004 The Face-off.

~KELSIE~

I woke up with an angry feeling buried deep in my chest. And it had nothing to do with the statistics quiz I had this morning— despite my hatred for mathematics.

I couldn't quite get over the fact that I lost to him. Freaking lost to him!

Oh! My pride!

But if it was only that, my body wouldn't be vibrating as I slammed the locker shut. It was mostly the fact that in my assurance that I was going to beat him, I accepted his condition of being a biker prince if he ended up winning. 

Now, I felt like a sore loser, the pangs gnawing at my chest like a heavy downpour on a stormy day. Just like pains prickled my knees where I had scratched on the asphalt.

Good thing I was the only one aware of that injury. It was a desperate move to get ahead of me as I surged through the bend that would bust into the finishing line. 

Only that I couldn't get past him, no matter how much I tried, that injury would have been worth it.

"God, Kels..." I muttered amid fuming. This day would certainly never go down well.

"Who's getting death by the slamming of the locker, bestie?" Sorrel's voice sounded behind me, right before she perched on the locker next to mine with a broad smile. She was also clad in a leather outfit like me. And she's my best friend of all times.

I couldn't help letting out a tight-lipped one. "My bodyguard slash biker prince from hell," I replied with an eye roll.

Where's your cute bodyguard slash biker prince?" Sorrel asked, her eyes dancing with admiration as she glanced around.

I rolled mine instead. "We agreed that I'm going to have one normal day before his duty starts," I replied warily, turning with my backpack stashed with notes and textbooks for today's lecture.

Resting against my locker, I gave Sorrel a wary look.

"Wanna switch places?" 

She threw her head backward and let out a loud laugh that rang through the hallway, attracting a hell of attention. 

"Come on. It's not that bad." She nudged me playfully. "I'm sure his hotness would make up for his grumpiness."

Weirdly enough, that was all I could think about. How he looked dashing and commanding on his big Harley, and the constant winks he threw me through the visor. Another thing that made yesterday's loss as embarrassing as hell. 

I was affected by him. No doubt. 

“By the way, where did you go yesterday? You could have consoled me.” I pouted, and she touched my cheeks, her expression, apologetic.

“Had a little errand to run.” 

I nodded with a sigh before easing myself off the locker, I dragged Sorrel along.

"Let's go, Sor. Classes start in the next ten minutes." 

I wasn't in the mood for class, nor was I in the mood for long talks. And God help, anyone who dared to get under my skin today.

                 ~~~~~~~~~~

Jade was the unfortunate lamb. I saw him comfortably occupying my seat immediately I stepped into the classroom. My breath quickened as a result of the anger boiling through me.

I hated the sight of him.

Jade freaking Walter...

He thought that because he was the biker prince of the Serket gang, he owned the school. I had been avoiding his antics, not wanting to give my Dad any reason to shout in my face.

But right now, he was in my seat, an indication that he wanted trouble. And he would get it.

"Get up," I muttered through clenched teeth as I got closer, dumping my backpack on the desk.

He looked up with an amused expression, his gaze trailing up and down my small frame.

"Or what? You'll stomp on me?" Laughter broke out from different directions. His boys were hanging around him, baring their teeth like animals.

"Fuck off, Jade. Go find your seat." Sorrel barked from behind me, but I held up my hand, indicating that I didn't want her involved.

She wasn't a biker princess, so she didn't have the immunity of getting away with things as I did.

"Piss off, Jade. While I'm still asking nicely." I continued in a lethally soft voice, my anger already peaked.

Gasps filled the classroom at my words. It might look ridiculous; a small girl like me, threatening a hunky guy like him, but I cared less. 

Before he could throw in another nasty comment and make himself feel good, I pushed him off and he landed right on the floor…on his ass.

Snickers and laughter broke out, but more intensely than the first.

His murderous gaze bore through me as he got to his feet, towering over me.

I shrugged as I folded my small frame into the seat. "Next time, don't be a d-bag, Jade." I threw in, with an equally murderous look.

Just then, our lecturer stepped in, interrupting our intense stare down.

"This isn't over, Anderson." He muttered through clenched teeth before stalking off to his seat with his boys tailing along like lambs being dragged to the place of sacrifice. 

Weaklings! I mentally spat.

Letting out a whoosh of breath, I twirled my ball pen in between my fingers. "So much for a normal day."

       

                    ~~~~~~~~~~~

When students clustered at the entrance at the end of the day, I knew something was off. It usually happened when two bikers had scores to settle after lectures. Students usually hung around to get entertained and maybe take some pictures— but secretly, so as not to be jumped by one of the bikers.

Jade Walter's last words rang in my ears as Sorrel and I got closer. I had a feeling this was it. I knew Jade wouldn't let it go, but I couldn't stand for him making me look like a fool in front of everyone.

One embarrassment was enough.

But right now, seeing Jade, chest naked, as he leaned against his bike, his boys clustered around, I knew that I was about to get loads of it. Because trust me, no way was I a match for Jade.

"Get out of here, princess." He beckoned, his voice thundering, and finally snapped Sorrel out of her social media haze. Her gaze had been hooked on her I*******m since we left the lecture hall, not even minding where she was going.

I guess that was why she had her hand hooked around my elbow. Now, that hand squeezed my upper arm in shock.

"What the actual fuck." 

I kept walking, dragging Sorrel along, not wanting to give anyone the impression that my heart wasn't hammering loudly against my chest in fear— but yeah, it was.

Rowan stood in front of me, breaching my steps halfway, but his back was turned to me.

"What do you want with our princess?" He had also pulled off his jacket, an indication that he also wanted a fight. I appreciated him for that. He was a viper, a very good racer, but never good enough to beat me.

"She did nothing—" Jade didn't let him finish his words before throwing a hard punch to his jaw, hard enough to send him sprawling on the floor.

From the corner of my eye, I saw other vipers closing in and I held my hand up.

"Don't worry, guys. I'll handle him." Allowing them to engage would mean war. And I didn't want that. This was between Jade and me.

At my words, he threw his head backward, his mock laughter ringing out. 

"Goodness, you really thought you were a match for me." He was now standing toe to toe with him, making it almost impossible to hold his gaze. But I tried, even if it meant craning my neck so badly.

"This isn't the tracks where you shine. Say your last prayers, princess." 

Then swiftly, his hand found my neck, springing me off my feet, holding and squeezing till my air thinned and I saw stars.

My eyes struggled to close as I clawed at his fingers, trying to push him off, but I was getting weaker. 

Gasps filled the air alongside Sorrel's voice. 

"Fucking let her go, you psycho!" 

Just before my eyes completely closed, I saw a fist fly to his jaw, sending him tumbling back as he let me go. 

The force got me landing forcefully, staggering, about to hit the floor when firm masculine hands held my waist 

My eyes opened and I saw his gaze roaming over my face. Lancelot. Those signature smirks had completely vanished, replaced by a worried look, his eyes glinting with protectiveness as they lingered on my lips before looking up to meet my half-closed ones.

"One normal day, huh?”