The Secrets Of Ravenstone

Chapter 6 : BENEATH THE BANDAGE

As they reached the dorm, David's sharp eyes caught sight of a small cut on Charlotte's leg, likely from her earlier encounter. His face darkened with concern. "You're hurt," he said, his voice low, laced with something that bordered on possessiveness.

Before Charlotte could object, David guided her firmly to the bed. "Sit," he instructed, his tone leaving no room for resistance. She was too exhausted to argue and complied, sinking onto the bed with a weary sigh.

David crouched in front of her, pulling a first aid kit from his bag with the ease of someone well-versed in such tasks. "You know," he began, as he carefully cleaned the wound, "my father, Dr. Richard Thatcher, is one of the best neurosurgeons in the country. I've learned a thing or two from him."

His hands were steady as he applied antiseptic, but there was a certain intensity to his movements, a focus that made Charlotte feel strangely vulnerable under his care. The cool sting of the antiseptic was offset by the warmth of his touch, which lingered on her skin, sending a ripple of unease through her.

David continued, his voice calm but with a hint of something darker beneath the surface. "Ravenstone isn't just some high school, you know. It's a whole institution-a world of its own. It has many departments, including a senior college. I'm in my first year of medical school here. My father's legacy looms large, so I know what it takes to survive in a place like this."

He looked up at her, his gaze piercing. "Ravenstone is brutal, especially for those who aren't... brilliant. You need to focus, Charlotte. This place will swallow you whole if you don't."

As he finished bandaging her leg, David's eyes softened, but only slightly. He stood, towering over her, and reached out to brush a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his touch lingering. "You're different. Unique. And I like that. A lot." His voice dropped to a near whisper, filled with a possessive warmth that made her heart skip a beat. "I'd like to take you out sometime. A date."

Charlotte's mind was still reeling from everything that had happened that day, and the weight of David's words barely registered. She offered a distracted nod, too drained to process the intensity of his request. But the slight flicker of disappointment in David's eyes as he noticed her lack of engagement didn't go unnoticed.

Undeterred, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, wrapped chocolate, placing it in her hand. His fingers lingered on hers, the gesture more intimate than it seemed. "Here, something sweet to help you sleep," he said, offering her a smile that was as much a command as it was a comfort.

As David turned to leave, his gaze hardened as he spotted Lizzie lurking just outside the door. The easy charm that usually characterized him was replaced by a chilling edge. "Lizzie," he called out, his voice cold, "don't mess with Charlotte. If you do, you'll regret it."

Lizzie's usual smirk faltered, and she took a step back, clearly rattled by the sudden shift in David's demeanor. He waited until she turned and left before he stepped out, closing the door behind him with a final, deliberate click that echoed through the room.

Left alone in her dorm, Charlotte looked down at the chocolate in her hand, the day's events whirling in her mind. David's intensity lingered like a shadow, a mix of protectiveness and something more unsettling. She realized with a shiver that David Thatcher wasn't just concerned for her-he was watching her, and not in a way she could easily ignore.