Belonging to the Bad Boy

Chapter 7

"I'm so proud of you!" Damon gave me a fist bump and we both laughed at how cheesy that moment was. "But no, honestly. Last year there would have been no chance of you ever doing that." He was right, last year I would have kept my head down, hidden by my hair and endured whatever Ranger wanted to do or say.

"I do have to admit, it felt good." I smile proudly. We were sat on the bleachers like every lunchtime, watching the sports teams train in the distance. I took a bite of my sandwich, absently staring at nothing in particular.

"Oh, hey. I promised the guys that I would go practice with them today if you're cool with that?" I look up at Damon with a smile, nodding my head.

"Yeah, of course. You've got to win that trophy this year!" I nudge Damon with my shoulder, smiling proudly. He and some of his friends had formed a band and were competing at this years Battle of the Bands.

"Catch you later, Alex." Damon runs into the building, disappearing from sight. I sit quietly and contently, reflecting on the day so far. I'm still acing my classes, I stood up from myself and actually made a couple of new friends because I was confident enough to talk to them. I felt a sense of pride bubbling in my chest and I finished my lunch. 

The day was warm so I had taken my jacket off. It rested next to my backpack on the bleachers benches as I let my skin soak up the sun. I tilt my head back and close my eyes, feeling peace. I was comfortable being alone right now. There was no one else around and a lot of time left of lunch to enjoy silence with the odd whistle coming from the football pitch bellow.

A shadow casts over me, and I was about to open my eyes when a familiar scent enters my vicinity. I mentally sigh, keeping my eyes closed as the shadow stayed cast over me. The scent of cigarettes and mint aftershave disturbed my solidarity, despite slightly enjoying the mint. "Can I help you?" I mumble, never moving from my position.

I heard shuffling and soon a breath passed across my face. I was painfully aware of how close he was but I refused to give in and move. "I see you're alone."

"I see you don't care," I respond as I feel his body shift and sit next to me, the heat from his leg and side taking hold of me. I finally give in and drop back to a sitting position, opening my eyes and meeting them with his. "Ranger."

A smirk dawns his face and I know nothing but trouble is bound to ensue. I brace myself for the insulting and aggravating. "You're right, I don't care. But then there's something that says I should." I quirk my eyebrow, maintaining eye contact. "You see, there was a spark inside you. Now, it's outside and I just want to observe my handy work."

I scoff in utter disbelief at his words. "Oh, me finally telling you that I'm done with you is all thanks to you?"

"Yes," he states pointedly. He is now looking out at the football field where I assume he should be. I move to the bench in front of him, looking straight up to his face. "You would have never done so if I hadn't had pushed it out of you."

Ranger shrugs after finishing his statement, once again pouring his emerald eyes into my grey ones. I narrow them slightly, beginning to understand. "You won't relent unless you get your way, will you?" 

"As you said, I have the control." He was smug, everything about him showed that.

"That's one thing I never said."

"I believe you did, you simply said it was through fear though."

I thought about it for a moment. In theory, yes, I did say exactly that. "Well, then if this is a success for you then I was still right. You can only get what you want through intimidation."

He rolls his eyes, leaning down to me. Not only was he on a higher bench but he possessed a much larger stance than I did anyway. He towered over me, but I remained steady. "The first time we came into contact, sure, I saw your fear but the more I persisted the more the fear was a mask for your anger, not the other way around." My stomach fluttered as I felt the anger boiling inside me. He leans in and whispers, "it's happening right now."

In one foul swoop he had raised to his feet and pulled me up with him, his hands quickly slipping out of mine. One hand moved and grabbed my elbow, forcing me to go with him. I had a split second to grab my things and I felt him out-powering my moves to escape. "Let go of me," I grumble, still attempting to pull away from him. He said nothing, continuing to pull me along. "Ranger, I'm not going anywhere with you, let me go!"

"Stop struggling, Alessandra. We're leaving." His words were determined and I decided it futile to continue fighting. I allowed him to drag me through the school and out the large, front entrance doors. The grey steel only flashed in my vision before we were down the steps and heading towards his motorcycle.

Slight panic enveloped me and I yank my arm as hard as possible. I manage to free myself from Ranger's grip and stumble backwards a few steps. "I am not going anywhere with you." My tone is sharp in hopes of sending my message across.

Ranger's green eyes burned bright beneath his furrowed eyebrows. One half of his lips was curled into a smirk while the other twitched with irritation. His sculpted cheekbones and jaw made his gaze much more menacing, yet oddly beautiful as the determination was visible on his face. His large shoulders and arms were tense, his shirt hanging loosely around his midriff. His blue, distressed jeans were tucked into his large biking boots and made his stance seem steady. I raise my eyes back to his and see the smirk spread across his entire face.

"Who's looking at who now?" He asks, the rasp in his voice making him sound as he had only just woken up. He began to step closer and I found myself frozen in place. The sheer amount of conviction in his voice and movement was entrancing. "Now come with me," he almost demands, yet offers me his hand. 

Vulnerability came crashing over me again, but in a different sense. I knew what I wanted, but didn't know why. I had no reason to trust that I'd be safe with him, yet my heart demanded that I took his hand and followed him wherever. I raise my eyes up from his extended arm, meeting his and seeing that indistinguishable emotion almost overpowering everything else. Before any more thought I found my hand in his tight grip as he lead me to his motorcycle. Ranger got onto the motorcycle, placing a helmet on me and fastening it before pulling me on behind him, never having let go of my hand.

I held onto the seat behind me for stability, refusing to let Ranger have everything he demanded. I don't know why I didn't stop him, why I didn't just jump off of the bike and run back to the school. I simply watched the school drift out of view as the sweet embrace of the breeze enveloped me as I said goodbye to my attendance streak.