It Started with a Dare

8

I made my way into school the next day and to my locker. Out of the blue, I was shoved into my locker, snagging my lip on the sharp hook that was supposed to hang my mirror up. I whipped around and was face to face with Wren Carver, one of the most popular girls in the school. The other most popular girl, Carly Matthias, stood right behind her.

"Can I help you?" I snapped, checking my lip. It was most definitely bleeding.

"I heard you've been hanging around Ridge McCain," Wren said.

"And your business messing with me is?" I asked.

"Listen, here, I don't want to see you near him again. Keep your distance, or you'll be getting much worse than what I just gave you," she said, her brown eyes as cold as ice.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, ma'am," I said sarcastically.

She took a step forward. "I don't like to be talked back to from nobodies like you, so I suggest you straighten up your attitude."

My mouth filled up with blood, and I wiped my mouth. "I suggest that you get out of my face, or this nobody will make you."

She smirked. "Cute," she said. "I mean it, Braelyn. Stay away from him, or you'll regret it."

I rolled my eyes as she walked away. I grabbed my books for first period and made my way to the bathroom. My lip was cut down like a lip ring and was bleeding still. I wet a paper towel then started to dab my lip.

Within a minute I had to get a new one. I groaned and took it with me to class when the warning bell rang.
××××××
"Hello, sunshine," a familiar voice said. I was currently in my locker, grabbing my stuff for lunch.

"Not now, Ridge," I snapped, slamming my locker shut. His smile dropped when he saw my lip.

"What happened?" he asked, reaching for my chin.

I pushed his hand away. "Ask your little girlfriend," I said.

"My girlfriend? Who are you talking about?" Ridge asked.

"Wren Carter decided to pay me a visit this morning. If touches me again, she's deadmeat. I'm not letting anyone push me around," I growled.

His features went hard. "Wren did this?" he asked.

I glared. "Did I stutter? Yes, she did. She shoved my into my locker, and I snagged my lip."

"What did she say to you?" He asked.

"Told me to stay away from you. It'll be over my dead body if she starts messing me with me because of you, so stay away from me," I said, walking away.

Ridge grabbed my arm and spun me around. "No one is going to start messing with you. I'll make sure of that," he said. His voice was as cold as ice, and it intimidated me a little.

"Yeah, well, that makes two of us," I said, yanking my arm away.

He touched my lip, and I didn't back away.  "I'll see you in a few," he said.

I raised an eyebrow. "Where are you going?" I asked.

"To make sure this doesn't happen again," he said before walking off, leaving me alone in the hallway. I made my way to lunch, frustrated and angry.
××××××
Emilee met me by my locker after school. "What happened to your lip?" she asked, grabbing my face.

"Wren shoved me into my locker, and I snagged it," I said, pulling away.

"And you didn't do anything about it? Last time someone hit you you broke their arm," she said.

"That was in sixth grade, and I warned Mikey," I said.

"Why didn't you do something about it this time?" she asked.

"I don't have time for a suspension. I'm stressed about school enough already," I said.

"This is about a scholarship opportunity, isn't it?" she asked.

"Can we just drop it?" I asked. "Ridge said he would take care of it."

"Ridge saw this?" she asked.

I gave her a flat look. "Drop it, Emilia," I said, using her full name.

Emilee held her hands up. "Fine, but if it happens again, I'm going to do something about it," she said, and Marcus and Xavier popped up behind her.

"Do something about what?" Marcus asked, kissing the side of Emilee's head.

"What happened to your lip?" Xavier asked.

"If another person asks about my lip, I'm going to scream," I said.

"Wren decided to pay Brae a visit, which means shoving her into hee locker," Emilee blabbed.

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Why did she do that?" he asked.

"It doesn't matter. It's been dealt with," I said, walking away.

Xavier caught up with me. "If it has something to do with Ridge, I want to know."

"He said that he would take care of it, so drop it. It's not a big deal," I replied.

"If someone is going to start bullying you over a guy, it is a big deal," he said.

"To who? Me? I can handle myself, Xavier," I said.

"It's a big deal to me," he said.

I shook my head. "You don't have to worry about me. I'm a big girl. I can handle myself," I said then made my way out to Emilee's car.