For Better, For Honour

Chapter 4

AVA

I know my day is about to go bad when I see Maddie approaching my locker. I brace myself for a fight, since I’ve already lost a title dear to me, there’s no point in avoiding confrontation with her any longer.

If she wants a fight, then a fight she will have!

“Here, take your blasted earrings and stay the hell away from me!” She blurts out, thrusting two pairs of familiar earrings into my palm.

I stare wordlessly at her, out of anything I ever expect her to say that never crosses my mind. Especially with tears streaming down her face.

Puzzle, I look at the earrings, dropping them the second I see the blood stain. I run after Maddie, catching up to her by her locker.

“Maddie, are you okay?” I know it’s stupid to be concern about her after everything she put me through, but I have never seen her so shaken up.

She slaps my hand away, glaring at me. “What more do you want? My earrings? You might as well take it all because I can’t wear them anymore!”

My confusion worsens, none of her behaviour makes sense to me. Following my instinct, I carefully push her hair out of the way, bearing her ears to my view.

My body goes still with shock, there’s no doubt that she yanks the earrings from her ears, and why she would do something like that only adds to my growing puzzlement.

“I said stay away from me!” She hiss, pulling her hair back and walking away.

I stand there for several seconds, watching her go. Then I turn around, halting as Caden walks up to his locker.

He doesn’t look in my direction, not once. He takes out a book from his locker, then leaves the same way he came. I swallow nervously, hearing the roar of my heart pumping blood in my ears.

In that moment, I know. I don’t know how, but I know that he has something to do with Maddie's odd behavior.

I attend class still thinking about the whole interaction with Maddie, and then the ‘no interaction’ between Caden and I.

Caden has never spoken a word to me, like never. Despite being close in age and growing up together, we were never friends. So why he would scare Maddie like that doesn’t make sense to me.

I know the history of the Tukha’s family, his father Dane Tukha used to be in charge before he died, and the title of Don went to his uncle.

My hand moves up my neck, with how he clearly hates me, and how he treated Maddie and the teacher, I fear for my future.

My thoughts drift back to Asher, making my way out of class. My stomach grumbles, reminding me I didn’t have breakfast due to being in a hurry this morning.

I walk into the cafeteria, noticing people are moving away from me. At first I thought I’m imagining the whole thing, until I find myself sitting alone.

What makes it crystal clear is the fact that the seats close to me remain empty with no one attempting to occupy it.

My chest tightens more as I glances around. My eyes collide with Maddie’s, who sharply look away from me like my gaze burns her.

It’s safe to assume she told everyone what Caden did to her. Speaking of the devil, he strolls into the cafeteria with Asher.

Asher is doing all the talking while he carries on like he isn’t even listening. However, Asher stop by my table when he notice me.

As expected, Caden goes to occupy an empty table alone. It dawn on me then, he has always been the odd one out, the weird kid who couldn’t look anyone in the eye.

My vision blur as I look down at my meal, my throat contracting.

“He wants to isolate, that’s how much he hates me,” I mumble to myself.

“What?” Asher echoes his confusion.

I look at him. “I don’t want to be with Caden when I grow up. Did you see what he did to that teacher? To Maddie and… me.”

“And you? What the hell are you talking about?” Asher sprang to his feet, darting a look at his cousin.

“That day, I confronted him about almost killing our teacher. He choked me…” I admits, sobbing. “Go see Maddie’s ears, ask her to show you what he did to her.”

Coming over to my side, Asher moves my collars out of the way to take a look at my neck. When he backs away from me, his eyes are fills with anger.

I’m on the verge of telling him to forget about it when he stalks toward Caden. Dragging him out of his seat, Asher’s fist slams onto his face.

Chaos explodes in the cafeteria as everyone stands up, watching as Asher gets on top of his cousin, punching him repeatedly. My heart skips, bracing for Caden to defend himself.

It never happens. He’s no doubt committed to keeping the image of innocence. Asher drags himself off after being satisfied, his knuckles all bloody.

“Think about that the next time you think of hitting someone ever again,” he sneers at him.

Grabbing my wrist, he pulls me out of the cafeteria. I look over my shoulder at Caden, and he still doesn’t get up from the floor.

“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” Asher demands when I tug him towards the fountain to wash off his hands.

“Because I was afraid this would happen. I hate violence okay, you shouldn’t have hit him.” I scold, searching for a handkerchief to wipe his hands.

“It’ll dry.” He said, taking back his hand.

“You know what’s crazy? I knew my fate was going to be decided by my Dad one day. Which is why I didn’t care about being betrothed to him. I didn’t mind it, as long as it meant getting away from the violence.”

“But knowing what I do now, I don’t think I can ever marry Caden. I don’t want to be with him, he scares me.”

I break down, letting him pull me into his arms and console me.

Which he does until my tears subside. Using the back of my hand to wipe my face, I glance ahead, wondering how I can convince my parents to break off the betrothal without evoking a war between two families or worse, ending up with the same fate I am trying to avoid.

I peek at Asher when I feel his fingers lace through mine.

He gives it a squeeze, then hurries away to talk to some girl passing by. I laugh, shaking my head at him.

Drawing in a shaking breath, I decide it doesn’t matter what the outcome is, I’m not going to marry Caden Tuhka!