His Ruthless Revenge (A Dark Bully Romance)

Chapter Twenty Five

Six years earlier...

"I promised I'd meet up with Mia this lunchtime." Finn tells me on Monday. "Do you want to join us?"
"I have some work I need to catch up on so I'm going to do that at lunch." I reply evasively, scrambling for an excuse to avoid having to meet up with them.
"Are you sure? I don't want you to be on your own or anything."
"I won't be." I assure him. "I promise."
"Good."
"So things are going well between you two?" I ask him, nervous about hearing his answer.
"I'm crazy about her, April. She's gorgeous, funny, smart, intelligent and ridiculously sexy." He gushes, unable to hide his enthusiasm.
"I'm glad things are going well." I say quietly, trying to hide my own disappointment.
"We ended up spending most of the weekend together and I still feel like I miss her." He chuckles, shaking his head as though he can't quite believe it. "Did you do anything interesting?"
I don't even consider telling him that I spent part of my weekend with Chase. There's no way Finn will understand and I can't handle an interrogation from him right now.
The fact that Chase and I have started to get to know one another is something I want to keep private. It's my business and I really don't feel like sharing it with anyone else right now.
"It was quiet. Nothing too exciting happened." I lie, hoping it's enough to sound convincing.
"I better get going or I'll be late. Catch you later, April."
Finn heads into school and I'm left wondering what on earth I'm going to do this lunchtime. I just told Finn I have some work to catch up on so he didn't feel bad about leaving me on my own but the truth is I don't have anything to be getting on with. Guess I'll be spending lunch by myself.

"How's your day going so far?" Chase asks me, approaching my locker a few minutes later.
"It's ok, I guess." I reply awkwardly. "How's yours?"
"It's better now I've seen you." He jokes, offering me that million dollar smile of his.
"Such a charmer." I tease him, rolling my eyes.
"I was just wondering if you're going to be free this lunchtime?"
"Why?" I demand suspiciously, slamming my locker door closed.
"I was thinking we could get out of here for the afternoon. What do you say?"
"As in skip school and ditch our classes?" I inquire hesitantly, keeping my voice low so no one can hear us.
"Do you want to?" He prompts me, a hopeful expression on his face mixed with a hint of excitement.
"I've not done that before." I admit, biting on my lower lip as I try to weigh up my options.
"So let me be your first." He whispers softly, speaking directly into my ear.
His deep voice and the feel of his breath against my skin makes me tremble. I can't help the visceral reaction my body has to him but the last place I want to feel it is in a crowded corridor where everyone can see us.
"That was so cheesy." I chuckle, taking a step back to put some distance between us.
"I have to admit that was pretty bad." He confesses, rubbing the centre of his forehead with embarrassment.
"Where would we even go? What would we do?"
"We can decide all that later. Just say yes." He implores me, staring down at me intently.
"Go on then." I concede, exhaling slowly. "Lets do it."
"Great. I'll meet you on the steps at the start of lunch." He tells me, giving me a cheeky wink before he disappears in the opposite direction.

I can't stop thinking about Chase after our conversation and what it will be like to meet up with him at lunch. I try focusing on my lessons but my mind keeps wandering back to him.
I'm so nervous as lunchtime approaches and the fact I have butterflies in my stomach is extremely telling. I don't know how my feelings towards Chase have changed so quickly but the scary part is acknowledging that they might have been there from the very beginning.
What kind of person does that make me? And how is it even possible to have feelings for someone who made my life so miserable?

I end up feeling so drained from my excessive thinking and actually consider cancelling my plans with Chase by the time we reach lunchtime. However, the fact that I can't hang out with Finn and don't want to spend it by myself is enough to persuade me to give him a chance.
I'm still trying to process all my mixed up thoughts as I make my way along the corridor, heading towards the steps where I know Chase will be waiting for me.
I spot him before he sees me and pause for a couple of seconds, watching him keep glancing at his phone as though he's waiting to hear from me and looks really anxious and on edge. I'm only a couple of minutes late but he seems nervous, pacing back and forth as I continue to observe him.
I take a deep breath and open the door leading out onto the steps. He stops pacing and looks up, breathing a sigh of relief as soon as he sees me.
"Chase, I'm not too sure this is a good idea." I tell him. "People are staring at us."
There's several individuals watching and it's making me incredibly uncomfortable. It's like we're underneath a huge magnifying glass and they're scrutinising our every move.
"So?" Chase challenges me, shrugging it off. "Let them stare."
"It's embarrassing." I murmur, staring at the ground as I feel myself turning red.
"We'll be out of here in a minute." Chase assures me. "Away from everyone and everything."
"That does sound kind of tempting." I admit, smiling weakly.
"Exactly. Come on." He says, holding out his hand for me to take.
I consider it for a moment but realise there's no way I can do that with so many eyes watching refuse to take it.
"Where are we actually going?" I ask him, scurrying after him as he strides towards the school's exit.
"I have somewhere I want to show you." He replies mysteriously.
"Should I be scared?" I joke lightly, wondering what Chase has planned for us.
"Of course not." He laughs, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Are you sure this isn't a trick?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're not luring me to a secluded place so Louise can jump out and get me?" I tease him, realising it might be an actual possibility.
"You can trust me, April. I'd never let her hurt you."
I pause for a moment, trying to decide whether I should ask my next question or not. It's something I need to know the answer to and Chase might be the only one who can help me.
"Do you have any idea why she hates me so much?"
"I honestly don't but I'll make sure she leaves you alone from now on. She won't come anywhere near you again." He promises, resolute and determined.
"I think she likes you." I blurt out, wishing I could take it back as soon as I say it.
"What makes you say that?"
"Every girl at school likes you." I respond sharply, chastising myself for sounding so bitter about it.
"Except the only one that counts." Chase replies softly, coming to a standstill in front of me so I almost walk into him.
"So... are we nearly there yet?" I prompt him, eager to change the subject and diffuse some of the tension.
"God, you're impatient." He complains playfully, grabbing my hand so he can pull me along behind him.
"I'm not used to hiking." I reply lightheartedly, allowing him to hold my hand this time.
"April, this is not a hike." He laughs cheerfully, interlocking our fingers as he continues to hold my hand.
"It is for me!" I exclaim emphatically, trying to keep up with him.
"Not the most athletic person, are you?" He teases me, squeezing my hand so I know he's only joking.
"Are you calling me fat?" I demand sharply, playing along with him.
"You have a perfect figure." He encourages me. "I'm just saying you don't play sports or anything, do you?"
"Absolutely not."
"I'll be your personal trainer if you like."
"I knew you were trying to tell me something."
"April, you're not overweight." He soothes me, placing both hands on my waist so I'm forced to stand still. "I just thought it might be fun for us to work out together but if you don't want to then we can always do something else instead."
My hand feels somewhat empty now he's no longer holding it and I chastise myself for thinking that way as soon as the thought enters my head.
"We're here." Chase suddenly announces, taking me by surprise.
"Where?" I ask him, taking in my surroundings as I try and figure out where we are.
"This is the one place I come when I need some time alone. I've never brought anyone here before but I wanted to show it to you."
We're standing in the middle of an empty field which is circled by trees. It's completely silent besides the gentle breeze blowing through the leaves and you can almost convince yourself that you're alone in the world because it's so quiet and peaceful.
"I don't know what to say." I reply truthfully.
"I know it's not much but it's where I come when I need to clear my head." He replies quietly, averting his gaze from my own.
"It's lovely, Chase. It really is."
"I've spent so many hours here over the last few months. I didn't know what to do or how to handle how I felt about you so I'd just come here and try to figure it all out." He reveals, exhaling slowly.
"I had no idea." I whisper. "I always thought you hated me."
"There were times when I thought I did but only because I couldn't stop thinking about you and it was driving me insane." He confesses, loosening his school tie as he sits down amongst the freshly cut grass.
"That's crazy." I murmur, struggling to find the right words.
I sit down beside him, keeping a safe distance as I close my eyes and absorb the warm sunshine on my face. We're only a couple of miles from my house but it feels like we're so much further. It's like we're in our own little world out here.
"So how does it feel being such a rebel?" He teases me, referring to the fact that I'm skipping school with him.
"Pretty good so far." I say, smiling contentedly. "The only thing that would make it even more perfect is some ice cream like we had at the beach."
"I know where we can get some." Chase adds eagerly, jumping up onto his feet. "Come with me as I don't want to leave you here by yourself."
He offers me his hand to help me up and I take it, forcing myself to let go of it again once we're walking side by side.
"Where are we going?"
"There should be an ice cream van just through these trees. I used to come here all the time when I was a kid."
We reach our destination a couple of minutes later and I tell Chase what I want so he can go and order. I'm still on edge and can't settle when we're out in public together. I just want to get back to the field where no one from school can observe us.
"Thanks." I say, taking the ice cream from him. "I've developed such a sweet tooth since I've started spending time with you."
"You're never too old for ice cream." He assures me, acting like it's our little secret.
"I've never seen this side of you before. It's so different." I tell him truthfully.
"Good different or bad different?" He asks, his voice a little uncertain.
"Good different." I respond swiftly.
"So how come you're not hanging out with Finn today?" He blurts out bluntly.
"He already had plans with Mia today." I explain guardedly, ready to defend him if I have to.
"So he ditched you?" Chase responds brusquely, raising his voice.
"He asked me to join him." I explain calmly. "But I said no."
"Sorry." He apologises hastily. "But I hate that guy and can't stand the thought of you being friends with him."
"You didn't like Eric either and look what you did to him." I snap bitterly, throwing the remainder of my ice cream away.
"I told you how sorry I am about that." He reminds me, softening his voice.
"It still doesn't change what you did."
"I know." He concedes quietly.
"I think I want you to apologise to Eric and I mean officially." I declare, realising it's something that's really important to me.
"I can do that." He assures me. "Anything you want."
"I'll need to speak to him first and see if he's willing to talk to you but he hasn't even tried to contact me since he left."
"I'll do anything to put things right, April. Just say it and I'll do it for you."
"Apologising to Eric will be a good starting point." I conclude, grateful he's willing to do that for me.
He takes my hand and places it against his chest. I can feel his heart beating rapidly and try to pull away from him but he refuses to let go. He deliberately keeps my hand in place so I can feel his heartbeat.
"This is what you do to me." He whispers, staring at me intently. "You literally make my heart race."
"I can't begin to understand why." I confess, shaking my head.
"That's the reason. You have no idea what affect you have on me and you have no idea how sexy that is." He growls seductively.
"You're going to have to stop with all these compliments." I tell him, my cheeks turning crimson. "I'm not used to it."
"Even better." He murmurs. "I like seeing you blush"
He traces his thumb across my cheek and leans in closer. I know he's desperate to kiss me and I can feel the magnetic pull towards him as it lures me in.
"We should stop." I advise him, pulling away abruptly.
"Should we?" He murmurs gently, trying to coax me into submission.
"Y-yes. We should." I stammer, fighting against my instincts to give into him.
"Ok." He groans, sighing deeply. "Just give me a moment."
I watch him try and regain some control of himself, amazed that someone like Chsse finds it hard to resist me.
"I'm still astonished you feel this way about me." I admitnsincerely. "Part of me still thinks you're screwing with me."
"I need you to trust me, April. I'm not lying or trying to manipulate you."
"Trust takes time." I point out. "It doesn't just happen overnight."
"I know that and I'll be patient. I'm willing to wait for you as long as it takes."
"Let's just take things one day at a time." I advise him, wanting him to understand my reluctance.
"All I need to know is that you'll give me one chance. One chance to prove myself to you and if I mess up then you can do whatever you want to hurt me."
"I'm going to remember that you said that." I laugh lightly. " That I have your permission to destroy your life if you ruin mine again."
"But that wont ever happen because I'll never hurt you." He promises sincerely. "I just need you to trust me."
"I'll give you one chance." I remind him, my voice full of confidence and unwavering. "God help you if you break your promise."