Belonging to the Bad Boy

Chapter 9

It had been a couple of days since the situation with Ranger in the woods, today being Friday. It felt like he had been avoiding me, and although Damon saw it as a good thing, I somewhat missed his presence, missed his annoying attitude and tough exterior. I almost missed the confrontation as that is what inspired the change in the first place, and now there was no reason for it.

The fire had changed from that day, the burning inside of me becoming the need for the confrontation, the desire to be around him even if it meant hating each other. Today I was going to take a page from his book and I was going hunt him down, pester him until he snapped. I wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine.

"Do you have band practice today?" I turn to face my best friend as we walked through the halls, my voice elevated slightly to be heard over the loud chatter from the other students.

"They're down to practice if I asked. I just thought you'd like to hang out today." His voice held a quizzical tone, trying to subtly ask why.

"Well if you want to you could go jam with them, I have somethings I have to do." I pursed my lips, glancing at Damon from my peripheral vision, praying that he did not pry any further.

He narrows his eyes, taking in my face for a moment before speaking again. "Alright, but I'll be checking in afterwards." It was not a question, it never was. I understood he wanted to make sure I was safe but he compelled this change.

"Yeah, sure, have fun," I mutter, my mind drifting elsewhere. Damon took one last glance at me before turning down a corridor as I continued to walk straight to the main entrance of the school. I swing the large doors open, halting at the top of the stairs. His motorcycle was parked up so he was still at school, narrowing things down for me. I hop down the stairs, greeting two girls from my maths at the bottom politely.

I make my way around the dark brick building, the large green pitch adorned with white, painted lines that had been freshly laid. The loud thud of large groups of people running pounded in my ears, never understanding how people would rather force their bodies so far that they hurt over curling up in a blanket and reading a book or watching a movie.

Since the change I had made a lot of new friends and found myself more confident in signing up for things I would have never considered before, but I also found myself making more enemies from the people who resented change or people confident enough to stand up for themselves. In particular this consisted of the stereotypical jock crowd, those who were popular and pretty.

Despite this, I found myself striding onto the hell hole of a football pitch. I had only ever been as close to the pitch as the top of the bleachers, yet I strode through groups of jocks and cheerleaders, determined in my mission. Mission. I found myself remembering his words from that day, and realising it was my turn, my mission.

The girls glared and the boys stared confused, the group of football players in the middle of the field eventually noticing the fuss around them. The group slowly started to turn, facing me as I got closer. Their faces became more prominent the more they turned, the closer I got. They were once huddled, more than likely discussing the plan of attack for tomorrow's games.

It was at about eight feet from the group when I saw him. "Ranger," I speak loudly, and a couple of guys from the group glance at him quickly before turning back to me. My heart began to beat rapidly; I had never done something so bold of my own accord before, never mind in front of so many people.

I saw the anger immediately rise onto Ranger's face, knowing I had crossed a boundary by addressing him on his playing field, but I had had enough with this game of cat and mouse. It was not fair for him to annoy me, harass me and change me to then ignore me like nothing happened at all. Like I no longer existed. "What are you doing here?" He attempted to contain his anger, but his words dripped with venom.

"A word," I demand. I stood with my arms crossed over my chest, one foot in front of my body and my hip popped. I steadied my breathing despite my heart demanding to beat its self from my chest.

A low growl escaped his lips as he strode forward. "This isn't the place for you," he snarled as he grabbed my arm, dragging me away to the sidelines. He made sure that where we went was private, but I made sure it was public enough that I would have some sort of success. We stopped at the far end of the pitch, where others could just barely see us but could not hear a single word. "How dare you."

I scoff, ripping my arm from his iron grip. There was no doubt there would be a bruise around my bicep. "How dare I, after what you pulled on Monday?" My tone was convicting, my eyes burning in anger.

He huffs loudly, running a large hand through his messy, sweaty, dark brown hair. "It was a mistake. Drop it, and drop me." His words hit hard but I ignored the pain in my stomach.

"It was not a mistake and you know it. I will forget it, but I will not forget the Ranger I met while we were out there, while there was no one around." I step closer, dipping slightly so my eyes grab his. He tries to pull away, but I simply move again until he stops and holds my gaze.

"I'm not that person," he grumbles, the anger fading into frustration, confusion and pain swirling in his voice. "He's not real."

"He's as real as this person, right here, is," I reply, harshly poking my finger into his shoulder.

He swats my hand away, yet it was gentler than when he pulled me over here. "Just leave."

"Only if you continue to bother me every day." A small smirk raises onto my lips as disbelief raise onto his eyes.

He shuffled lightly in place, obviously thinking about it. "You might regret saying that," he retorts, his lips mimicking my smirk. I turn to talk away but I'm pulled right back, closer to his chest this time. "I mean it, I won't play nice anymore."

I look into his eyes, the green burning bright as the challenge brews inside his mind. "I'm counting on it," I say, remaining where I was. I was thrown back to Monday and what resulted from being this close together. "Have a good day, Ranger." My voice hummed as I spoke, his name leaving my lips slowly.

He narrows his eyes at me, understanding the game I was playing. Ranger pushed back in the direction I came from. "See you around, Alessandra."