Beneath the Bully's Gaze

21

The day had begun like any other, with Mira sitting in her usual spot in class, gazing out the window at the gloomy skies. It had rained heavily the night before, and the remnants of a dreary morning lingered in the air. She could feel the weight of the clouds pressing down, threatening another downpour.

During lunch, she and her friends decided to skip the cafeteria and eat outside, eager to soak in the last remnants of sunshine before the clouds engulfed them again.

As they chatted and laughed, Mira felt an inexplicable sense of joy, the kind that made her forget the looming threat of rain. She even allowed herself to smile, revealing her dimples.

Just as they finished their lunches, the first drops of rain began to fall, quickening into a torrential downpour that sent everyone scrambling for shelter. Mira's heart raced as she dashed toward the nearest building, but she slipped on the wet grass, tumbling to the ground. In a moment of panic, she glanced up to see the sky darkening, the clouds swirling ominously.

"Come on, get up!" her friend called, pulling her to her feet.

Mira nodded, brushing off the dirt from her clothes, but as she turned to make a run for it, she felt a sharp pain shoot through her ankle. "I think I twisted it," she mumbled, grimacing.

"Just hurry!" her friend urged, looking back at the rest of the group who had already taken cover inside.

Determined not to be left behind, Mira limped her way toward the entrance, the rain drenching her within moments. As she reached the doorway, she glanced back, her heart racing from the adrenaline and the chill of the water soaking her through.

The rain continued to pour, and she found herself caught in the open, completely drenched. Her white t-shirt clung to her skin, becoming almost transparent, and her jeans were equally saturated, weighing her down. She felt exposed and vulnerable, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she realized how little coverage her clothing provided in this state.

At that moment, she spotted Ethan across the courtyard, standing under the awning with a group of friends. The sight of him sent a shiver down her spine—not from the cold but from the mixture of anxiety and something else that stirred within her. His expression was unreadable, but she could see the way his eyes narrowed as he took in her drenched form.

Just as she thought he might look away, he stepped out into the rain, his movements purposeful. Mira's heart raced as she stood there, shivering from the cold and her own self-consciousness.

"Ethan, what are you doing?" she called, feeling her throat tighten.

"Why are you just standing there?" he shouted back, his voice cutting through the rain. "You'll catch a cold!"

"I'm fine!" she protested, even though the chill seeped into her bones.

He moved closer, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're clearly not fine. You look like a drowned rat," he snapped, irritation lacing his words.

Mira felt a mix of anger and embarrassment wash over her. "I didn't ask for your opinion, Ethan," she shot back, crossing her arms in a futile attempt to cover herself.

He rolled his eyes, his frustration evident. "Just get inside already," he commanded, glancing over his shoulder at the group of students still laughing and pointing at her. "You're going to give everyone a show."

Before she could respond, Ethan stepped forward, his instincts kicking in as he pulled off his jacket and held it out to her. "Put this on," he ordered, his tone brooking no argument.

Mira hesitated, her pride fighting against the practicality of accepting his offer. "I can't just take your jacket, Ethan," she protested weakly.

"Do you want to freeze to death?" he snapped, the edge of his voice making it clear that he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Finally, she relented, slipping the jacket over her shoulders. It was oversized and smelled like him—a mix of leather and something uniquely Ethan that made her heart flutter.

"Great," he said, stepping back to inspect her. "Now you don't look like a total mess."

But the moment of relief was short-lived. As Mira adjusted the jacket, she noticed Ethan's expression shift. His jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened as he took in her wet shirt that clung to her skin beneath his jacket. She felt a rush of embarrassment and quickly turned away, the warmth flooding her cheeks.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked, his voice sharp. "Why didn't you stay under cover? You could've gotten seriously hurt!"

"I didn't mean to get caught in the rain," she retorted, trying to defend herself, but her voice wavered under the weight of his intensity.

"You're always getting yourself into trouble," he snapped, but his tone softened slightly as he looked at her. "Do you have to make everything difficult?"

Mira's heart raced at the unexpected concern hidden beneath his words. "I didn't ask to be saved," she said defiantly, though a part of her felt grateful for his presence.

"Maybe you should start," he muttered, glancing back at the group who were still watching them. "They're laughing at you, you know."

Mira's stomach twisted at the realization. "I can't help that," she replied quietly, feeling vulnerable and exposed.

Ethan's expression darkened as he scanned the crowd, his jaw tightening. "I hate when they do this to you. You don't deserve it," he said, almost to himself.

"Why do you care?" she challenged, meeting his gaze with defiance, though she could feel the warmth radiating from him.

"Because," he said, his voice low, "you're my toy, and I don't like when my toys get ruined."

Before she could respond, he stepped closer, his body brushing against hers, the tension crackling in the air. Mira felt her breath catch, caught between irritation and something deeper that tugged at her heart.

"Just stay close to me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, but his expression remained cold, masking the complexity of his feelings.

They stood there for a moment, the rain pouring around them, their bodies close but their emotions tangled in a web of confusion and resentment.

Finally, Ethan broke the silence. "Let's get back inside before you catch a cold or something," he said, stepping back and gesturing for her to follow him.

As they walked back toward the school, Mira felt a mixture of gratitude and frustration. Ethan might have been a bully, cold and arrogant, but in that moment, he had also shown a side of himself that was protective, even if he would never openly admit it.