True Intention

Ch 6- Setting up the support chain...

Soren POV

I let the conversation die out as our teacher entered, but I can't say I paid as much attention as I probably should have.

My mind was rolling around ways I could give Naomi what she needed. Somehow, I knew this was not her. The sarcasm, the skulls, that was the real her. The sexy-as-sin piercings and tattoos. I wanted to design her a tattoo for two reasons. Firstly, she had gorgeous pale skin that was the perfect canvas. Second? I wanted to mark her. No, I'm not a werewolf. But I wanted proof on her body that she was mine. Because that was where this all was headed.

Hopefully, fingers absolutely crossed. Healing her first, and then taking her into my arms and yeah, riding off into the sunset.

I'm sentimental, maybe even romantic. Sue me for being a simp.

Don't say I have a savior complex, I really don't. But Naomi is already way too important to me to do nothing. I already had Enzo and Archer on board, but I needed some of our other friends to join in and help Naomi feel less alone. She wasn't alone now, and never would be again. I'd make sure of it. I sent a text off to Rylan's little sister.

Rylan Erickson was good friend who'd graduated last year, making him two years older. His sister though, was in the same year. Rylan had been bullied all through middle school, and so their family was righteously anti-bullying. Heidi would absolutely do her best to befriend Naomi. I was pretty sure her best friend, Stephanie Bowen, would do the same. Both girls were caring, honest and fun to be around. Girls that didn't make me worried they were gonna try s**t with me, either.

S: Hey, Heidi. I've got a big favor to ask.

H: Sure buddy, what's up?

S: You're not even going to ask before you agree? Is that safe?

H: Ren, you never ask for anything. Like, ever. If you're asking, it's important. Spit it out.

S: So I met this girl...

H: You need my help with a girl? Why do I doubt that?

S: It's not what you think, I want to help her get past being afraid of rumors and bullying.

H: Ohhhh. Charity, gotcha.

I ran a hand through my hair. Naomi was not like a cat I brought in out of the rain, for God's sake! This was not charity, no... I just wanted her to feel safe and confident being herself. That's not so weird, is it?

S: No not charity, I like her. It's just, I want her to feel free first.

H: Intriguing. Want me and Steph to drop by tonight and talk about it?

S: The thing is, she got Rylan's spot in our house. You can drop by, we can talk in the open, I guess.

H: Damnnn! She's special if she got Ry's spot. Alright, we'll be there. Steph can't tell me no, lol.

S: Thanks, see you then.

I sighed. Naomi had booked it, running off to our last class, probably. I'd seen her run-in with that plastic girl earlier. Hmm. I'd taken video discreetly. My friends and I were all equipped with body cams. A habit we'd picked up after seeing what happened to Sarah. It was part of my plan, if any of us saw anything at all of note, video was taken. That way, there was no denying there was an issue if we tried to do something ourselves. I sent a still to someone I knew to find out who she was, where she was from, and why Naomi seemed the most terrified of her.

A girl like that, who made it clear she was a total b***h was not going to mess with my girl. From Naomi's attitude, I'm guessing they knew each other in high school, but that the dumbass doesn't recognize my Naomi yet, and that Naomi wants to keep it that way. The thing is, she can't hide forever. At some point, everything she's trying to keep under wraps is going to come out, and sometimes, that was worse than just being yourself unapologetically.

My dad runs this high-tech security company. I have an older brother that will take over, and lucky me, I'm practically a trust fund kid thanks to my dad's hard work. I was studying art because I loved it, and planned to do something with it, just not sure exactly what. I was kind of leaning towards tattoos, but it wasn't an easy field. I was getting the teaching part just in case it came in handy. I guess I could just work for my dad in the recon department, aka hacking. I knew I could dig into Naomi easily, but I wanted her to open up and tell me without the hack. I knew it was going to be cathartic. Trusting someone entirely with her story that was a peer was massive.

The first step towards healing, really.

The second being to actually put faith in that person's words and not have them fail you.

I also was not opposed to her healing involving some legal and fair retaliation. I just didn't have enough information yet.

But once I did, her tormentors had better watch out. I didn't do anything by half-measures.

I was thrilled to see, as I approached our final class, a similar note about seating. Being next to her meant I had eyes and ears on her interactions. I wasn't about to leave her vulnerable to attacks. I'm sure she was more worried about attention, but it's when you're in the shadows that people think they can be even nastier. That's why they always tell you to avoid dark alleys and s**t.

Gives the assholes opportunity.

I walked straight up to her grinning yet again. She sighed as she eyed me. I flicked an eye around the classroom. s**t, she was right. Bunch of hungry ass bitches wanting to hate on Naomi because I approached her. What was wrong with these people? Did they really think I'd just give up and hit on one of them? We'd shared classes for two years already. If I was even remotely interested, something would have happened by now. Even the fiasco with Janet as a Freshman, had been like two months of my life, and barely a month into school. It meant that there had been plenty of chances before now. Not one had done more than make me want to shower, or maybe vomit, because they ran a nail down my arm and said my name like it was a prayer.

Nice or not, I am not trying to be worshiped by anyone, unless it's Naomi and it's restricted to my body. That, absolutely, yes.

Blind admiration by the masses, though, was not on my list of things I wanted in life. I never did anything with the intention of garnering fans or attention.

It kind of reminded me of that thing you see with idol culture. People laying claim to someone that they don't actually know, threatening potential partners for not being worthy, stuff like that. Dumbasses. Well, they could kiss the air around my ass, because they weren't getting close enough to touch it. It was me pursuing Naomi, not the other way around. Staring at them, making eye contact with each nasty one of them, I slid my arm around the back of Naomi's chair. My message was clear: I see you, she's mine, and if you f**k with what's mine, I will ruin you. Period. One actually cried, and I smirked at her.

The only people's feelings I took into consideration were Naomi's, my friends, and my family, and even then, only Naomi would make me change who I was in any way. Not that she would, but I'm just saying. She was the only one I'd allow to suggest it. My family already knew I was not making changes on their behalf in terms of my personality.

Naomi gave me the side-eye, but didn't protest since I wasn't actually touching her. Satisfied my message had been delivered, I turned back to my illustration, which was a depiction of Hans Christian Andersen's The Steadfast Tin Soldier. A tale of standing up for what's right. Perfectly suited my current state of mind. Naomi was doing the Brothers' Grimm's Rumpelstiltskin. Not as dark as I expected her to go, but then, you couldn't be an art teacher if you weren't diverse. I'd moved her bag next to me while she wasn't paying attention. My plan was to rope her into walking home with me by kidnapping her stuff. Enzo and Archer would have been with us too, but they were taking painting this time around for electives.

Maybe for next semester/quarter I should just make sure we all take the same electives. Then they can help me out in keeping people from making trouble for our new roomie.

When she went to grab her messenger bag, it was already draped around my neck as I grinned at her. She rolled her eyes and sighed.

"What is with you, Soren?" She asked tiredly, as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders. Babe, I'm here to help you carry it. Anything and everything, I've got your back. Never alone again, Naomi. I promise.

"Oh, I already staked my claim, these girls won't do s**t. Walk home with me, Nao." I wasn't going to ask, because if I did she'd decline. She was like a damn porcupine.

"Staked your claim? Are you kidding me?" She asked, nonplussed, as people rushed out around us. She pinched the bridge of her nose as if that was going to make me go away. Nice try, but no dice. Still here, can't get rid of me that easily.

"Nope." I said, grinning again as I popped the "P." She threw up her hand and followed her bag, frustration pouring off of her in waves as she stalked after me. Every so often, I'd turnaround and walk backwards, just to look at her and make sure she was still following me.

"Listen, Soren, I know you're trying to be nice, but really, I can make it through okay as long as I fly under the radar." She griped, and my mouth hung open. "All I want is to be invisible until I graduate, and then go on and live my life quietly while all these people forget I ever existed. It's no big deal, I can get through it."

"Call me Ren." I said insistently, taking a deep breath before I addressed the rest of the s**t she just spewed. Because no way was I letting her continue to hide herself and stress out over every time someone looked her way, frightened and scared of her own damn shadow. " And I'm not just being nice. You should not have to describe college, on a social level, as making it through. I already know, flying under the radar isn't the real you. The real you is beautiful and awesome, and you need to let her out."

Naomi's face was the picture of someone caught between crying, screaming, laughing , and raging all at once. She was barely keeping herself from an outburst.

"Look, you don't get it... Ren." She said my nickname like it hurt her to be casual. "No offense or anything, it's just clear that you don't find yourself nearly as affected by other people's opinions."

"Why should I?" I quipped, and she growled.

Cute.