Chapter 9: Chapter 9

River

I started awake to a pounding on my front door. I groaned and lifted my head off my pillow. The banging continued and I slumped out of bed.

I grappled with a hanger as I pulled a hoodie and some jeans out of my closet and threw them on along with my snap-back cap. I went into the bathroom and freshened up then trudged to the front door to meet the culprit of the continuous pounding.

I pulled open the door with a sigh and was greeted with Daimen's tall figure. A leather jacket and a white t shirt matched well with his dark jeans. He looked me over and cocked his head to the side.

"Morning... You look like shit." He said as his soft, amber, fiery eyes studied me with a blunt curiosity.

"What are you doing here?" I asked and he nodded to his car.

"Well since I was passing by I figured I could give you a ride to the college." He said and I narrowed my eyes.

"Why?" I asked and he huffed and crossed his arms.

"Do you want the damn ride or not, because I can leave." Daimen grunted flicking his thumb back towards his car and giving me an annoyed look.

"How do you know where I live?" I asked and the boy gave me a long look.

"Do you want to ride or not?"

"When did you make up in your mind that you were gonna pick me up?" I retorted.

"Why are you even here?" I continued and the young man smirked softly.

"I read your files." Was all he said. I frowned.

"Oh yeah... that night." I said softly remembering that he'd taken my car over to my house all those years ago.

I just nodded curtly, ignoring his little jab at me, and walking past him made my way toward his car. Daimen muttered something and followed me to stand beside his car. He started to get in, but then paused and looked at me with a slight frown.

"Something wrong?" He asked and I rolled my eyes. Quick as a flash he grabbed my wrist and wrenched me towards him. I slammed against his hard chest with a grunt and he made a feral noise.

"Don't roll your eyes at me. I was trying to be nice." He snarled twisting my wrist a bit and I winced. I took a deep breath and looked into his eyes.

"You'll hear about it I'm sure." I said and Daimen let me go before he raised his hands up in surrender.

"I was only trying to help. Girls tend to want someone to talk to." He said and shook his head while waiting for me to get in.

I groaned and got into the car. He grumbled something and I ignored him as his words were lost in the roar of the engine as we started our way to hell.

We made it to school in a few minutes and I groaned inwardly as Daimen parked in his spot and I got out and closed the door. He met my eyes for a second with a slight wrinkle in his brow and I looked away toward the school. I gulped as I saw some kids looking at me and whispering. I glanced at my feet and frowned.

"River? You okay?" Daimen asked rolling down his window.

"I'm fine." I grumbled.

"What's going on? What happened?" Daimen asked sounding exasperated and well beyond confused.

"Just some bullshit rumors." I said with disgust lacing my every word. I turned away from him.

He let out a sigh and I heard him exit the car and slam his door. I didn't bother to look at him.

"It's not a big deal." I said softly, "I'm going to class." I huffed.

"I'll see ya later then." Daimen said gruffly as I walked into the school and I nodded softly. I entered the school doors and I frowned as kids looked at me as we walked on. Whispers and such floated in the air.

"Hey River." Someone said in a rich mocking voice and I did my best to ignore it. I continued to walk down the hall.

"Tramp." Some guy sneered and suddenly he was pushed up against the lockers by Daimen himself. A hush went over the hall as everyone stopped to watch.

"Who are you calling a tramp?" Daimen snarled and the boy gulped. His eyes were wide as he motioned to me and Daimen pushed him harder against the lockers.

"Why?" Daimen said in a scarily calm voice with a twinge of rage. The boy remained silent and Daimen pressed an arm against his throat.

"Collin do you know why you called her a tramp or are you just too stupid to realize what comes out your fucking mouth?!" Daimen snarled.

The boy faltered over his explanation and finally growing fed up by his feeble excuses Daimen flung him to the ground and stood over him threateningly.

"Don't ever call her that again or next time I'll beat your ass black and blue." He snarled and stomped down on the boy's arm. The boy-Collin-cried out, but nodded frantically and Daimen stepped back.

"That goes for everyone." The boy huffed and looked around at the crowd that had formed.

Daimen looked over at me and frowned softly before marching away. People scurried out of his way as he stalked away. Collin stood up and held his bruising arm in obvious pain and stared after the dark angry whirlwind that was Daimen. Everyone watched in shocked silence.

Today was going to be wild.

All my classes were full of whispers and dirty looks and sneers. Talks of my bad sex ran rampant in every conversation almost and if not that it was what I was said to be doing with Daimen. It turns out from what I heard that Jake, our perfect jock, had started it all. I couldn't believe the crap people would make up.

It hurt that they actually believed all those things about me. Sadly I was practically screwed in the whole defending my case matter. I tried, but no one believed me. And why the hell was it spreading around so fast? We weren't in high school anymore, you'd've thought people would be more mature.

After all why would "Mr. Popular" Jake make up such things? It made me sick.

I hurried to the cafeteria for lunch and tried my best to keep my chin up under my peers criticizing gazes. I pushed past the doors and made my way to my usual lunch table and paused when I saw Daimen standing beside it. Maybe he knew I was there because Daimen turned to look at me with a murderous look. It faded a bit when our gazes locked, but it was still there.

I made my way over and sat down. Daimen sat across from me with a confused look.

"So can you tell me what the hell is going on?" Daimen said with a slight growl to his voice.

"I guess someone saw us together because people keep saying we're fucking and calling me a slut and saying I fuck all these people and I don't-" I stopped as a bubble of a sob caught in my throat. I coughed to get rid of it. Daimen was silent and watched as I explained with a rather emotionless face.

"I don't know where they got it from... Someone said Jake started it, do I act like it," I looked down at my hands as shame washed over me, "Did you tell someone anything?" I said and by the time I was done I was crying softly.

"No." Daimen growled and I looked up to see his façade only held rage.

"Something's up." Daimen said through gritted teeth.

"Why does it matter to you? You don't even like me." I croaked out and for a second he looked taken aback. I chocked on a sob and Daimen pulled off his jacket and stood up and walked around the table to me. He sighed and put it over my trembling shoulders. I noticed Daimen was shaking also, but his was out of anger.

"Daimen-" I started, but stopped when a hush suddenly went over the usually talkative cafeteria.

I stopped crying and looked around to where people were looking towards the café doors. Of course by the doors stood Jake, the boy said to have started it, and my stupid ex Ryan. Jake met my eyes and winked cruelly. Beside me Daimen tensed and stood in front of me. Before I could say anything Daimen exploded.

"Jackson get your punk ass over here!" Daren snarled and Jake frowned. The two boys strode towards one another and I watched in astonishment.

"What do you want man?" Jake spat and the bad boy frowned darkly at the jock.

"Give me a reason not to kill you." Daimen countered and Jake looked confused for a second.

"Why would you do that?" Jake said dumbly and Daimen swung a fist and caught him in the cheek. Jake stumbled and Daimen swung again and got him right in his nose, blood flowed from most likely broken nose.

"Apologize!" Daimen bellowed and punched Jake again. Jake swung but it seemed not to bother Daimen as it contacted with his stomach.

"You're one to talk." Jake retorted and Daimen swung again.

The bad boy tackled the jock to the ground and hit him repeatedly while yelling obscenities at him.

"Shut up! You wanna go fine! It wouldn't be the first time you had blood on your hands!" Jake said suddenly trying to be bad jumping up and lunging at Daimen.

The two fell over. Daimen took a hit to the face but only snarled and punched Jake in his stomach and face.

I watched dumbfounded as the boy got on top of Jake and wrapped his hand around the jock's throat. Jake's eyes widened as Daimen slammed his head on the ground while chocking him. Jake's face reddened then started turning purple and people started freaking out and screaming. Some kids tried to pull him off, but Daimen wouldn't let go of his death grip on Jake's neck.

"He's gonna kill him!" Someone screeched and I gulped. Shit...

Daimen froze and seemed to forget where he was for a moment. He let go of Jake's neck and the boy took in a gulp of air. In a flash Daimen was back to his vengeful self and his eyes narrowed as he glared down at Jake.

He raised his fist to punch Jake again.

"Daimen! Stop..." I said loudly but when I got his attention I ended it in a softer voice. He blinked and let go of Jake.

Then out of nowhere Daimen jumped up and rushed over to me. I flinched as he looked at me with a frown. I tried to ignore the wetness in between my legs and I clenched my thighs together in an attempt to dull the throbbing heat. Really body, that turned you on? I thought and shook my head inwardly.

"Stay out of this, you can do that right?" Daimen said as he tilted my chin up so my eyes met his. His eyes held an intense fire that almost scared me.

I was scared, but also liked that look. I liked that crazy fire about him.

I froze as the thought hit me like a ton of bricks. No I couldn't like Daimen. Could I? Yes. A little voice sliced through my mind and I almost cringed.

"What is wrong with you? You can't just go attacking people." I whispered and watched Jake stumble to his feet. Daimen scowled softly and stared into my eyes.

"Nothing's wrong with me." He said softly.

"You're crazy." I said and shook my head.

He watched my reaction with soft eyes and smiled genuinely as his frown disappeared. He leaned closer and said softly enough for only me to hear, "River I think we might be friends."

"Come on." He said as he left the café and I stood in confusion. Friends? He wanted to be friends with me?

No it was some stupid trick. Some dumb game. There wasn't a way in Hell the boy wanted to befriend me.

"I think he broke my nose." Jake whined from where he sat up on the ground tentatively poking at his bloody nose. I fixed him with a glare and scoffed.

"You deserve it." I added harshly and he glared at me as well and I found myself laughing at his beat up body. His lip was busted and his eyes were blackening.

"Oh you should see yourself." I chuckled. Then a thought came to me.

"Why'd you make all that up about me?" I asked looking at Jake with a frown.

"I've got friends all over. Just figured people should know." He spat and held on to his nose coming to a wobbly stand. He steadied himself then gave me a nasty glare. What was he talking about?

"What do you want?" Jake sneered and I lunged at him slapping him in his face.

"That's for calling me a slut." I growled and kicked him right in his groin. He yelped and fell down holding his crotch in pain. I glared down at him and smirked, "And that's for everything else."

"Just you wait. You better watch your back." He groaned standing up and I scoffed turning on my heels and walking back to my table.

Fucking dick. I thought to myself as I walked away from him.

I sat at the table with a groan.

"I said come on." I glanced up at Daimen's voice.

Do I have to?

I looked into his eyes and then at his hand clamped on my arm. Intensity glowed in his eyes and I suddenly felt very uncomfortable. I was afraid to meet his gaze so instead I stared at his hand; more specifically the bruised and scarred knuckles of his hand.

I'm not sure about everyone else, but I was shocked that no one had come to stop the fight.

"Now." He said a little louder. People started to watch. I looked up at him wondering why he was causing such a scene. I mean, wasn't the fight enough? He watched me and scoffed then he did something I didn't expect at all.

Daimen looked at me and around the room. Seeing people, the whole cafeteria, watching he scanned the area. I noticed he was staring fiercely behind me and I turned slightly to see Ryan across the café watching us. I swallowed and looked back to Daimen. His body was tense and he looked like he was still kind of pissed.

I stared at him as he leaned closer to me and his grip on my arm tightened. Then he pulled me so I was standing up and he wrapped his arm around my waist, a little too low for my liking, while pulling me close to him. He was smiling now.

His smile was like a hit to the heart. It was gorgeous. Perfect white teeth graced his mouth and for a second I forgot this was Daimen I was looking at. He looked so different smiling like this. This was a new smile. Almost like it was a real one. It was a smile that made his face light up and made you want to get to know him. Made me want to make him smile so it wouldn't fade. I blinked and pulled myself out of my crazed thinking. I swallowed my nerves and let out a sigh.

"We need to talk. Now." Daimen said and I know everyone was listening. I nodded softly and he still smiled leading me out of the cafeteria. I could already hear the gossip starting.

He pulled me into the hallway away from prying eyes and stopped. I looked at him and frowned. His smile dropped and the brightness he'd held fell like ashes of a cigarette. He let go of me. I tried to ignore the strange lack of warmth I felt now that his hands had been removed.

"What was that?" I growled at him and he huffed a stubborn set coming to his jaw. I clamped my mouth shut reminding myself I was talking to Daimen after all. I looked at the ground and shuffled my feet in his deafening silence. His quietness made me scared; I'd rather have him yell at me, at least saying something.

"You should be thanking me, don't you think?" He said sounding annoyed. I almost sighed in relief. There was no point in arguing on that subject. I knew I wouldn't win.

"I mean why did you do it?" I said. I watched as he shrugged and looked back toward the café. His breath caught for a second and he cleared his throat before coughing. Once he was situated he looked at me and a crease formed in his perfect brows. I couldn't help wondering if he plucked them, waxed them maybe? They were just so sculpted; he had to have done something. Or maybe he's born with it. He looked away suddenly.

"What about it?" He asked still not looking at me, just staring firmly at the doors to the cafeteria.

"You almost killed Jake." I said exasperated. Daimen chuckled. His shoulders bounced as he tried to hold in his quite laughs.

"Believe me babe if I wanted him dead he'd be six feet under right now." He scoffed and shot me a glance. His jaw twitched.

"Why did you do it?" I asked suddenly and loudly. Daimen looked at me seemingly surprised by my outburst. I was surprised too. I nearly scared myself.

"I just don't like him. He's an ass." Daimen grunted. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Takes one to know one." I said softly but truly. The boy scoffed and I was met with the deathly silence once again. I gulped nervously. I hesitantly met his eyes and knew instantly by the look he gave me I was in trouble. My heart sped up as if it was trying to run away from the situation but no. If I was going to deal with it so was my heart. Daimen frowned and gripped a fistful of my hair and tugged harshly while glaring at me.