Chapter 9
NINE
RUELLA
What the fuck happened.
His words are sharp and fast through his clenched jaw. The concern in his voice throws me slightly. No one is ever concerned when it comes to me. Even when I am black and blue from fists and belts, the people around me turn a blind eye, as though I am nothing more than a ghost.
I suppose I am a ghost. A walking shell of a human with no purpose or real future.
I bury the self-pity down and straighten my spine.
I don’t need anyone’s concern. I have me, myself and I. That’s all I will ever need. It’s not like I can tell him anything anyway. My attacker said he knew who I am, if he blabs then its bye bye to my future away from my father.
“I tripped on my run,” I shrug.
“You tripped?” He asks with an arched brow.
I nod and go to grab my headphones off my head but come up empty.
I internally groan. That bastard pulled my expensive headphones off when he grabbed my hair. I drop my hand before trying to take a step closer to the changing rooms. Asher takes a step to block my path.
“Did you fall over more than once?” He tilts his head. “Because that sure as shit doesn’t look like a trip,”
I roll my eyes. “I took a tumble downhill,” He scowls like when I mentioned his sister. I am too embarrassed and shaken to deal with Asher’s mood right now, so I straighten my shoulders to feign composure.
“Now, if you will excuse me, I would quite like to fix myself up before walking back to my room,” I push past him without another word and quickly make my way into the changing rooms.
It’s a generic room, with brown wooden lockers, benches and an area for washing.
The big space to my left has a huge mirror that covers the top half of the wall, with a few sinks and hairdryers.
I walk over and run one of the towels from the pile under some warm water and ring it out before lifting it to my cheek.
The blood has dried with some dirt in the cut, and I pray that I don’t need stitches. I hate needles.
My arm is nearly to my face when the door to the girls changing room bangs open and Asher comes into view behind me in the mirror.
His shirt is still nowhere to be seen. I could tell under his suit that he would be something to drool over but I didn’t prepare for this.
He looks like a work of art. Not overly muscly like a lot of guys nowadays, but tight and toned, perfect for his proportions.
Tattoos are dotted about his body. Intricate patterns dance across his chest and down both thick arms. My focus drops down to where his gym shorts sit low on his hips, showing off the delicious dips that usually get my mouth watering.
When I meet his glare through the mirror there is a mixture of emotions. Anger is at the forefront, but behind it zings with heat from my blatant perusal.
“Why are you lying?” He grits out, placing his hands on his hips.
“This is the girls changing rooms,” I scan over him. “And judging by that bulge, you don’t have a vagina,” I smirk.
He crosses his arms over his chest and the action makes his pecks harden deliciously.
“Get out Asher!”
“Not until you tell me what really happened,” He stands his ground.
“I told you I tripped,” I lift the towel to my face again.
“And I call bullshit,”
I wince at the sting of the cotton pulling at the congealed blood and dirt.
With three long strides Asher is next to me and taking the towel from my hands.
“Here,” I meet his eye. “Let me,”
My brows furrow at his kindness. It isn’t only strange to me because people don’t usually give a shit. But it’s strange that the man who appears more demon than human, is trying to help me.
“I’ve got it,” I pull my hand out of his reach slightly, but he grabs my wrist hard and pulls the towel out of my grip.
His eyes flick with annoyance at my response and I shake my head with the whiplash of his ever-changing emotions.
I don’t even think he knows how quickly he goes in and out of them.
“I wasn’t asking for your permission,” He snaps before turning me towards him.
From this angle I can see his face up close as he slowly wipes away my blood.
He is completely focused and unhurried, which allows me time to take in his glory.
He really is a God. No wonder the whole school seems to fall at his feet.
Not only is he tragically beautiful, but he is also a natural born leader and smart as hell.
He is the full package, and well equipped for the future he has ahead of him.
He takes his time, being as gentle as he can, but that doesn’t stop me from wincing every time he drags the fabric over the wound.
We stand in silence assessing each other as he cleans up my face, then drops the towel into the bin beside him.
He places both hands on my shoulders and turns me to reface the mirror, taking the space behind me.
As though he has done it a thousand times before, he pulls my hair tie from my hair and begins to flatten it down my back before braiding it.
My eyes are wide as he silently finishes the job.
The act is way too intimate for two strangers. And that’s what we are. Strangers.
Yet, this pull in my chest I have had since the day I first saw him, sure doesn’t feel like strangers. It feels like something more.
His gaze meets mine in the mirror where I am glued to the spot. Am I dreaming?
Am I still in bed waiting for the morning sun to crest the horizon.
He places both hands either side of my hips on the sink in front of me, blocking me in. I’m quite a small girl, so he towers over me, and it sends a delicious shiver up my spine at the difference. The dominance he oozes.
“Are you going to tell me what really happened now?” his voice softer than usual. Almost as though he wants to keep me in this dream like state. As though speaking to loud would break the spell he has cast on me.
The concern in his eyes makes me falter. I have always wanted to know what it felt like to have someone in my corner. Someone other than my shadow on my team, another person to confide in other than to share my body with.
Could I confide in Asher?
His stare hold me hostage as I break.
I clear my throat as I cross my arms.
“I was on a jog down through the forest path,” I point to the side. “The one that runs along the side of this place,” I sigh as he waits for me to continue. “Then someone pushed me to the ground,” His jaw clenches.
“Who?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know, I didn’t see them,” He works his jaw side to side. “But it was a man,”
“Did he say anything? Or do anything?” He grits out through his teeth.
I can’t tell him he said anything, that would give too much away, and even if I am basking in this moment for now, I know it won’t last and I still have a job to do.
“No, he just smacked my head off the ground and took off before I could see him,”
Asher exhales through his nostrils like a bull, it would almost be cute if it wasn’t for the fury behind his gaze.
He shakes his head before tilting it towards the door. “Come on, I’ll walk you back to your house,”
“I don’t need a bodyguard!” I snap. I know this morning doesn’t look good for me, but I can handle myself usually. The headphones and quiet pathway were a stupid move on my part, and one I don’t plan on repeating.
Asher chuckles. “Looks like you do today,”
He grabs my good arm and guides me out to the bench he was working on. He grabs his t-shirt and water as the door to the gym pushes open and in walks Asher’s friend Daylan.
“Hey man!” He shouts before startling when he notices me. His attention bounces between the two of us before flicking to my slightly swollen cheek.
He passes me without saying anything and I take a few steps towards the door as they start to chat quietly between themselves.
Their voices are low, but that doesn’t stop them both from looking my way.
Daylan says something to Asher that makes him smile venomously, his eyes fill with something sadistic, and it makes the hairs on the back of neck stand.
That small moment in the changing room comes to an end when I watch the Asher I am more familiar with, click right back into place.
That’s when I notice something that makes my stomach drop, and my walls rebuild.
Daylan is wearing a black hoodie, black joggers and black trainers with white soles.
My heartbeat starts to pound as I glance between the two of them.
Did they do this? Was this their plan all along.
Attack me, only to push me into the arms of their leader.
Before Asher notices I turn and slip out of the gym and sprint as fast as I can to the main building, I bump past blurry bodies, and I only stop when I am safe inside my own room with the door locked.
My back hits the wooden surface and I slide down until my backside hits the ground, my heart racing while I try to catch my breath.
What the hell was that.
Did Daylan attack me. Does he know who I am.
Was he acting alone…or was Asher in on it too?
Has my cover been blown already?
My phone vibrates and I pick it up to see two texts from Corden.
I totally forgot about the party.
I take a deep breath before pulling up my big girl pants.
It doesn’t matter about the attack or if my cover has been blown.
The attacker wants me gone, and that is exactly what I plan on doing.
Tonight, I will be one step further to knowing the truth.
I will be one step further to knowing what happened to Marlowe. One step closer to my freedom.