His Ruthless Revenge (A Dark Bully Romance)

Chapter Thirteen

Six years earlier...

"So how was the party?" I ask Finn on Monday, trying my best to sound casual and not too interested.
"It was great." He replies jovially. "I really enjoyed it and actually got to talk to Mia as well."
"So you still like her?" I inquire hesitantly, awaiting his answer.
"I really do. She's pretty awesome and I actually like her more than I did before if that's even possible."
"That's great." I lie, forcing myself to sound optimistic and upbeat about it.
"How was your weekend?" Finn asks me, taking a seat on the steps where we eat lunch together.
It's the same steps I used to sit on with Eric and the tradition provides me with a warm feeling of nostalgia. It's also really sweet of Finn to join me each lunchtime as I'm sure he's had plenty of other offers since he came here.
"It was quiet." I reply evasively, reluctant to tell Finn about my confusing kiss with Chase on Saturday night.
"I still wish you could have come with me to the party." He adds kindly.
"Did I miss much?" I ask him. "Anything exciting happen?"
"Not really. Chase was there so it was probably a good idea that you didn't come afterall."
"Definitely." I agree, keeping my secret to myself.
"Chase was really drunk." Finn informs me. "He was starting fights, looking for arguments and making out with random people all night."
"Making out?" I prompt him, wanting Finn to clarify what he meant.
"Yeah, I can't keep track of the number of girls he had all over him. It was gross and I've honestly got no idea what they see in him."
I don't say anything else, trying to process Finn's revelation as well as my own annoyance at the thought of Chase kissing other people.
"I see."
"Are you ok?" Finn enquires gently. "What's wrong?"
"I just remembered I've left something in my locker." I tell him, scrambling to my feet. "I'll catch you later."

That was another lie of course. I haven't left anything in my locker but needed some time alone to figure out why I'm so upset. Why on earth do I feel so angry about what Finn just told me?
Our afternoon classes are just about to start so the corridors are deserted by the time I reach my locker and I savour the peace and quiet for a few moments before I have to get to class myself.

"So... how was your weekend?" A familiar voice asks hesitantly, causing me to spin around quickly.
Chase is standing right behind me, both hands shoved in his front pockets as he awaits my reply. He looks nervous for some reason but I don't have time to figure out why. I'm still so mad that I was just another person he fooled around with and I'm struggling to control my temper.
"Are you joking?" I snap at him harshly, slamming my locker door closed.
"What did I say?" He asks, chasing after me as I make my way down the corridor.
I slow down and turn around to face him, folding my arms across my chest in a defensive pose.
"Just leave me alone." I say coldly, glaring at him with contempt.
He looks vulnerable for the first time since our confrontation in the changing rooms. His eyes are wide and his mouth slightly open as though he doesn't know what to say to me.
"Are you going to pretend that we didn't kiss on Saturday night?" He challenges me, taking a step closer.
"I think I was one of many." I state coldly, taking a deliberate step back.
"Excuse me?" He asks incredulously, stunned by my statement.
"You blackmailed me into that revolting kiss and promised me you'd leave me alone if I did it." I remind him, refusing to back down from our confrontation. "So this is the part where you get lost and keep away from me. Forever."
I walk away as fast as I can, trying to put as much distance between us as possible.
I don't know why it hurts so much or why I'm so tempted to turn around for one last glimpse of him. Nothing makes sense to me anymore and it's incredibly confusing. All I can do now is make a vow that I will never be used or upset by Chase again.

Or at least try...

"I'm still pretty sad we didn't get to hang out at the weekend." Finn tells me on our way home from school together. "Do you fancy doing something on Saturday night instead?"
I suppress the urge to roll my eyes at him as I've been waiting for Finn to ask me to do something outside of school for ages. However, now I know he has no romantic interest in me whatsoever, I just can't feel excited about it. I'll only end up getting hurt and that's the last thing I need right now.
"I'm busy." I reply evasively, avoiding eye contact with him.
"Doing what?" He quizzes me, coming to a standstill.
"Studying." I answer curtly, still refusing to look at him directly.
"April, are you sure you're alright?" He asks me, his voice full of concern.
"I'm fine."
"What's wrong?" He persists, refusing to let it go.
"It's just... something happened on Saturday night." I reply vaguely, not wanting to tell him all of the gory details.
"I knew it. I knew there was something bothering you. What's wrong?"
I sigh deeply before taking a deep breath, mentally preparing myself to explain it all to him.
"I was visiting Eric's mum on Saturday night. She lives just a couple houses away from the party you were at."
"She does? You should have let me know and I'd have come over to see you." Finn adds, completely missing the point.
"Chase must have stepped outside for some air or something because he spotted me doing the exact same thing in Eric's garden." I continue, pausing a couple of seconds before I continue.
"Did he do anything to you? Did he hurt you?" Finn demands, placing his strong hand on one of my shoulders.
"He... he kissed me." I whisper, struggling to get the words out properly.
"He kissed you?" Finn asks, shaking his head in disbelief.
"You did say that he was drunk and made out with loads of girls at the party." I remind him. "He probably can't really remember it."
"But he doesn't bully and torment any of those girls on a daily basis." Finn points out, clenching his jaw as well as his fists in anger.
"It wasn't like a drunken kiss or anything. He... kind of made me do it." I reveal, squirming with embarrassment.
"He made you?"
"He said he would leave me alone if I kissed him." I blurt out, my heart racing as I recall the proposition he made me.
"So you're saying he forced you?" Finn demands roughly, raising his voice.
"It felt like that at the time but then you told me about how he behaved at the party. If he'd already made out with several other girls that night then why on earth did he want to kiss me?"
"I'm going to kill him." Finn growls furiously, turning his back on me as he heads back towards the school building.
"Finn, wait! Please don't do this!" I beg him, chasing after him.
"He assaulted you, April. I'm not going to let him get away with it."
"No, he didn't!" I exclaim frantically.
"You said he blackmailed you into it!"
"He did but... I almost wanted to."
"What?" Finn gasps, staring at me in complete horror.
"He didn't force me. He was gentle and for the briefest moment I wanted him to kiss me." I admit, lowering my head in shame.
"April, are you insane?" Finn asks me, shaking me roughly. "What he's doing is tantamount to grooming. He's manipulating you and you can't even see it!"
Finn storms off again, completely ignoring my pleas for him to stop and I soon realise how futile it is.
I consider going home instead, wanting to pretend that none of this is happening but know I can't let Finn get into trouble trying to protect me.