Branara ~ Magnum

Chapter Six - Defensive

BRANDON'S POV

I sit down in a corner, closing my eyes.

What have I done.

I'm not sure I could get my old self back, much as I want it back.

Maybe she can accept that.

No she can't, Brandon. Your friends beat her up.

My thoughts battle with one another.

I open my eyes.

Mat is standing right in front of me. I gasp in surprise.

He looks at me, assessing me before speaking.

"Mitch is cool. He never did anything to you." His eyes narrow.

"Yes he did." I stand up.

"Like what? Huh?"

He hurt her. And so did you.

"That's what I thought, retard."

"I've been called worse,"I reply.

"What?" he scoffs. "A jellyfish? Because you both have no brain?"

"No," I tell him quietly. "I've been called your friend."

I push past him before he has time to figure out what I just said.

I see her when I arrive at my next class. I look away a little too abruptly. 

She hates me. I don't blame her.

I relive the memories I have with her. How she looked like she wanted to murder me the day I was supposed to beat her up, how she violently she snarled her name at me when I asked for it. How when Mitch humiliated me, she looked like she was trying to find the best way to tell me she didn't like me.

Tears prick my eyes. My throat closes up. I feel like I'm about to die, like I'm about to suffocate.

I gasp for breath.

Kara looks at me. 

Maybe I just imagined it. But I think I see her expression soften before it returns to ice.

I didn't imagine it. There it is again.

I don't want to know how unreasonably defiant I look. "What?" I glare at her harshly. Too harshly.

"Nothing," she replies.

I can't help myself. I stare at her, savoring every moment I get to gaze at her. 

She stares back.

After a while, she says quietly, "No need to be so defensive."