[14]

I lean my head against the window of the bus and wrap my arms tighter around my backpack that is lying on my lap.

The weekend passed by way too quickly because I was pretty much only sleeping. I felt so drained and exhausted that I couldn't even bring myself to think about any nightmares I might get once I close my eyes.

Unfortunately, my mind didn't forget about it, and replayed old, painful memories to me, forcing me out of my sleep. So, every time I did fall asleep out of tiredness, I jolted up a few hours later, with tears brimming my eyes.

A sigh escapes my lips as the bus reaches my destination. I quickly scramble out of the vehicle and carefully swing the backpack onto my back, careful to not hurt my shoulder.

The pain became bearable again, but once in a while it would still remind me of how much of a target my shoulder really was for him.

I look up at the clear sky, admiring the soft blue that has embraced it. The sun is shining brightly down onto earth and almost no clouds are hiding it today.

When I arrive at school quicker than intended, I hook my fingers around the straps of my backpack and continue my way into the building.

Once I'm standing in front of my locker, I'm immediately greeted by Kai and Gwen who are already eagerly waiting for me.

"How do you feel? Still like crap, or bearable crap?" Kai asks, pressing his hand to my forehead.

"I'm fine, guys. Really. Just a headache," I reply and take out some books from my locker, before stuffing them into my bag and closing the locker door just as the bell rings overhead.

"Come on, then. Wouldn't want to anger Holmes, right?" I roll my eyes at the mention of my absolutely favorite teacher and start walking down the hallway with Kai and Gwen on either side of me.

"Ey, did you hear what happened Friday? There are some new rumors about Riku!" Gwen suddenly whispers, excitement lacing her voice at the gossip she's about to tell us.

"What is it?" I tilt my head, feeling curiosity spark up inside of me.

"Rumor says, he got into a really bad fight with some drunk teenagers on Friday evening. He even put one of them in the hospital! But it is also being said, that he has some really nasty bruises on his face now."

I frown. But before I can even attempt to think about it, the hallway goes quiet. The chattering dies down as shocked and fearful expressions spread on the students' faces. I turn my head around just as someone rounds the corner.

My eyes instantly lock onto his face, or rather the nasty colors all over it. A deep blue bruise is sitting right under his right eye, another a bit smaller one on his jaw and a slightly green one on his left cheek. A plaster is covering the bridge of his nose and his right temple, hiding whatever scratches he got in that fight.

A quiet gasp leaves my mouth when he locks eyes with me, sending me a blank look. I quickly avert my gaze, not wanting to be reminded of the events of last Friday, or his dark brown eyes. If I gazed into his eyes for too long, I might lose myself in them.

I shake my thoughts away and hook my hands around Kai's and Gwen's arm, before I drag them away from the eerily silence.

"Wow, seems the rumors aren't as exaggerated as usual," Gwen suddenly exclaims as we approach our first class.

I let go of their arms, ignoring Gwen's statement and Kai's questioning face. She's right, though.

Usually the rumors are far-fetched and exaggerated. But this time they seem not as far-fetched as usual. Riku really did get some nasty bruises from whatever fight he got himself into. I just wonder whether that teenager that Riku apparently put into the hospital, really is there, or if he just has some bruises that he woke up with this morning.

Either way, Riku just proved again how dangerous it is for me to be around him or in his presence, yet I cannot stop some concerned thoughts from crossing my mind.

Letting out a long breath, I step into the classroom and walk straight to my seat. The room is still pretty empty, with only a few students sitting in the front rows, reading.

When I feel Kai and Gwen sit down next to me, I let my gaze wander to their faces. Gwen is still looking puzzled and a tad bit fascinated by those rumors, whereas Kai is sneaking glances at me.

"I can see that," I then mumble, shooting Kai a frown. He drops his bad attempts at secrecy and turns his face towards me, curiosity written all over it.

"What do you think happened that Friday with Riku? He usually never even gets a scratch in those fist fights, well despite on his knuckles. But now his face is covered in them? That doesn't make sense to me," he admits.

I scrunch up my eyebrows. "Maybe there were too many that Riku fought with, or they had some kind of weapon? Maybe they also just surprised him from behind or something. There are endless possibilities of what could've happened, Kai. Just forget about it."

The hesitance is clearly visible on his face but his eyes show that he understands what I mean.

"So, everyone. I hope you had a great weekend. Let's start with some reading on page 34 . . ." I zone out, letting my eyes wander to the big window on my right.

On the other side of it, cars are passing by just a few meters away, and a cat is running over the street, ignoring the honking cars around it. I suppress a small chuckle when the cat growls at the driver of some black car, who had almost run over its tail. Small height, big pride; wasn't there a saying like that or something?

Maybe I also just created it myself, but probably not. Probably I've heard it once in my life and now that I saw that cat, it crossed my mind again.

My thoughts soon wander off to other things as I feel my attention fly away and float in the air like that squirrel that I saw Friday in the park.

"I'll be right back, just gotta go to the toilet."

How badly I wish that I had said something else, that I had used an excuse to get some more peace, if only for a few more moments.

Swallowing down the lump that is sitting heavily in my throat, I open the door of the boys' restroom and take off into the direction of my locker.

As I approach it, I see a couple of students crowded around the lockers opposite of mine. They are unusually quiet, taking pictures and videos with their phones. I frown. What is going on?

I stand on my tiptoes, trying to get a glimpse of whatever is happening. Suddenly a pained groan echoes through the hallway. Isn't that Kai?

It sounds like him. There's this unqiue tone to his voice that I'd recognize between hundreds of other voices. And that definitely just was it.

I carefully heave my way through the crowd, not wanting to anger or shove anyone. Once I get a better look at what is happening, I freeze.

Kai is pushed against the lockers, his face twisted into a grimace. Blood is dripping down his temple and a crack is sitting on his lower lip. He's clutching onto the arms that are holding him up by his collar.

My eyes wander to the arms. I furrow my eyebrows when I catch a glimpse of black ink on one of the guy's hands. I look at his face and my eyes widen.

Riku.

My heart skips a beat when he raises his balled fist and punches my best friend in the stomach with so much force, that Kai starts coughing violently.

What is happening? Why is this happening? What did Kai do to anger Riku so much?

I've never seen Riku fight before, only the aftermath of it.

I hate it. Seeing Riku with his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turn white, and his hair falling in front of his - with rage filled - eyes.

It's not a nice sight.

I also hate seeing Kai in pain. He's always so out-going and laid-back, he never really gets mad or sad, and when he does, he only shows it to the poeple closest to him. I personally have only seen him cry twice since we started hanging out, so it pains me to see him like this right now.

When Riku raises his fist again, attempting to land another punch on Kai, but this time in his face, I feel my feet carry me over to them.

I run towards Kai and push Riku's arms away, making him stumble back in a startle. Kai's body instantly falls to the ground as he clutches onto his stomach, coughs leaving his mouth.

I stand in front of him, trying to shield him from Riku.

'We're a bit closer to being even now', I think.

Kai had saved me from my bullies so many times already that I can't even count it. He was always there, right beside me, and shielded me from the people in school who wanted to harm me.

He took so many hits for me, that I wouldn't ever be able to repay him for it. But I will always try and make at least a bit of it up to him, like now.

Riku's eyes darken when his gaze lands on me, making me shudder slightly.

With balled fists, he walks into my direction.

My heartbeat speeds up. If glares could kill, I'd already be six feet under. His face is completely blank except that small twist to his lips, forming a scowl.

My palms start hurting as I dig my nails into them, my anxious habit coming through.

When Riku is standing right in front of me and raises his fist into the air, I flinch and squeeze my eyes shut. My breath gets caught in my throat as I wait for the blow to come.

But it never does.

Murmurs start making their way around the crowd, sparking up my curiosity. I peek one of my eyes open to see Riku's fist lingering in the air. His jaw is tightened and his knuckles are white from how hard he clenches his fists, but he is standing still, almost as if frozen.

I don't dare move, nor breathe, so I just stand there, my hands trembling and my heart clawing wildly against my ribcage.

After a few moments of unnerving silence, Riku drops his hand to his side with a hard glare sitting on his lips. But before I can let out a breath, he slams his fist into the locker right next to my head with so much force that a small dent forms in it.

I flinch violently and cower away, my whole body now shaking.

When Riku's gaze lands on me again, his glare slightly fades. But then, without saying another word, he turns around and walks off, the students parting for him as if their lives depended on it.

As soon as his body disappeared around the corner, a shaky breath leaves my mouth. Memories come up, but I try to suppress them, and instead turn around and kneel down next to Kai.

"Kai, you okay?" What a dumb question.

"Totally," he mumbles sarcastically, before his eyes lock onto my trembling hands. A look of concern crosses his face. "Hey man, why did you do that? You should've just let him beat me up. But . . . thank you."

Sighing softly, I place my hand on his shoulder. "I owed you, and I still do. And I also didn't want to see you getting beaten to a pulp. You're my best friend, Kai."

As the words leave my mouth, his lips turn upwards into a smile.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey there,

I hope you enjoyed.

This chapter might be kind of confusing, or Riku's behavior in general, but I hope not too much.

It will all make sense someday ;)

Lmao.

Stay safe y'all!

❤

- L I S A