Between Ties

I Got You

Rhyett's Point of View

I sat on the tall backless lab stool as I stared down at the dead frog in front of me laying on the dissection tray that had rested on my white desk in the biology lab.

I wanted to stay home today because this weekend was a lot to process and take in. Maverick was over at least twice yesterday to bring me leftovers from Chang's, to check up on me and to stay for an hour or two to watch an episode of the Bachelor with me to which was nice because he hated romantic reality TV shows but I had noticed a glimmer of excitement in his eyes when it came to the rose ceremony. I knew he was secretly rooting for Hannah Ann. But would never admit to any of this. I smiled thinking this.

I haven't really been answering any calls or texts and had hardly spoken to Xander but I just wanted to accept that Maverick was a witch with fire powers and get over it by showing up to school today and reconnecting with Xan who had texted me that he missed me at least 4 times after the penthouse party at Beth's.

Today was a new day and I just wanted things to get back to normal, as normal as I could hope for it to be.

"As you know Mr Kane will be off sick for the week and I will be your sub, Mrs Juniper." My eyes had been pulled from the dead frog on my desk to give our substitute teacher my full attention. She was brunette, beautiful, didn't look a day over 35, she wore spectacles and had a warm smile.

This class is going to eat her alive.

"Can I get your number beautiful?" I heard Trevor the class clown yell from the back as he nudged his chin at her and then she smiled thinly.

"Can you even spell the word number?" She fired back, causing the class burst out in laughter as the classroom door swung open widely.

"Oh my god." I heard Hayley in the front row whisper to her friend Natalia as Nat replied with a "I know right, so hot!" I watched her mouth her words as Maverick strolled into our class as if he wasn't late at all.

All eyes on him.

"Mr Kane. You do something new to your hair?" He smirked and then Mrs Juniper smiled thinly "Mr Novak I'm assuming." She paused "The one who's always late. I've heard about you. Find a seat." She said seriously and then he smirked as all the girls had stared at him as if he was our lord and savior.

Around school he was the guy everyone wanted to date, him and Xander. But Xander was the jock and Maverick was the mean, sarcastic one with a hint of mystery. They knew him on the surface but I knew that he was caring, and kind and considerate,

And that he was rooting for Hannah Ann.

He shook his head lightly, smiling, noticing how all the girls were swooning over him and then he pulled up a chair next me, making himself my official lab partner.

"Hey." I heard him say as he took the box of cigarettes out of jeans pocket and tossed it into the front of his bag. "How you doing? You okay?" He zipped it close.

I turned to face him while Mrs Juniper had begin to write notes onto the white bored.

"I'm good." I smiled and honestly I was good, I mean I had nightmares about Nixon but Maverick had explained that nightmares would be apart of the minor side effects caused by black magic, but I was okay. They were only dreams.

"You sure?" He asked curiously and then I nodded before picking up a pen and taking out my biology notebook to start writing because I didn't want to be behind on the notes.

He then reached across to snatch the pen from my hand and then said "I got you a gift." As he placed the pen behind his ear and then reached into his pocket to pull out a sliver chain necklace with a sliver pedant to match. The pendant was round and engraved with tiny musical notes.

I love music.

My eyes grew in pleasant shock. I couldn't help but smile as my heart began to warm up and had almost melted through my body as the little chain dangled from his fingers, no one had ever gotten me something as thoughtful before.

Maverick!

I held my hand to my heart, as my eyes became dough like and dewy.

"Are we seriously having a Troy and Gabriella moment, a cute little Stefan and Elena moment?" I played "honestly you don't need to buy me a gift to apologize for your brothers behavior. Although it is cute but I can't accept it.

Realization had set in.

Beth would kill us both and I don't think Xander would be impressed." I smiled at him but spoke to him as if I had to remind him that we were both seeing people.

Remind myself too.

I then took the pen from behind his ear and then he rolled his eyes as if I was stupid.

"you kinda don't have a choice." He said and then his glowing hazel eyes glanced around before he had moved in a little closer to me, while lowering his voice. He smelt like strength and freshness. His cologne smelt so good.

Stop smelling Maverick you weirdo.

"It's a magic pedant created by my witch friend Talia, she's advanced in protection magic. She's gifted by the ancestors to protect humans. I asked her to make this for you. It will protect you from spells casted by Nixon, Kenzo, Tusco and myself." He said almost whispering "I asked Tusco to do me a favor and get me a stand of Nixon's hair without that piece of s**t knowing, and Kenzo and Tusco willingly gave me theirs." He nodded "Talia could then create this pedant to protect you from the magic of witches thats pure DNA was infused into its metal." He said and then my heart sank to the floor as I felt it beat right through me with appreciation for him.

I had almost wanted to cry, but I'm in class and I had to hold it together. I can't believe he did this for me.

I hated Nixon and he had went out of his way to do this for me,

but he had mixed his own DNA into the pedant too. I was confused, he wouldn't hurt me,

or would he?

"Why did you include yours?" I had to know.

"Because I want you to know that whatever happens with your mind and your body is your decision, and you will never have to question if I would ever use the craft to make you do anything you didn't want to. The pedant will guarantee that I can't and that I never would." He said and then smirked before saying.

"And to answer your question. Yes this is a Stefan and Elena moment, but I see myself as more of a Damon." He winked and then I reached for the pedant in his hand but then he had shut it closed before I could take it "I need a favor." He put it down onto the surface of our desk.

"What do you want?" I rolled my eyes. Of course he would weasel in a favor.

"The two of you. Be quiet. I'm trying to focus." We noticed Mrs Juniper referring to us as she turned around to glare.

"Sorry." I said apologetically and then Maverick ignored her as she had turned back around. "Can you cover my shift at Chang's. Beth's wearing this sexy outfit thing for my game tonight like all the girls do for their man on the team, and I kinda wanna f**k after the game. I need to destress."

"Firstly too much info, lover boy." I scrunched my nose up in disgust as he laughed lightly under his breath "and secondly you play football? I never took you as the type to give a s**t about high school sports."

"You're right I don't give a s**t about high school sports but it looks good on a college application, and no...I don't play football, I play ice hockey this is my third weak on the team. Football is more Xander's thing."

"Okay, so now that you've written down all of the instructions and labels. You may begin to dissect the frog. You only have one so don't mess this up. Pick up the scalpel and begin!" Mrs Juniper instructed and then added "you have 30 minutes don't forget to label." She said as I had picked up the scalpel and had then noticed that ours was bent and a little crooked looking as I raised my hand for her to give us another one,

But before she could even notice that my hand was up, Maverick had plucked the scalpel from my fingers and then held it between his to put pressure onto the bent and crooked parts and begin the warm the metal with the heat of his touch to have it be malleable for him to bent onto shape.

It was now perfect and good as new. I don't think I'm ever going to get use to this.

He placed it down as I had lowered my hand to reach for it but then he had caught my wrist before I could touch it. "Slow down Ariel," He smirked "It's hot and it will burn you. Be careful." He said showing me his alluring eyes and then let go of my wrist as I rolled mine playfully.

"So can you cover my shift?" He stared at me and handed me the chain before I had even agreed. 

"I don't know. I kinda haven't seen Xander for a while and we hardly spoke all weekend. I wanted to make plans with him." I admitted as I had then put the chain on, bring the clasp to the front of my neck and had then clipped it before bringing the pedant forward.

He stared at my neck for a moment. "Looks good on you." He nodded and then said "Okay no sweat, I'll ask Tusco." He shrugged "You and Xander should come to my game then. See ya boy in action and allat." He played as he then handed me the now cooled down tool that I needed to make an incision with.

"Yeah, I'm in." I nodded.

It would be fun to watch an ice hockey match and snuggle Xander in the coldness of it all.

"Cool." He smiled a genuine smile "also don't take the necklace off, the magic only protects you if you're wearing it." He nodded seriously "understand?" And I nodded with a hint of a small smile as he began to write the notes.

He had given me my power back when I had felt so powerless and manipulated by Nixon. He gave me a chance to feel like I could fight this and I didn't have to fear Nixon as much as I did, like I wasn't weak anymore and like I was protected.

He made me feel a little more safe in this world.

I watched him write as he focused while his hair fell forward. His eyes were scrunched up and curious as I knew he was no longer my talking buddy in this class, but was now crossing over into the A+ dedicated student that he was.

"Hey Mav's." I whispered interrupting his zone of productivity. "Mmmm?" He hummed not looking up to see me for a second as he ruled a line on his page with the ruler he had taken from my side of the desk.

I smiled.

"What?" He finally looked at me, stopping everything he was doing and then he smiled after noticing me smile.

"Thank you for protecting me." I said referring to the necklace and everything he had done for me, because he didn't have to,

But he chose to.

"No problem. I got you." He winked.