Chapter 4 4

"You're the new girl, right?" he asked, and I nodded, my eyes still roaming around for a familiar face. I didn't want to admit it, but a part of me was really hoping River had come anyway.

Just so I would have someone to talk to.

"What's your name?" Sighing, I glanced up at Hunter, "Kiara."

"Cool. I'm Hunter." "I know." There were a few beats of awkward silence when he spoke up again, "How do you like the party so far?" I shrugged, "It's fine." He cocked a brow. "Just fine?" When I didn't respond, he turned towards the bar, "How about a drink to change your mind?"

I glanced at him and then the bottle he was holding. I was smart enough to know not to take drinks from someone who I'd just met so with a polite smile, I stood up and shook my head. "No thanks. I'm good." With that, I walked away.

A few minutes passed and I decided that I should just get going home, so with a quick search in my purse, I grabbed my phone and dialed my dad's number.

However, just as he picked up, I felt a sharp sting on my ass and I looked behind me to see a drunken guy with bloodshot eyes, grinning at me.

"Hey, babe." Disgust filled me and I quickly told my dad I'd call him back, shoving my phone back into my purse as I glared at him, "Who the hell do you think you are, you sick bastard?"

"Chill, hot stuff. I'm just looking for some fun."

"Well, go find it from someone who actually wants it," I snapped, and turned, making my way towards the door when his hand caught my arm and pulled me into his chest.

I felt the dead weight of his arms around my waist, my mind reeling with anger when he squeezed my ass again with his hands.

"Fucking let go!" I snarled and swung my fist into his cheek.

His head snapped to the side and I watched with wide eyes when a sadistic smile took place on his lips. "You shouldn't have done that."

Shit. My confidence had quickly taken a 180-degree turn into fear as he dragged me away, pushing past laughing students who were too out of their minds to comprehend what was actually happening.

I was struggling to have him let go of me and I quickly felt my panic expand when I saw he was leading me into a bedroom.

"Stop!" I shrieked. "Someone help me, please!" No one heard me. I felt tears form in my eyes just as the guy stepped inside the bedroom, about to close the door after me but before he could, a figure entered and started shouting at the guy.

Within seconds, the dude was lying on the floor, unconscious, and I looked up to see Hunter breathing heavily, his eyes glimmering with hate.

He then turned towards me, gathering me in his arms, "Are you okay?" I swallowed, gently pushing away from him.

"I-I just want...I just want to go home." Hunter nodded, stepping forward, "Do you want me to give you a ride?" My gaze flickered from him to the guy who had grabbed me and then back to him.

Something was still bothering me about Hunter, as if there was a huge puzzle piece I was missing. Just because he'd saved me from potentially getting raped didn't mean I trusted him with my life.

So with a shaky breath, I shook my head. "It's fine. My dad's coming to pick me up anyway." Without waiting for a response from him, I pushed past and made my way to the door, about to exit when I spotted a familiar figure making his way towards me. "Connor?"

He looked absolutely gorgeous in a fitted black T-shirt and gray jogger sweatpants, his dark hair mussed in all the right directions and his bright blue eyes shimmering in the flashing lights.

"Hey, Clumsy," he laughed, and I swallowed as the sound echoed around my ears.

"When did you get here?"

"A few minutes ago." He then scanned me up and down, before furrowing his brows. "What's up with you? You alright?"

His concern caused the flash of the scene that had happened a few seconds ago to replay in my mind, and I quickly averted my eyes from his smoldering gaze before he could see my emotions.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Heading home."

"Already? But I just got here." I could tell without looking that he was pouting.

"I'm just not feeling well," I muttered, and looked up at him. "See you at school, partner-in-crime."

Despite the suspicious look in his eyes, a smile twitched his lips. "See you, Clumsy."

I turned, my hand clutching my phone as I quickly texted for my dad to pick me up before I glanced back at the open door of the house, where Connor had been standing.

He was gone.

A sense of disappointment filled my chest but I quickly pushed it away, deciding to sit down on the sidewalk as I waited for my dad to come pick me up. I was desperately trying to ignore the memory of what just happened a few minutes ago but it was hard to push it away. I couldn't help the tears that had formed in my eyes, not when my mind kept running back to the flashbacks that haunted me every night.

The same flashbacks that were the reason of me transferring to a new school. A honk broke me out of my thoughts and I looked up to see my dad's car parked in front of me.

Quickly wiping my eyes, I scrambled to my feet and slid into the car, not meeting my dad's gaze.

"How was the party?" I opened my mouth, about to tell him everything but a voice in the back of my mind stopped me. "It was fine," I croaked out instead, forcing a smile to form on my lips as I turned towards him. "I had a lot of fun." He studied my features for a moment before a relieved smile broke out onto his own face.

"I'm glad." And then he started driving.

Pretty soon, the weekend flew by and before I knew it, I was already back in school. Except this time, things weren't as they were before. Many students were whispering when I entered, the girls pointing with hushed voices while the guys muttered things under their breaths, their eyes watching me as I made my way towards my locker.

I was confused as to why everyone was acting this way, especially since I knew that they had gotten over me kissing Connor by accident within a day. So, what had I done now that had gotten their attention? For a brief moment, I wondered if Layla had done something. Had she spread a rumor about me and I hadn't known? Or worse, had she posted another embarrassing video she had taken of me when I wasn't paying attention?

When I saw Yasmin walking towards me, I let out a relieved breath. She would let me know what had caused everyone to act like this. "What's going on?" I asked as soon as she reached me.

She exhaled a deep breath, quickly whipping out her phone and tapping something on it before handing it to me. I watched as a video started playing, the guy who'd tried to take advantage of me the main focus of it.

Another figure was across from him, but the camera was unfocused so I couldn't make out who. But judging from their staggering height and physique, it was a boy.

"Oh, hey,Connor," the guy greeted. "What's u–" I watched with wide eyes as Connor stepped into the camera's view, his fist swinging into the same cheek I had punched the unfamiliar boy with.

Drunken gasps played around the two, but the fury in Connor's eyes as the camera focused in on him was unmistakable. "What the fuck?!" the guy roared, clutching his jaw as he glared at him.

"Why'd you do that?" Connor didn't answer right away. Instead, he stepped forward and grabbed the guy's collar, pulling him close with a deadly snarl forming on his lips.

"The next time you touch a girl without her consent..." he said, menacingly, "...will be the time your grave will start digging."

A chorus of ' oohs' went through the crowd and I watched with shock as the screen went black, the video ending with the guy recording it saying, " That was fucking awesome! "

"He...he..." I looked up at Yasmin with my lips parted, "But how?" There was no doubt in my mind that Connor had punched that guy because he'd tried to take advantage of me. But how had River found out about it in the first place?

"I don't know," Yasmin answered, her dark eyes wide in amazement, "but the fact that he beat up a guy for you is...wow. I mean, if a hot boy like him did that for me–"

I cut her off, "Wait, how did everyone figure out it was me that he beat him up for?"

"Well, you know how Hunter is class president and everybody knows him?" I nodded, watching as she let out a nervous laugh.

"He kind of spread a rumor saying how he saved you from trouble at his party, and that you were forever grateful to him because he did so."

My jaw dropped. " What? "

"Yeah...so, maybe that's how Connor found out? I don't really know that many details since I wasn't there at the party but..." But I had tuned out.

Why would Hunter tell everyone that I was grateful to him because he had saved me? I mean, yeah, I was glad he'd been there but I wasn't over-the-moon for him because of it.

Irritated, I snapped back to attention and shook my head, "Whatever. I don't really care about what other people think, so long as you don't believe in the rumors like they do."

She rolled her eyes, "Of course I don't believe them. Do you really think I would anyway? You don't even seem remotely interested in Hunter, especially by the way you're making a face right now."

With a relieved sigh, I smiled. "Thanks, Yaz. I'm glad you decided to stick by me."

She smiled back, "Anytime." I turned back to my locker, about to do the combination when a voice shouted my name. "Kiara!"

My head snapped to the side to see Noah jogging towards me, swiftly wrapping his arms around my torso for a quick hug before he pulled back and grabbed my shoulders.

"Are you alright? Do you have any injuries? Do you need me to beat him up because I wil–"

"Noah, everyone knows you can't hurt a fly."

"Shut up, Connor, no one asked you." I breathed out a laugh before my eyes connected with Connor's electric blue ones, the intensity of them cause my cheeks to heat up.

He looked fine, no signs of any injuries on him except for the bandage that was neatly wrapped around his knuckles, the stark white practically glowing against his tan skin.

I winced. He must've clocked a good one on the asshole. Connor noticed where my gaze was and casually stuffed his hands into his pockets, his eyes watching me as I looked up at him.

I wanted to say something; thank him mostly, but I couldn't form the words. So, I stayed silent.

"Anyway, I need to get going to History," Yasmin announced, and flashed me a smile. "See you at lunch, Kiara." "I'll walk with you," Noah added, and fell into stride with her as the pair disappeared down the hall.

Then, it was just Connor and me. I decided to try and thank him, "I–"

"You don't have to say anything," he interrupted, and I paused, my eyes drifting up to his with surprise in them. "I would do it again in a heartbeat, with or without a thank-you."

My lips parted in amazement at his words and without thinking, I stepped forward and hugged him. My arms wrapped around his waist and I felt him stiffen in shock but then he gently hugged me back, almost as if I was fragile.

"Thank you, anyway," I whispered. He didn't respond but by the way he tightened his arms, I knew he'd heard.

After a few moments of hugging, I pulled back and laughed, hoping to God that my cheeks hadn't turned an unusual amount of red but judging by the burning feeling in my face, I probably looked like a tomato......