True Lovers

Chapter 18 The Imp's Ire Strikes Back

The whole auditorium rang with a dead silence. I ran forward to my beloved Pierce, now literally looking like a 'golden boy' in all that paint. I pulled out my hanky and gently wiped the paint from his face despite the tears falling down mine.

"Why would you do that, Pierce?" I asked with a little sob, saddened to see my golden boy undergo such humiliation. But he smiled without a trace of shame.

"I'd do anything to protect my babydoll," he replied softly. He raised his hand to touch my face but dropped it on seeing it covered with paint. I didn't care—I cupped his now cleaned face instead and pressed my lips against his, kissing him in front of everyone.

"Let's hear it for Hartman, the best TA ever!" Haruko hollered, and started clapping and chanting his name. Cassie joined in and soon the whole crowd was shouting 'Hartman' on repeat in admiration and the auditorium resonated with his name. I smiled, drying my tears.

"You really are the golden boy of Bellfort, aren't you, sweetie?" I asked him with a laugh. He grinned.

"Never let it be said that I never had style," he winked. Vera started stamping nearby on the stage, grunting.

"Ugh, no, this is all wrong! Stop it, STOP IT EVERYONE!" She screeched, but no one heard her over the deafening chants of Pierce's name. The DJ even struck up a beat and everyone started dancing to it while continuing to chant 'Hartman! 'Hartman!'. I took Pierce's hand.

"Let's go get you cleaned up now, sweetie," I said, tugging him to come along. He held up a gold-painted finger.

"Just one sec," he said to me before turning to Vera. "Miss Wallis, I expect to see you in the principal's office on Monday morning—and if you get any ideas of ditching, I have proof." Huh? What was he talking about? Whatever he meant made Vera turn white as a ghost though. Pierce turned on his heels and led me off the stage, exiting the auditorium with dramatic flair.

"Pierce, sweetie, what did you mean by that?" I asked as we strolled quickly through the empty hallway. "And—where are we going? The bathroom's that way."

"My office, I kept a spare set of clothes there," Pierce replied. I blinked. Pierce had planned that far ahead, knowing this was gonna happen?

"How—" I began, but he cut me off as we reached his office.

"I know, I have a lot to explain and I will. Just give me a chance to change first, alright?" Pierce said, unlocking his door. I nodded meekly. He rushed in on opening the door, opened his cupboard, grabbed some clothes and shut it again.

"Come with me," he said, pulling me out of the office and locking the door again. He strode quickly to the boys' bathroom and pulled me inside, locking the door. I reddened.

"Um, Pierce, wouldn't you rather have some privacy—"

"I don't trust Vera and her posse an inch and I'd rather not leave you alone anywhere for even a minute, babydoll," Pierce explained while beginning to undress. He smirked, observing my red face.

"Don't worry, I'm not gonna strip in front of you. Turn around," he commanded. I immediately obeyed but not seeing him didn't stop my heart from racing or my mouth from salivating. Just knowing he was standing behind me, unclothed with that milky, creamy skin of that sexy body of his exposed made me have to summon all my willpower not to turn around.

"I'm just gonna shower, okay? Gotta get this paint out of my hair," he said.

"Okay," I replied meekly, and soon I heard the shower running. Oh crud, that did things to my mind. Knowing my golden boy was standing au naturel with water running down his body sent my thoughts running wild. I could only imagine sliding my hands up and down his sexy body, feeling his velvet skin, kissing every inch of it I so desired...