria," with that he walked off leaving me standing there wondering what just happened.

I looked at the beautiful hoodie and even though it made me feel warm, I was scared that if my mom saw me wearing it she would kill me and accuse me of being a hoe again but oh well, it's the risk I'm willing to take. Rather than dying of cold, the least I can do is endure her torturous words.

I looked at my watch and it was only fifteen minutes left for school to start.

I hurried walked off and thankfully I arrived before the last bell could ring.

"Hey there nerdy," I groaned internally when my all-time bully and tormentor Jason, popped out of nowhere and sat right next to me.

"What do you want?" I said in a bored uninterested tone and all he did was chuckle.

He tried to touch my hair but I pushed his hand away glaring daggers at him,

"Oh, someone is feisty today, did you eat something spicy when coming to school cause you are feisty and hot today!"

I scoffed taking my notebook and trying to drown off the noise he was making by drawing random things.

"Hey, nerdy I'm talking to you," he was about to yank the notebook out of my hand but as if on cue, the lecturer walked in.

He scowled at me and then went back to his seat while my friend Wendy occupied the seat he sat on earlier.

"You okay?" she asked and I gave her a small nod clearly not affected by Jason's torments, I was already used to it.

"You look vibrant today, and that's a pretty Hoodie that is too big on you," she commented with a small laugh and I couldn't help but smile looking at the hoodie and thinking about the random stranger whom oddly enough I couldn't remember his name.

" Uuuu, is someone in love?" Wendy teased and I'm pretty sure my cheeks were a dark shade of red by now,

"It's a boy, isn't it?? Tell me all about it!"

"Miss Green, keep it down or it's detention!" the lecturer spoke looking directly at Wendy who instantly went mute and fixed her eyes on the board.

I let out a soft sigh equally looking at the board but my mind was instantly occupied by those piercing golden eyes that I couldn't stop thinking about.

How can a stranger I've only met three times have such an effect on me?

"And that concludes the class, expect a test on Wednesday and it will cover everything we've learnt today,"

"What?" I whispered to myself shaking my head only to realise that the lecturer was gone and angry groaning students were walking out of the classroom muttering curses under their breaths.

"Test did I just hear him say test???"I asked Wendy who was still sitting next to me.

"Um yeah, we have a test on Wednesday but don't worry at least he has taught us everything we need to know ------ and by that look, you are giving me, it seems you didn't hear a thing, did you?"

"Of course, I didn't!"

"That's weird cause I looked at you and your eyes were on the board. You looked like you were focused, even scribbling down the notes,"

I looked at what I was scribbling and it wasn't notes but I drew the stranger's face all over my notebook!!!

"Yeah, it doesn't take a genius to know that you weren't paying attention and you just drew a boy's face. Ahh Vicky is in love," she teased bumping her shoulder into mine but I was in panic mode.

How am I going to study for the test? I didn't even understand a thing or even get what he was talking about!

"Hey, no need to panic, I will create some time and teach you okay, it's a shame you don't have a phone but otherwise, I would have sent you some copies of my notes,"

"Yeah , that's the problem what am I going to do? If I fail this test, my mom will kill me!"

"Don't worry, we will figure it out okay, let's go or we will be late for our next class. Oh and by the way, the test we were suppose to write today has been cancelled, " she informed while I pack up my stuff,

" Cancelled but why?" I asked as we walked to our next class of the day.

" Mr Chris said that he wasn't feeling well so it's been shifted to wednesday,"

"Wednesday ?!"

"Yep, the same day we are having a chemistry test,"

"But but this isn't fair! How am I going to study for both tests now!"

" Chill Vicky, I will help you," she patted my shoulder and I let out a sigh,  pushing all  thoughts away and concentrating on the class.

In no time the day was done,

"Sorry Vicky, I know I was supposed to help you with studying but my mom just texted and she says she's already in the parking lot waiting for me, I will see you tomorrow okay,"

"But Wendy what about my test?" I inquired and all she did was give me a look of sympathy.

"I'm sorry Vicky, see you tomorrow okay," she kissed my cheek and walked off while I stood there in the hallway feeling defeated.

I slowly walked out of the halls going outside to the parking lot and

"hey you!"

A voice from behind me startled me and I instantly turned around in a protective stance

"Woah, I'm so sorry Ria, I didn't mean to scare you," it was the handsome stranger and he had his arms lifted in surrender, showing me that he meant no harm.

You scared me I said placing my hand on my chest.

"Um sorry love, I didn't mean to scare you," he slowly dropped his hands while I turned around walking off and he walked next to me.

"You seem upset, is everything okay?" He asked but I didn't respond. I know I was being rude but what else can I do, my grades were at stake and it's not like he was going to teach me or anything.

"Hey, I don't like seeing you like this," he held my shoulders again, stopping me and I could feel the same sparks from earlier.

"They say a problem shared is a problem solved. Please talk to me,"

"I don't want to talk about it, leave me alone alright," I removed his hand from my shoulder and proceeded to walk off but he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer to his chest and I took in a deep breath as the amazing perfume he had on engulfed my nose like a cold blanket on a winter night. He smelled amazing.

I took in another deep breath and I couldn't get enough of the amazing scent.

"You can tell me, I promise I will help you in any way I can, let me help, "

"I've got a test on Wednesday," I blurted it out enjoying the warmth that his body was providing.

He was oddly warm--- too warm despite him only wearing a long-sleeved round neck shirt that hugged his muscle tightly.

"And what about the test, hmm?" he softly asked caressing my hair.

Forgetting all about the fact that we were a few feet away from school grounds, I relaxed in his arms.

I know I wasn't suppose to be this free and relaxed in a stranger's arms but he made me feel oddly safe and secured.

Like I was protected.

"I didn't understand a thing and I need someone to help me or else I will fail," I proceeded to explain and after two seconds of silence he responded-

"Which topic?"

I looked at him and wondered why he was so interested

"Buffer solutions in chemistry, I don't know what it is but--"

"I know what it is and I can help you,"