Mine (Book-1)

~Chapter 63~

[Song for the chapter:
When the party's over- Billie Eilish]

Tori's P.O.V

Two days pass by since Alex's birthday, and things are slowly going back to normal, at least for everyone else. Seeing Nathan is hard. Pretending as if nothing happened is hard. Everyone can sense the obvious tension between us but they choose not to ask anything.

Francy is almost never around so she doesn't notice it. The only time I talk to Nathan is the occasional small talk in front of our friends. Other than that, no messages, no calls. I don't even know how he feels about everything now.

Does he regret it? Of course, he regrets it.

Do I regret it?

That's one question I don't want answer to right now.

But on the positive side, the evidence Terry had is now destroyed. The whole date thing is over and no one found out about it. Now he has nothing to blackmail me with, and hopefully, won't trouble Harper again. As amusing as it is, I think it's better if he stays away. Terry interfering with our lives like that is something we didn't expect.

Today we were early to school, so all of us had time to talk. As usual, in front of my locker.

Suddenly we all turned our heads at the commotion forming not too far from here. That's when I see a furious looking Ian not hesitating to push people away, as he speeds towards our direction? He shoves people away like a bulldozer, without even murmuring a sorry.

The rest of the people automatically move out of his way, not wanting to face the wrath of Ian Russel, especially this early in the morning.

"Someone's angry," Harper said, leaning against the locker.

"No shit." I roll my eyes. 

Harper stood up straighter when Ian came face to face with her. Ian's hands were balled into fists. He suddenly shoves Harper back into the locker, "Can't believe I actually took you as a friend."

Harper hitting the locker makes a sickening noise as the group collectively lets out a gasp of surprise, without Alex. Alex immediately jumps to action, to defend his friend. 

"What the fuck?" Alex pulls Ian away from Harper by grabbing his collar.

"Hands off, Woods." Ian spits, pushing Alex away.

I keep my silence as I see the scene unfold in front of me. Ian won't hurt Alex or Harper, right?

"It's fine. Let him speak." Harper reassures Alex. He gives her a disapproving look before moving.

Behind Ian stood a silent Tyler, not wearing his usual carefree smile. His gaze is fixed on the ground, as he refuses to make eye contact with anyone.

I see Harper's eyes follow my gaze to Tyler, with a worried expression, Harper slowly tries to make her way towards Tyler. The keyword being: tries. Before Harper can move an inch Ian shoves her back to her original position against the locker.

"I swear if you shove her again-" Hayden speaks up this time, only to be cut off my Ian.

"Don't look at him, look at me." Ian snaps Harper's attention back to him.

Betty and Jessica were also here, enjoying whatever was happening. Terry too.

"What do you want?" Harper says.

"So he trusted you, and in return, you break his fucking heart?"Ian gives a bitter laugh, "Didn't take you to be the cheating type."

"I don't understand." Harper murmurs, her eyes frantically searching for Tyler's.