Beneath the Bully's Gaze

19

After an exhausting day at school, Mira was ready to make her way home on foot, as she always did. She gathered her books, slipped her bag over her shoulder, and stepped out of the school gates, hoping to escape the day's lingering humiliation.

But just as she started down the road, she heard the unmistakable hum of a motorcycle approaching from behind. She knew it could only be one person.

Ethan.

She felt her heartbeat quicken, her body instinctively tensing. As the motorcycle pulled up beside her, she avoided looking at him, keeping her eyes fixed on the road ahead.

"Hey," he called out, his voice carrying an oddly casual tone, as if they were old friends. "Hop on. I'll give you a ride."

Mira scoffed, shaking her head. "No, thank you. I'd rather walk."

But he didn't take her refusal lightly. Instead, he revved the engine a little louder, moving the bike to block her path. "Come on, Mira. Don't be difficult. It's a long walk, and I've got a free seat."

She glanced at him, her eyes narrowing. "Since when do you care?"
Ethan rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated. "Since never. But I'd rather not have you parading around the streets like some damsel in distress. Just get on."

Mira bit her lip, glancing at the seat behind him. "Are you sure it's safe?" she asked, trying to mask her apprehension.

"Of course, it's safe." he replied, his voice laced with annoyance, as if her concerns were beneath him.

Taking a deep breath, she climbed onto the motorcycle, trying to steady herself as she settled in behind him. The warmth of his body radiated through the leather jacket he wore, and she instinctively clung to his waist, feeling the tension in her stomach knot tighter.

As they sped down the road, the wind whipped through her hair, and a mix of exhilaration and fear coursed through her veins. Ethan drove fast, weaving through the traffic with ease, his confidence undeniable. She was surprised at how quickly she began to enjoy the ride, the scenery blurring past them as they tore through the streets.

But just as quickly, that feeling faded when they pulled up in front of her modest home. Mira's heart sank slightly. She loved her home, but the thought of Ethan being there made her anxious. What would her mother say?

Ethan killed the engine, and they both dismounted. Mira took a moment to collect herself, brushing her hair back from her face as she turned to see Ethan casually leaning against his bike, arms crossed over his chest.

"Mira! You're home! And who's this?" her mother exclaimed, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

"This is Ethan," Mira introduced, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Ethan! What a nice name!" Her mother beamed at him, clearly taken with his rugged good looks. "Are you here to see Mira? How sweet of you!"

Mira's heart raced as her mother's words sank in. "Mom, he's just giving me a ride home," she quickly corrected, hoping to dispel any misconceptions.

"Just a ride?" her mother asked, raising an eyebrow knowingly. "You can't fool me! I saw the way you two were looking at each other."

Ethan's expression was unreadable, but the corners of his mouth twitched as he fought back a smirk. "Yeah, just a ride," he echoed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Nothing more, right, Mira?"

Mira shot him a glare, wishing she could sink into the floor. "Can we not do this right now?" she hissed under her breath.

"Oh, come on, you two look adorable together!" her mother continued, completely oblivious to the tension building between them. "You should invite him to stay for dinner!"