His Scars

8. Crushed

SAGE

All I could hear when the teachers came and found us like that with Gina and her panicked expression following frantically behind was the thundering of my own heart in my ears.

My eyes didn't leave Kane's form even when the six of us were hauled off to the headmistress's office. Kane would part with us midway to see the nurse.

Gina and I walked on either side of him and his eyes found mine from time to time. I wished I could read his mind.

I couldn't get the image of Eric's friend's foot on his head, another one sitting on him to keep him from helping me.

We were all sat outside the headmistress's office waiting for the sword to drop. We were informed that that our respective parents -- if they were in the city-- would be called and if not they would be spoken with by phone. Only Kane and I in this lot lived with our parents.

As I sat there wringing my hands my thoughts were with Kane. Was he okay? It physically hurt me to see him like that. It hurt worse to know that I was the reason. Gina had been instructed to leave us and she reluctantly relented.

I was left alone with the boys and it would have worried me if the P.A didn't keep her hawk eyes trained on us.

Just then a man approached the office. He dressed like he just walked off a magazine advertising office wear. His eyes flashed with something when he saw me, his eyebrow raising.

"Of course." He said to himself and I couldn't understand what he meant.

The P.A came out to greet him.

"Cole Adams." He informed her. "Kane Adams' brother." My mouth fell open. Kane's brother was HOT. Was everyone in the family this way?

But with one glance I could tell there was no resemblance. Their skin colour was obviously different. This man was very clearly the child of one black and one white parent. His eyes were grey. Kane was very clearly of white descent, the only other colours on him was his tan and his deliciously pink lips.

His gaze was unnerving. I didn't know what I was expecting but before it could happen, Kane came up to us. I winced when I looked at him.

I heard the sharp inhale of his brother at the sight of him. The guilt settled heavily on my shoulders.

I watched the silent interaction between the brothers. The anger in Cole's grey eyes and the calm acceptance in Kane's.

Cole's gaze settled on me once more and I didn't see the blame I expected. I saw it when he swung his gaze to the Neanderthals that sat a few chairs away from me. Blame and Fury.

I followed his gaze. It satisfied me to see swelling of a couple of noses including Eric's. He'd have a black eye soon.

When Cole looked like he was about to walk over there, Kane placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm fine. Don't be dramatic." I would have laughed if I wasn't so upset at Kane's situation.

It was my mother's turn to come bounding down the corridor towards me. When I saw her, the reality of my part in this situation dawned on me.

I was so focussed on Kane, I didn't have time to think of what I had been through. I felt Eric's kiss on my lips again. I swallowed  and tried to choke down the tears.

It's just a kiss. It's okay. It's okay. Don't think of it as anything but a kiss. Don't drown in the implications of what that kiss was. Not now. Deal with the emotions later.

But in spite of myself the word "assault" clattered around in my head.

My mother scooped me up into one of her hugs that really made me wanted to break down. I felt protected in her arms. My eyes lifted to Kane's and for once, I think I knew what he was thinking of. The same thing as me. Because he must have seen the emotions and thoughts play out on my face, clear as day.