Chapter 13: XII

If only I had known that the next few months, which were the build up to Christmas, which followed his statement would be hectic, ridiculous, emotional and life changing, I might have done something differently.

I never would have guessed that one rumour could turn into something so real, and so toxic.

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"Hey Riv!" I heard a voice echo through the sports hall before someone linked their arm with mine suddenly. Quickly looking down to see who it was, I heard another familiar voice ring through my ears.

I then felt another persons arm wrap around my unoccupied one which caused my cheeks  to heat up for an unknown reason. To my left was Scarlett, who I had promised to partner up with this lesson, and to my right was Thorn, the new kid with no other acquaintances in this class.

"Hey Scar, Thorn." I greeted shakily, unsure about what else to say.

"Oh! You're that new kid. Thorn, right?" Scar questioned, pulling away from me to see him clearer. Her eyes crinkled due to her bright smile once again, and I couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Yeah, er, I don't know you, do I?" Thorn replied, glancing down at his feet from awkwardness as he too pulled away.

"Nope! My names Scar, and those three girls over there are my team. Alicia, Rosie and Lizzy. The other group of girls is led by Brooke, one of my besties, and the rest are all idiotic dicks who bathe in their own testosterone and haven't earned enough gratitude from me for their names to be mentioned."

Thorn looked taken aback for a moment before squinting in the direction of the group Scar had pointed out only moments earlier. "Wait, Ash is in our sport class?"

"Yeah, sadly." I answered, rolling my eyes as the disapproving words left my mouth.

"Why are you so sad about that? It's a perfect opportunity to start the plan." My gaze was instantly pulled to him, and I saw him smirk before wiggling his eyebrows, which caused me to laugh.

Scar gave both of us a confused look when Thorn lunged towards her before whispering something in her ear, which I could only presume was our idea of getting back at him.

By the sly, grinch-like smirk that grew on her lips , I assumed my guess was correct.

"Listen up! Get into groups of four, we're playing doubles tennis!" She shouted to the rest of the class, and no one had the right to argue with her since she was the sports captain, so we all trudged off into the cupboard to retrieve the rackets.

After around five minutes, we were all in groups, lined up along the back end of the outdoor court since we weren't allowed to play tennis inside after someone smashed a light.

Our team consisted of me, Thorn, Scarlett and Alicia, and we were all relatively competitive. Well, Thorn told me he was.

Scar stepped to face the long line of people and began to throw a ball to each group while speaking. "So teams, I've made a rotor of matches to be played, and you're all going to have a number."

She gave each team a number while writing them down on a clipboard before proceeding to direct us to a specific court. "Play fair, and if you're not on, umpire."

With that, everyone moved to their selected area and the games began.

We weren't on for the first round, yet we had to play the next three which was a great combination, but I couldn't blame her since she had to match up every team somehow.

So for the first game, we split into pairs and helped the teams who were playing.

They typically passed relatively quickly as there was usually a clear winner that managed to gain points abnormally fast. By the time it was our go, we had decided that Scar and Alicia would play this game as they would be against their friends.

After many shouts of encouragement and a mix of cheers and curses from the others, we won by two points. "Phew! That was tiring, but well done Lici." The pair skipped over to the board and made a note of the points before directing us to play against our second opponent.

The next five matches went smoothly, we won all but one, and that left us with five points.

However, something was bound to go wrong, and I was too involved in the matches to realise who we were playing next.

"Well look who it is."

I turned my head so fast at the taunting voice that I swear I heard my neck click.

Ash walked up to the net and leaned over it easily, due to his annoying height, before grabbing my shirt and yanking me forward with such force our foreheads nearly collided.

"I've said it before, but I'll say it again. Watch your back Sky." The rough, unforgiving tone sent shivers through my body and made my hairs stand on end, so building as much courage as I could, I seethed a reply.

"Oh yeah? Well you watch out too Ash, because I'm ready for whatever you've got planned, and just a heads up, you're not the only one with power."

I ripped his hand away and made my way over to Thorn, positioning myself opposite Archer who was his partner. Archer was a blonde haired male with sharp blue eyes and highly defined features. He had a dick personality, and was basically a less violent yet more idiotic version of James.

And that was saying a lot.

"Why you with him, huh newbie? Why'd you join the twink? Are you one too?" Archers voice sent more waves of anger seeping throughout my body, and I felt like walking over and punching him square in the jaw.

Thorn turned his attention to me, a look of disgust on his face. "Please tell me this isn't how they all treat you." His voice held both horror and spite, and quite honestly, it scared me how his chestnut eyes burnt with ferocity.

"Pretty much, but I'm used to it. Just... don't get involved, I can handle it." I gave a small smile, however his response to that was a clench of his jaw and a wicked glint to shimmed in his eyes.

"Alright, go!" Alicia cheered, throwing her fist into the air in excitement.

Thorn threw the ball up into the air, allowing it to fall back down slightly, and hit it with an incredible and highly unexpected force. The bright, neon yellow ball went soaring over the net before swiftly being returned by Ash.

It came flying towards me, and I swung the racket in retaliation, awaiting its return once again.

The rallying continued for around twenty seconds before I missed a shot which went zooming past with such power, it clipped the outer shell of my ear.

I tightened my hold on the racket from frustration, the nails on my other hand digging into the skin of my palm.

"Told you I'd beat you." Ash teased, an open-mouthed smirk gracing those horribly aggravating yet delectably red lips.

Cut it out River.

"Hold up, you have one point. It's not over yet."

Archer served the ball in my direction, so I sent it right back at him.

After ten minutes, we were losing by one point as they had six and we had five. I hit the ball straight at Ash, and had to hold back my outburst of laughter when it smacked straight into his chest.

That's what you get for flirting in sports.

He fell back slightly before snapping his gaze to me, a look of irritation and hatred dancing in his eyes. I chuckled darkly at his malice, finding the death glare he was sending way too entertaining.

That was until he began walking towards me.

But I don't mean just casually going around the nets and people, what I mean is ripping the net right down the middle, sending it cascading down beside him, keeping a fixed stare on me.

Concern mixed with terror engulfed my body, but I stood my ground. I had run from him too many times, I wasn't about to do it again.

"You really are antagonising, you know that?" His voice was controversial to his outer appearance, as it was calm yet filled with mockery.

I slowly took a few steps forward, a smug smile adorning my face, and glared right back at him.

"I could say the same for you." I taunted, making an almost unnoticeable hand gesture behind my back.

Taking another step, I decided to see how far I could go before he snapped.

"Oh yeah?" He started, our bodies now centimetres apart. "Well maybe if you weren't so fucking annoying, that would change." His voice was a mere whisper that trailed along my neck as he leant down.

"Maybe if you weren't so idiotic and ruthless we would be able to have a normal conversation." I exclaimed, trying to keep my words hushed so no one else would hear.

Just as he was about to start talking again, I made another signal, and only moments later someones arms were tightly wrapped around my waist.

"Stop, okay? This isn't getting anywhere." Thorns voice was soft and mellow, but just loud enough for Ash to hear him.

Slowly, Thorn began to draw soft patterns into the fat of my hips, causing me to smile and lean back into his chest with his head resting gently on my shoulder.

I shifted my gaze to Ash for a second and managed to catch a short yet almost impossible to miss glimmer of jealousy flicker within the depths of the deep mahogany pools, and if you widened your search, you saw the rage reflect onto the rest of his features.

"Gotcha." I whispered inaudibly, a smirk spreading across my face like the Cheshire Cat at his response.

"Break it up all of you! Honestly, I leave for three minutes and come back to this." Scar forced the crowd that had, at some point, gathered around us to witness the strange non-contact fight. After everyone had returned to their courts, not forgetting to throw a skeptical look over their shoulder, Scar dragged me and Ash off the pitch and behind the equipment shed which was used mainly over winter to store any outdoor items.

"You two need to sort out whatever the hell is going on here," she gestured from me to him before continuing her speech. "And do it now. Only come back when you're not going to rip each others throats out."

With that, she turned and strutted back to the court, auburn hair swaying and twirling behind her due to the wind. As her hips swung side to side, I noticed Ash staring after her and licking his lips slowly.

"Ew, disgusting. I don't know if you're too blind to noticed, but she's not interested in you, perv." I spat, rolling my eyes and mentally cringing from how hetero it was.

"Says the guy who's made out with me twice."

I went rigid at those words and hardly managed to restrain my anger.

"I did not make out with you, I'll have you know. We kissed and you initiated it." I retaliated, spite lacing my voice.

He chuckled lowly, crossing his arms muscly over his white, half transparent vest which, only seconds earlier, I could see his honey-tainted skin and the definition of both his chest and stomach through, and that was all because of the thin layer of sweat which caused the shirt to stick to his body.

Dear Lord, please forgive me for I have sinned.

"Whatever you say kitten. Now, you up for making that a third time?"

My mouth and throat dried up at that question, causing me to cough loudly before shooting my olive green eyes in his direction.

His mesmerising, dark hickory orbs held mockery and mischief, and his lips were pulled into a threateningly beautiful smile. The coffee coloured twirls of hair hung down, stopping just above his thick lashes, and I noticed how they framed his face perfectly.

"W-what? No! Are you crazy?" I exclaimed dramatically, tearing my gaze away from his unnaturally alluring body.

However, before I even knew what was happening, Ash had taken my jaw in his large, strong hand and tilted my head up to meet his stare.

I swallowed deeply as we stood in silence, his intimidating eyes boring down into my own with such severity, I felt as if I would collapse into a heap.

"You don't sound very confident with that answer."

I tried to form words, yet every time no sound came out. I hadn't expected to end up in this situation, so I wasn't prepared at all.

Unable to control my body, I pushed myself up against him and pressed my soft lips against the smooth skin of his neck.

Feeling his muscles tense at my sudden action, I trailed my hands up his biceps, squeezing my eyes shut.

Think, River. Think.

He might smell intoxicating but this is a distraction, so don't get too involved.

After a hushed groan left his throat, I pulled back, and once I saw the light red mark left on his caramel skin, I dared not look up into his eyes from both embarrassment and fear.

"Hmm, how sweet." Finally allowing myself to shift my gaze back up to his, I noticed how his eyes were glazed over with lust. "But I should be the one marking you."

Shivers and tingles ran throughout my entire body, and I had to bring myself back down from a world of dreams to the harsh reality.

"Y-you know, for a straight guy, you're pretty gay."

He let out a short laugh at my remark, and I wondered what he found funny about what I said.

That's when the mood changed within seconds, and suddenly the harshness was back.

"And that's fine with me, just as long as no one else knows. Because if they do, I know who to come after."

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Sorry if this chapter is a little bitty, and I hope you still enjoyed it!

What do you all think of Thorn? And how are you liking Ashs' sudden personality change so far?

Thank you for reading,

- Storm