The Bad Boy Hero

Chapter 3

The bell rang as I arrived at school and I hurried to first period not even going to my locker to dump my folders before I did. Sometimes it was like I was living a double life. People smiled to me in the corridors and I beamed back like there was nothing wrong. Because there was nothing wrong. I had to believe that myself to get through the day. "What's with the scarf?" Tess asked as I plonked myself down next to her in French
I blinked then smiled softly "I just thought it looked cute," it also happened to cover up the bruises I had found that morning...
"Well it definitely is you're colour," she commented before getting her notepad out. I followed suit making sure my neck was covered in the process. "Were you with Mattie last night?" She wondered lightly after Karen, our French teacher, had given us our tasks for the next hour
"No, I was at home, doing work," I shrugged my back aching as I did
"Oh, ok, I just text you last night and you didn't text back so I figured you'd be with Mattie,"
I gave her a smile "No, my phone just died and I forgot to charge it back up until this morning, sorry,"
Tess smiled "Don't worry about it," We both turned back to our work and I put all thoughts of last night out of my head until the end of class when Tess headed off home for the rest of the day and I headed to my locker to get my English books.
"Hey gorgeous," I smiled softly as Mattie took my hand as he appeared in the corridor and walked me to my locker.
"Hey," I smiled
"You were quiet last night," he commented as I opened my locker, last night. "Annie, earth to Annie,"
I blinked "Sorry," I smiled to him "I was just doing work, and I forgot to charge my phone, sorry," I gave the same excuse as I had to Tess and Mattie smiled kissing my cheek
"That's ok babe, I just missed you," I fitted my bag in my locker and pulled out my books and notepads, neatly lining them up next to it. I frowned slightly as I saw a slip of paper on the bottom of the metal box "Annie?"
"Yes, sorry I missed you too," I promised kissing his cheek "why don't you go off to get some food?"
Mattie grinned "You know me so well babe, I'll see you at lunch," he pecked my temple before heading off and I turned back to my locker getting out my English books and Notepad before taking the note as well. It read, in rushed handwriting: Meet me in the Library by the History section.
What was with the cloak and dagger approach? I raised an eyebrow at the note then closing my locker made my way to the Library, slightly in my own little world as I did. The place was crowded with AS students trying to print out their late essays but I didn't see anyone that could have left me the note. I planted myself in the history section and began reading the last couple of pages of the chapters Lizzie had given us to read yesterday.
"Wow you actually turned up," I looked up from my book and raised an eyebrow at Jasper Ryder
"Why am I getting a sense of Da Javu?" Jasper Ryder actually laughed, not sneered, it was low and a whisper and kind of sexy but it was definitely a laugh.
"Sorry," he sat in front of me, neatly folding his hands together "I'll take the sensitive approach this time I promise," I continued to raise an eyebrow at him and he carried on "I know you said no last year but its different now,"
"It is?"
"Yes," he sighed looking around as if he was hoping no one would see him being actually nice to another human being "If I don't pass English I won't get into the Uni I want, I just need your help, please," He flashed those grey eyes at me and I swallowed
Wow he was actually begging, nicely. "Sure," I found myself saying, wait what?
Jasper Ryder flashed a grin "Great," and with that he upped and left. Wait what? I asked myself again.

Before English I dropped by Jasper Ryder's locker, I didn't know how I knew it was his but when he rocked up swaggering along the corridor liked he owned the place, I knew it was. Before he arrived I quickly slipped the simple note I had written into the vent of his locker before heading off to English. 10 minutes late for class, and 10 minutes after I had gotten my head so far stuck into work that I had forgotten Jasper Ryder's existence, he rocked up to class dropping a note onto my table discreetly as he went. On the back of my note that read: Library, tonight, at 5. He had written in the same rushed handwriting: No can do, I'm banned from the Library; it'll have to be at your place or mine. A feeling of dread passed over me at the thought, he'd never allow it. I quickly wrote: No. Not my place. And, when I went to the bin to sharpen my pencil, dropped it onto his table before heading back to my desk and starting my work. I didn't know why we were passing notes but it was kind of fun, like we were back in Secondary School. Dinner didn't come quick enough, I just wanted to see Mattie, and I knew he'd make me feel better even if it was only for a little while. Miss dismissed us I was the first out of the classroom finding Mattie waiting.
"You ok?" He wondered as he tucked an arm around me "You look pale babe,"
I smiled softly, forget about it, just forget about it "I'm fine, I just need some sugar,"
"Well then I will buy you the biggest chocolate bar in the cafe," he kissed my cheek and my stomach fluttered; I knew he'd cheer me up. "And it's just the two of us for lunch," he promised
I caught sight of Jasper Ryder who gave me a wink, as he joined his friends at the lunch table, before turning back to Mattie "Sounds perfect," I reached up to kiss him gently as we lined up for lunch
Mattie grinned "what was that for?" He knew I didn't do PDA in school and looked actually proud of me. I just shrugged and pecked his lips again
"Just for being you, and for cheering me up," he held me tighter, if that was possible and bought our lunch for us. We found a table to ourselves and for once could actually got to talk to each other not being interrupted by Mattie's friends or Tess "You have football tonight right?" I wondered lightly nibbling on my chips
"Yeah, until 7, you want to come over after? We have tomorrow off," he reminded me, I knew what that meant but I agreed to go over, there was no point arguing now.
"I'm tutoring tonight, but I'll be done by then," I promised
"I love having a smart girlfriend," he beamed kissing me again softly. "Just think at how many futures you've set up," my cheeks burned and he laughed softly fluffing his hair and turning to his burger. My gaze drifted across the cafe and I found Jasper Ryder watching me again, when he met my gaze he winked and gave me a cheeky smile and I rolled my eyes "Ugh, I hate that guy," I blinked back to Mattie and gave him a questioning look "Ryder, he's such a douche bag," I agreed with a non-committing nod
"We'll watch the rest of Downton," I changed the subject in a whisper even though no one was around.
"Or," he began
"Hey mate," Jake plonked himself down at our table and our moment was ruined "Oh my bad did I ruin something?"
I laughed softly "No, I have to go to the library anyway,"
"Well now I feel bad," Jake pouted like a puppy dog and Mattie laughed as I stood sliding my chips to Mattie who looked up at me with those sparkling eyes telling me we'd finish the conversation later.
"I'll see you tonight," Mattie promised I leant over and kissed him softly
"That you will," I grinned and headed off not looking back and not noticing that I had picked up a stray
"What's with a scarf? Trying to hide a love bite?" I jumped slightly which made Jasper Ryder laugh
"I thought it looked cute," I answered before carrying on to the Library
"I'm not saying it doesn't I was just wondering, it's a nice day out," I raised an eyebrow at him "What? I'm no Gok Wan but I know what looks good," he rolled his eyes "Anyway my address is on your desk," Jasper told me as we reached the library
I nodded softly "Right, see you then,"
"Oh," he quickly added "Stop with the PDA it's extremely sickening, and the whole Geeky girl with the cool guy thing is getting really old, everyone knows your boyfriends a dick." and with that he was back to his normal self and he swaggered off without another word.