Chapter 42 Exposure or Protection?
Ryder's POV
Jonathan had said something about seeing Uriel when we got to this place.
We were out to check out this new swimming arena.
This was the only time we could check it out because athletes used it during the day.
Initially, I thought Jonathan was trying to pull a prank on me because they had been teasing me on the team about how couple-y and 'L' sick we acted.
I didn't see it.
All I saw was an annoying, prying, hormonal little girl that always found a way to get under my skin.
But then I went out to smoke when I caught a glimpse of a familiar petite brown haired girl.
She looked disheveled though.
Why would Uriel look disheveled?
Why would Uriel even be out by this time? Her mother didn't seem like that kind of parent.
But then again, if I was judging by her current lifestyle, it seemed as though her mother didn't care anymore about curfew.
Weird.
So I called her and she confirmed my suspicions.
As I walked closer, covering up our distance, I had never felt so murderous than I did.
She began to stumble haggardly on her feet, her hand in the air. Quickly, I wrapped my hand around her shoulder, holding her firmly.
"Got you." I whispered.
My blood boiled with rage. My jaw clenched so hard, it almost snapped.
"Arwwwghhh!!" Uriel bent her head forward, puking into the trash bin by the roadside.
I held her hair up, rubbing my burning hand down her back.
"Ryder." Her voice was fainted, her eyes red from crying too much.
"I'm here, Kinky. I'll take you home okay?"
Hell, I just wanted to bury fist down Chase's guts, deflate his fucking ego and feed him his fucking peanut cock.
Fuck!
I was going to make sure he paid for this.
She's a freaking minor!
Nobody should be treated like that.
Exactly why I wasn't going to let this one slide.
My hand fell to my bruised knuckle, my glared hardening. Images of his blood smeared on my knuckle flashed in my head.
He was lucky my phone rang.
That was his saving grace.
"My father can't see me this way. I can't face him please." She begged softly.
I looked down at her, my eyes locked onto hers. Sadness, betrayal and fear swum deep inside her eyes.
"Take me to Chloe's place please." She whispered, clutching my shirt.
I nodded, flagging a taxi down. She rested her head on the window, sobbing silently. My legs bobbed up and down, nails digging up red crescent in my palm as I listened to her soft sniffles.
My heart ached badly, guts twisting.
This was even harder than I thought.
"Thank you for dropping her, Ryder." Chloe said to me when we got to her place. Her eyes were glossy and sad.
I held Chloe's shoulder, the bile in my throat taking so much time to swallow. But I did eventually, "take it easy with ...with her."
Chloe nodded, helping Uriel inside. A silhouette of a woman stood by the door.
Could be Chloe's mum. I thought.
When I got back home, my whole body went numb. I closed my eyes to sleep but ended up tossing way more than even a person with insomnia. So, I climbed up the roof, puffing out beads of smoke until the morning came.
Stoned was an understatement of my situation but also, I was still fucking livid and that was all I needed.
"You look like shit." Aunty Karina said, eyeing me wearily.
"And I am going to make sure I make a masterpiece out of it." I pecked her cheek, my breath a mixture of cigarette and minty paste.
Feeling too dangerous, I went for my bike. Not only was it easier to drive in my state but was also faster.
"Get out of my way." I growled to the singing group that screeched like tyres, calling it singing.
First thing, I located Chase.
In the midst of his cartel and other miserable students, he stood tall, bragging loud for the whole school to hear.
"So she goes begging for my cock and I be like 'yo mama, I thought you was as meek as a sheep'."
"Brooo!!" The crowd cheered, laughing.
"But you know me. I hit that - oof!" I threw a jab right across his lips, cutting it open with the key holder ring that donned my middle finger.
"What the fuck - wait, wait, wait." Chase raised his hand up in defense. "Why you mad at me? Because I fucked the girl first?" He mocked, eliciting laughters from the other fucked up students.
"Fuck? You mean, forced?" I gripped his shirt.
"Was that what she told you? Trust me, she's lying. She loved every - ahhh!"
I slammed his back hard against the locker, scrubbing his head against it. "Wanna keep lying?"
"No." He begged, his face all red. "Because I actually fucked the bitch and she wasn't sweet! I fucked the Almighty Uriel Kennedy!" He yelled, his voice echoing in the building.
A loud thud echoed afterwards, getting my attention. Uriel's eyes widened in shock, her chest heaving up and down.
When I saw her eyes tear up, I turned back to Chase, ramming my fist into his face. Over and Over.
The voices, Chase's plea, the scream to stop - they all sounded faded.
The loudest thought was "Kill the bastard."
Every punch hit harder than the last. The steel cut through my flesh but I didn't even mind.
"Stop it!" Peter and Mason pulled me away, holding me with all their might.
"Let me be!" I growled, my eyes dark and deadly.
Chase looked unrecognizable as he collapsed to the ground.
"Chill man. You could get expelled." Mason scolded.
"I could be jailed for all I fucking care."
"How.. how can you beat him up for saying the truth?" One stupid jock spoke, fear shimmering in his eyes.
"You must be very dumb." I charged at him but Mason and Peter pulled me back. The guy also hid behind few guys, eyeing me.
"This idiot tried to force himself on Uriel!" I pointed at Chase.
"And you know this because..."
"Because she confided in me!" I defended.
"Or because she's fucking you instead. She could be fucking you and fucking him and she's just trying to create a rift." Another fucked up jock analyzed.
People began to whisper.
Uriel came to my side, placing her hand on my shoulder. "Just drop it, Ryder." She whispered.
Everyone looked at her with judging stares - the one meant for Chase.
Why weren't they looking at Chase that way.
"Uriel is a freaking virgin! She hasn't had sex with neither Chase nor I, or any freaking body!"
Gasps were heard from students. Peter and Mason released me from their grip slowly.
My breathing slowly calmed down, my mouth hanging open as I turned to look at Uriel - her eyes weren't just wet, they were hollow. I had brought her out to the field of wolfs and baited her.
Girls burst into laughter, taking pictures of her. Boys cheered, mumbling to themselves.
Fucking hell.
What have I done?
Uriel looked up to me with tears dropping down her eyes. Her voice was cracked and filled with raw, broken emotion, "Thank you very much for keeping my secret."
She covered her mouth with her hand, pushing through the sea of people who wanted to eat her up with their eyes.
My heart dropped, my chest closing up on me.
I was no fucking different from Chase.
This is why you should stay the fuck away from her.