Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Aaron's declaration surprised me yet amid my shock at his declaration I still couldn’t bring myself to forgive Siobhan for her reaction to Andre humiliating me and I don’t know about you but it still hurts. I didn’t talk to her the rest of the party and even before it ended I left and went to my room, had a bath, and fell asleep on my bed as soon as my head hit the pillows. The one good thing that happened that day besides Aaron’s still surprising declaration in front of the whole class was that I had dreams where I was free to torment Andre any way I wanted.

The next morning I was doing a lot better anger wise but I still wanted Siobhan to come and apologize because I would have done the same if I was in her shoes last night. I went about my duties avoiding everyone as much as possible. And doing this meant I couldn’t stay inside the seniors' quarters for too long. Since it was a weekend and the whole school was now resting after a very strenuous compulsory sport session I went back to the field. A little way away from the football fields was a small tree-canopied area with metal benches. We call it The Park. It is actually one of the many spots for fornication in this school although the old abandoned chemistry lab still ranks first place. You will never believe the number of condoms the cleaners have raked out of that place.

Thankfully, this place was less populated with the rubber latex and hopefully, there weren’t any dried secretions on the benches but just to make sure, I cleaned the bench I wanted to sit on enough times to make it shine.

I had just brought out the novel I wanted to read while enjoying the crisp clean air when I felt a slight pinch in my belly. Another pinch in my lower belly had me wincing.

I knew I shouldn’t have added extra sugar to my tea this morning. But the pain vanished almost as soon as it came so I pushed it out of my mind.

Where I sat the leaves on the trees blew softly against my skin, ruffling my light cotton shirt and shorts gently. I was getting lost in the novel and the calming breeze that I didn’t hear the footsteps behind me until a dark shadow blocked out the sun.

I looked up at my intruder and groaned deeply. “Oh God, what do you want now?” I asked him.

Andre rolled his eyes. “This is school property available for everyone, Davis. Don’t flatter yourself thinking I came here to see you.”

“Oh, you didn’t come to see me? I’m hurt. Well if you’re here to do something useful don’t stand behind me like an idiot get on with it, I was enjoying the sun.”

“And running away from last night.”

I slammed my book on the table and stood. “Don’t! Don’t even bring that up. Yesterday was enough for that humiliation and I’m not about to relive that.” I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. “You know what? You have this place, stay here and do whatever the fuck it is you want to do.”

I grabbed my book and would have jumped over the bench to get as far away from him as possible had he not reached out to grab my arm before I could do so. I looked up to glare at his dark eyes made a silver slate by the afternoon sun.

“You are mad about last night…”

“Genius! And hopefully, you’re not here to apologize are you? Because I really don’t care what you have to say.”

He wouldn’t let me go. He stood in front of me successfully blocking my path. “I thought you of all people would understand why I did that?”

“Yes I do, to humiliate me of course because for some reason pushing my buttons seems to excite you you sicko.”

“Hey, you put that dare there because you knew I was going to kiss you, I know your game, Bianca."

"I'm sorry?!" I laughed. "I put the dare because I wanted you to kiss me?! Can you listen to yourself? Don't flatter yourself, Rios." I jerked my hand from his. “From now on you’re on your own. Siobhan likes you, she’s trying to get you. There! I said it. Go chase her, you don’t need me for your stupid schemes. Bye!”

He didn’t look the least bit surprised by my revelation, in fact, he didn’t look like he heard me at all. “Wait, Bianca. I lied when I said I didn’t come to apologize to you…” throwing his other hand into his hair frustrated, he let out a sigh. “Look I didn’t think that kiss was anything deep. I thought you would laugh it off. When I didn't see you around the hostel and the dining or anywhere for that matter I realized how much it must have hurt. I could have easily kissed any other girl yesterday.”

“Yes you could have but you kissed me and accused me now of trying to play a game. Right from the get-go in Mainland, we got off the wrong foot and it seems like you are out to get me.”

He chuckled. “You are such a handful, drama queen. Look I’m sorry.”

“Okay,” I said eager to get away from him. “I have heard your apology Andre Rios now get out of my way.” I roughly pushed him aside and bolted away when suddenly he let out a shout and grabbed me from behind, his arms were a tight band around my waist.

“What the…?!” I struggled against his hold at this sudden assault. “Andre do you mind?!”

He easily dodged my flailing arms and held them down. “Fuck. Do you know you’re on your period, Bianca?”

That took the fight out of me. My period?!

It suddenly made sense why his lower body was pressed heavily against my backside and it made sense why I had felt the pinch in my lower belly earlier. I was slightly bent in front of him from my struggle against his hold. He turned with me still in his arms and picked up my book which had fallen due to the struggle. There on the bench, I had just gotten up from was a smudge of blood the shape of my underbutt.

I wanted to perish from the embarrassment coursing through my body. Of all things, Andre had to see me on my period. He released me and took a couple of steps back when a couple of Class 1 seniors came to occupy some benches there to play some games.

“Can you walk?” he asked softly.

“I’m on my period, Andre, I’m not disabled," I shot out, humiliated and angry.

He chuckled behind me. “I know that. I have a sister remember? I’m talking about your shorts. They are stained as heck. Do you think you can walk with that?”

I was too embarrassed to even accept that he could see my stained shorts. It made me angry yet if I stepped away from in front of me I’ll be showing everyone my shorts.

“I can’t,"  I admitted. "And don't just stand there! Hide me!"

He chuckled. "Say please," he said.

Now?! At such an embarrassing moment in my life?! I chewed on the inside of my cheek angry that he could joke at such a time.

"Fine! Please!" I shot out eventually.

Even before I finished talking I heard him move.

“Here where are you going?!” I panicked. But there was no need to since he was just taking off his shirt.

Oh.

Actually yes there is a reason to panic as I was catapulted back to the first time I met him at the beach and couldn’t stop looking at his muscular body. Even the Class 1 girls playing their monopoly game looked over and couldn’t look away. He was so hot I was finding it hard to breathe or remember why he was even behind me. His eyes twinkled.

The vain pig.

He wrapped the shirt around my waist and tied it, his hair touching my temple as he bent over me to do it. My heart skipped a beat and I looked away but looking away meant looking at the Class 1 students and they were smiling in our direction.

Fuck. I don’t want them to get the wrong idea.

Even before he finished tying it I moved away. “Thanks. “ I quickly pulled some grass out of the soft soil and cleaned the blood stain off the bench. When I swung back around Andre’s hands came around me and he swung me off my feet.