Chapter 10
1007words
"What is it?" I asked.
"Don't turn around."
"There's no hiding from him."
"He insisted I told him what was up, Nina. I couldn't ."
I smelled his sweet masculine fragrance around me before his arms wrapped around my shoulders. He turned me in his direction. His eyes travelled up to my forehead and the seriousness in them was enough to intimidate anyone.
"What happened to you?" he asked me.
"I fell," I lied.
"What happened to you?" he asked again, not a trace of smile anywhere in sight. His eyes were narrowed in and dark now.
"I fell," I lied again and moved away from him just in time as Brooke and her friends walked in. She came right up to us and circled Jevan's neck in her evil arms, pulling him closer to her.
"Brooke, stop," he told her and removed her arms.
"Jevan, what's the matter with you?"
"You know what's the matter with me. You still go around wanting to give everyone the impression that you and I are still together when we're not. It's over. It's been over between us since last Christmas."
"Jevan, you're being irrational here. We had one misunderstanding and you want to end us just like that?" Brooke lashed out at him.
"A misunderstanding? You called my mother a bitch to my face!"
"She doesn't like me! And you never stood up for me at least once whenever she would pester me about my manners and my behaviour. There's nothing wrong with my manners and or behaviour!"
I watched as Jevan shook his head in pity of her and walked away. Brooke let out a loud scream and her face was a tomato red and she walked in the other direction. The bell rang and the halls got scarce from students.
Nina, Sophia and I walked to our class.
"I can't believe they've broken up since last year," Nina said.
"Brooke is so good at pretending."
"Blossom, I think he's about to be all yours now and there's nothing you should be afraid of because if it's one person who Brooke is afraid of, it's Jevan Hollen."
"So, if he ask to be his girlfriend, would you say yes?"
We stopped together and their eyes stayed on me, waiting for my answer.
"I don't know. This is all too much, too quickly," I said.
"Well, it's not going to slow down for you. The connection is already there but I get what you're saying. You just want to go with the flow."
We continued on our way to class.
_________
At lunch, we couldn't help it but keep our eyes out for Connor, but Jevan came instead. He took my hand and gestured for us to follow him. He lingered with me in the hallway while Nina and Sophia went on ahead of us.
"I know what Brooke did to you. I just wish you were honest to me about it."
"I'm sorry. I'm afraid of her."
"You don't have to be afraid of a bully like Brooke because you're giving her exactly what she wants. At some point in your life, you have to stand up for yourself, especially at this school. Don't allow anyone, no matter how big, how rich or how powerful they are, to push you around. Okay?"
"Okay," I answered.
"Come here." He gently pulled me against his chest and my worries, fears and problems melted away. His heart beat matched mine as I listened and felt it against my ear. His fragrance wrapped around me like a comforter and I found my arms circling his waist as well. I knew what was happening now and that wasn't a feeling I could shake off.
I was falling for Jevan Hollen.
Jevan's POV
The next morning, before I left for school, I joined my family for breakfast.
Jada was being her usual talkative self while everyone else listened while stuffing their faces.
"Good morning," I greeted and sat down next to my father.
"Good morning," everyone responded.
"And it came out of nowhere. I was so scared at first, but then I wasn't anymore when I saw that it was the cutest bunny ever. His eyes were red but his fur was white," Jada went on.
"Hey, mom, dad, is it okay if I invite someone over this weekend?" I asked my parents as an idea sparked in my head.
"Who?" Jada asked me.
"None of your business," I responded, "I was speaking to mom and dad."
"You're so mean!"
"And you're always prying into someone's business!"
"Okay! That's enough. Jada, Jevan, mind your table manners," my father cut in and put a stop to it.
"Sorry," Jada and I apologised together.
"You can have someone over, but please make sure that he or she gets permission from their parents as well, okay?" mom said.
"Okay. Sure thing. Thanks mom," I replied and rose then kissed her cheek, hugged my dad, ruffled my brother's hair and playfully tugged Jada's ponytail before leaving the breakfast table and getting into my car.
I drove myself to school like I usually do. My father would always be on my case about having my own personal driver but I didn't need one when I could drive myself and have my own space when doing so.
I pulled into the parking lot, got out and noticed Brooke was standing right outside the door.
"Good morning," she started.
I sighed heavily. Not the face I wanted to see. "Good morning, Brooke."
"Jevan, look, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being extremely disrespectful to you about your mom. And, I'm sorry about my rude behaviour overall.
The truth is, I miss you. I miss us. I miss what we had, especially when we made sweet love," she said and advanced herself on me.
"Brooke, stop. That's enough."
"Why are you shutting me out? We've been through this before and you'd always forgive me and we'll make up. Why are you different now?"
