This is War

Chapter 16

Chapter 16 - Natalie's P.O.V.

It was fairly easy to dodge the question-- I'd bring up the upcoming physics exam, or the fact that it's supposed to rain later or I'd even just pretend I didn't hear my friends asking about it. Sooner or later, they'd take the hint that I really didn't want to talk about it. Like, at all.

Sitting on a bench as students roamed around the parking lot and leaving school, I waited for Nate to come and pick me up. It was loud, just as every other day, but today seemed to have a bigger excitement in the air. It was probably thanks to none other than, the one, the only, Duke Hall, ladies and gentlemen.

Looking around as I usually do, I began people watching.

Naturally my eyes settle on the heated argument commencing between the Hall cousins. Try as I may, I couldn't hear them, but boy were they both completely and utterly pissed as hell.

The last straw must have been pulled, because next thing you know, Duke is shoving Noah, who retaliates by punching him square in the nose. I gasped and looked around to see if anyone else noticed, but if they did they didn't show it.

I could read Duke's lips, "You fucking bastard."

Standing up, I ran over and called to them, "Hey!"

Their heads snapped to me and I saw blood gushing out of Duke's nose and down onto his white shirt. Sucks to be wearing white right now.

"What the hell is going on?" I demanded.

Noah glared at Duke, "Why don't you ask the bleeding prick over there? Tell her, Duke."

I turned to him expectantly, a hand on my hip.

"We were arguing about you," He stated bluntly and my hand dropped, as well as my face and stomach. In fact, my entire being must have just plummeted to an even lower all time low.

Was that even possible?

Turning away from the boy that made me feel so helpless, I turned back to Noah, "Care to elaborate?"

"He said he bet he could get you in bed within a week," Noah spoke through his teeth, clenching his fists.

"Son of a bitch!" Duke exclaimed, swinging and hitting Noah in the mouth.

I jumped at the outburst and took a step back. Noah stumbled back, throwing his arms out to steady himself. His eyes were deadly as he looked back up at his cousin. My instinct kicking in, I stepped in between them and bravely shoved Duke back, "Go clean yourself up."

With one last dirty look, he spun on his heel and walked over to his car, peeling out of the parking lot. When I turned back to Noah, he was wiping off the blood that was streaming out of his lips and mouth. He swore and spit out a bunch of blood. Stepping up to him, his eyes met mine.

"Do you trust me?" I asked him. Ever so slowly, he nodded his head up and down. I nodded back once. "Good. Sit down and stay still."

Opening my purse, I pulled out a tissue and my water bottle. Wetting the cloth, I dabbed at the cut on Noah's lip and he winced. I muttered as I focused on cleaning the cut, "Don't move."

He sat still as I continued cleaning the cut. It was more of a large gash, really. Duke must've snagged him with a ring to cause this much damage. Finishing up, I handed him the water bottle, "Drink and spit."

Noah smirked then cringed, lightly tapping his cut. At least he couldn't give out his signature smirk with that small yet incredibly bloody injury-- if you could even call it that. I'm sure Duke was worse; he might even have a broken nose.