Mine

Mine; Five

"Ari!" Spinning around, I smiled as Tanner slowed down to a jog as he caught up, "Good god, you look like shit."

Gee thanks, I never noticed.

"Usually what happens when a deranged psychopath is after you," I shrugged carelessly as we walked towards the cafeteria on campus. It had been a couple of weeks since the closet incident and rumours had died down, but not by much. "Have you seen Jason? He's been avoiding me since yesterday."

"No," Tanner frowned as open the door for me like a gentleman, "Did you do something to upset him?"

I waited to the side as he let a few people in. All of them giving me the awed looks, that I was tired of, as they passed by me. Being recognisable in a school was only fun if they people actually talked to you. Tanner chuckled as if guessing what I was thinking.

"To answer your question, no," Sighing, we took a place in the line, already I could feel the stares on me, "Just yesterday he came home from the Gym and when straight to his room, this morning he was already gone when I woke up."

Tanner gave me a weird look, "Did you say the Gym? The one on Downtown?"

Nodding, I grabbed the last chicken wrap and a bottle of orange juice, "Yeah, every tuesday he's at the Gym, he's tried to get me to go with him, but I'm lazy and had a class to study for. At least that's my excuse" His frown deepened, "What? What's wrong?"

"Kai went to that Gym last night."

Freezing, it took a few moments for those words to sink in. Shoving my tray into Tanner's hand, I turned on my heel and stormed out of that place. People had already begun to whisper on why I was so mad, but at that moment I didn't care. I hadn't seen the prick in ages, at least not up close, he's been keeping his distance and I was grateful.

But...

Kai did something to Jason, I just know it.

Glancing at my wristwatch, I went over Jason's timetable in my head. If I were to rush, I would just catch him coming out of his lecture. My walk turning into a sprint as the worry built up in my chest. My eyes widened when I saw him walking out of the building, sporting a bruised cheek and split lip.

He froze when I halted right in front of him, eyes tearing up as I hesitantly raised my hand to touch his lip. Seeing him flinch, I immediately dropped my arm and whimpered quietly. Jason knowing I was about to crack, quickly brought me into his arms and murmured comforting things.

"Is this why you've been avoiding me?"

"Shhh," Jason pressed a kiss to my head, ignoring the break out of whispers from the people who were standing around us. "I didn't want you to worry about me, he didn't hurt me that bad Ari, I'm fine. He just warned me to stay away from you."

"But he hurt you!"

Sighing, he glanced around us before grabbing my hand and tugging me away. When he had found a secluded spot, he sat down and pulled me into his lap. Giving me a chance to let out all the build up of emotions into his chest.

"What are we going to do Jase?" I mumbled against the fabric of his shirt, I played with the hem of my own and I felt his chest rise and fall dramatically as he let out a deep breath. "He attacked you, he harmed you! I don't want you getting hurt for me!"

"It's worth it if he keeps away," Jason snapped back, making me flinch, "Last night he proved something to me." Feeling his hand lift my chin, he made me look up at him, "He made me realise that I don't want my best friend to fall into the clutches of someone like him. A spoiled brat."

"Jase..."

"No Ari, I know what you've been thinking over the past few days, you've been thinking of just giving up and going to him. I'm your best friend, you can't fool me, but I'm not going to let you sign yourself over. You have a right to live your life the way you want!"