My Stepbrother: secret possession

I Have Pain From The Torture, Ache From The Wound And Bruise From Defeat.

"Ava?"

The husky disembodied voice immediately alerted me to hide in the corner of the locker room as my heart thumped heavily in my chest.

"Turn around and close your eyes," I commanded, panic-stricken, bringing my hands to cover myself even though he couldn't see me.

This is the most embarrassing moment of my life. I knew I was disliked in this school, but I had no idea they would stoop to this level. Whoever did this wanted me to walk the hallways naked.

"Ava?" he called out. "I won't look," Leigh promised.

With my body pressed against the corner, I cautiously leaned forward to peek and confirm his statement. Granted! He had his palm hovering over his eyes while taking cautious steps towards my direction.

"I couldn't find your clothes," he informed me, and my stomach growled. So, it was over. I would really be walking the hallways naked. "Wear this." Leigh shrugged off his cheetah jacket and held it out for me.

I felt relieved to some extent, yet nervous is an understatement. I was terrified and didn't dare to come out of my hiding place, even though Leigh had turned around with his back facing me. I still wished the ground would open up and swallow my bare skin.

Alright, I'll give an understandable explanation. Look, Leigh Boyce is that guy who takes away all the oxygen and makes breathing difficult. Even with the distance between us, the effect he has on me manages to electrify my whole system. It's more than pathetic that I happen to be standing completely naked in the same room as him.

"Ava?" he called again since I couldn't gather up a logical response. Great, Ava, just great.

He slowly started to open his eyes, effortlessly meeting mine.

Wordless, he crookedly stared at my head. I must look ridiculous. I swear whoever did this to me must be heartless. If you think I'm being overdramatic, you should see the bold statement written on the wall: "Mother Superior walk of shame."

Something in me tells me who must have done it, but my courage was too low to defend my rights, so I swallowed the weapons I never use.

"There you are," he finally remarked after the awkward stare that I almost thought was beginning to become a challenge.

He took a step closer, and my heart sank to my stomach. But then I realized he wanted to give me his jacket, and respectfully enough, his gaze traveled in every direction except mine. How charming of him. I hid myself when I wrapped my body in the warm, soul-comforting blanket that was Leigh's jacket. It had that wild flowery scent that sent a prompt alert to the pit of my stomach and awakened the thousand butterflies, turning the scent into a disco invading my reality.

When I emerged from the angle I had been hiding, I was more than humiliated. I could bet on everything I have that I was entirely transparent right now. After sliding down against the steel locker doors and letting the combined feeling of being unwanted, frustrated, and disappointed turn into liquid and flow down my face, I knew I looked terrible. In all honesty, since I left London, crying had become a daily occurrence for me. But then I shouldn't blame it on moving here; I should blame myself for bringing it upon myself. I was too selfish for my own needs.

Leigh stepped forward with his lips pressed hard into a straight line, which somehow managed to hint at some adorable dimples.

His fingers instinctively began to button up the last upper button of his jacket that I was currently wearing, and when his finger slightly brushed my skin, I felt like I mistook earth for heaven.

Focus, Ava, you're mad at him. He hurt you without reason.

So, what I did next took a lot of effort. You'd think it was something huge, but to me, it meant a lot. Stepping back away from Leigh was a great deal. It was like separating a woman from her womb, you know what I mean?