__
ADA
LOVE
__I wasn't new to bullying. Words didn't bother me—sticks and stones and all that—but the physical stuff, that was different. That made it real. Jameson, one of the arrogant jocks, barreled into me, knocking me sideways.
"Get off me," he sneered, eyes full of disgust. "Weren't you the bitch no one wanted to kiss? You're embarrassing."
Ares wasn't here to fight for me today. He was absent, and for once, I was thankful. He didn't need to see me like this, sprawled on the floor, fumbling to pick up my books while tears burned behind my eyes.
Jameson's friends circled like vultures, laughing. "Look at her," Jameson taunted, voice dripping with cruelty. "Fuckin' cunt, bumping into boys and not even apologizing."
Their laughter cut through the air like shards of glass. Of course, they'd laugh. That's all I was to them—a joke.
"I—I was going to... I'm sorry," I whispered, voice shaking as I clutched my books to my chest. I kept my head down, hoping they'd lose interest if I just made myself small enough. But that wasn't how it worked with them. They fed on fear.
The circle tightened. Five of them now, hulking over me like a pack of wolves. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat louder than the last. Crowds. Too many people. My throat constricted, and panic surged through me. "Stop, I can't breathe!" I gasped, but they didn't care.
"Scared, Ada?" Jameson jeered, stepping closer. "Should we call you Loner Girl? No one wants to be around you. Your friends hate you. Everyone does. You're a loser."
"Loner girl! Loner girl!" They chanted in unison, their voices a wave of torment.
"I didn't do anything!" I screamed, covering my ears, trying to drown them out. I was so weak. So fucking weak. I shoved against one of them, but it was like trying to move a wall.
And then, it stopped. The laughter. The jeers. Everything went silent. Slowly, I uncovered my ears, daring to open my eyes.
They were all staring at someone behind me. The air had shifted, thick with a tension that crawled under my skin. I turned my head just enough to see Aiden Ivesok standing there, towering over everyone. His presence was suffocating, cold, and lethal.
My body softened, instinctively drawn to him. I hated it, but I couldn't help it. Aiden stepped forward, and before I could protest, his arm slipped around my waist, pulling me into his chest. I buried my face into him, clinging to the fabric of his shirt like a lifeline.
"You all better apologize," Aiden growled, his voice low, dangerous. "Or I'll start beating the shit out of each one of you."
Jameson and his friends looked terrified. Aiden wasn't just talking. They knew he'd do it. "Beg for her forgiveness," he added, his voice dripping with venom.
Our school's student were scared of five boys: Ryke Rhodes. Ares Emerson. Aiden Ivesok. Luca Castillars. Astor Knight.
That's in order too. Ryke being the scariest was weirdly odd. He wasn't scary, at all.
I shook my head, barely able to get the words out. "No. No. Please, Aiden, just take me away," I whispered, the sobs breaking through. "Take me away."
Aiden tensed under my grip, but his arm tightened around me protectively. "You mess with her again, and I swear none of you will walk away alive," he snarled. "I'll rip your insides out and toss them into a fucking fireplace. Got it?"
The fear in Jameson's eyes was enough to tell me they wouldn't try this again. They scattered like cockroaches, leaving Aiden and me alone in the hallway.
Aiden didn't say a word as he led me out of the building. He just drove, his eyes fixed on the road, tension radiating from him in waves. I didn't care where we were going. Anywhere was better than that hallway.
He stopped at the lake—the calmest place I knew—and we sat in silence on the dock, the sun dipping below the horizon. The water lapped softly against the shore, the quiet only broken by the occasional breeze.
"Thank you for protecting me," I finally whispered, my voice small. "I... I swear I didn't do anything wrong. I bumped into him, and I was going to apologize, but he just kept—" My voice broke. "There's something wrong with me, right?"
Aiden was sitting close, his eyes never leaving me. His gaze made me squirm, too intense, too knowing. "It's not your fault, Ada. You know that. They're cowards. They won't touch you again. And if they do, I'll be there."
I nodded, but the tears wouldn't stop. "Thank you."
I hated how much I was letting him in. Letting him hold my wrist, my hand, letting him be the one to protect me. Ryke was right—I was letting them control me, giving them power over me. And it was already too late.
Suddenly, Aiden stood, pulling off his shirt. My breath hitched as he unbuckled his belt, dropping it to the ground. The moonlight traced the sharp lines of his body, the V of his abdomen leading down to his waistline.
"What... what are you doing?" I stammered, trying not to look, but failing miserably.
"I'm going for a swim. Care to join me?" He offered me his hand, the ghost of a smirk on his lips.
"I... I don't know how to swim," I admitted, embarrassed. He knew but I had to repeat it incase he forgot.
"I'll hold you. I won't let go."
"Promise?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
"Never."
Against my better judgment, I took his hand, standing up on shaky legs. I unzipped my jean shorts, hesitating as I peeled off my shirt. Aiden, sensing my unease, turned around, giving me privacy.
I quickly shed my clothes, shivering in the cool night air. "Y-you can turn around now," I whispered, heart pounding in my chest.
Aiden turned, his eyes dark as they skimmed over me, lingering on the scar on my thigh. His jaw clenched, his thumb lifting my chin so I was forced to meet his gaze. "I'm going to ask you something, and I want the truth."
"What?" I breathed, dread settling deep in my gut.
"Who gave you that scar, Ada?"
The truth clawed at my throat, but I couldn't let it out. "I fell," I lied, my voice shaky. "Climbed a tree and fell."
Aiden didn't believe me. I could see it in his eyes. But he didn't push. "I'll find out who did this. I promise."
I didn't have time to respond before he took my hand, leading me into the water. The cold hit me like a shock, and I immediately wrapped my legs around him, clutching his shoulders for dear life.
"You feel safe?" he asked, his hands steady on my hips.
I nodded, even though I wasn't sure I did. But I wanted to.
I wanted to be safe with him. I craved it.
"Good," he murmured. "Because you're safe with me."
I didn't let go as he swam, pulling me under the water with him. The world went silent, and for a moment, it felt like everything else disappeared. Just me and him, in the dark, with nothing but the water around us.
YOU ARE READING
𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 18+
RomanceA story unravels, following two distinct friend groups: one embodying the virtues of loyalty, trust, and friendship-the so-called "good" group; the other steeped in manipulation, rebellion, and chaos-the "bad" group. As their final school year progr...