Belonging to the Bad Boy

Chapter 5

I tried to keep my head down for the rest of the day, making sure I was ample early for all my classes and veering away from Ranger as much as possible. I had forgotten to pack my vans this morning after changing into my boots and so dragging my feet was more than just a metaphor. I decided to be a good friend and take some soup and ice cream to my best friend in his time of need, and so made my way to Damon's house.

I knock on the door after arriving, giving his mother a hug and his father a nod in greeting before making my way to his room. I marvel at the ever growing collection of family pictures lining the corridors. They ranged from before Damon was born until the latest ones taken at the beginning of the year. A smile tugs at the corners of my lips as I see the photo of his family and myself and my dad next to one of me and Damon embraced in a hug, the trophy for a small singing contest hanging out of one of his hands.

I reach Damon's door and knock gently, opening it before hearing an answer. "Dude!" Damon exclaims, and I quickly spin around with a laugh. "Let yourself in much," Damon rasped out and he rushed to put some sweatpants on. Maybe I should have waited after all. "It's safe."

"Well I am so sorry for thinking you'd be sprawled in bed thinking you're dying." I roll my eyes, placing myself at the end of the bed and unpacking the food from my backpack.

"I showered okay? I'm trying to make myself feel bett-" He stops mid-sentence, his eyes focused on the small buffet laid across the bedspread. "I forgive you," Damon mumbles quickly, throwing himself down on the bed, opening the soup container and grabbing a spoon I had taken from downstairs.

I smile and tap his shoulder, getting comfortable on the teddy-bear blanket at the bottom of the bed, grabbing my own spoon and helping myself to the large container of sweet potato soup. "How are you feeling now?" I ask, looking up at Damon's face. All I receive in response is a large grin and a thumbs up as he shovelled another spoonful into his mouth.

Soon enough we had finished all of the food I had bought and raided the snack cupboard for chips and chocolate. "Thank you," Damon mumbles through a mouthful of food, grinning like a child. I gently punch his shoulder and take a sip of my cherry soda.

"It's alright, nothing is to big for my best friend." I smile sweetly at him, sincerely meaning my words.

"A night with Kendall Jenner would be lovely," he remarks sarcastically, raising his eyebrows. I roll my eyes for the hundredth time today, shaking my head in disapproval. "Anyway, how was today?"

I sigh, not really wanting to discuss today's events. "I have a new motorcycle." I push a piece of hair behind my ear, shrugging.

He laughs, shaking his head. "Well I could hear that."

"Yes, but that is my only and permanent ride, so imagine how I felt showing up to school this morning. And even more so alone." I sigh heavily, slumping my shoulders and pouting childishly.

Damon purses his lips. "I'm sorry," he says sheepishly, offering a friendly grin. "I bet you looked bad ass though." I push him away as he laughed, not seeing the humour in the situation.

"Okay, laugh all you want but there is nothing funny about facing R... never mind. It just wasn't a good day without my best friend there."

Damon narrows his eyes, obviously wanting more explanation. "No, no, no. You cannot start a sentence which obviously involves Ranger and stop." He edges closer on the bed, almost sitting in my lap as he inspects me once again. "He better have not hurt you."

I spend the next ten minutes explaining this mornings encounter, watching Damon's eyes shift from worry, to anger, to empathy and right back to anger now mixed with confusion. "Okay, so I do kind of agree with Ranger though, that today was not like you at all."

"Well you weren't there and I was done with him pushing me around. Something about him makes me so angry and I had no one else to help me!" My breathing raises as I realise now that things were changing, that Ranger did do something to me.

Damon sighs, rubbing his temples. "I know, I'm sorry. I never want to leave you, especially not right now with everything going on. I literally thought I was going to die."

I roll my eyes, readjusting my position, now laying down on my back, staring at the ceiling. "No, it's not your fault, I just can't stand his arrogance, that he thinks he can control everyone. He thinks he's this higher power when really everyone just fears him. I'm fed up of him getting everything he wants."

"Then why don't we change that?" Damon remarks, now laying next to me and switching on a star projector. I watch the stars swirl on the ceiling, confusion setting in. "If he makes you this way then embrace it. Show him that he doesn't have that power over you."

I laugh, amused. I turn to face Damon to find him looking back at me with a stone cold serious face. "I'm not joking. You're a braniac, there is no way that's changing. But, lets change how he thinks. I'm so happy that you're standing up for yourself, and that in turn is changing the balance of Ranger's reign."

I turn back to the ceiling, contemplating the situation. Things have changed. It's almost a new year, I have a newfound confidence, I have my best friend. I could stay the quiet, straight A student who lets everyone walk over her or ignore her existence. On the other hand, I could be a whole new person, show everyone that I am more than a door mat. That I am a person, that I can do what I've always done as a stronger person. "It's terrifying," I admit, chewing my lower lip.

"That's good. Great things are scary, and you're striving for so much greatness already. Let's make you your own woman in the process."