Deadly to Love (11 page)

She wrapped her arms around me as she moved to sit beside me. “I’m so sorry Rea,” she whispered as she held me and I cried on her shoulder.

A few people came into the toilets while we were there, but after taking one look at us they quickly left. We sat in silence until my tears finally dried.

“Do you want to eat something? I can go get you something if you don’t want to see anyone,” she asked eventually.

“No I’m not hungry, but thanks,” I said as I leaned my head back against the cool tiled wall, closing my eyes as I did.

“Chlo do you mind covering for me this weekend?” I knew it was an abrupt change of topic but I was all cried out and needed a distraction.

“Sure, but what are you doing and how long are you meant to be with me?”

“Um just until the end of the weekend, I’ll text you if it’s earlier,” I said, hoping she wouldn’t notice I had failed to answer her first question but of course she did.

“OK but what are you doing? And the fact you ignored that part makes me think it’s something I won’t like.” She folded her arms over her chest in a stubborn gesture but her eyes were full of worry.

“Yeah you’re right, but please don’t freak out. I was online with Kai when I saw the fire and when he heard about it he logged off instantly, saying he was coming here.”

She was just staring at me in surprise.

“I met him last night as I needed to get out of the house and we are meeting up again today so he can tell me everything.”

Chloe’s face changed into a stern line. “Um OK, but shouldn’t you be, like mourning your dad’s death or something, not meeting up with your boyfriend? I mean what about your mum?”

I frowned at her comments, she had just seen me balling my eyes out, how could she say I wasn’t mourning?

“I need a distraction Chlo, the more I think about it the more I end up like this and even though grieving is a natural process I don’t want to be like this everyday. He’s picking me up here at the end of the day, so you can interrogate him then if you want.”

She smiled a little at the thought of that but thankfully said nothing more on the subject.

“Lunch is almost over, we should probably get to class, I can’t afford another late.”

She held out her hand to pull me up.

“I’d splash some cold water on your face too, your eyes are still pretty red.”

Nodding, she left as I turned to look in the mirror for the first time today.

My eyes were red, swollen and had dark circles beneath them. I had a cut on my lip from where I had been chewing it absent mindedly and my hair was far away from its usual sleek, silky look. What I was wearing didn’t help either but I had gone for comfort today rather than looks; my oversized hoodie offering support when I snuggled into it. I decided I wasn’t going to be able to do anything to improve my looks and headed to history regrettably.

Ian was already sat down, as was most the class when I arrived. A few murmurs and curious glances looked my way as I walked to my seat but I ignored them, still deep in my own thoughts.

“I heard what happened last period, are you OK?” He looked so sincere as he spoke while I was sitting down next to him.

“Just a rough night.” I said nonchalantly, trying to brush off his questions and prying eyes but he knew me too well.

“I know you’re lying Rea. C’mon, you can tell me. Is it that ass Kai?”

I smiled slightly, despite my best efforts to hide it. As soon as I realised I would have to tell him though my smile dropped instantly. The thought of having to reiterate everything was creating a lump in my throat that I couldn’t shift.

“No, as much as I wish it was guy problems it’s not. It’s my dad; he um... he died.” I whispered so quietly I’m not sure he heard. I was shocked by how bluntly the words had come out and as they did they rang with finality. It was the first time I had actually said the words out loud and for once I believed them, some gut feeling was telling me it was true.

I heard Ian gasp loudly besides me, interrupting my thoughts and then felt his strong arm as it wound around my shoulders; giving them a squeeze. He didn’t say anything for awhile, obviously in shock but soon his eyes found mine again.

“How?” Was the only word he said.

“Forest fire near the house. That’s all I want to say though OK? Because I seriously can’t handle much more right now and I don’t want to have to run out of another class because I’m about to cry.”

He gave my shoulder another squeeze as I found my head leaning into the familiar shape of his body.

“Miss Jackson, would you care to answer me?”

I snapped up at the sound of Mr Bait’s voice. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I peeled myself out of Ian’s arms.

“Sorry Mr Baits, I didn’t hear you,” I said guiltily.

“I can see that Serena. How about you Ian? You got the answer to my question?”

I hated Mr Baits for what he was doing. I felt like telling him why I hadn’t been listening and making him feel as embarrassed as I did, but that would have meant confessing my dad’s death to the whole class so I kept my mouth shut.

“Sorry Sir, I can’t help you,” Ian said with one of his cocky, laid back smiles that always seemed to get him off the hook.

Mr Baits muttered something under his breath before moving on to someone who was listening, giving Ian the chance to turn back to me. “I’m sorry Rea, I can’t even imagine what you’re going through. I’m here for you if you want okay?”

Nodding I whispered a thanks and we sat through the rest of the lesson in silence, even though neither of us were paying attention. As we got up to leave, Ian stayed with me.

“You sure you’re going to be okay?” he asked, making me face him by holding me at arms length so he could study me.

“No of course not, my dad just died, but I’ll manage.”

He seemed satisfied with my response, probably because it was honest.

I started walking towards the main entrance when I noticed he was still following me.

“Don’t you have football practise?” I asked hoping he said he did so he wouldn’t see me leaving with Kai.

“Nope, coach cancelled it as none of us wanted to play in the heat.”

Great
, I thought.
A conflict is just what I need.

“Oh, he’d really do that? You lot are a bunch of wimps,” I said feeling slightly more like my old self. Telling the truth and admitting the likelihood of my dad’s death seemed to have taken some of the weight off my shoulders.

“Yeah Yeah, you netball girls have it so much easier.” I elbowed him in the ribs as we walked through the door, to see crowds of girls all staring in one direction.

I had already guessed what they were looking at before I saw him. He was once again leaning against his black Lambo, arms folded as he watched the door.

“Who the hell is that?”

I cringed as he spoke, not wanting to answer him.

“That’s...um, that’s Kai,” I said, flinching as I waited for a torrent of words to flow my way. None came though, instead I looked over to see Ian had already begun striding towards him, fists clenched at his side.

Shit this isn’t what I need right now.

Hurrying after him I called out, trying to get him to stop, but of course he wasn’t listening. Kai turned his head towards us as we approached him, pushing himself of his car in what I guessed was preparation to fight if necessary.

“What are you doing here? Didn’t she tell you what I’d do if I ever saw your face round these parts?” He jerked his thumb angrily in my direction, obviously not put off by the size difference. Ian had a good physique too but he was toned rather than muscular like Kai. I gave up protesting as neither of them were listening to me and just watched. I didn’t know how Kai was going to react to Ian but I definitely didn’t expect him to throw his head back and laugh.

“What’s so funny? You don’t believe me?”

I tried to step in between them but Ian pushed me to the side.

“Stay out of the way Rea. I warned you what would happen if he ever came here Rea.”

I don’t know if he meant to push me so hard but it caused me to stumble and I ended up on the floor. Seeing this Kai’s eyes suddenly got darker, his joking no longer visible.

“Don’t you lay another hand on her,” he hissed through his clenched jaw as he walked towards me, holding his hand out to help me up, his eyes never leaving Ian’s. I looked around embarrassed by the scene and once I did I regretted it instantly. There must have been at least a hundred people looking on from the distance, waiting to see how far the guys would take it.

Kai wrapped his arm around my shoulders as he pulled me towards his car, making sure he kept his body between Ian and myself.

“You hurt?” he asked, his eyes still on Ian and he guided me to the open passenger door. I shook my head in response. “Wait in the car.” I shook my head again, there was no way I was leaving those two out there on their own, I didn’t want to witness another fight.

“Bit possessive isn’t he Rea?”

Before I was worried about Ian, now I was just pissed.

“Go home Ian, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.” Before Kai had finished Ian’s fist flew at his face. Kai quickly dodged the punch though, stepping to the side while pushing me out the way. Then quicker than I thought possible he grabbed Ian’s arm in a vice like grip using the momentum to catch him off balance and twist his arm up behind his back. Ian raised his leg to try and kick back at Kai’s shin but on seeing this Kai pulled his arm slightly higher, causing him to yelp in pain.

“I told you to go home. Rea isn’t your girlfriend anymore and you have no right to start throwing punches.” Kai had lowered his head so his mouth was right next to Ian’s ear.

“You are lucky I have so much more self control than you, but be warned; if you ever try something like that again you’ll spend your whole life regretting it. You have no idea what I’m capable of so I wouldn’t test me.” With a final shove Ian flew to the ground, tripping over his own feet.

He glared at me as he stood up, brushing himself off but I barely spared him more than a glance. My attention was focused on Kai, his performance had scared me a little, he hadn’t shouted or lost his cool like Ian had but that made it worse. He seemed to get bigger, more powerful as he spoke in a harsh voice and his eyes blazed with anger, hot enough to melt ice.

As I watched him I saw Chloe starting to head over but I stopped her with a shake of my head. Now was not the time to start questioning Kai.

“Shall we go?” Nodding I let him once again drape an arm over my shoulders as he guided me to his car. I was scared to question him and even though my doubts had gone into overdrive I wasn’t thinking rationally amongst all the chaos.

“You’re not seriously going to get in a car with that psycho are you Serena?”

Rolling my eyes at Ian I sighed then nervously glanced at Kai who was staring at him in disgust.

Thankfully Chloe had ignored me and was just behind Ian when he spoke.

“Give it a rest Ian. You’re making a fool out of yourself, have you seen how many people are watching you? Let her go, you lost her remember?” she said as she moved to stand in front of him, blocking his path to Kai. He muttered something I didn’t catch under his breath but Chloe heard.

“She maybe, but that’s up to her. You need to go now.” She pushed him in the chest, emphasising her point and thankfully he retreated back to go and catch a bus.

With Ian gone the crowds diminished significantly, but a few stayed to see what happened next.

“What the hell happened Rea?” Chloe then turned on me, her eyes creased with confusion.

“You know Ian. He never thinks, he just saw Kai and charged over here.” Nodding she clearly understood what Ian was like.

“So you’re the infamous Ka,.” she stated, giving him one of her most dazzling smiles as she eyed him appreciatively. He gave a curt nod, still tense from the previous event.

“You better take care of her yeah? She’s been through hell and back the last month and if I hear so much as a moan from her you’ll be facing me.” I laughed at her. She was obviously making it clear that she didn’t trust or like him, even though she had just gotten rid of Ian. It was also obvious that Chloe would prove no match for Kai. Then turning to me she said. “What am I telling your mum or aunt if they phone? I didn’t get a chance to ask you earlier.”

“Just the usual, or make something up if you want, you’re smart,” I said as I started to slide into the black leather seat of the Lamborghini. Nodding she walked off back towards the rest of the girls and Kai walked around to the driver’s side.

* * * *

“So where are you taking me?” I finally asked after an hour of silence.

“How long have you got until you have to be home?” he said, his eyes never wavering from the road. He had a tight grip on the wheel and I guessed he was still angry about Ian.

“I’ve got Chloe covering until Sunday night unless I text her. So where we going?”

“Casonde Beach.” The car sped along the road and out of Rinth as he spoke and I wondered what I had let myself in for.

We drove in silence again for another few hours before he finally broke it.

“We haven’t got much further to go. How you feeling today? You look like you’ve been crying.”

Sighing I turned to face him. “Yeah I didn’t get much sleep last night and I’ve been thinking a lot about him today. I had to run out of a few lessons as I was close to tears. Only Chloe and Ian know what’s happened though.”

His hand reached out and rested on my thigh in reassurance. “It’ll get easier, I promise.” He smiled at me for the first time since we left college as he said that and I hoped his bad mood had passed.

“Why did you tell Ian though?”

I mentally groaned, not wanting to talk about him.

“He could tell I was lying, he knows me too well so I had to and I’m sorry about how he acted back there,” I said, wringing my hands together as I spoke.

“You don’t need to apologise for him Rea. I can handle myself, anyway, he’d be easy to beat.” He shrugged and focused back on the road.

“So do I get any answers now or do I have to wait until we get there?”