HER BULLY

Chapter Seven.M

“Hey, my name is Shane. You are?” he asked while the teacher faced the board. He smiled at me, waiting for a response.

“I’m Maven,” I muttered, returning his smile.

“Can I share the textbook with you? I didn’t bring mine,” he asked.

I nodded and opened the book wide enough for both of us to see.

I suddenly felt a burning gaze on my back. I knew it was Reed’s. I mean, I had practically ignored him when he tried talking to me earlier, but why did he even care?

The class finally ended, and I packed my books and notebooks. I stood up, planning to head to the cafeteria, but Shane grabbed my wrist, catching me off guard.

“I was wondering if we could go to the cafeteria together and eat,” he asked.

I nodded.

“Okay. I was actually heading there anyway,” I replied.

I gently pulled my hand from his before we both made our way to the cafeteria.

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School ended, and I said goodbye to Shane. He seemed really friendly, and I could already see us getting along well.

“You’ve gotten yourself a new companion.”

I heard a voice behind me and nearly jumped out of my skin.

I turned around and saw Reed.

“What?” I yelled, placing my hand on my chest.

“Sorry if I scared you,” he said.

I shook my head and tried to walk away, but he grabbed my wrist to stop me.

The feelings I once had for him were gone. Now, all I could think about was Ryan, and I hated that fact.

“What do you want?” I asked.

He sighed before turning me around so I could face him properly.

“Ryan wants me to bring you to him,” he said.

I groaned in frustration.

“What else should I expect from you? You always follow his orders,” I scoffed.

A sad look crossed his face, but I didn’t care. He had hurt my feelings before, and I wasn’t going to pity him.

“It’s not like—”

“Let’s just go,” I muttered, cutting him off. I wasn’t in the mood to hear excuses.

A few minutes later, we arrived at a large warehouse.

The same place where I had been kidnapped.

Fear twisted in my stomach.

What was Ryan planning now? Was this another part of his plan to torture me?

We walked inside, and I froze when I saw two men kneeling on the floor. They were tied up and badly injured.

“Maven, these are the guys who dared to assault you,” a deep voice said.

I immediately recognized Ryan’s voice, and somehow, hearing it made my stomach twist.

“What?” I whispered in disbelief.

“I told you I’d prove that I didn’t send them after you,” he said. “And now I’m proving it.”

He was holding a gun, which honestly didn’t surprise me anymore. Still, I couldn’t stop wondering why he even had one.

Was he involved with dangerous people?

“Tell me what I should do to them,” he continued coldly. “Should I—”

“Can’t you just let them go?” I interrupted, staring at him.

“He touched you,” Ryan said darkly. “No one has the right to touch you except me.”

I clenched my fists angrily.

“I don’t give a damn,” I snapped before turning to leave.

My eyes briefly met Reed’s. He was staring at me like I had said something unbelievable.

“So, are you going to stop me again because Ryan ordered you to?” I asked bitterly.

I walked past him while the cries of the injured men echoed behind me.

For a moment, I had foolishly thought Ryan cared about me.

Maybe old habits really did die hard.

Maybe by Monday, he would go back to bullying me again.

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My phone buzzed as I paid the man selling ice cream.

It was a text from my mum.

Mom: Can you stay at the Hartleys’ house tonight?

Me: Yeah, okay.

Mom: Don’t worry. I already talked to Ryan. He’ll take care of you.

Great.

That meant I was going to see Ryan again today — exactly what I had been trying to avoid.

God, why me?

I walked toward the Hartleys’ house and knocked on the door.

The door opened, revealing a half-dressed Ryan standing there with only a towel wrapped around his waist.

I gulped as my eyes accidentally trailed over his body.

He looked unfairly attractive.

“Aren’t you coming in?” he asked teasingly.

I knew he had noticed the way I looked at him.

Embarrassed, I quickly walked inside.

The house looked beautiful and well-organized. I sat on the couch, dropping my bag beside me.

A few moments later, Ryan came out fully dressed. He walked into the kitchen and returned with a glass of water for me.

That simple act made my stomach flutter strangely.

When I took the glass from him, our fingers brushed, and tingles spread through me instantly.

I quickly drank the water to calm myself down.

“I’ll show you to the guest room,” he said.

I nodded silently.

The room looked really nice.

“Ryan, I want to ask you something,” I said.

He turned toward me fully, his eyes fixed on mine.

“Go on.”

“Why were you holding a gun? Are you part of some gang?” I asked curiously. The question had been bothering me since earlier.

“That’s none of your business,” he replied coldly.

Anger instantly rose inside me.

“It’s also none of your business that someone assaulted me,” I snapped angrily.

He stepped closer to me.

“You are my business, whether you like it or not,” he said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me closer. “Don’t ever say you’re not my business, because you are.”

“Let go of me, Ryan. I hate you,” I said angrily.

“Good,” he replied bitterly. “Because the feeling is mutual.”

He finally released me, but I lost my balance. When he tried to catch me, we both ended up falling onto the bed together.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

We simply stared at each other.

Then his gaze slowly drifted to my lips...

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What do you think is going to happen between them?