6
1557 Words
I was running late again. The school hallway felt endless, like some sick maze designed to trip me up at every turn. My bag bounced against my side, heavy with books, and my sneakers squeaked against the linoleum floor. The sound seemed to echo louder than usual, or maybe it was just my nerves. I couldn’t stop glancing over my shoulder, the memory of Asher’s voice still clinging to me like a shadow.
I turned the corner sharply, my breath catching in my throat when I collided with a wall. No, not a wall—Asher. He stood there, smug as ever, his hands shoved casually into his pockets. His dark eyes sparkled with amusement, his head tilting slightly as if he’d been waiting for me.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite little piggy.” He drawled, his voice low and mocking.
I froze, the word sinking in like a dagger. “What did you just call me?”
“Piggy,” He repeated, dragging the word out like it tasted sweet on his tongue. “You know, the way you squeak around the hallways. It suits you.”
My face burned, my hands curling into fists at my sides. “Go to hell, Asher!”
He smirked, leaning in just enough that I could feel the heat radiating off of him. “Careful, sweetheart. You might just follow me there.”
I tried to shove past him, but he stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “What the hell is your problem?” I snapped, my voice shaking with anger.
“You are,” He said simply, his tone laced with venom. “Thinking you can just run around like you’re not part of this… like you’re above it all. Newsflash, piggy: you’re not.”
“Part of what?” I shot back, my voice rising. “Your little fan club? Forget it. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
“Too late,” He said, his smirk fading into something darker, colder. “You’re already in my sights.”
The way he said it sent a chill down my spine. I wanted to lash out, to scream at him, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. Instead, I glared at him, my jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. “Stay away from me, Asher. I mean it.”
He chuckled, stepping aside and motioning for me to pass. “Run along, piggy. But don’t think you’re safe. You’re mine, whether you like it or not.”
I shoved past him, my heart pounding in my ears as I tried to put as much distance as possible between us. But his words followed me, burrowing into my mind like a parasite. I hated him. God, I hated him.
And somehow, I knew this was only the beginning.
I went to the bathroom and closed the door behind me, locking myself in inside. My breathing was ragged, my hands gripping the edge of the sink like it might keep me grounded. The confrontation with Asher replayed in my head, his smug voice cutting through every rational thought.
“You’re mine, piggy.”
The words made my stomach churn with rage. I hated him, hated the way he toyed with me, like he had some unspoken claim I couldn’t shake. And that nickname—God, it made my blood boil.
I splashed cold water on my face, hoping to wipe away the lingering anger and humiliation. But no matter how hard I scrubbed, his words stayed with me, echoing like a bad dream.
I had to get a grip. This was just Asher being Asher—arrogant, overconfident, and convinced the world revolved around him. I wasn’t going to let him get to me. Not anymore.
But as much as I tried to push him out of my mind, I couldn’t ignore the strange undercurrent in his words. The way he’d looked at me—it wasn’t just smug or teasing. It was… primal.
I shook my head and grabbed a paper towel, drying my face. Whatever game Asher thought he was playing, I wasn’t going to be a part of it.
*********
Asher leaned against the hood of his car in the school parking lot, his arms crossed as he watched his pack gather around him. They were a rowdy group, loud and full of energy, their voices carrying across the lot.
“What’s up with you today?” One of them asked, a lanky guy named Ethan. “You’ve been in a mood since this morning.”
Asher shrugged, his expression unreadable. “I’m fine.”
“Sure you are,” Ethan said with a smirk. “Let me guess—it’s about her.”
Asher’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond.
“Oh, it is about her,” Another one of them chimed in, a girl with short, spiky hair named Maddie. “You’ve been all worked up since she showed up at school.”
“She’s nothing.” Asher said sharply, his voice cutting through their chatter.
Maddie raised an eyebrow. “Really? Cause you don’t act like she’s nothing. You act like she’s under your skin.”
Ethan snorted. “Maybe she’s the one, huh? The one you’re gonna imprint on.”
The group fell silent for a moment, the weight of Ethan’s words hanging in the air.
“Imprinting doesn’t work like that.” Asher said finally, his tone flat.
“Doesn’t it?” Maddie asked, a sly grin spreading across her face. “You’ve been circling her like a wolf hunting prey. You sure you’re not already halfway there?”
Asher glared at her, his dark eyes narrowing. “Drop it.”
“Come on, man.” Ethan said, leaning closer. “You’ve got to admit, she’s different. You don’t look at anyone else the way you look at her.”
“I said drop it!” Asher growled, his voice low and dangerous.
The pack exchanged glances but didn’t push the subject further. Maddie gave Asher a knowing look before stepping back, her smirk fading into something more serious.
“Whatever you say, boss.” She said. “But if you’re not careful, she’s gonna get away.”
Asher didn’t respond. He stared off into the distance, his expression unreadable, but his mind was racing. He hated the way they were right. He hated the way she got under his skin, the way her defiance made his blood boil and his heart race all at once.
But most of all, he hated the idea that she might be something more than just a game.
I stayed late after school, hoping to avoid any more run-ins with Asher. The library was quiet, the hum of the fluorescent lights the only sound as I flipped through my textbook. But no matter how hard I tried to focus, my thoughts kept drifting back to him.
I hated how he made me feel—small, insignificant, like I was nothing more than a pawn in whatever twisted game he was playing. But there was something else, too, something I didn’t want to admit.
*********
I slammed the book shut, the sound echoing through the empty library. I wasn’t going to let him control me. I wasn’t going to let him win.
As I packed up my things and headed for the door, I felt a chill run down my spine. The hallway was dim, the fading sunlight casting long shadows on the walls. I quickened my pace, my footsteps echoing in the silence.
“Leaving so soon, piggy?”
I froze.
The voice came from behind me, smooth and taunting, and I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.
“What do you want, Asher?” I asked, my voice steady despite the knot forming in my stomach.
He stepped into view, his dark eyes glinting in the low light. “Just wanted to see if you’d run again.”
“I’m not running.” I said, lifting my chin.
“Good,” He said, his lips curling into a slow, predatory smile. “I like a challenge.”
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “Why don’t you just leave me alone?”
“Because you’re interesting.” He said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
“Well, I’m not interested in you.” I shot back, my voice rising.
His smile didn’t falter. If anything, it grew sharper, more dangerous. “We’ll see about that.”
I didn’t wait for him to say anything else. I pushed past him, my heart pounding in my chest as I hurried down the hallway. But his voice followed me, low and mocking.
“See you around, piggy.”
*********
Asher watched her go, a mix of frustration and something deeper churning inside him. He hated the way she defied him, the way she refused to back down. But at the same time, he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
“She’s different.” Maddie had said.
Asher shook his head, trying to push the thought away. He wasn’t going to imprint on her. He couldn’t.
But no matter how hard he tried to convince himself, he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was already too late.
- Writer
