Broken Protector

Chapter 8; You are beautiful

"Our school and the neighboring ones are having a dance," Mr. Carlisle informs us. "Since we are a mostly guys and River High is a all girls school, the board thought it would be a good idea for you to socialize with the opposite sex."

I see Ayato grin playfully, "But that's what we have Keeva for." He points to me and I grin back at him. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ryder glare at him.

Mr. Carlisle rolls his eyes, "That's another reason. The poor girl is cooped up with all you guys. I'm sure she misses some female company." I lower my gaze, thinking how wrong he is. "Princess?" Ryder murmurs softly. I glance up, my eyelashes wet with unshed tears and I see his golden eyes soften. "I don't miss it at all, Ryder," I whisper, my bottom lip trembling, "They were worst than the boys who hit me."

Everyone was looking at me in shock as I wipe my fallen tears, "Keeva, you okay?" Ayato asks gently. I give him a watery smile, "Yeah, just taking a trip down memory lane." My voice cracks but I gesture to Mr. Carlisle to continue, "You may continue, Mr. Carlisle."

He smiles at me, "I'm just Carlisle to you guys, Keeva." I nodded and he continues speaking. "The dinner is tomorrow night and everybody must attend, you have no choice in the matter, and the dance is the next night after that. Now, the dinner is for you guys to have a chance to possibly find a date among the woman if you choose to go to the dance." He looks at me than, "Keeva, I'm sure you'll be able to find one among all these boys since you get first pick."

I burst out laughing when I realized he was right. "In that case," Ayato says cheerfully, "Keeva, would-" Ryder cuts him off with a low growl immediately. "No." Ayato smirks and leans back in his seat.

Confused, I look between them, "What just happened?" Ryder chuckles than, losing his hard expression, "Ayato is messing around, princess, when he clearly knows that I'm planning on taking you and coming as your date to the dinner if you agree."

My heart sped up again and a happy grin spreads across my face. "Really?" I whisper, staring at him with wide eyes. He picks up my hand, smiling down at me, "Keeva Rose, would you do me the honour of companioning me to the dinner and possibly the dance, princess?"

I nodded, giggling at his formalities. Than I frown and look at Carlisle, "What should I wear?" I ask, feeling embarrassed. Carlisle smiles, "Cocktail dress." I nodded, "So we don't have to go to the dance if we don't want to?"

"Correct, it's up to you guys if you want to go the dance or not," Carlisle assures. I sigh in relief and push my chair back to stand up. Ryder's immediately alert, grabbing my crutches and standing up as well. "Dude, you're in deep!" Xavier drawls with a smirk. Ryder glares at him and instantly Xavier holds his hands up in surrender, "Sorry!"

I blush when Ryder wraps his arm around my waist again. "We're be upstairs, I guess," Ryder mumbles. I yelp when once again, he swung me into his arms and boldly walks through the kitchen doors. I could hear the sniggers of the boys from behind me as we left.

"Ryder," I scolded. Ryder ignores me, kissing my forehead as he shoulders open my door. Kicking it shut again with his foot, Ryder sits me on the bed and flops down beside me. I blush slightly when he scoots closer and rewrapped his arms around my waist and pulls me back into his chest. "You're mine now, you know that right?" He murmurs into my neck.

Shivers run down my spine when he kissed the side of my neck, "I'm not letting you go anytime soon, princess," he promises in my ear. I turn my head, "I know, Ryder. This is what I want," I admitted. His golden eyes met mine and I gasp at the emotion swirling inside them, "Keeva," he rasps huskily, his voice sending shivers down my spine again and causing me to shudder.

"You are beautiful. You are the kindest person I've ever meant, you're shy and I love that. Your shyness is what pulled me in the first place, it made want to protect you," Ryder confesses, his voice low, compelling me in, "When I first saw you on you're very first day here, I felt compelled to protect you. To keep you safe from harm," His golden eyes closed as he leans his forehead against mine, "You were so quiet, gentle, sweet. You blushed if someone even looked your way. And God, just remembering your face when I called you beautiful."

When I sat up and press the palm of my hand to his cheek, Ryder's golden eyes snap open to gaze upon my own, "I get it, Ryder," I tell him, "I understand." I smile shyly down at him, "Wanna know something?" I tease. Ryder takes a hold of my hand and gently presses a kiss to my palm.

"I would love too," Ryder whispers huskily, trailing his own fingers along side my face. I close my eyes and smiled at the feeling of his fingers against my pale skin. "My name mean gentle, beautiful, and kind." Ryder chuckles, "Oh, the irony. Cause you're all those things."

"Come here, princess," He orders and his fingers disappear from my face. My eyes flash open to see him holding his arms open for me. I grin and dive into them, snuggling deeper into his chest.

Ryder rests a hand on my hair, stroking it occasionally. "Do you want to go to the dance, princess?" I shrugged, laying my head on his chest with my eyes closed. "Depends on how I'm treated tomorrow by everyone," I respond, "I can't handle a entire night of jeering and hurtful comments, Ryder, I came here to get away from that shit."

He chuckles again, "I love it when you curse. And I know, princess, I wouldn't sentence you to that." My eyes snap open and I stare at him with wide eyes and a gapping mouth. Ryder sighs and relaxes more, not noticing my shocked expression yet before his eyes slowly open to reveal his golden orbs. His eyebrows furrow in confusion, "What? Why are you looking at me like that? You didn't possibly think I would made you endure that, did you?"

"Well I assumed that if you wanted to go, then-" I'm suddenly cut off when he flips us over. All the air left my lungs as my back presses down into the bed. Ryder hovers over me with a furious expression. His eyes were angry and hard, his lips were curled in a scowl and his jaw was clenched. His hair was even messier from the movements as well.

"What kind of man do you take me as?!" Ryder whispers dangerously, his bright eyes flashing in fury, "What twisted thought in your head gave you the idea that I'll ever ask that of you!"

I swallow, unable to talk in fear of my voice cracking. "How dare you actually think I would treat you that way!" He growls, "You're a woman, Keeva! And you deserve to be treated as one! I wouldn't ever even ask you to put yourself in harm's way! Don't ever think that I'll ever do that to you, Keeva!"

Ryder leans in when I advert my gaze, "Look at me," he orders. My eyes flicker back to his, tears wetting my eyelashes again, "Princess," he whispers calmly, his eyes softer than before, "If going to the dance bothered you, than we would stay home or I'll take you somewhere else but I wouldn't let you suffer just so I could go to some shitty dance." He cradles my face, wiping my tears away, "You are the only reason I would go to that dance, I promise you."

My arms wrapped around his neck and I hugged myself to him, "I'm sorry for assuming," I whisper in his ear, "I'm sorry." A sigh comes from Ryder as he lays back down and cradles me in his arms.

"Go to sleep," He orders softly, "We're talk in the morning." I sighed to myself, dreading the conversation in the morning, and rest my head on his chest, his steady and slow heartbeat lulling me to sleep.