Two

Rocks" I froze instantly.

My foot came to a halt on its own accord as the voice registers in my brain. I knew that voice well. I can feel the air on my neck rise. That voice that has been in my life for the past three years. That voice had tormented me for three years. It has been everywhere I go, every step I take, every place I sit. It has been in my fucking head for three good years. 

That voice, my Worstnightmare

My torment

My doom

My bully

Ryder's

He has been exactly the person I don't want to run into today. I planned on keeping my distance throughout this year and here he is now, positioned right in my face. No matter how I hide he'll always come finding me but I don't want it to be this soon. I turned and immediately wished I hadn't. His eyes met mine with surprise then followed by immediate displeasure. 

Yh, I know that look and I'm familiar with it. The getthefuckoutofmyface look. His jaw clenched, and I noticed how his chin lifted slightly. The familiar pounding in my chest echoed in my ears, and a hundred miles away sounded like a really nice place to be right now. Was it too much to ask that I had asked one year of normal teenage fun to myself? Was it too much that I craved to be left in peace for the remaining days of school? Was it too much that I asked that I'd never come across Ryder? 

I don't know much about Ryder Saint other than he's out on a mission to destroy me. He had made that clear enough for me to understand. He's set to crush and set my world crumbling. Ripping it all apart. He's set to see the end of me

But why?

Why me? I asked myself the same question for the umpteenth time without getting an answer. Why had I been his target? Why did he despise me so much? 

I stare at his face looking for an answer I know isn't there only to be met with the ice cold stern gaze. To say Ryder isn't beautiful would be a big fat lie. He's tall and has broad shoulders. His body is covered in ink and has his lips pierced. His uniform is missing the tie as always and he looks ruggedly handsome. His inked black hair that runs slick in the middle. Complimented by the perfect face. He's a piece of art. Girls were so busy watching him that they ran into walls. I swear if he hadn't been this way to me I might have found myself crushing over him. 

Shaking my head I tried to shrug the thought away like it would help. 

My thoughts are dragged back to the years of enduring his bullying. The body shaming body remarks and false confessions about me. The constant reminder that everything about me infuriates him. Out of everyone in this school, it's only me he chooses to bully. 

Why me?

Did I make his life hell or kill him in our first life? I really hope it's the latter. 

He twirls a football in his right hand while the other stays in his trouser pockets. I wonder if he ever does anything with it. He strides towards me. Walking slowly and with purpose. I kept my gaze on him, watching him, my eyes following his every move while I struggled to keep my breath steady. I don't know why a little part of me thinks he will ignore and walk past me but I know better than that. It's not something new. Once he starts on a mission he never backs out. 

It's even stupid to think he will leave me alone. He never has. Not even once. Whether I like it or not, Ryder has always been in my life and will continue to be until the end of this year. Then, when I'm out of this city everything will be over. I'll be free.

Breath in

Breath out

It's okay. 

"Did you lose your way, Rocks?" His voice is light, holding meaning.

If it were the old me I'd have run down the hallway and hide. I'll have bowed my head in Shame while his mocking laughter followed me and while I ran away. If it were the old me, I'd have been intimidated by his gaze and then cry. 

However, that has changed. Me. 

I have transformer into a new person

This is a fresh start

A blank book

A new chapter

A new story

I've come to an important conclusion that I won't let Ryder ruin this last year for me. I won't bow down and play along to his silly games. I want to be the main lead in my own story. I'm done hiding like a coward. I'm done letting Ryder Saint get to me.

I push my head high and flip my hair backward like I've watched others do and meet his gaze. 

"Get the fuck out of my face Ryder" 

I can hear the gasps.

Okay. That's great and a good start. 

"What did you just say?" He narrowed his eyes like he didn't believe I just spoke back. 

I mean I don't talk back to Ryder. Never. I'll rather run away and hide. I couldn't even hold his gaze for long without wishing to be six feet down. But those times I've been a fool but now, I'm wiser. I refuse to be his prey again. 

"I said get the fuck out of my face" I said loudly this time for the people who had stopped to watch another of our drama. Only that there won't be any today. Sorry, I'm putting a stop to all of those episodes. 

"Did you just tell me what to do?" He laughs and I swear my heart just misses a beat but I don't let it appear that I am terrified of him. 

"Whatever" I said and started to move past him.

"Not so fast" He pulled me back dropping the ball in his hand and I watched as it bounces then rolls off down the hallway. 

A sigh escapes me even as a tremor shoots down my spine. Being so close to him that I almost smell the mint on his breath and his rich ocean scent rattles me in ways I don’t care to admit.

Or experience.

“What do you want, Ryder?”

"Don't you dare say my name? '' he snarled, his jaw tightened and I saw his teeth grit together. 

"Then you fucking leave me alone" I shout back completely loosing. I feel the tears pool to my lids and I fight them back resisting the urge to break down. No, I'm not letting him see that side. I'm done being the weeny little girl he orders and tosses around. I'm done playing games with him. 

Wait

I just fucking snapped at Ryder. 

Shit!

I can hear low murmurs. I am also surprised at my sudden outburst. Whatever came over me must have been good because I didn't realize I could ever get this nerve or summon up courage to talk back at Ryder. Never. 

I fixed my gaze at Ryder, the expression on his face… unreadable. I jerked out of his hold not taking it anymore and stride into class. Much to my surprise he didn't hold me back. 

Good. 

I just started a fire and I'm ready to burn.