A + J

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Monday came all too soon. Morgan had left Sunday night with promises to come the next weekend and the assurance that I'd never have to attend school with a sweatshirt on again. So Monday morning I actually woke up twenty minutes earlier to flat iron my stubborn curls, and wore a maroon sweater-dress that hit my knee and Morgan's thigh-high gray boots. I had tried not to think of you-know-who when getting dressed but it wasn't easy considering where I was going.

The only reason I hadn't completely ignored Morgan's request to dress more girly was because she made me swear on our friendship to text her a selfie every morning, the psychopath.

Pulling into my usual parking spot I braced myself for the day. Despite my efforts that morning it was still Monday. With Monday came due dates and new assignments that I was not looking forward to. I was stepping out of my 2016 Honda and into the October weather when I heard a car door slam next to me.

"You look different, Aine." A young man commented.

Recognizing the voice made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and had me tugging the hem of my dress down. Eric Housley was a second year senior who had a reputation of being an absolute creep. He wasn't an idiot either. He'd repeated his senior year because he wanted to look better to college scouts as the best football player on Belleview's team. He also wasn't hard on the eyes. Even at that moment when he'd stepped into my line of sight with his huge imposing body I could admit he wasn't ugly. He was a basic blue eyed, blonde eyed jock. I couldn't help but feel violated as he raked his cold eyes slowly over my body.

"Thanks?" I muttered, trying to side step him. Eric began to walk towards me with slow, deliberate steps, effectively closing us in between our two cars.

"You know Ana...can I call you Ana?" I glared daggers at him backing away from him. Eric knew not to use Morgan's nickname for me as they used to date. It had ended badly. The way he laced something I associated with Morgan with malice, caused bile to rise up in my throat.

"Fuck off Eric." I spat. He was so close now that I could smell his breath and I wrinkled my nose in disgust making a silent vow to never get this close to him again. His eyes hardened but he still kept the empty smile on his face.

"You know Ana," He began mockingly, breath fanning my face, pressing me further against my car. "You were a lot more...submissive as a child."

My eyes widened in shock and a large tan hand rest itself on Eric's shoulder.

"Are we having a party? I bet my invitation got lost in the mail."

Jonah.

Relief flooded my body so swiftly that I had to catch my breath. Eric hadn't moved but I could tell that Jonah had a firm grip on his shoulder.

Forgetting Eric, I scanned Jonah's face, eyebrows furrowed. Jonah's brown eyes sparkled and his lips were stretched over his teeth in a perfect grin but his body language was defensive. Jonah also had four inches on Eric so he towered over him.

Finally, Eric backed away from me in the limited space, and turned to glare up at Jonah, who only smirked dryly down at him.

"Eric," He began thoughtfully. "If I ever see you within thirty feet of Aine ever again, I'll rip your tongue out and shove it down your fathers rotting corpse. Do you understand me?"

My mouth dropped open in shock, and I watched and waited for Eric to do something. Surprisingly enough, Eric did nothing. The two of them stood facing each other, all traces of good humor wiped from Jonah's face. Eric clenched and unclenched a pale fist and I stood by as they had a silent conversation.

Suddenly Eric stepped back from Jonah and walked away, back stiff and arms still clenched tightly at his sides.

"Wh—what was that? You can't just say that to somebody!" I scolded, now that Jonah and I were alone.

Jonah, who'd be watching Eric's retreating figure turned to me with a fierce glare.

"I saved your ass Aine. You'd do well to thank me instead of attacking me after I got you out of trouble."

"Thank you?" I tried. "You shouldn't have said that to him still. I know Eric Housley. He'll come after you. Besides I could have handled him just fine, Jonah."

"Sure you could have. Nice dress by the way."

I rolled my eyes and shoved past him in a huff. The damned idiot was going to get himself killed. Luckily, I had arrived early so none of the drama deterred me getting to homeroom on time.

I slid into my seat at the front of the class just as Mrs. Churchill strolled in.

"Good morning students! I hope your weekend was as lovely as your beautiful faces!" She sang. Mrs. Churchill was about forty years old with the energy of a ten year old. She was always optimistic and she taught AP Chemistry which made her easy to hate. She stood at the front of the room, eyes ecstatically waiting for a response which was a collective sigh and blank stares. I just rolled my eyes and slumped in my seat.

"Good news kiddies!" Really? Who used the word kiddies anymore? "We have a new student! It seems he already attends our school, but his grades were so exceptional in his other class that he's been transferred to this class."

I raised a brow, wondering who it could be.

"Seems it's a Mr. Jonah Romano."

Speak of the devil and he shall appear apparently. Jonah strolled in not a minute later, even though he was extremely late. A lazy cat-like grin adorned his lips and he took his time making it to the seat directly next to mine.

To be honest I wasn't shocked. It seemed likely, cliché even, that he'd be in the class.

Mrs. Churchill ignored his tardiness and simply reminded him what a pleasure he would be to have in class.

Yeah, right.