CHAPTER 4: THE FIRST WARNING
951 Words
The next morning, the sunlight crept into my apartment through the thin curtains, painting golden stripes across the floor. I groaned, rolling over to silence my alarm. My mind, however, refused to rest.
Xavier King.
I should have been used to it by now. After all, he wasn’t just my school nemesis anymore—he was my next-door neighbour, my accidental rescuer, and, for some reason, the center of my thoughts, whether I wanted it or not.
I sighed and got ready for school, choosing a simple outfit: white blouse, black skirt, sneakers. Nothing flashy, nothing to draw attention.
But as soon as I stepped out of my apartment, there he was. Leaning against the rail of the staircase, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Morning, neighbour,” he said lazily.
I froze. “Morning,” I replied, keeping my gaze fixed on the ground.
“You’re walking funny today.” His eyes glinted with mischief. “Like you’re already late… or scared of something.”
I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore him. “I’m fine. Just… tired.”
He pushed off the railing and followed me down the corridor. The closer he got, the more I noticed how much taller he was than me, how effortless his stride was, how impossible it was to ignore him.
“I saw you yesterday.” His tone shifted slightly, more serious now. “Carrying groceries and struggling. That wasn’t smart.”
I stopped and looked at him. “Excuse me?”
“You’re small. Fragile,” he said bluntly. “And… well, you don’t belong in this world, Rose.”
I blinked. “I don’t belong…?”
“Yes.” He stepped closer, until I could feel the heat radiating off him. “But that’s fine. I like the challenge.”
I stared, my mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “Challenge? Are you insane?”
He smirked again, that maddening smirk that made my heart beat faster. “Consider it a warning.”
“A warning?”
“Yes.” He leaned closer, lowering his voice so only I could hear. “Don’t make me regret noticing you.”
I swallowed hard, suddenly aware of how ridiculous I sounded being scared by a boy—and yet, every nerve in my body screamed danger.
Then he stepped back and tilted his head. “Now go to class before you get in trouble.”
I nodded mutely, my legs shaking as I walked toward the school entrance. I couldn’t even look at him without feeling flustered.
---
By the time I arrived at St. James Academy, I was late—but not by much. I slipped into the back of my classroom and slid into a desk, hoping no one would notice.
As I tried to settle in, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
I turned—and froze.
Xavier King.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered.
“I follow the rules,” he said casually, sitting in the empty chair next to mine. “Rule number four: keep an eye on the new girl at school.”
I wanted to groan. “You can’t just… sit next to me.”
He leaned back, arms crossed, eyes locked on mine. “Oh, I can. And I will. Consider this… protection.”
Protection?
I blinked. “Protection from what?”
He shrugged. “From idiots. From bullies. From anyone who thinks they can touch you or make you feel small.”
I frowned. “I don’t need protection.”
He smirked. “You clearly do. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be so fragile looking.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but the bell rang. He didn’t move. He just sat there, smirking, watching me like I was some puzzle he couldn’t resist solving.
---
The rest of the day was a blur. Every time I tried to concentrate, I felt his presence lurking nearby. Whispered comments from classmates, sidelong glances, and stifled laughter—all linked to him.
By the afternoon, I was near my breaking point. I wanted to escape. To be anywhere but under the weight of his gaze.
And then it happened.
A group of rich, smug boys cornered me by the lockers, smirking like they had a plan.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” one sneered. “The scholarship girl thinks she belongs here.”
I tried to step aside. “Please, just leave me alone.”
“Or what?” another boy mocked. “What are you going to do? Cry?”
Before I could respond, a familiar voice echoed behind them:
“Back off.”
I turned. Xavier. Hands in his pockets, eyes sharp, smirk gone.
The boys laughed nervously. “Or what?”
He stepped forward, his presence suddenly commanding. “Or I make sure you regret every second of your life if you touch her.”
I could feel his anger, and for the first time, I saw a side of him I hadn’t expected—protective, serious, dangerous.
The boys exchanged uneasy looks and slowly backed away.
“Thanks…” I whispered once they were gone.
He turned, leaning against the lockers. “Don’t thank me,” he said. “Just… consider this your first warning, Rose Kimberley. Next time, I won’t be so polite.”
My heart raced, a mixture of fear and something else I didn’t want to name.
As he walked away, I realized something terrifying:
He wasn’t just a dangerous neighbour or a school bad boy.
He was the kind of person who could take over your life… and I had already fallen right into his world.
- Writer
