War of Love

Chapter 4- Anger

Ethan

We had taken seats nearest to the window. I was already done setting my books, yet Lyria didn't utter a word until I finally had it.

"Is there something bothering you?" I ask. She shakes her head in denial. "no," was all she said. I sigh, "I wish I could have bought it, but you don't look like..." I give a vulgar gesture.

"I'm fine." I say. She blinks at me, her eyes barely revealing her feelings. I sigh in defeat. "I'm fine; really." she says, fishing a book out of her bag pack then placing it on the desk. In between us both.

Okay,

"let's go straight to todays lesson." She says before I can open my mouth to speak. And soon after that, I'm so engrossed in learning; that all other questions escape my mind.

I was just halfway through the lesson when I heard approaching steps. I mean, we both did. Then the next thing I hear is a female voice without even looking up, I had already guessed as much. "OMG!" I heard her squeak.

"Are you Ethan Xander?" She asked, half giggling. I tore my eyes from my book and gazed at Lyria a short distance away to see her reaction. But she doesn't say anything either. I sigh in annoyance before looking up at the girl. She had brown hair, golden eyes and a cream pale skin.

"Indeed, I am." I say blankly. "Well?" I ask her, politely. "may I help you?" I add, arcing a brow as I face her. I could see Lyria from the corner of my eye try to keep herself busy. "I was wondering, due to our project if you'll want to be my partner. That's if you won't mind." She says with a huge grin on her face.

Great, I thought. Fighting the urge to roll my eyes. "well, I can't." I say plainly. And her smile automatically drops. "why?" She asks half yelling. "because I don't feel like it. And also I'm not the only one present here, you know?" I ask her, pointing at Lyria who flinches.

She turns to Lyria's direction and her eyes begin to blaze with anger. "who?" She asks feigning innocence. "her?" She asks, barely able to keep her distaste in check. I clutch my fists at her behavior but maintain my blank expression and posture.

"her." I reply. "I won't partner with her." She spits with venom, and I could have sworn I sensed Lyria tense. "And why is that?" I ask, anger slowly rising within me.

"because I don't like her, and no one in this school does not, even her own sisters." She says, and I turn to face Lyria shocked. She tried to hide her feelings but I saw her clutch her fists to prevent them from wobbling. Why wasn't she saying anything?

But the brown haired lady doesn't stop there, she goes further to land a blow on her face by adding salt to her already cut wound. "why don't you go ahead and ask her if she even has a partner." she asks, before huffing. But Lyria doesn't answer she just stares down at her palms in silence.

Before the brown haired can speak again, I stop her. "that's enough. Now leave." I say, and she glares at Lyria accusingly before leaving.

How typical.

I stare at her retreating figure before turning my attention back to Lyria who still doesn't look at me. "you.. wanna talk about this?" I ask slowly. I hear her swallow a lump in her throat before she replies. "Can we not discuss this now?" She says still not looking at me. And I nod in understanding.

******

I stare at my wrist watch, for the first time since this lesson. I blink twice to ensure I've got the correct time. "I think we should pack." I say, she hums. "what time is it?" She asks, "It's 3:50." I say, packing up as well; opposite me from the corner of my eye I could see her doing the same.

Soon we make our way down the hallway, aiming for the exit where a group of girls are gathered. They seem to be waiting I realize. For Lyria, as she trips on a foot but I catch her before she falls.

The leader of the group glares at me angrily before she turns to Lyria, who doesn't meet her eyes. "hey, haven't you found a partner yet?" She asked. Here it comes.

Lyria doesn't reply. Hasn't she really? Could that be the reason why she had been quiet after lectures? I thought, before someone bumps into her roughly.

"Hey, she isn't talking. Perhaps we should pour some water on her so she can wake up." One says, and they all snicker. Lyria's gaze still remains fixed on the ground. She doesn't attempt to move.

Another pushes her, this time she almost falls. I can't stand it anymore. "stop it." I say, from afar.

"Hey boy," One says looking at me with a death glare. "you better stay out of this if you want to remain unharmed." a blonde haired girl threatens. I'm about to speak again, when Lyria's voice stops me. "no, stay out of this." she says. "but..." I protest, she doesn't look at me.

They all laugh. "trying to play good samaritan?" The red haired asks her. Lyria doesn't reply. "I'm talking to you." she says grabbing her roughly by the chin.

Lyria looks her in the eye before replying. "I don't need to reply to a bitch like you, May." She says calmly. Anger fills the red haired one.

"How dare you?" She says, letting go of her chin before slapping her across the face. I want to step in, but people from no where get in my way. This was cruel.

Lyria, doesn't utter another word, as they shove her against the wall.. "can't speak now huh?" The red haired asks again, Lyria looks at her, with the same unbending spirit and says. "My answer still remains the same." She says, and she becomes furious about to punch her when her friends pull her back. "she's coming." They say. I knew who, it was the principal they were referring to.

"you're safe this time, but not for long." she says shrugging off their hold on her shoulders before she walks off. Lyria remains where she's standing before I run to her.

"you alright?" I ask, she doesn't reply she just sort of remains in a trance.

Suddenly, anger boils in me, not at them but at her. "what were you thinking?" I ask. She blinks. "you almost got yourself killed." I say, half yelling. She looks at me.

"Are you; blaming me?" She asks. I blink. "you serious?" I ask nearly shaking with fury. "You get bullied, you don't say a word. You nearly get killed, and you expect me to be happy?" I ask. Her pained expression suddenly changes to that of anger. "you know nothing of my life to say that." She says. "I've seen as much." I retort.

"are you trying to say I'm arrogant?" She asks. "that's not it, I'm just angry you didn't accept my help." I reply, my head now spinning.

"Well, I don't need it." She says, before walking out on me. "Damn!" I curse, my fist colliding with the surface of the railing by the corner of where she just stood. Some silver hair come loose and fall to my front.

"That wasn't what I meant." I say through gritted teeth.