Devil on the Rooftop [Book 1]

Chapter 53 - Arisa

Loyal was waiting for me at the cash register. He insisted on paying for my fries then directed me away from prying eyes. I couldn't stop smiling at his thoughtfulness. I knew he wasn't all needles and thorns. Deep down, way, way, way down, he had a heart after all. The cafeteria doors were straight ahead and next to them stood Khaleel. I wanted to forget his confession but they replayed like a broken record in mind head.

'Are you Loyal's girlfriend?'

'I'm not joking.'

'Hate can transform into love quickly.'

He looked sincere when he spoke, it was alarming, and something I wasn't used to. There was no denying how attractive he was. While the socialites drooled over the school playboy, I saw more appeal in the school delinquent. Did I have a type? Sure. Bad boys flew to me like a moth to a flame. Wade Cainan included but that didn't mean I wanted things to stay that way. I looked away from him and stared at the floor. I wanted to be with someone honest and considerate. I wanted someone who could be vulnerable with me, not someone who lured me behind buildings to ask about my relationship status.

"Hey," Loyal snapped me out of it.

I smiled at him. "Hi."

He took my fries and set them aside on the closest table to the left hand side of the wall, where colourful murals had been painted. Then he pulled me in for a hug. My eyes almost fell out of their sockets. Okay. He liked public display of affection. If people were on the fence about us dating before, this might confirm their suspicions. We hadn't talked about it yet, so I didn't know if I could admit to any accusations. I couldn't even give Khaleel a straight answer when he asked. So, how could I confidently hug Loyal back? I couldn't. Right? And yet, my hands had plans of their own.

"When did you get here?" I asked, looking up at him. He smelled earthy today, like he had walked out of a musky forest full of blooming roses.

Loyal brushed strands of hair out of my face. "I've been on the rooftop," he answered.

My heart dropped. "Doing what?"

"Tying up loose ends."

I could only imagine what that meant. My mind warped to yesterday, to my captors, to Khaleel's bloody knuckles. I pulled away as shivers covered my forearms. I reached for my fries and glanced at the table where I had left Matilda. She had been pushed to the sidelines by Zander and his fangirls. "Seriously?" I sighed. I was not in mood to be bullied or accused of harbouring feelings for him today.

Loyal hugged me from behind. His touch conspired to make me feel things I wasn't prepared to. "They won't bug you," he assured, confirming the playboy was my new bodyguard. "And if they do, you have my permission to fight back."

"Oh, I need your permission?" I drawled, facing him. I wasn't used to seeing him smile so much. It was nice. Really nice. "Just go," I blushed. "Before I change my mind."

Loyal kissed my forehead and left me feeling more confused than ever. He was acting like a boyfriend and looking at me like a lover. He was touching me like we had been dating for years, and talking to me like we had been friends since I transferred in. Was it okay to let things be that way? Was it easier to just accept his feelings for what they were? I liked him too. I was attracted to him too. I was waiting to kiss him again...too? I wasn't opposed to the idea of being the lie detector's girlfriend.

What am I thinking?

Back at the table, I squeezed between one of the fangirls and Matilda. My arrival disrupted the airheads conversation about how a first year with braces had the nerve try out for cheerleading. I rolled my eyes at the same time as Matilda. We were so in tune, it was kind of awesome. She was not obligated to wait for me after Khaleel left but there she was, proving to be a really good friend. Just as I was about to enjoy my fries, the red-head to my right pressed her elbow into my side.

I glared at her when she blinked at me indifferently. "What?" she snarled.

I looked away not interested in stirring the pot, but then she had the audacity to jab me again. "Hey!" Zander's scary voice caught both our attention. He narrowed his gaze at my aggressor. "Do that again and you're out of here."

She raise an insulted brow and asked, "Why?"

"Because I said so," the playboy retorted. "You can either fall in line or exist elsewhere."

My heart nearly stopped in its tracks at the daunting threat. I forced myself to eat a fry and not engage with the agitated Zander. It was a little sad to see all the things Krish and Paulie had said about the rooftop losers come to light. A part of me wanted them to be wrong. A part of me wished I could feign ignorance and pretend the path I walked didn't lead to the underworld.