Oh my goodness! What would I do? How do I about this Wolf It ceremony? My day was already getting bad and it was still morning. I felt someone come take the empty seat beside me and I knew it was Baron. He would not understand, I could not tell him I had a wolf I was hiding. A wolf I didn't want to let out. A wolf I was terrified of. I raised my hands from my face and one of them reflexively twiddled with the bracelet adorning my wrist.
"What is wrong?" I refused to face him.
What was more? I had been humiliated today in class. Even Katelyn, I had thought she was a friend but she'd proved to be a very bad friend. She was not a good person. She had sent one of her minions to pour a carton of juice on me. I didn't want to tell Baron because I understood his temper, it was even more vile than Aaron's. I knew he might have gone through with his threat, and hit her too. Immediately he had left, I had thought I would have some me-time, but now I knew I really wouldn't have survived without him especially now the boys were angry with me and didn't care about my existence. It would have been tough being on my own.
I had felt so relieved when I saw him walk into the class, but the look of rage on his face made me realize things would go awry for whoever that had bullied me. It had just been the guy's bad luck that Baron had caught him in the act.
"Tell me." He took hold of my hand.
I sighed, reveling in that light, casual contact of skin. He offered reassurance and comfort in that gentle squeeze.
"I'm just overwhelmed." I said, deciding to tell him half truth. He didn't need to know the other half.
"I'm sorry." He comforted.
Finding his presence comforting and his words soothing, I laid my head on his shoulder. His arm went round my shoulders.
"It's not your fault, Baron." I sniffled, wiping tears from my eyes.
"Well, in a way, it is. I promised not to leave your side but I did." He sighed.
Maybe he was blaming himself but I didn't want him to, it was not his fault.
"You don't have to blame yourself, Baron. You're not my caregiver, you have your own life to live and activities to be involved in."
"I know but I promised."
"It's okay." I lifted my head and offered a small smile. "You still dealt with that guy."
"And I don't regret it, he deserved more than that." He pressed his lips tightly, a scowl appearing on his face.
I squeezed his hand. "It's okay."
He looked at me, then returned the smile with a small one of his, he squeezed back. "No more class for today."
My forehead creased. "Why?"
"I don't want you to go in there today."
I eye rolled. "I'm fine. You can't just stop me from attending lectures."
He quirked a brow. "I can and I will."
"You're so stubborn." I pouted, my brows furrowed in disapproval.
"And you look so cute with that pouty lips of yours." I jabbed him. "And you hit like a girl."
"I am a girl, blockhead." A smile was tugging at my lips, threatening to spoil the serious expression I was going for.
"Exactly." He grinned.
"How dare you?!" I jabbed him again.
He yelped a bit. "Ouch!"
I grinned. "Still think that I hit like a girl?"
"Yes." He took a drink of the juice they brought him.
Before he could swallow the orange liquid, I threw another punch, he spluttered the juice. I found it funny and let out rolls of laughter. He pretended to look angry, I continued to laugh at him.
He grinned. "I'm glad you're out of that mood."
I raised a brow. "So it was your plan? To make me laugh."
"And it worked, didn't it?"
I had no idea how long we sat there in the cafeteria, playing and teasing each other. But when the door opened and revealed the four boys walking in, I froze with nerves for a minute but Baron pretended like he had not seen them. And I decided to follow his steps and pretend I hadn't seen them too.
We kept playing, laughing and teasing each other. Baron made sure our table was filled with drinks and food. I was filled but he would not have it, so I still ate but it was bit by bit. Sometimes, he would force food into my mouth if I rejected it.
"You guys are disturbing us." I would recognize that voice anywhere, it was Aaron's.
I wanted to pause and stay quiet but Baron would not have it, he still teased and played with me. And not that I wanted to piss Aaron off but Baron was actually fun and I enjoyed his jokes and teases.
"I said you guys are teasing." He repeated, coldness dripping from his voice.
Baron turned to respond but I held his hand, shaking my head, silently begging him not to engage Aaron.
"You're lucky the beautiful lady does not want me to engage you."
Aaron's laugh was dry and mirthless. "Really? Since when did a woman control you?"
Baron slowly raised our clasped hands for his brothers to see, and in a deliberate move, kissed my hand. "Since I met her." I knew he was trying to irk Aaron but that would not work. Aaron didn't even like me that way.
If he wanted to make Aaron jealous, that was a wrong move. Moreover, Aaron hated me. I risked a glance at the table the boys were seated. Lucas, Zach, and Trenton were studying both of us with disbelief and I could also see the wonder on their face. I had been hoping to see anger though. Aaron's was filled with rage.
"You don't even know her." He spat.
I got the insinuation of his words and felt hurt squeeze my chest tight.
"And you do?" Baron raised a mocking eye brow. "I may have not known her for a long time but I do know she's a wonderful, sweet person, unlike you."
In anger, he rushed to our table, Baron ready for fight, stood too. "Baron please." I pleaded silently.
"See?" He pointed at me, his eyes still on his brother. "A wonderful, sweet girl."