My Lion. || BXB

chapter fifty-three.

it was now my first day back at school since rekindling my romance with lionel. yesterday, i told him i loved him and he told me he loved me too. my heart is bursting and i feel like i can do anything. even go to school with my idiotic ex-friends sending me daggers from across the room. honestly, i'm over it.

i walked to school this morning, airpods in and in my own zone. as i approached the gate my eyes set on mari, whom i hadn't seen much off since she found out about me and lionel. we were good friends before that, maybe i can try fix it?

"hey, mari." i said, jogging up to her and taking my airpods out. she turned and noticed me, her eyebrows raising with surprise.
"oh, hi hunter. i haven't seen you in awhile." she responded while folding her arms and looking at me with a strange facial expression.
"yeah, i was pretty wrapped up in my friend group to see anyone else truth be told. but i'm not friends with them anymore and i've decided its time i start getting out there a bit more." i didnt want mari to think i was only talking to her because i didn't particularly have any friends.

"wait you're not friends with cormac's group anymore?" i shook my head. "why?" she asked, curiously.
"eh.. you know that little — thing — you found out about me on the school fields." i hinted, glancing around at the many people walking past us to get into the school building.  luckily; she caught on quickly so i didn't have to say much more. mari nodded.
"well they found out, and unfriended me."

marianna looked shocked, angry and even a little hint of embarrassment. "listen hunter i wanted to talk to you about that..." i tilted my head slightly. "i shouldn't have threatened to expose you or him, i hope you know i'd never actually do that." she turned to glance at her fidgety hands, unable to meet my pleading eyes. "truth is, i had a crush on you and was just mad you didn't want me. i'm sorry hunter." i smiled at her, although it was a sad smile and we both knew it.
"i understand mari, honestly its fine."
she shook her head, "but it's not fine what your friends did. i've accepted your relationship and they should too! if anything they should be happy that you've found the person you want to be with."

i chuckled at the sense of deja vu i just got, "yeah, my dad said the same."
"well, if you need someone to hang out with at school, my friend group will welcome you." she spoke with kindness that was greatly appreciated in a time like this. no more eating lunch in the toilets for me!

then, when lunch came around i was sure to take mari up on her offer. i was walking down the hallways on my way to the cafeteria when i saw someone.
"hey." lionel smiled as he walked up to me.
i instantly returned the gesture, "hello."
"do you want to come with me for lunch?"
"no, that's okay. mari said i could sit with her so i wouldn't be alone, i told her what happened with my friends." i responded.
yet lionel didn't seem pleased with that, but i didn't really expect him to be. "mari? as in the girl who tried to blackmail you to breakup with me?" he stretched his pink out to caress my hand and i glanced down.

"come." i said, holding onto his hand and dragging him into the nearby toilets so we could talk without the  fear of being watched.

i held his hands when we got into a cubicle and pulled him in for a quick peck, "mari said sorry and i forgave her, she was just upset because i didn't like her back. please don't do anything, lio. don't get involved."
"but she hurt you—"
"it's fine!" my hands moved up his body and rested on his cheeks. "but i appreciate you wanting to protect me. i need some friends lionel, i can't come running to you all the time. i need my independence, okay?" and that seemed to make him understand somewhat, so he agreed and promised he would stay out of it.

"but what about cormac?" he asked. my eyebrows furrowed in confusion, so he continued on. "can i, oh i don't know, beat the shit out of him?"
"lionel!" i scolded at the sarcasm in his voice, "please don't. that won't help."

"it'll teach him a lesson to respect his friends more. the guy is clearly in need of one. huntley let me help."
but i shook my head. there was no way i was going to agree to my 'almost' boyfriend to beat up my ex-best friend. what sort of person would that make me?

"promise me you won't hurt him, or mari, or anyone on my account." i spoke sternly, almost as if i was training a dog. it was quite funny really.
he rolled his eyes but promised nonetheless.

i stood up on my tip-toes and planted one more kiss onto his beautiful lips, "i love you."
"i love you too." he grinned, kissing me once again. "i love loving you."
i giggled at his soppiness, which was so out of character for the big, scary 'lion'. but i've come to realise lionel is anything but big and scary when he's with me. he is comfortable and caring, which is why i love him.

we exited the toilets, and then he started walking me down the hallway a bit, "you don't have to escort me."
"i want to." he responded simply. but as we turned a corner, we saw the group of boys i really didn't want to see.

"huntely." cormac said with his eyes widened with surprise. i watched all their faces shrivel up, as freddie kept his eyes on the floor. i had a feeling he was pretending he found out about my relationship when the rest of them did, although i knew that was a big lie, same for nick. i wasn't going to out the two of them though, what good would that do?

"hello, boys." lionel said, taking a step forward, rather dominantly.
"..lionel." i whispered from behind him in an attempt to calm him down. he turned back at me, our eyes connecting for a moment before he visually relaxed.

"hello to the happy couple!" mickey said with overly loudness. i mentally face palmed, knowing lionel would retaliate.
"shut your mouth." lionel spat aggressively as i stood their in silence feeling small.
"oh what? don't tell me your embarrassed to be with our 'best friend' here!" his voice was laced with sarcasm which only made me madder.

"i'm not your best friend." i finally spoke up, watching as their eyes all shifted onto me — lionel's included. "you ditched me, remember? you all ditched me just because i found someone who cares about me, my bad!" i returned the sarcastic remark and could see lionel smirking from beside me.

"hunter—" cormac spoke up but i quickly cut him off.
"don't start cormac." i shook my head, "lets just go, please?" i looked up to lionel and he nodded in agreement before putting a hand on my back and gently pushing me through the group.

when we made it through the other side and turned the corner they had previously came from, lionel stopped me.
"are you okay?" he said while his eyes quickly scanned my face for any signs of discomfort.
"hey," i grabbed onto his arm, "i'm fine. thank you for having my back." i smiled, too which he returned without hesitance.