Bark Or Bite

Chapter 1

"Psst. Hannah sit up." I hear Ian calling my name. I groan. "Come on babe. You'll get detention again." I knew I shouldn't have looked at him, but I did. As soon as I saw his boyish smile and crystal eyes, I had to obey any comand he threw my way. I sit up and look at him.

"Hannah." Mrs. Darby calls my name.

"What?" I blurt out, sounding even more disrespectful than I intended.

"Perhaps you could tell us what X is in detention?" She smiles at me triumphantly.

"Or I could just tell you now. X equals 1.4." I shoot her a smile, cocking my head arrogantly. She rolls her eyes and writes my answer down on the board.

"How did you do that?" Ian looks at me, shock on his face.

"Easy. This guy already had the answer written down." I point my pencil eraser at the kid in front of me.

Ian chuckles. "I love you." Even after 3 years, his beautiful voice still gives me butterflies.

He turns his attention back to the teacher. I can't help but marvel at how beautiful he is. His chisled jaw, and broad shoulders. His dark hair resting right above his eyebrows. His crystal blue eyes full of spark. His perfect white smile, outlined by his small dimples, resting on both sides of his mouth.

"See anything you like?" I didn't even realize he was looking at me. He hits me with a boyish grin of his.

"Actually, I do." I send him one right back.

"Hmm." Just the small things that Ian says or does changes my mood. I'm one of the most outspoken people I know, but I'm a baby when it comes to Ian.

The rest of the day went by quickly. By that I mean I was staring at Ian the whole time. He is all mine. He glanced at me every now and then, acknowledgeing that he knew I was watching.

He grabbed my hand when the final bell rang, pulling me to his charger. He cranks it up, Ed Sheeran already coming out of the radio. He never takes my CD out. "Where are we going?"

"First, we're going back to my house. Then, there's something I need to show you." He smiles at me, but it doesn't reach his eyes. He was obviously nervous, but I didn't push the topic.

We pull up to his house and he leads me inside. I love his huge home. It's so old fashioned and unique. Dream catchers and portraits hang all over the walls. Whenever I ask him about it, he gives me the same reply. The house was built in the 1800's. His ancestors grew up in this house and he wouldn't change it to any other way. "Charles I'm home! Hannah's with me!" He yells down the long hallway.

Charles is his uncle. Apparently his mom and dad are just never home. Ten years ago, Charles moved in to look after Ian and Nik while their parents were gone. Nik is Ian's older brother. A couple years ago, Nik moved out and cut Ian off completely. I can tell its a hard subject for Ian to talk about, so I leave that discussion off the table.

Ian grabs my hand, pulling me onto his lap as he sat on the couch. His lips instantly crash with mine and I realize that he is distracting me from whatever it is he needed to show me. I don't say anything as I let him continue his distraction, as it was quite appealing.

"What's wrong?" He has a strange look in his eyes.

I feel his entire body tense up underneath me.

"Do you hear that?" He turns his head towards the kitchen.

"What are you tal--" He cuts me off.

"Shhh." He slides me off his lap and walks towards the kitchen, shoulders high.

I feel my eyes widen with fear.

I hear the fridge open and close.

"And here I was hoping you were a burglar." Ian speaks coldly.

I hear an unfamiliar chuckle from the kitchen. I slowly stand and walk to Ian. He stood in front of me in a protective stance. I see a man sitting at the island, drinking from a white Styrofoam cup. He resembles Ian. He has dark hair, slightly brown, messy on top of his head. His eyes, a beautiful emerald, hinted with red. He smiles at me. Perfect teeth, just like Ian. Who is he?

"Aah, there she is!"

He slides off the barstool and walks gracefully towards me. He takes my hand into his own.

"Nice to meet you darling." His soft lips graze the top of my hand. His eyes never leave mine.

Ian's eyes are cold, his body stiff beside me.

"Hannah this is Nik. Nik this is Hannah." Oh my gosh. It's his brother. But why would he be so heartless to his brother that he barely sees anymore?

"You know, I kind of missed you brother.'' His eyes widen as he puts emphasis on brother.

"What are you doing here Nik?"

"Well for one I live here. Secondly, can't I just come to visit my baby brother and the infamous Hannah Hastimgs?" I jump when he says my name. Ian grabs my waist, pulling me impossibly closer to him. I've never seen him jealous like this. I hate to admit it, but his reaction is hot.

"Leave. Now." Ian speaks emotionless to Nik.

"No can do brother. I've got some business to take care of." He throws his cup in the trash, smirks at Ian, and walks away.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I've got an uncle upstairs that I haven't seen in three years." His footsteps fade. Ian lets out a long sigh, releasing his built up stress from his conversation. He turns to me, hate, regret, and a hint of fear in his eyes. I have no idea what happened between Nik and Ian, but I have a feeling that this is just the beginning.

Thank you for reading!
Vote.
Comment.
Follow.
Love. xo