Cold Hearts - Mark Tuan fanfic

15 - Overprotective

Before you go to bed that night you receive a call....from Mark. 

"Are you ok? The guys told me what Britney did to you."

"I'm better, Mark. You don't have to worry about me. Just tell your girlfriend to back away. I can do worse."

"She's not my girlfriend, Elysa. She never was. I just let her hang with us."

Silence. 

"Elysa, are you still there?"

"Uh-huh."

"Well, I'll see you at school tomorrow then. Congratulations, by the way."

"Thanks."

"Good night, B...Elysa."

You missed that...him saying 'Good night' to you every night. But, you're with Peniel now. With all he's done to you, you can't just leave him. 

Britney isn't in school for a week, she has been doing community service somewhere. It's been peaceful. It's like the first days of school, before everything bad happened. Except that the guy beside you is not Mark. 

While walking towards the parking lot, with Peniel and your three girlfriends, another girl from the cheering squad comes running. She's calling your name and waving her phone in the air. 

"Elysa," she's panting when she reaches you, "have you seen the pictures going around?"

"What is it?" You take the phone from her. Your jaw drops and eyes widen. There, on the screen, is a picture of you - same hair and clothes but the face is covered by the hair - and the drug dealer who just got expelled, in bed together. His shirt is off and is very sweaty. His arm is under the girl's head and it looks like they just had sex. 

"This isn't me." You say under your breath. "This isn't me. Who did this come from?"

"I don't know. It's been spreading since the end of last class." 

Peniel takes a look at the picture, then at you. 

"I swear Peniel, that's not me. I haven't even met the guy." 

"You have the same hair. And those clothes, they look familiar. You wore it last week. I remember." His eyes look like they're judging you. He puts his hand on his forehead and starts rubbing. 

Just then, Mark approaches your group. The rest of his team are behind him. "Elysa," he takes your hand. 

Peniel grabs your hand and pulls it away from Mark. "Don't touch her," he flares. 

"Peniel, please." You hold onto his hand, too. "That's not me."

"It's not her," Mark chimes in. 

"What do you know, numskull." Peniel's glaring eyes look straight at Mark. It looks like he's about to hit him. 

You step up between them, still facing Peniel and holding his hand. 

"I just know it's not her. She would never do this. And, just look at the guy."

Peniel flings your hand away and walks to his car. Without saying a word, he speeds off the driveway. 

Phoebe puts his arm around you. "It's ok. You can just explain it to him later." She can see you're bothered by Peniel's reaction. 

You take out your phone and dial Peniel's number. He's not answering. 

"Want me to go after him?" Mark says. 

"Ugh...I don't know." You lean on Phoebe's shoulder. 

Before you know it, Mark disappears. You only notice his car passing by you and into the street.