Hunter or Hunted

Chapter 1

Like always the halls were full of girls screaming about seeing their friends after the short winter break, and boys being idiots as they rough housed in the halls as the teachers yelled at them. I turn my music up and try to ignore all of it as I head to my art class, turning the volume up higher with every step that I take till it can't up anymore. I walk into my class and sit in the back, this class is basically a free period to do whatever kind of art you feel like. Mostly because the teacher was never really in the room. I pulled my sketch book out of my bag and started working on a sketch of a candle I had been working on the night before. Just as I was starting to get into the drawing my earbud was pulled from my ear. I look over to see my friend Kara, who is smiling like it was the best day ever, but if you ask me the first day back after break was the worst, you had to get up early instead of sleeping in till noon, and have a schedule.

    "Well aren't you excited for your sixteenth birthday on Saturday?" she asked excitedly as if it were her own. She had her blonde hair curled into big bouncy curls that complimented her blue eyes. Kara basically looked like a model, small waist with hips that were round but still made her look small. I looked like a bag of garbage next to her with my red hair and dull grey eyes. She always told me I was curvy, and I knew I wasn't fat, I mean I worked out everyday after school and I had a pretty big butt compared to the rest of me so I tried to use that as often as I could. I look at Kara who is still waiting for me to answer.

"Not really, it's just another birthday, I'll probably just stay home again and watch Netflix." That's what I did almost every year, except last year. I had my first boyfriend last year and he threw me a party with the whole school there. It had been amazing until Rowan Crouten showed up, I had known Rowan since I had started school and he moved in next door. He had brought some fake blond slut with him, and she just so happened to decide that my boyfriend would be her new toy. I found them in the kitchen, him with his tongue down her throat and her hands all over him. I dumped what ever drink I had on him and rushed out, in my hurry to leave I hadn't noticed Rowan standing in the door. I ran into him full speed, he caught me before I fell and wore a cocky smirk on his face.

"What's wrong Lydia, did you finally get rid of that goody two shoes boy, you call your boyfriend?" when he said that, it felt like my heart broke even more than it already had that night, if at all possible. thanks to him, I spent three hours after school working out and the rest of my day dieting. I left the party after he said that, but not before slapping him. after that there was no way I would trust a guy or go to a party for my birthday. I snapped out of the flashback and see Kara's scowl.

"No way, I am throwing you a party and you are going to come over so I can give you a makeover before. It will be at my place Friday night, and almost everyone will be there, except for that blond bimbo and Jake, they both deserve to burn in hell." she growled the last part. I had called her as I walked home, and she immediately left to come pick me up and listened while I cried and told her what had happened, but I left out the part about Rowan. I didn't know how to explain it, but something drew me to him and I couldn't help but like him. His dark brown hair in it's unkempt military cut and green eyes that swirled with some darkness. He definitely spent a good amount of time at the gym with his hard stomach, broad shoulders and big arms. He was built much like a Hollister model, one of those ones who stood outside without a shirt on. He had done nothing but taunt me since the first day I met him. I had done everything to make him stop, he would call me fat, I worked my butt off to lose weight and get in shape, he said I acted too aggressive and like a man, I dressed more girly and became quieter, he made fun of my freckles, I wore more makeup to cover them. I had changed everything for him, but he always found something. Kara seems to be very happy with her idea, though I am not, but once she has her mind set on something, there is no way to say no to Kara Kingsley when she has her mind set.

"Kara tomorrow is Friday, and I really shouldn't. you know I don't like parties." I say to her, but she gives me her puppy eyes and there is no way I can say no to her. "Fine, I'll do it. Only because you are my best friend." her face breaks into a smile and she hugged me.

"Good, I already got you a dress and shoes to wear. You are gonna love it!" After she said that she went off on talking about only god knows what, but I have stopped listening to her as a sharp aching fills my head, it doesn't seem to be going away at all either. I may have mumbled that I would be right back to Kara but I couldn't quite tell. The aching had grown more painful, as if someone was hitting a symbol in my head. I left the room quickly, the halls were empty and it was halfway through the period. As I walked around a corner to find the nurses office I bumped into a firm, warm wall. I start to fall backward but a strong arm wraps around my waist and stops me from falling. I look up at the person who caught me and am met with my own personal demon, Rowan. He once again wore that cocky smirk that seemed to never leave his face. The pain in my head had grown enough that tears had formed in my eyes, Levi seemed to notice this and his smirk wavered as what seemed like sadness flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly gone.

"What are you doing out of class Lydia? Good girls are supposed to stay in class." he said, his voice rough but still drew me in. I rolled my eyes at him and tried to get out of his hold, but he tightened his grip and I couldn't get away.

"None of your business Crouton." I growled out. I had come up with this nickname in primary school when he first started picking on me, and for once I found something that bothered him, as I used his last name to come up with a stupid nickname.

"Really Lydia? Are we still on the name calling? I really thought we were past this. But I can continue too if you want to act like children so badly. Anyways I hear your friend is throwing you a party, I will have to let Malina know and maybe she can steal your boyfriend again" he snickered. With him and this head ache going at me I finally lose it.

"Shut up!" I yell as loud as I can, and all the windows in the hall shatter, along with all the lights. People in the classrooms scream and teachers start to open the doors. I fall to my knees as a sob racks through my body. I here Rowan curse under his breath as he leans down to pick me up.

"I'm sorry luv, I took this too far. I need to get you out of here now." he said, sounding sorry, truly sorry. He picked me up like I weighed nothing and held me like a princess.

"No, stop, put me down. I don't need you, I hate you!" it all came crashing down, every façade that I put up. School was my only escape from home, where my adoptive family was, they hated and despised me. I had managed to hide it from everyone even Kara, but when he moved next door he could hear every time I was yelled at, or got lectured, but sometimes I would catch him staring at my step father like he wanted to kill him and even sometimes when he caught me crying, it looked like he was holding himself back from something. "Lydia, please, let me get you outside and I can explain things to you okay?" His voice was gentle and calmed me as he placed a kiss on my forehead and sparks erupted from the contact. I try to get out of his hold but I can't so I give up and nod.