Chapter Fifteen

I walked in the corridor with Peyton and Emma by my side. I yawned. I was still tired as yesterday, after the day at the beach, everybody came home and we spend the night talking. I closed my eyes for a few seconds and I bumped into someone's back. "careful there" I heard Ben said as he held on to my waist. I opened my eyes and met his gray ones.

"Thank you" I told him with a smile. His hands were still on my waist when Peyton cleared her throat.

"Okay, you can let her go now, we'll be late" Peyton said eyeing Ben's hands on my waist. By the way he was looking at me, I knew that he liked me. I smiled as he took his hands off and smiled back.

"I'll walk you to class" Ben said rather to me than to the others. I simply nodded as we walked to the class. As I entered the class, Jake was already seated with some of his jock friends. Ben bent to kiss my cheek which made my eyes go wide in surprise.

I simply smile to hide my surprise. He put his hands in his pocket and walked away. I don't wanna date him. Am I leading him on a wrong way? I turned Lans walked to my seat. I bent my head and started writing on my scrapbook. I heard someone sit on the chair next to me. Already knowing who it was I didn't care to look at him.

"No other guys, right?" Jake snapped at me. I rose my head to look at him.

"What guy?" I snapped back. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me in his chest making me yelp in surprise.

"Ben" he said between gritted teeth. I rolled my eyes at his awkward behavior.

"He's my friend and stop behaving like a real boyfriend!" I snapped pulling my wrist from his hand.

"He kissed you" he said accusingly. I glared at him.

" On my cheek! If he'd kissed me on the lips, I would have lost the game" I said exasperated by his behavior.

"If you're saying so" he said as he crossed his arms over his chest eyeing the whiteboard. Great! He's mad at me now. I prefer not saying a word. I hated to see that he's acting all possessive. It make me thinks that he like me but he doesn't. He simply want to play this game and to win. The entire class, he didn't even glance at me.

*****

Peyton and I walked in the cafeteria talking about Ben's behavior towards me. Peyton, too agree that he likes me. I sighed in frustration. As if life was not enough difficult. I heard Peyton gasped and I looked at her. I followed her eyes and it landed on Jake... with a blond head girl on his lap kissing him. I felt a pinch in my chest. I've had enough. In the last week I've been closed to Jake and I'm starting to fall for Mr Player.

"What are you going to do?" Peyton asked still eyeing the bimbo sitting on Jake's lap.

"Watch me" I told her. Inside, I was boiling with anger but outside I put on a calm face. No way I'm going to show him that he made me weak. "Jake!" I called loudly making half of the cafeteria turning to look at us. "The game is over!" I said seriously as I turned on my heels walking out of the cafeteria. I was totally pissed off.

I was walking out of school with my bag hanging on one of my shoulder and my ear phones in my ears when I bumped into someone. I didn't even bother to look who it was as I was damn pissed at Jake. I muttered 'Sorry' and kept on walking. Suddenly I was pulled back and I crashed in a hard chest. "What the fuck?!" I yelled raising my eyes to meet blue ones. Those blue eyes were unforgettable.

"Hello to you too princess" He said huskily in my ears. His voice and his hands which were on my waist made me flinched.

"Ryan" I simply said in surprise. I tried to get out of his grip but he tightened his hands on my waist. "Let me go" I simply told him as I struggled.

"Like the surprise?" he asked forcing me to look in his eyes. I won't deny that he was damn hot. I blinked several times and I wanted someone to pinch me to wake me up from this bad dream.

"What are you doing here?" I asked shakily and gave up struggling with him as I knew that he wouldn't let me go. He buried his face in the crook of my beck and inhaled deeply.

"I told that I was missing you baby" he told me resting his head on my shoulder. I tried to calm myself and tried again to get out of his grip and he tightened his hands again making me wince in pain.

"Let me go" I told him again. I won't forget when he used to beat me. He would throw me against me or would slap me leaving bruises on my skin. He didn't move but instead kept on inhaling.

"Let her go" I heard someone said sharply. I knew instantly that it was Jake. I knew that Ryan was angry as he exhaled loudly and pulled away from me to look at Jake and Shane was standing by his side. I sighed in relief and looked at Shane who was damn furious.

"And who the hell are you to tell me to let go of my girlfriend?" Ryan snarled angrily taking a step towards Jake.

"Excuse me?" Jake chuckled without humor as he took a step towards Ryan. "Are you his girlfriend?" Jake asked me and I hesitated to answer knowing that Ryan was violent. Seeing that I was hesitating, Shane gave me a small reassuring smile.

"No" I replied and Ryan turned to glare at me. Jake walked to me and pulled me by his side.

"Don't ever touch her again" Jake told Ryan through gritted teeth. Damn, it was the first time, I've seen Jake that angry. His hand was holding mine as he stood in front of me.

"And who the fuck are you to tell me to not touch her?" Ryan asked over confidently. He was glaring at Jake and me and at our hands.

"Someone who won't hesitate to kick your ass" Jake replied walking away from Ryan pulling me with him. I can't believe he actually cane here. What if he hurt us? He was someone damn violent. What if he changed? No he didn't. I was shaking thinking of when Ryan used to beat me. Jake draped his arms around me and pulled me towards him. Shane was looking at us. "Hey calm down!" Jake told me pulling me in his chest. I was shaking and Shane now pulled me away. He faced me and looked at me into the eyes.

"Did he hurt you?" he asked in a protective tone. I shook my head. God! What the hell is happening to me? I promised I won't be weak again but the simple sight of him made me shake.

"What do you mean by hurt?" Jake asked from behind me. I shook my head at Shane to tell him not to spill anything about Ryan.

"Nothing" Shane told him not in mood to talk. He was pissed off about Ryan being here. I knew that he wanted to beat him. I gave him a small smile to reassure him. Shane was like the protecting brother. I was on the verge of crying. I hugged him and let my tears fall. I didn't want Jake to see me like this.

"Take me home" I muttered in his chest. I pulled away and wiped my tears before turning to Jake. He looked concerned and that made me smile. I can't believe I was mad at him a few minutes ago.

"I'll take her. You have your test" Jake told Shane.

"I don't care about the test. I need to get my sister home" he snapped pulling him to the car.

"No, Jake will take me" I told him as I smiled at him. I didn't want him to fail his class because of me. Reluctantly, he nodded and walked to the school. Shane was pissed, really pissed. I remember when I told him about Ryan, he broke his door out of anger.

We walked to my car and he walked to the driver seat and put me in the passenger seat. The first few minutes we drove in complete silence. "What is he doing here?" he asked eyeing the road.

"How would I know?" I snapped. He turned his head to look at me. "I'm sorry" I apologized. I knew that I'm taking my anger on him. He simply nodded.

"I think I need some explanation" he said slowly. I turned to look at him.

"Yes, you do" I simply replied. "But I don't wanna tell you" I told him truthfully.

"Promise me that you will tell me when you're ready" Jake said as he parked in front of my house.

"I promise" I told him with a smile.

"Now, tell me why the game's over?" he asked turning to face me. He smirked making me smile.

"We said no other girls during the game" I explained getting out of the car. He followed behind and walked in the house with me.

"We also said no other boys in the game" he pointed out sitting on the couch.

"Ben's my friend" I told him sitting next to him.

"That girl is my friend too" he said turning to look at me and I did the same.

"What's her name?" I asked him.

"I don't know" He told me smirking. I rolled my eyes at him. "I just wanted to play with you" he said teasingly.

"Play with me?" I asked as I slapped his arm playfully. He chuckled and I pushed him of the couch. He fell on the ground and glared at me as he stood up.

"Game still on or not?" he asked as he took my hand and pulled me off the couch. He pulled me in his chest and I couldn't help but smile. I liked it when he would act all boyfriend but somehow I was afraid I'll fall in love with him.

"As hell it's on!" I told him huskily in his ears and I could hear him inhale deeply probably trying to control him. I then fell on the couch as Jake pulled me together with him as he sat. I was sitting on his lap and seriously I was feeling damn comfortable. There was one question that kept on bugging me and I had to ask him. "Jake?" I said as my head rested on his shoulder.

"Yes?" he asked seeming thinking about something. I pulled my head away so that I could see him.

"Why didn't you kiss me?" I asked him as I felt my cheek become red. Damn, I can't believe I actually kissed him.

"Oh, so eager to feel my lips on yours?" he asked teasingly as his finger traced my lips. I nudged him playfully.

"I was serious" I replied looking at him in his eyes. He sighed in exasperation.

"I was too" he said and I frowned at him showing him that I needed explanation. "Okay, let's do something" he said and I nodded. "You tell me about Ryan and I'll tell you why I've not kissed you yet" he told me placing his hand in front of me waiting for me to shake it. Should I tell him that Ryan used to hit me? I don't fucking know but knowing that I wanted his explanation, I shook his hand.

"You first!" I quickly told him ready to take place next to him but he didn't let me get off his lap.

"I want the kiss to mean something" he said more to himself than to me. I think I dropped something, yeah my jaw. Seeing my confusion, he smiled. "You're different Nya and I'll treat you differently" he continued as I smiled.

"Good different or bad?" I asked wiggling my eyebrows teasingly.

"Good. Obviously good" he said kissing my cheek making me smile. "Now your turn" he told me staring at me with his intense eyes.

"About Ryan..." I hesitated not knowing how to start. "Well, when I told you that he changed to become a jerk.." I moved from his lap not wanting to face him. "I meant he starting becoming violent" I said slowly and in a low voice but I know that he heard as he clenched his fists.

"Don't tell me that he rose his fucking hands on you!" he said through gritted teeth and clenched jaws. Damn he looked hot when he's angry. But I need to calm him down.

"He did but it's the past" I told him holding his hands. He brought my hand to his lies and left a kiss. These kinds are thing are the one that makes me fall in love.

"I swear if I see him near you, I'll break his freaking ass" he told him looking in my eyes. I smiled and kissed his cheek and walked to the kitchen.

"If you want to return to school you can" I offered with a smile as he followed me to the kitchen.

"And live you here all alone? No thank you" he said after a scoff. I turned to the refrigerator and smiled. Yeah I have a crush on that boy but I need to stop all this as I know I'll Fall for him.