The Bad Boy's Firecracker

10

I walked through school and all eyes were on me. A girl walked up to me. "She's out for blood you know. And guess who her target is." I brushed past her and quickened my pace to my first class. Then my second class. Third. One more until lunch. I walked to the library nervously, on edge. "Hello Lauren dear. How's your day been?" I smiled at the old librarian and mumbled an incoherent response but continued to the shelves. I saw four blonde ponytails over the shelves and turned in the opposite direction immediately. Chase wasn't here, thank god, or else there would be yet another soul out for blood. I snapped my hair ties against my wrist anxiously. "Lauren?" I ignored Asher and kept walking. He grabbed my shoulder and stopped me. "Lauren. What the hell is going on? You act like you just murdered a family of five and ate them for breakfast." He frowned. "Nothing. I just want to get to class." I mumbled and he let go, my lie only half fooling him. A manicured hand suddenly shot out and grabbed my wrist, the purple and gold nails digging into my skin. "Lauren!" My eyes widened as Asher's tall angry frame stormed over here. Cameron's eyes widened in fear and she released my arm and stepped away as if to say 'she did it' in our minds. "Get. Out." Asher spit and she quickly walked away silently. "Lauren. You are so lucky I was here, following you because you were obviously lying to me. And even luckier Chase isn't here. He would've-" Speak of the Bad Boy and he shall appear. "I would've what?" I inhaled sharply. Asher looked between me and Chase before walking away. Chase's eyes flashed to the nail prints on my arm. "You said you'd fight back Lauren." I looked at my toes. I didn't want this to happen. "It's not that easy Chase. You need to understand." I said quietly. "Understand what Lauren!" He yelled, drawing more attention to us. "Chase please don't yell." I pleaded as everyone looked at us curiously. "No! What do I need to understand Lauren! I already understand you're too weak to fight back! I already understand you're just a scared little girl who runs away at the slightest sign of trouble! What left is there for me to understand!" My face burned a dark red at his words. I was hurt, yes, but more? I was more pissed. "That I am not like you!" I screamed and he froze and paled, realizing for the first time just how pissed he'd made me this time. "You need to understand that I am not a barbie that will do anything you ask! You will apparently never understand that though! Fuck you! Why can't you see this isn't just some streetfight! It is my life! You can't teach a person to be brave! You can't teach someone to go against their senses! You can't teach anyone to be something they're not! If you want me to stop getting hurt so bad then shut your damn mouth for ten seconds and let me live my life!" I screamed as tears poured down my face. I walked over to Cameron who was watching smugly. I reared my fist back and smashed it into her nose. My knee connected with her stomach next. "Happy Chase? I hope you fucking are. Because all you care about it yourself. You only aim to please yourself, not me. Or the boys. Or Avery or Reece. You aim to please only yourself!" I screamed and stormed out of the school. I walked down the sidewalk and past his bright pink car. I probably would've laughed. If I wasn't pissed to the moon and back. "Lauren! Lauren! Firecracker! Wait!" I deliberately walked faster. He gently but firmly grabbed my arm and I spun on my heel. "Don't touch me! Don't ever touch me! Don't touch me you stupid asshole! This is all your fault! Why can't you just leave me alone! Don't call me Firecracker! Don't walk near me, don't talk to me, don't even breathe in my direction!" I screamed as tears poured down my face again. I was beating on his chest but he never did anything. I stopped after a minute and he wrapped his arms around me before I could finish my tumbled to the ground. He sat and pulled me onto his lap. "I know. I'm sorry Lauren. I'm sorry." He murmured and played with a strand of my messy hair. I curled up and he pulled me further against his chest. "I ruined your damn shirt." I mumbled and pushed him away. "Firecracker, it's fine. I have seventeen thousand other shirts like this." He mumbled and helped me up onto my feet. I pulled my hair into my face. "You good now Firecracker?" He asked softly. "Fuck. You." I mumbled and rubbed my eyes. He chuckled. "You're fine." He smiled and pulled me into his side as we walked. He leaned down and kissed the top of my head. "Sorry." He mumbled quickly after a moment. "For what?" I narrowed my eyes. "Being an asshole. Causing a scene. Yelling." He sighed. "Good. You better be. I'll slap the crap out of you boy, don't think I'm afraid to." I warned. He rolled his eyes. He and I walked in silence again for a moment or two. A comfortable silence. "Hey, Lauren, I was wondering....." He said hesitantly. "Yes Chase?" I asked and leaned my head against his shoulder. "Could you be more careful? I don't want her to get her hands on you again." He mumbled. I looked down at my toes. I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed. I realized I hadn't answered him yet. "Oh, uh, yeah. Sure. Whatever. I have to go." I mumbled and quickly walked away. He stood there on the sidewalk where we'd stopped, unsurprised I'd blew him off like that. He looked sad though when I glanced over my shoulder. I didn't mean to hurt him or anything, if I did hurt him. I just.... I wasn't thinking! Well, too late now. Unless I want to seem desperate. Nope. Pass. Sorry Chase.