Chapter 9: Taming the beast
1059 Words
Elena's pov:
These Tactical Training exercise were a breeze. Compared to what I endured in the training camps, these were child's play.
Ryle found me standing by myself under the closest available shade I could find. He doubled over, bending at the waist, clenching his chest and panting dramatically. His face was red and sweaty as he practically hacked up his lungs. "How are you-" wheeze "-still standing?" He panted.
I shrugged.
After the horrors of training camp, Tactical Training was a walk in the pack.
But because I wasn't entirely wicked and self centered, I pulled out my water bottle and handed it to him. He stumbled over his thanks and immediately started guzzling it down like an overzealous caveman, pouring the remnants of the ice cold water on his head and shaking his hair out like a damn dog.
Really, if I didn't like the guy, I'd have booted him out of my personal space decades ago.
"You're gonna get vertigo if you keep that up!" I warned.
"What does that even mean?!" Ryle whined between gulps of air, still not quite catching his breath.
He straightened slowly, wiping away sweat from his brow. "On the bright side, these exercises will help me get in shape and maybe I can finally ask Becca out on an actual date?" He wiggled his eyebrows at me.
"Goodluck. Your Becca is currently fawning over my stepbrother."
I hated to admit that a flurry of emotions consumed me at the thought of Knox. Aching lust, sprouting from last night's tryst, anger and annoyance at myself for making it so easy for him, and annoyance that nearly eighty percent of the girls were currently staring at him from where he stood under the shade of one of the stadium's roof.
I couldn't stop thinking of him. Of last night. It still felt like a fever dream. His intoxicating scent of blood orange and bergamot, the feel of his muscular arms around me, the way he had tensed upon me, eyes desperately searching mine moments before he comes, it was the only time that he was completely vulnerable. The only time I allowed myself to think that maybe he hated me because I had hurt him in the worst way possible.
I had thought that Knox wanted nothing to do with me since I made it perfectly clear that we were no longer a thing, but it seemed like he didn't care for what I had to say on the matter.
At this point, it's not like I wanted him to stop. I hated his guts but my body loved his d**k. He was a good lay and I was going to run mad if I don't find a sort of release for all my pent up frustration.
It's either him or I find a new guy that's willing to stand sleeping with an outcast. Right now, Ryle was practically my only friend and I didn't want to jeopardize what we have just because my hormones are funky.
I'll just have to suck it up and keep using Knox until I find someone better.
There's Jax, my subconscious reminded me, but that ship had crashed and burned.
"What do you even like about her?" I frowned, looking at her wrap her hands around Knox's arm as she peered up at him under thick, curled lashes.
Ryle leaned back on his forearms and sighed. "She's pretty, nice. Big t**s-"
"Of course," I scoffed.
Ryle only guffawed. "But for real, I really like her, Elena."
That made me go quiet. Even though I thought she was a prissy b***h, I didn't want to tear down his obvious affection for her.
"Don't worry!" I smacked his back, probably harder than I should have, "I'll be here for you even if Becca won't."
"Thanks for the pity, Elena. That makes me feel so much better," he said in scathing sarcasm.
My smile only widened. "My pleasure."
In front of us, the Tactical education teacher congratulated us for working hard today, while the girls fidgeted restlessly. Every now and then, they would glanced in Knox's direction, then whisper and giggle among themselves.
It was becoming very annoying.
After classes, to cool off or whatever, we were required to play games and do avtivities that encouraged team spirit and sportsmanship.
The teacher finally announced the start of the activities, and the groups erupted into cheers.
These activities encompassed various sports. The boys usually played either football or basketball, while the girls typically chose volleyball or badminton. I loved basketball but the moment I saw Knox heading to the basketball court with other members of the FOOTBALL team, I decided against it, a dark glower appearing on my face. The girls had spontaneously formed a cheerleading squad all around the court.
Feeling annoyed and bored, I collapsed beside Ryle under the tree's shade and snatched his phone from him.
It had been so long since I had an actual phone in my hands but it didn't stop me from easily understanding the device and finding the game section.
We chatted for a little while about random things and soon we were playing a game of Call of Duty... Well, I played while Ryle watched me with rapt attention as he filled me in on the gossip around school. It was mindless and boring, but I was used to being around Ryle so I took it passively, enjoying the company of another human being rather than being alone.
At this point, everyone else had migrated over to the basketball court to watch the gods of the school play ball.
I had half the mind to leave but it was literally a few minutes to end of school and I liked my spot here and I found solace under the large tree on the sidelines, engrossed in playing games with my best friend by my side.
Our side was so quiet that it was easy to catch the noise when the commotion started over at the basketball court.
Fear and dread filled my lungs as I thrust Ryle's phone back into his hands, gathered my things and started heading to the court.
I saw Knox straddling Carl, a classmate of ours, throttling the life out of him, a wild, terrifying expression on his face.
"What the f**k, Knox!" I screamed at him.
- Writer
