His Ruthless Revenge (A Dark Bully Romance)

Chapter Twenty Eight

Six years earlier...

"I just don't understand why you keep on hanging out with him." Finn points out to me, shaking his head in disbelief. "You two are always together now and I just don't understand it."
"Slight exaggeration." I joke playfully, trying to lighten the mood a little.
"It really isn't." Finn says, coming to a standstill. "I'm really worried about you, April."
We're on our way to school and I can't avoid this any longer. I knew Finn would want an explanation about why I keep on spending time with Chase and the truth is I can't refuse to acknowledge it anymore.
"There's no need to be worried." I assure him gently. "I promise you, I'm ok."
"But Chase has made your life a misery for so long... I can't understand how you can suddenly forget all that and become friends with him. It makes no sense!" He exclaims passionately, frustrated with my response and inability to answer him.
"Can't you just trust me on this?" I plead desperately, wanting to bring an end to the conversation. "I promise you everything's ok."
"It's him I don't trust, April." Finn replies solemnly.
"You have to stop worrying about me. Just concentrate on your own relationship with Mia instead."
"So you're in a relationship with him now?" Finn demands harshly, grabbing hold of my arm.
"No! I'm just saying you should concentrate on Mia instead of what's going on in my life."
"Just be careful April. Please." He warns me, sighing deeply before walking away.

Finn's warning stays with me for the remainder of the day; lingering in my mind as I try and focus on something else instead. Part of me knows he's right and that I should stay away from Chase but the other part of me knows it's pointless. I can't stay away from him now and if I'm being completely honest... I don't want to.

It's lunch time before I know it and I'm in the middle of searching for something in my locker. A pair of hands take me by surprise by covering my eyes and a voice I know all too well whispers softly in my ear.
"Guess who?"
"Chase, I know it's you." I chuckle lightly, turning around to face him.
"You're no fun." He jokes playfully, tucking a strand of hair back behind my ear.
"How's your day going?" I ask him, shoving a couple of text books in my school bag.
"Boring." He replies moodily, leaning against the locker next to mine. "I can't wait to get out of here to be honest."
"Me neither." I say truthfully, slamming my locker door shut as I make my way down the corridor.
"I've got the house to myself tonight." Chase adds nervously, walking alongside me as though he's my chaperone.
"How come?"
"My mam's going out with her latest boyfriend. He's a right prick so I don't expect it will last long and Kerry's spending the night at a friend's."
He says it like it's no big deal but I quickly realise I don't actually know a whole lot about him or his home life. He never talks about his family which makes me even more curious to find out about them.
"You don't mention your mum often." I say hesitantly. "Are you two close?"
"Not at all." He answers brusquely, shrugging his shoulders as though he doesn't even care. "She's always put men before any of us."
"You mean you and Kerry?" I prompt him.
"I have a brother as well. His name is Curtis but he's a waste of space and we don't get on either."
"He's older than you?"
"By a few years but he moved out ages ago." Chase replies flippantly.
"And... what about your dad?" I ask hesitantly, scared it might be a sensitive subject for him.
"I'm actually in a good mood right now so let's not talk about him." He responds vaguely, his expression turning dark at the mention of his father.
"I'm sorry." I apologise sincerely, wanting him to know I didn't mean to upset him.
"You have nothing to apologise for." He assures me warmly, placing his finger underneath my chin as he tilts my face up towards him.
"Chase, not here." I whisper, pulling away from him when I notice people staring at us.
"Then where?" He asks flirtatiously, circling his arms around my waist so he can pull me even closer.
"I don't know but we're being observed right now so let go of me." I chastise him rougly, removing myself from his grasp.
"I don't care about them. Let them look."
"Chase, I have to get going anyway or I'll be late for my next class."
"Just promise me I can see you later?" He implores me, refusing to take no for an answer.
"You could always come to mine?"
"To your house?"
"If you want to."
"I don't know..."
"Just think about it, ok?"
"Ok." I acquiesce reluctantly, knowing it's the only way he's going to stop asking me.
"I'll meet you after school and we can walk home together." Chase adds, squeezing my hand before he turns to leave.
"I'm actually walking home with Finn tonight." I tell him, scolding myself for feeling guilty about it.
"Not anymore you're not." Chase snaps angrily, his jaw clenched at the mention of Finn's name. "Tell him you're seeing me instead."
"I can't do that. Finn's my friend and i want to walk home with him."
"You know I can't stand him, April. I don't want him anywhere near you."
"You can't dictate who I can and can't spend time with." I say forcefully, folding my arms across my chest in defiance.
"We'll see about that."
"I really have to go." I insist, scurrying in the opposite direction to him.
"I'll see you tonight then."
"Chase, I never said I was coming over." I remind him.
"April, we both know you're coming." He states confidently. "I'll see you later."
I watch him walk away from me, furious with myself for being subservient around him. I just can't understand the influence he has over me or how compliant I become in his presence. It frustrates me beyond belief and I'm left feeling anxious and confused about it for the rest of the day.
I've no idea what Chase will expect to happen between us but can't help feeling terrified about it. I'm a virgin and it's safe to say that Chase isn't. Every girl in school is obsessed with Chase and I know he's probably taken complete advantage of that at some point.