บททั้งหมดของ Private Lessons With The Bad Boy Bully: บทที่ 51 - บทที่ 60

Lena’s POVI woke up warm.Too warm.My eyes fluttered open slowly, adjusting to the pale pre-dawn light filtering through the curtains. For a moment, I couldn’t figure out why I felt so… secure. So wrapped up and comfortable.Then I realised.Noah’s arm was around my waist, holding me tight against his chest. His breath was soft and steady against my hair, warm puffs that made the fine hairs on the back of my neck stand up.Somehow during the night, we must’ve found each other, or maybe I’d found him, and now we were tangled together like we’d done this a thousand times before.My heart slammed against my ribs.This was…this was so inappropriate. We’d just met. He was Jace’s cousin. We were supposed to be on opposite sides of the bed, respecting boundaries and keeping things professional.Instead, I was curled into him like he was my personal heater, his legs tangled up with my own, his hand splayed across my stomach, fingers just barely brushing the sliver of skin where my t-shirt

"What part of 'leave her alone' do you not understand?"Noah's voice cut sharply through the tension. He'd reached the bottom of the stairs now, and his expression seemed calm but his eyes were hard as steel as they locked straight onto Jace.Jace's entire body went rigid. "This is none of your fucking business, Noah.""Isn't it?" Noah moved closer, physically putting himself between Jace and me. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're making her cry. So yeah, I'm making it my business.""You don't know what the fuck you're talking about...""I know enough." Noah's voice stayed level and controlled. "I know she asked you to stop and you kept pushing, anyone with eyes can see that she's clearly upset. And I know you need to back off."Jace's hands clenched into fists. "Don't do this, Noah. Don't fucking do this right now or I swear to fuck--""Do what? Protect someone who needs protecting?" Noah's calm was somehow more threatening than if he'd raised his voice. "Or are y

Homeroom was in Mr. Peterson's classroom, it was a bright, airy space with motivational posters covering the walls and rows of desks that had seen better days.I slipped into my usual seat near the middle, trying to make myself as small and invisible as possible.Noah had been swarmed the moment we entered the building.Students asking questions, introducing themselves and offering to show him around.He'd handled it all with that easy charm, but he'd caught my eye once and mouthed "sorry" before being pulled away by a group of curious juniors.Now he stood near the door, scanning the room. When he spotted me, he waved, his face lit up and he started making his way over."Is this seat taken?" he asked, gesturing to the empty desk beside mine.Before I could answer, a high-pitched whiny voice cut through the chatter, gossiping behind us."Oh my God, Allie, you need to stop defending him."I turned to see Allison sitting three rows back, surrounded by her usual entourage. Tracy was ru

"So wait, you're telling me you've never been to Marco's Pizza?" Jake leaned forward, looking at me as though I'd just confessed to never breathing oxygen. "How is that even possible?""I just... haven't?" I picked at the crust of my sandwich nervously. "I don't really go out much.""Marco's is literally a Westbrook institution," Nicole chimed in, twirling her fork. "It's where everyone goes after games. The breadsticks alone are worth selling your soul for.""Nicole would know," Jake said with a grin. "She once ate an entire order by herself and then passed out in the parking lot.""That was one time and I had the flu!" Nicole threw a grape at him, which he caught and popped into his mouth, looking ridiculously proud of himself.I watched their easy banter, the way Jake's eyes lingered on Nicole when she wasn't looking, the way she pretended not to notice but smiled anyway. They had that thing—that obvious, unspoken thing where everyone could see they liked each other except apparentl

He gave me an encouraging nod, and somehow, impossibly, I found my voice again."I know I may not look it," I said, hating how my voice shook, "but I've always wanted to be a cheerleader. To represent our school this way. I always thought you all looked so—so cute in your uniforms, and it hurt when I would get told no year after year without even being given a chance to apply.""That's because you don't meet the requirements, nerd." Allison's voice was sharp, cutting. "How the hell are you gonna do a backflip with glasses on? You'll break your neck and sue the school."She turned to Noah, her expression shifting to something almost apologetic. "I'm sorry, Noah. You're cute, really. But I'm not putting that girl on my squad." She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Please get rid of her. She's making me uncomfortable. I think I might throw up."Something inside me cracked.I pulled my hand out of Noah's grip and turned toward the exit, tears burning in my eyes. Angry, humiliated tears that