The College Badboy's Danger Zone

Chapter 08: Dear Brother

Adeline's POV

The Business Building Parking Lot

5:09 PM

“Can I have it back now?” I asked Hunter after hanging up on Caleb.

“Say ‘Please, Hunter’ first,” he said, raising an eyebrow at me.

“Look, crazy Caleb is on his way, and I’m trying to avoid him.” I scowled at Hunter, who was currently leaning against his car door.

“I’m not afraid of him,” he replied coolly.

“But I am…”

“Adeline. You need to refer to yourself as Adeline. I don’t care how you talk to others, but with me, use your name. I like things to be unique; I don’t like being like everyone else.”

“I think we’ve stopped speaking the same language. Just give me the gear back,” I said, my voice dripping with frustration.

Why was I standing here arguing with the guy I actually had a crush on?

It started last night. While I was digging through my bag for an umbrella to return to him, I accidentally dropped Caleb’s Engineering gear. Hunter picked it up. Later, he messaged me on the f*******: app saying if I wanted it back, I had to come get it himself. He even sent a photo of the gear hanging on its chain.

I checked my bag immediately, and sure enough, it was gone. His message told me to meet him in the Business Department parking lot after class. Because I desperately needed to return that gear to Caleb, here I was.

But now that I’d arrived, he was playing games and being provocative. Right then, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, held it out to me, and said, “Answer this for me, and I’ll give it back.”

Wanting to get this over with, I took the call. As soon as I pressed ‘accept,’ I felt a migraine coming on.

“Adeline…” Hunter called out, leaning his face close to mine.

To be honest, I was startled. I wasn’t prepared because I was still stuck thinking about this morning, when Hunter’s friends suddenly apologized to me in front of the whole class. It resulted in people filming us and whispering. I was so embarrassed by the whole scene.

As for Mia, she didn't show up to class. I didn't know why, and I didn't plan on calling to ask, either. We’re done.

“Adeline…” Hunter called again. This time, our faces were only inches apart. One more move and we’d be kissing.

“Wh—what are you doing?” I felt awkward, my stomach churning. Hunter’s handsome face was making my heart race.

“I’m—”

SCREECH!

BANG! THUD!

GRAB! SLAM! PUNCH!

“Caleb! What the hell are you doing?!” I rushed forward, grabbing his arm just as he was about to swing another punch at Hunter’s face.

“Let go!” Caleb shook off my grip with his heavy arm and continued raining punches down on Hunter.

The moment he’d jumped out of his car, he had yanked Hunter away from me so hard that Hunter hit the ground. And then… this.

“Stop! Hunter is bleeding everywhere! Stop it!”

“What did you just call him?” Caleb actually let go of Hunter, but he turned toward me with a fierce, glaring look in his eyes.

“Hunter,” I stammered, still in shock.

“Who gave you permission to call him that? Don’t let me hear you say his name again. Don’t even think about it. Get in the car!” Caleb screamed at me so loudly that students staying late for evening classes turned to stare. Some even pulled out their phones to record.

“But Hun—Hunter is hurt…”

“A guy like him doesn't die that easily. You’re the one who’s going to die. And why the hell did you hang up on me? You’re in for it now. Just wait.” Caleb dragged me toward his car, which was parked so close it was almost touching Hunter’s.

“What are you looking at him for? What is this lingering affection? Get in!” Caleb barked again when he saw me looking back at Hunter, who was lying nearly unconscious on the pavement. Caleb shoved my head down to force me into the car.

Did he even care if he was hurting me?

I gave in and sat down because of the crowd’s eyes and Caleb’s terrifying expression. Once I was inside, Caleb slammed the door so hard I jumped.

I watched him walk around to the driver's side. As he passed the spot where Hunter lay injured, Caleb flipped him off.

How incredibly rude!

SLAM! He closed his door. Was he trying to break the car?

“Are you going to stop looking at him?” As soon as Caleb got in, he started shouting again, his eyes bulging with rage.

“Looking at what?” I didn't know what to say. He was terrifying right now. He had blindsided Hunter with those punches; Hunter didn't even have a chance to fight back.

“I’m not joking!” The madman actually reached over and yanked on my bangs.

“Ouch! What is wrong with you?” I clutched my hair and snapped back at him.

“Shut up! Just shut your mouth! Don’t make me any angrier than I already am.” Caleb pointed a finger in my face threateningly. Then he peeled out of the parking lot, revving the engine toward Hunter before speeding away. I didn't dare protest.

I have to admit, I was scared. He was acting like a monster.

A few minutes later…

“Why did you go see him?” Caleb pulled over to the side of the road after we got away from the university. He turned to question me.

I didn't answer. He told me to shut up, after all.

“Is your mouth only for kissing him? I asked you a question. Speak!”

I glared at him, furious. I pulled out my phone and typed a message on the messaging app.

Ping!

(ADELINE: You’re the one who told me not to speak. Are you crazy?)

“You’re being a smart-ass now?” Caleb looked up from the screen to confront me again.

(ADELINE: What is your problem? Why are you taking it out on me? What did I do wrong?)

I sent another message. I didn't understand why he was throwing such a fit. I hadn't done anything wrong, and we weren't even together. He was acting like he was jealous. Why would he be jealous? He had already told me he didn't love me, so why act like that?

“Because you’re stupid,” Caleb said after a long silence. It was as if he was confused by his own behavior, searching for an answer for himself as much as for me.

I looked at him blankly, then unlocked the car door and stepped out immediately.

There was nothing left to talk about. I knew he was a rough person, but this was too much. Why insult me?

“Where do you think you’re going, Fatty? Get back in the car!” Caleb scrambled out and ran to block my path.

“Move,” I said coldly.

“Adeline, get in the car right now.”

“Back off!” I shouted.

“Get in.” He was being stubborn, as usual.

“What is it with you? If I’m stupid, that’s my business! Why do you care? You’re just an acquaintance, a friend of my brother’s. That’s it! Just let me be stupid!” My voice shook, and tears threatened to fall. I wasn't usually a rude person, but I couldn't handle his attitude anymore.

We stared at each other in silence until…

“Get in the car. I’ll drive you home, Adeline,” Caleb said, his voice finally softening. He took my hand and led me back to the car.

I went along with it simply because he referred to himself as an upperclassman and used my full name. That sentence made my heart flutter again—the same way it had when Hunter leaned in close to me.

Am I just susceptible to any guy who gets close? Why is my heart acting so strange?

“Buckle up,” Caleb said, looking at me.

I pulled the seatbelt across. I didn't want to argue anymore. Once he saw I was buckled in, he pulled back onto the road. The interior of the car was dead silent. I stared out the side window while he kept his eyes on the road ahead.

“This isn't the way to my house,” I pointed out when he took a different turn.

“I have to pick something up from a friend quickly.” Since he put it that way, I didn't have much of a choice. I was just a passenger; arguing would only start another fight.

The car fell silent again. Honestly, I didn't understand him. Why all that shouting? If I were thin and beautiful, I might have deluded myself into thinking he was jealous because he loved me. But I’m chubby. The chances of him loving me or being protective were basically zero.

Half an hour later…

I was sitting in the car waiting for Caleb. He had disappeared somewhere, telling me only that he’d be right back. I’d been waiting for ten minutes now. I wondered if I should message Hunter to see if he was okay.

“I’ll message him when I get home,” I muttered to myself, stowing my phone in my bag. If I called now and Caleb walked back, it would just be more chaos. Sure enough, there he was, walking back. Good thing I didn't call.

“Here,” Caleb said as he got back in and handed me something.

“What is it?”

“Use your eyes. Why do you even ask?” He sounded irritable again, so I looked at what he gave me.

“Pancakes?”

“Yeah. Just eat them so you’ll be in a better mood and stop biting my head off,” Caleb said, dropping the bag into my lap.

“You’re the one biting people like a rabid dog,” I whispered, picking up a pancake to eat.

“Wait—” I cut off his impending insult by stuffing a piece of pancake into his mouth. “Delicious, right? Thank you!” I finished with a wide grin at his stunned face.

Let him be stunned. I didn't care; the pancakes were actually really good.

“Buy me some again another day, okay? These are great.” I smiled at him again.

“In your dreams. The line is long. It’s a waste of time,” Caleb replied before driving off.

“Come on, please? Pretty please? Buy them for me again. I’ll be a good girl. I’ll listen to everything you say.” I’d do anything for food, but the guy next to me had gone strangely quiet.

“Why so quiet? Are you okay?” I leaned forward to peek at his face.

“Is the evening sun that strong? Why is your face so red?” I blinked, waiting for an answer.

“Mind your business. And don't you dare say things like that to anyone else, understand?” Caleb pushed my face back toward my seat.

“Say what?” I’d said a lot of things.

“That cheesy stuff you just said.” When he said that, it clicked.

“Oh! ‘Please, pretty please?’ What’s wrong? You don't like it?” When I said that, Caleb went silent again.

What was wrong with him?

Whatever. Let him be crazy. I’d rather focus on my pancakes.