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Chapter Sixteen

A/N Happy New Years, guys! (Or, almost there haha)

Since I've been busy editing my other stories, here's a chapter for y'all!

I feel.. uncomfortable.

Those words echoed in my head as I looked up at the school, my hand clutching my phone tightly. Lukas said I could call him if I needed to. He said I would be able to call him, but only if I went to school today. I'm terrified, and I don't want to be here in the first place. Breathing in, I walked into the school, my legs shaking under the heavy weight of my thoughts hanging around my neck.

A promise is a promise.

Don't break it, Meredith.

Especially if it's.. for him.

I walked down the hallway, ignoring the eyes of my classmates as I opened my locker door quickly, only to find a note wedged between my books. Slipping it out, I opened it.

To Meredith Tanner,

At the request of your father, Tristan Tanner, the school district will no longer confine you to wear attribute wielding accessory to weaken your attributes. Due to a fellow student's unacceptable behavior when abusing the position you were in, you will now be free to use your attributes as an act of self defense.

From, Principal Skies

My eyes widened when I read the note in my locker. Papa.. went to report this to the school district too? My heartbeat quickened, and I couldn't help but smile at my father's protective actions. He was always one to sway opinions, and I guess it isn't just with my mother. Putting the note back inside, I grabbed my books and closed the locker door. Spinning on my heels, I squeaked and dropped my books when Ryan had appeared in front of me. He luckily caught my belongings before they could fall to the floor.

"R-Ryan!" I stuttered out clumsily, quickly taking my things back from his hands. He glowered down at me, his eyes glowing intensely. "W-What's up?"

"He hurt you, didn't he?"

A shiver ran down my spine at the tone in his voice. I turned away awkwardly, thanking the fact that our peers were too busy gossiping about the latest trend online to pay attention to us. I hate to admit it, but even Ryan had warned me. He was right too, just like Lukas. They were both right. I felt a hand grab the bottom half of my face. My eyes widened as Ryan leaned over, pulling me towards him, and I could see the hostility in his eyes.

"Answer me."

I nodded frantically in response. A squeak escaped my lips when his hand's grip suddenly tightened around my jaw. His eyes lit up in fury, bright with red haze. He let go of me and turned around, scouring the halls with his arms glowing red.

"Where is he..?" He growled under his breath. "I'm gonna fucking kill him."

My eyes widened again, and before he could run off, I grabbed his arm. He stopped in his tracks and peered over his shoulder, looking down at me unamused. "I don't think that's a good idea.." I said quietly, worry filling my stomach. "I-I can deal with him. Really, it's fine."

It isn't fine.

Ryan tore his arm away from my grasp, looking down at me with a pure look of passionate hatred. "Meredith... he hurt you. He. Hurt. You." He turned around again, glancing back at me with a harsh glare. "And I'll be damned if he remains guilty yet unpunished."

My heart pounded because of his words, and I held onto my books tightly. I shook my head vigorously at him, refusing to let him legitimately murder someone. "Killing him won't take back what he did to me, Ryan!" I exclaimed to him desperately, my eyes suddenly watery. He stopped and stared, debating on whether or not to listen. "I-If you really do want to help, you'd do something more reasonable than that!"

Ryan looked down at me, the red glow around him fading away slowly. I tried to stand up straight, but my body was racking up with trembles as he glowered down at me. I clenched my jaw to keep from spewing out another stupid statement. My eyes widened when his hand held my face, his thumb wiping away the tears that creeped from the corner of my eyes.

"Don't be so emotional about that fucking spawn of hell, hybrid," Ryan muttered under his breath. I blinked, too stunned to hear him say the nickname so calmly. At the same time, I was unbothered. "If you don't want me to kill him, then I won't. You don't need to cry over that dickhead."

My cheeks suddenly flushed red, and I pulled his hand away from my face, wiping my tears quickly with the back of my hand. How embarrassing.

"I'm sorry," I apologized quietly.

"Tell you what," he said, "I'll make sure that cunt isn't going anywhere near you, alright?"

Looking up at Ryan, I nodded, feeling a little bit better with his more reasonable suggestion. "O-Okay."

With that, he quickly saluted and left.