the bookworm's alpha

chapter two

       "Finally, food," I whispered to myself. "And free time to read."

Lunchtime is a perfect combination; I can do the two things that I love: eating and reading.

Once I got my food, I went outside so I could get away from all of the people's stairs and actually eat (and read) in peace.

About fifteen minutes later, I already finished eating my food and thrown away the trash so I was just sitting and reading.

"What are you reading?" the guy from earlier asked, taking the book from my hands and looking at the cover. "Is it any good?"

"Yes, it is, if it wasn't I wouldn't be reading it for the tenth time," I answered, feeling panic set in my stomach as I reached out for the book. "Now give it back."

"Hmm," he hummed while tapping his chin, pretending to think. "Tell me your name first."

"Just give me my book back," I ordered, trying to grab my book from out of his hands.

"Not until you tell me your name." he grinned.

"It's none of your business, you creep," I muttered under my breath, standing up and dusting my pants off. "Now give my book."

"Nope!" he smirked. "Not till you give me a name."

"Fine." I sighed. "Archibald."

"That's your name?" he asked, a look of confusion entering his face.

"No, you just told me to give you a name, not my name." this time, it was my turn to smirk. "Now give me my book back."

              He didn't give me my book back until the bell rang, and I was able to get away without giving him my name, but I missed out on a lot of time to read.

Just one more class to go, then I'm free for the day.

Free of all the weird people at school.

Free of lectures.

Free of that crazy creep.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day.

"Finally." I groaned quietly, standing up and gathering all of my stuff.

Once I shoved everything into my backpack, I walked out the door.

"Oh, good, I caught you before you even got to the front." He (I don't remember his name) grinned, looping his arm with mine.

Great, I was hoping I would miss him so I could just go home and read.

"I have to get home." I gritted, prying my arm out of his, more people started staring at me. "I have lots of stuff to do."

"Like what?" he asked, tilting his head to the side like a puppy.

"Oh, I don't know, something along the lines of homework and unpacking, I guess," I replied sassily, rolling my eyes.

"Don't worry, it will still be there for when you get home, this won't take long." He said.

"And let my father start unpacking himself? No thank you." I huffed. "Besides, he's probably already here."

"Then I'll talk to him." He smiled.

I looked away from him.

Quit trying to blind me, you idiot.

           "Rei, I'm glad you were able to make a friend on your first day." My father laughed gently, hugging me.

I hugged him back, burying my face in his shoulder and taking in his scent. Freshly baked cookies.

"He's not my friend," I mumbled to myself.

"So that's your name." the guy hummed.

"You didn't tell him your name?" my father asked in disbelief. "I thought raised you to be better than that."

"He made me thirty minutes late to my first class and took my book from me during lunch, you really think that I'm going to tell him my name?" I muttered. "And now he wants to take me somewhere to prove something."

"You better not hurt her, because if you do, she will kill you before anyone else can get to you." My father said, looking at him with pure seriousness in his eyes. "Never underestimate a bookworm, they gain their strength and knowledge from carrying and reading all of those books."

"Understood, sir." He nodded, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

"You're just going to let this random person kidnap me?!" I asked, staring at my father with wide eyes.

"I'm not kidnapping you!" he defended.

"Yeah, sure, whatever you need to tell yourself to sleep at night," I mumbled, rolling my eyes.

"Have fun trying to convince her with whatever you are trying to convince her of, she's got a hard head to go along with her stubborn personality." My father laughed slightly. "It was nice meeting you..."

"I'm Luciano." He said. "It was a pleasure meeting you as well."

With that, my father walked back to his car and drove off.

"I hate you," I muttered, crossing my arms after Luciano took my book away again.

"That will change, trust me." Luciano smiled.

"Easier said than done," I said. "Can we just get this over with now?"