Chapter 10 Chapter: 10
ADDISON
On Friday, my third week in Brighton. I found Shepherd waiting for me when I arrived outside his place. He was leaning against his wall, his crutches in hand, the moment he saw me he straightened, picked up his gym bag and threw it to me.
“Take this to the locker room for me, it's for practice.” I glared at him hard before what he said registered.
“You're going to practice with that leg?” I asked, unbelievable.
“Just going to stretch a bit.”
“Are you sure you aren't already better,” I asked as we walked, “or is this part of your new plan?”
He looked down at me, amusement glinting in his gray eyes. “You calling me a liar, baby?”
“I'm only worried you're doing this to make me slave for you even longer and don't call me baby,” I replied shrugging. He scoffed.
“Oh don't flatter yourself, if anything this should make you happy,” he mocks. “And I can call you whatever I want. Shrimp, Slave, Baby.”
“Excuse me? Do I look happy to you?” I asked, almost tripping on my feet. I glare at him with disbelief.
He shrugged. “Stop pretending you don't like the attention, besides I see how you stare, it's obvious.”
If I roll my eyes any harder I'll probably get a concussion. “Arrogant much? I swear I've never met an infuriating person in my life like you.”
He smirks knowingly, “Come on don't deny it and it's okay, with this face card it's hard not to stare.” My face instantly flamed.
Fuck why am I blushing?
“If I stare at you as you said it's only because I’m wondering how you managed to get around with an ego the size of the Appalachian mountains.”
He grinned, an unguarded, lopsided genuine smile that took me off guard. It softened something sharp about him, made him look almost human. “Are you calling me egotistical?”
“Well, duh! Genius,” I snapped.
“I think I like you better when you’re mad,” he murmured, grinning.
“Well, lucky you,” I muttered. “You bring that out of me a lot.”
He opened the locker room door for me, leaning on his crutch.
“I'm not going in.” This is the boys locker room, I don't want to be scarred for life. He seems to have come to the same conclusion.
“Wise decision.” I threw the gym bag inside.
“Here, all done. I'm going to my next class after lunch, don't look for me.”
It was lunch time and Jess and I were sitting with some of her friends. All scholarship students, translations: lowest people in Brighton hierarchy.
It's ridiculous that even our table was at the corner away from the others. I wouldn't have probably noticed the disparity had my status not plummeted.
In a way I've learned a lot since our lives changed. I've experienced so many things I've never thought possible before. Right now I'm doing my best to ignore the way Shepherd's little gang laughter carried across the dining hall.
He was surrounded, as usual, by students orbiting him like he was the sun. Girls leaned in close, guys listening and nodding at every word as though they were the words of Christ.
But what do I care? As long as he left me alone I didn’t care what he did with his time. Except I couldn't stop thinking about him kissing below my ear.
Part of me is starting to wonder if that even happened. As always he was quietly watching his friends teasing and laughing at each other.
His lips twitch every once in a while, but I don't know why I get this feeling that he's a solitary creature despite being surrounded by people.
It's not that he doesn't love people either because I know he loves his friends, you could see how close they are. It's like sometimes he's just far away, and kinda sad. Unless he's tormenting and being an asshole. Which clearly seems to bring him joy.
A gorgeous blonde I've noticed before in the school brushed her hand over the hair on his nape with a familiarity that spoke volumes, and for the life of me I couldn't look away.
I realized I was staring too long and instantly frowned looking away and meeting Jess’s grinning face right in my face making me let go of my fork, it clatter to the table as I glared at her.
“What?!” I asked innocently.
“Addie,” Jess whispered, smirking. “You were staring at him again.”
“What? Who are you even talking about?” She snickered, rolling her eyes.
“Sure, let's pretend.”
I sighed, pushing my tray away. “He’s insufferable and an arrogant jerk. Why does everyone worship him?”
“Because he’s Shepherd Conrad,” Jess said simply. “He’s the closest thing Brighton has to royalty.”
“Royalty my ass, but whatever.” I sneak a look from the corners of my eyes, the blonde is now touching his arm while she whispers something to him.
“Um, so who's the pretty blonde?” I asked, before biting my lip.
Jess smirked. “Oh, so that's who you're interested in. That's smart, know thy enemy.”
I rolled my eyes at her. “I don't even know the girl, why would she be my enemy?” She leaned in conspiratorially.
“Well, that's Christy, one of the girls from the groupies I was telling you about the other day. She and Angela used to be friends, but I think they fought over Shepherd and as far as I know they're still enemies.”
It's pathetic, beautiful girls fighting over that jerk. Even if said guy was the most gorgeous boy I'd ever seen. The good thing is Angela is going to be busy fighting the real threat instead of poor little me.
Not that I was interested in him or anything.
That evening, as I left the music room which was my last class of the day, I found the jerk leaning against the wall outside, arms crossed, that familiar gorgeous face blank. My step falter.
“Following me around now?” I asked, running my eyes over him.
He'd taken off his white uniform shirt and was wearing a black v neck shirt that clung to his defined muscles.
“I was waiting for you,” he replied.
“Great. That’s not creepy at all.”
He pushed off the wall, moving closer, his limp barely noticeable. I knew it, he's better. “I wouldn't have had to come if you had picked up my call.”
“I was practicing, you already know that, besides I told you not to look for me.”
“Well, I needed my maid.”
“Right,” I said, “Almost forgot you're an inconsiderate jerk.” I muttered the rest under my breath.
His eyes narrowed. “Heard that.”
“Oops.” He shakes his head.
“You know, most people fear me, fear denying me anything.”
“Well, I'm not most people, and I'm not scared of you,” I replied. I kinda am. I'm scared he's going to find out about me, I'm scared he will make my life harder than it already is.
“I noticed that. See all these people? They bore me, but you Addison, you amuse me and you should fear that.”
I opened my mouth to fire back, but the words got stuck somewhere between my throat and my racing heartbeat when he suddenly slammed my back against the wall.
His hand wrapped around my neck slightly choking me, his large frame blocked everything from my view.
My stomach fluttered, goosebumps suddenly spreading over my entire body as he pushed even closer.
Though his face was blank his grey eyes were dark and so intense. And for a moment, the world around us went quiet.
“What.....what are you doing?” I stuttered, eyes wide. He leaned closer his mouth a hair’s breath away from mine, his hips pushed into mine and something hard pressed into me before he moved it away.
“Are you scared now?" he whispered, eyes staring a little longer on my lips before flickering up, my breathing turned shallow at his nearness and the look in his eyes, but somehow I managed to whisper back.
“No….why should I be scared of you?” My brows crease. “Or is that it? Do you get off on people's fear? Are you some kind sadist? A weirdo?” His lips twitched.
“I would say no, but you have a fire about you that makes me wonder just how hot you burn when you're not being a smart ass that is, so you tell me.” His thumb brushed lightly over my bottom lip and I swallowed.
His other hand was still around my neck not tight to deprive me of air but enough for me to feel his control, and something about it affected me in a way I dare not explain. Not even to myself.
I licked my lips and his eyes instantly zeroed in on the action, his grip on my neck tightens slightly as he leans even closer my heart instantly went crazy, pounding so hard which didn't fucking make sense.
I hate Shepherd. I do.
“Pres!” Just then someone called his name from down the hall, and the spell broke.
Shepherd groaned and pulled back, taking a couple of steps back. “Run little Shrimp and don't forget my gym bag.”
I stood there as we both stared at each other before I finally snapped back to my senses, grabbed the bag and fled.
I told myself that didn't just happen, that I didn't just stand there panting and waiting for Shepherd to kiss me.
But the truth was, I did and I had anticipated what it would feel like to have his mouth on mine. My God what was I thinking?
I wasn’t and that's the problem, he nears me and my brain goes blank. Somewhere between our banter and spending time with each other no matter how little these past few weeks something has begun to change.
But that will be stupid. Shepherd is a bully and even if he wasn't. He and I aren't compatible, not to mention our entire family are enemies.