Bad guy (REWRITTEN)

Chapter 4

The bell cut the air sharp. I scraped my tray into the bin, followed Sophie and the others out of the cafeteria. Schedule crinkled in my fist. Biology. Same room as her. The realization landed low in my stomach like cold stone. No backup this time.

"Anyone got biology?" I asked, keeping my voice level.

Jason shook his head. "Nah"

"Nope" Sarah said, already scrolling.

Rick just shrugged. "Free period"

Sophie glanced up from her phone, caught my look, offered a sympathetic grimace.

"Wish I did. You'll be fine"

I exhaled through my nose. Fine. Sure.
The classroom smelled of chalk dust and yesterday's formaldehyde. I walked straight to the back row, same seat by the window. She was already there sprawled, one leg kicked out, green roots catching the light like hazard stripes.

Her friends flanked her like sentries. I hesitated half a second, then dropped my bag and sat. Not next to her. One desk over. Close enough that ignoring me would take effort.

Her shadow moved first. Arm slid across the back of my chair, casual. Warmth of her skin brushed my neck. My pulse kicked hard.

"Well" she drawled, voice low enough the teacher wouldn't catch it. "Look who finally showed up where she belongs"

I turned my head just enough to meet her eyes. "I sit where there's oxygen and break. That's all"

Her smirk deepened. Arm stayed draped over my shoulder. "Didn't catch your name last time"

The endearment landed like a spark on dry grass. Heat climbed my cheeks despite every order I gave myself to stay cool.

"It's Anna. And the arm can go"

One of her friends snorted. "She's blushing already"

Billie's laugh was quiet, private, dangerous. "Cute name. Fits you"

I managed to stay compsed "Thanks. Now move your arm before I move it for you"

Her brows lifted in surprise, maybe amusement. She didn't pull away immediately. Just leaned in until her breath grazed my ear.

"Feisty today. I like it"

The teacher's voice cracked the moment. "Seats. Books open. Page forty-seven"

Billie's arm slid off slow, deliberate, fingertips trailing the back of my neck on the way. I let out a breath, unnoticeable and slow. I hadn't realized I was holding.

Class crawled. When the bell rang I stood fast, zipped my bag, headed for the door.
A hand clamped my shoulder, firm, not painful yet and pressed me back into the chair.

"Not so fast"

I swear Im about to break this girl hand just for hobby at this point.

I looked up. Billie. Standing over me now, bag slung over one shoulder, expression unreadable.

"I need something from you" she said.

I kept my voice even. "I'm not a vending machine"

"You are now"

She reached into her bag, pulled out a spiral notebook, dropped it on the desk in front of me with a soft slap.

"My homework. You're doing it. Starting tonight"

I stared at the cover doodles of weird long stretched with rabbit hat on top of it and jagged lines, then back at her.

"I have my own work. Find someone else"

Her hand moved quick. Fingers caught my jaw, tilted my face up. Not gentle. Not cruel. Just enough pressure to remind me she could be either. My breath caught.

"When I tell you to do something," she said, low, every word measured, "you do it. Understood?"

I held her stare. Heart hammering. "Understood that you think the world bends when you snap. It doesn't. Not for me"

Her thumb brushed once along my jawline almost soft then released. She smiled, small and sharp.

"We'll see"

She straightened, shouldered her bag, walked out. The classroom emptied behind her like water draining.

I sat there a beat longer probably, cheek warm where her fingers had been, notebook still sitting like a dare.

After an hour, i was ready to go home.

"Anna!"

Sophie's voice from the hallway. She jogged up, slightly out of breath.

"God, I need cardio"

I managed half a smile. "What's up?"

"Got something to show you" She grabbed my wrist, tugging me forward before I could ask.

"Where are we—"

No answer. Just faster steps down the corridor, past lockers, toward the back exit. Shouting filtered through the double doors. Fight. Fight. Fight.

I planted my feet. "Sophie. Why am I here?"

She turned, eyes bright. "Billie versus Rick. Post-lunch grudge match. You have to see this"

I shook my head. "I don't watch people hurt each other for fun"

"C'mon. It's legendary"

I pulled my wrist free. "Then enjoy it without me"

I turned to leave. She caught me again gentler this time. "Just stay for a minute. Please?"

Against better judgment, I stayed.

Through the crowd I saw her, Billie on top, straddling Rick's chest, metal rings flashing as her fist came down. Once. Twice. Blood already smeared across his cheek, dotting the asphalt. Another punch landed clean. His head rocked back.

"Rick's done!" someone yelled. Everybody were recording the fight, her and rick desperately wants to be saved.

Is this fucking sick show.

She stopped. Rose slowly. Breathing hard. Knuckles red, rings gleaming darker. Rick lay still, eyes shut, chest rising shallow. No one moved to help him until Jason pushed through, hauled him up, half-carried him away.

Then her eyes found mine.

Across the circle. Through the noise. Straight into me.

My lungs forgot how to work. She held the look long, deliberate then the corner of her mouth curled. Not a full smile. Something quieter. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, smearing a thin line of red, and walked off in the opposite direction.

The crowd started to thin. Sophie tugged my sleeve. "You okay?"

I nodded once. Voice came out steadier than I felt. "Yeah. Fine"

But my skin still buzzed where her gaze had touched. My jaw remembered her fingers. And somewhere under the adrenaline and the disgust, a thin, traitorous thread of heat curled tight.
I didn't know what she was doing to me.

Only that I wasn't running yet.