Chapter 3

"You are lucky you didn't get an exclusion young man."

"I'm sorry Emmie. But he started it!" pointing to Miles that is getting a very clear talking to from Liam, his handsome face emotionless and very dominant, by the way Miles is trying to fight with him I can tell Liam is used to getting his own way, he is very intimidating and I see miles cower in slight fear.

"Don't you Emmie me young man." I point my finger at him not caring who is around. "I don't care who started it, you apologise right now to him." I see he isn't going to do anything, picking at his trousers staring at the boy then looking at the floor.

"Now!"

He grunts and trudges over unwillingly to a waiting Miles and by the look on the beasts face I am guessing he has just had the same talk that I just had with Jamie.

The whole thirty-minute meeting was finding out that Mr. smug Beast's name is Liam and us both being told that the boys will get a warning and if this happens again, they won't be so lucky. Headmaster informed us that words were exchanged between the young boys and then Jamie attempted to hit Miles and that is when it got out of hand but it looks more than that, they both look scrapped and both have bruises, whatever it was about it must have been something personal.

I can't believe my ears hearing what Jamie had done no less than six hours ago. I don't care if I have to force it out of him, this isn't my sweet little JJ. The boy who picked flowers and bought them to me when I said I'd love to have them in my house, the boy who protects Scooby from other dogs without flinching when seeing the other dogs teeth.

But I guess I don't know him as well as I thought I did, I do know that something must be happening, maybe another school kid or something my dear sister said. Or that bastard of a 'step dad' Michael.

We walked out together, and Liam held the door open for me and we walked back together in silence, the hallways seem a lot smaller, this is a children's school after all, but his presence is like he is the beast from how tall and beautiful he is. So, we had to walk close together on the way back.

Longest thirty seconds of my life!

That's what she said!

But by how cocky he looks and how arrogant he acts, I am guessing all the girls fall at his feet at the smirk and a snap of his fingers, I've read too many romance novels. However, this is not a novel, and I am not a main character, if anything I am the sarcastic, curvy best friend, side character.

This is definitely not a love story.

Mathews also mentioned that the young boy Miles is Liam's son. Liam looks to be in his early thirties which makes me think he must have been around my age when he had Miles, around twenty-three, twenty-four.

"They are a piece of work those boys, aren't they?" I jump hearing his amused voice. I look up at him and the name 'Beast' matches him perfectly, very intimidating and I know he is finding my silence amusing. Someone must think highly of himself.

Taking my silence as an answer he turns back to the boys.

"Miles time to go buddy, did you both apologise?" They both look to each other and then look away crossing their arms nodding. Liam side eyes me and I turn to look at him and notice he is emotionless in his entire face, but I can tell his eyes are saying something I can't decipher.

"Then why don't you both hug each other to prove to me and Miss Taylor that you did." hearing my name from his deep voice makes me feel weird, but I don't think it's a good weird. I don't like it.

I know he is just winding them up, but I don't say anything. The boys look like they have just been told to kiss a snail. Shocked and anger is what I am getting from Miles, annoyance and disgust from Jamie.

They turn to each other and slowly reach out their arms, staring at each other as if to say

"You do it!" Jamie's voice travels through the air and Mile's voice is close behind.

"No, you do it!"

It's the funniest thing I have seen in a while, and I let out a little giggle and I see Liam already looking at me with a smirk and look at me with a sense of pride. Judging by demeanour I can tell he doesn't smile much, so I don't know how to feel.

In two seconds, I could blink and miss the boys hug then push each other away. I chuckle. "Alright that's enough Jamie, let's go. Go wait in the car." Jamie starts to walk to the car park in the school.

I turn to the 'Beast' who is facing me now, I hate how tall he is that I must look up. "Thanks for putting them both through that, I don't know what happened between them but I'm really sorry, he isn't usually like this." I smile slightly and stare into his hazel eyes reminding me of the colour of logs on a fire at Christmas. Making me feel strange and warm.

You're the side character dude, not your story!

"I should be the one saying sorry, I hear Jamie is very good in school, but Miles is called in a lot more, so I am a regular here, however having said that, I hope you teach Jamie not to lash out against my son over something small."

The trance I felt myself in vanished the second his voice turned from deep, warm and fuzzy into razor blades.

"Excuse me? With all due respect they were both at fault and despite what we were told Miles apparently led the whole thing in the first place maybe you should teach your son a lesson in respect. Don't think i didn't notice the bruise on his arm that Miles did."

Miles makes a confused face, I'd find it adorable if I weren't so angry. "I never hit him. I promise dad I never touched him."

His little voice hangs in the air, Liam looks too conflicted to say anything, who to believe. "We will talk at home son." His firm dad voice is deep its hard for me to concentrate, no I must focus.

"I'm just saying, if Jamie didn't use violence the situation wouldn't have been so out of hand." Liam says and just holds my gaze, his eyes hardening, begging me to back down. I know I'm being a bitch right now but nobody talks about Jamie like that and think they can get away with it. I cut him off when he opens his mouth to continue.

"Jamie would never hurt anyone or retaliate unless he had a real reason to defend himself, I understand that doesn't excuse what just happened but if you ever talk about him like that again..." I look him up and down, I feel like I'm going to shit myself right now on the inside but outside I'm trying to be intimidating at my five foot two height. It's not going well since there is a bloody gleam in his eye from amusement.

"...let's just say that if you mess with the bee you get stung!"

"Is that supposed to scare me?" Smirking bastard.

"It should, and don't you ever forget it beast!" I manage to spit out.

SHIT! I just called him beast! 

I turn walking quickly to the exit realising what I have just said. I didn't mean for the name to come out and I quickly feel my cheeks heating up and embarrassment settling so I just keep my head down and mutter a sorry. I just turn around feeling the heat of his gaze, I take one step before I am stopped by Liam.

"Beast huh?" He lets out a light laugh. I look past him at Miles and see him putting his blazer back on.

"Did I say that? I don't think I did, I must have said goodbye, see you?"

God even I don't even believe me!

"You think of me as a beast? I heard it loud and clear." His eyes penetrating me like he is trying to work out a mystery.

"You seem very sure of yourself." I eye him sceptically.

"Oh I am. So, if I am a 'beast', what does that make you?" I just say what comes to mind without thinking.

"A teacup. Preferably Chip." My eyes go wide at the bigger hole I am digging, might as well be a grave, why am I still talking to this man! 

"Want to know what I think?" Not waiting for a reply.

"Oh please enlighten me." I reply rolling my eyes.

"I think you're like Tinkerbell, you are blonde, short, only capable one emotion at a time." He ticks them off each of his fingers as if pleased with himself, I even see Miles try and hold back a smile next to Liam's tall intimidating frame.

A fucking pixie, that's what i get?

"Better having one emotion than the arrogance and robot like persona you have going-" I hit back making it worse. "What the hell am I even talking about? Jamie must be wondering where I am."

"I have a feeling now our sons are involved we need to get to the bottom of this so-called fight." I am thanking God for him changing the subject, he must have seen how humiliated I am.

"Oh no, I am not Jamie's mother, I am his au-" I am cut off by a loud yell from outside. "AUNT EMILIA!"

"Could have fooled me." I think that was a compliment. I know me and my sister have very similar features, but I never really saw the resemblance between him and I, when I see Jamie see my sister. He trails off so I start making my way to the door to get Jamie back to my house.

"Goodbye Miles." The little dark-haired boy gives me a weak smile, my eyes drift back to the rude asshole where his eyes are more guarded, I ignore the stare Liam is giving me and head out the door to the school car park, it is pretty much deserted now since it's during school hours and no parent traffic. I see Jamie sitting cross legged next to my car with a stick pushing the dirt around.

"I think our paths will cross more in future, I'll see you later Tinkerbell." A taunting voice in my ears.

"See you never, beast!" I make it in my car with Jamie in the back and I look to my left ready to turn out but I stop dead in my tracks wishing I really did shut up when I had the chance.

A Police car, with Liam in the drivers seat waving me through with a smirk. I just insulted a police officer, fuck!