Black Butterfly

Chapter 20

The blaring of my alarm clock woke me up and I shoved my face back into my pillow. When even that didn't stop the noise, I brought my fist down on the snooze button. I flipped over and sat up, stretching my arms above my head. I quickly found some jeans and a t-shirt to throw on and took a brush through my hair. 

When I stepped outside a man was waiting near a black SUV. "Calsy, I'm here to transport you to school." His voice was deep. His short clipped hair was similar to Mason's, and he wore a black short sleeved shirt, blue jeans and army boots.

"Who are you?"

"I've been assigned to watch you."

I crossed my arms and grunted. "By who?"

"Ace."

Of course it was. I rolled my eyes. "How do I know you're not lying?"

He pulled out his phone and sent out a text. A second later my phone buzzed:

Mason: Calsy, get in the damn car.  

I shot back,

Me: I need a babysitter now?

Mason: Tempers are running high, information is hard to come by. We need you safe.

I shut my phone off and looked back at the man in front of me. I sighed, "Lets go." 

He opened the door for me and I climbed inside, smelling fresh leather. He shut the door behind me and shifted into the drivers seat. He said nothing as he started the car and started driving. 

"If your goal is to keep me safe, showing up with a personal driver, body guard or whatever you are," His lips twitched at that. "It's not going to keep me under the radar." 

His eyes caught mine from the front mirror. "Keeping you under the radar was never the plan." 

I sat back, confused. Why the hell shouldn't we keep me hidden? Someone's bound to try to kidnap me again. "Can I at least know your name?"

"A1"

I snorted. "Your actual name, not some stupid code name."

"It's not a code name. It's what keeps us safe."

"So I can't know who's driving me around?"

He looked at me again and huffed. "Liam." 

"Nice to meet you, Liam." 

Liam dipped his head and didn't say another word, neither did I. 

-

We reached the school, and Liam opened the door for me. I stepped out and instantly felt eyes on me. "Calsy, I'll be right behind you. Concealed if you wish." Liam whispered in my ear. Having him around would draw to much attention, and half the school probably already thought that I'd slept with Mason. I didn't need that kind of reputation. 

"Concealed would be best." I whispered back.

"As you wish." And he was gone, like smoke on the wind. 

I walked into the hall and a murmur spread down the hall. I lifted my chin, determined not to fall under the pressure of the stares. I started down to my locker when an arm intertwined itself with mine. I jumped and tried to get away when I saw the familiar black leather jacket and cursed him silently in my head. 

"You can't do that!" 

Mason smiled. "I can, and will." 

"Asshole." 

"You love me."

"You wish." 

We walked arm and arm to my locker. And he finally let me go when we got there. "Is there a reason I now have a nanny?"

He chuckled. "Liam is going to be offended when he hears you've referred to him as an old white lady."

"I bet he already knows." 

Mason nodded in agreement. 

"Is there a reason you're in such a good mood?" 

He looked at me as if I'd sprouted a second nose. "No. Why? Do I seem more ruggedly handsome today?" He ran a hand through his hair for emphasis. 

"God no."

He glared at me. 

The bell rang. "Look I gotta go."

Mason gave me a look of feigned a look of disappointment. 

I started walking down the hall. "See you later!" I called down the hall, Mason waved back.

-

Math had just ended and I was dreading the next class. I was shoving papers into my bag when a pair of shoes and a small cough made me look up. Evan Mead looked down at me through his wire glasses. I barely knew Evan, he sat by himself and didn't talk much. He looked nervous to say the least. 

"H- hey Calsy." He stammered. 

"Hi Evan." I replied and looked at him. 

He rubbed his neck. "I- I was wondering if-"

"Calsy! Let's go!" Mason's voice floated to me through the open door. He eyed Evan suspiciously and walked over to me. I stood up and swung my bag over my shoulder, Mason putting his arm around my other shoulder. 

The ice in his stare was enough to give me shivers even though I could feel the heat of his arm through his jacket. "Who's this?" Mason asked.

"This is Evan. He was about to tell me something until you rudely interrupted." I said. 

Evan looked at Mason and then quickly fiddled with a loose thread on his sweater. Mason gave him a cold smile. "Well, Evan," Mason said, drawing the name out. "Calsy and I have to get to class." 

Evan didn't move. 

Mason made a shooing motion. "Beat it."

I looked at Mason after Evan ran out of the room. "What the hell was that?" 

Mason shrugged. "We really do have to get to class." 

"You didn't have to be an ass about it."

He shrugged again and I scoffed. I shook his arm off and walked out of the class, my footsteps hurried. I soon heard Mason's fall in step with mine right behind me. I turned on him, "What is wrong with you?"

He stopped and looked at me. "Nothing." 

"So was last night all an act?"

People were starting to stare. Mason looked around and grabbed me, leading me around a corner and into an empty classroom. He glanced back one more time, making sure we weren't followed. Mason slowly closed the door while I crossed my arms and pursed my lips. 

When he faced me he rolled his eyes at my expression. "Calsy, you can't go around saying that." 

"Why the hell not? You said you created your own reputation."

"I did. That doesn't mean you have to ruin yours."

"People already believe it. It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does. And you know it." 

"So what if it does? I-"

Mason crossed in front of me and got close, extremely close. I backed up a couple steps. "Calsy, it matters now. I don't think you understand-"

"I understand perfectly. Let me remind you that I've been in two gunfights, one of which happened after I was kidn*pped. All because I was seen with you." 

I was pushing forward now, I pushed against his chest. "So don't you dare," I pushed again, "tell me," again, "that I don't understand." I was punching his chest, shoving him farther back. Mason grabbed my wrists and held them back from his chest. I fought back, struggling against his tight grip. He was pushing me back now, I dug my heels in to no avail. He was stronger and soon my back was up against a wall.

He looked down at me. "Calsy, stop."

I continued to struggle. 

"Calsy. Listen to me god dammit." I looked at him, into those set brown eyes and stilled. Mason lowered his face to mine, leaving almost no distance between them. Our breath mixed. 

"You-" He huffed. "The Ark knows about you now. That alone puts you in danger, the fact that you know my name puts you in danger." 

The heat of his body was dizzying, and I almost couldn't focus on anything he said, almost. "Why would me knowing your name be dangerous?" 

"Everyone in the underground knows me as Ace, or something of that nature." 

"So nobody knows your name?" 

"They don't know anybody's name." 

"Nick? Ivy?"

"Only known by their titles." 

I sucked in a breath. "Mason, I-" 

"We can keep you safe, but only if you let us." 

I looked into those deep, dark brown eyes and saw the black lines that ran through. The long eyelashes that framed them. The way he smelled was intoxicating, pine and wood and fresh. I truly looked, maybe for the first time. I saw what he was, past and present. And it didn't scare me. 

I gazed down and took one of my hands and placed it on his chest, I could feel his rapid heart beat through his shirt. And when I looked back up at him I whispered, 

"Okay."