Throwing Down

Charlie

"Charlie Simmons, can you go to the headteacher's office please?" I stare up at the pupil receptionist worried. Oh man, I'm so in trouble!

When I got home yesterday I wasn't in too much trouble. Apparently, the security guard never told the headteacher I was with Ryder, so my parents never got told I was with him either.

Ryder text me last night to say he deleted the camera footage for the lesson we were gone for but Mr Callaghan still called them in the talk about the fact that an hour's worth of footage was gone for the time we were caught teepeeing the trees in the quad.

"O-okay." I say as I stand up picking up my bag whilst I'm at it. I shove my books and pencil case in my bag and head to my doom.

I walk down the halls as slowly as possible but that's not going to get me anywhere when I know what will be said and done when I eventually get there.

As I turn the corner that leads down the hall to his office I'm welcome by the perfect side profile that is Ryder Lovelock's face. My pace picks up trying to get to Ryder before the doors to Mr Callaghan's office open but I'm too late. Just as mine and Ryder's eyes meet I hear the shrill noise of metal hinges swinging open. I look up and see my mother's disappointed gaze looking back at me.

But it's not her expression I'm worried about, it's the big, furious, reddened face that's looming behind her that I'm petrified of.

"Dad-" I start but I know I'm not going to win this one.

"In the car, now!" he practically roars at me and I feel my steps falter. I look over to Ryder who I smiling back at me.

Why is he smiling?

"I don't care whatever you did on school property but don't think for one second I'm going to let you go galavanting around school with a Lovelock child! Their son no less!" And now he's seething with rage.

"Dad- please." I plead. He's never been this mad at me. I've always been his little princess.

"Mr Simmons-" my eyes widen as Ryder calls for my father. It feels like the oxygen in my lungs is being squeezed out.

My father whips and points an accusing finger at Ryder, "don't you even start, lad! You and your family have caused nothing but grief and I'm not going to let you get to my Charlie and corrupt her!"

"Don't you talk to my boy like that!" My head snaps up to see Victoria Lovelock making her way to my father, pointing her finger at my father and murder on her mind.

"Don't you dare point your finger at my husband." This time it's my mother's turn to yell.

It's all getting too much and I can feel myself rubbing my temples to relieve just a little bit of the pounding headache I currently have.

I can sense a crowd forming around all six of us as our parents are causing havoc in the school halls, "Everyone may know who you are but it's the people you less suspect that going to take you down!" My father bellows and I feel like this isn't going to end too well in my favour.

"And what's that, Simmons? Going to get your little goons on me? How about I show you what a real mafia boss can do?!" Zander Lovelock charges at my father but I just stood their shell shocked at the fact that Zander Lovelock just practically outed my family to a hall full of students.

I look around and see wide-eyed faces and people murmuring, pointing their fingers at me. Cameras are out. No doubt they're going to repost the exact moment the notorious shy, straight-A six former gets outed as the mafia boss's daughter.

As I look around I feel a large hand grasp mine. I gasp at the contact and look up to see Ryder's face. I relax as he pulls me away from the fist fight mine and his father are currently having, Mr Callaghan miserably failing at trying to break them apart.

Ryder drags me around the corner and into the music hall where my next lesson is.

"Thank you." I say breathlessly, "I can't believe- everyone knows." I start to breathe heavily. This was the last thing I ever wanted. We kept our heads down because of what happened to me two years ago. Every shady, illegal business under the sun knew about the Mafia's daughter who got assaulted and raped when she was 16 but no one knew our faces or name, they just knew they were competitors with the Lovelock family.

There are at least five other mafia sons and daughters in this school, every fucker else is either a part of a shady business or does mediocre crimes so pretty much everyone knew about the two rival families whose children go to Acre-High.

Now that it's blatantly obvious to see that my family and the Lovelocks are practically at war, everyone knows that I was that young girl.

Ryder pulls me in and holds me tight, stroking my hair, "there's nothing to worry about, Sweet-pea. Nothing will happen."

"But something will!" My voice cracks, "everyone knows."

"It's okay." He soothes.

The bell rings for everyone to get to their next lesson but Ryder just says here holding me. Even as everyone starts filtering through the doors he doesn't budge.

"You have to go now. I need to get to lesson." I look up at Ryder.

"Will you be okay?" Ryder questions.

"Yes, I'll be fine." I give him a weak smile hoping that's enough for him to leave.

Ryder gently takes me into his embrace and kisses me on the head, his lips lingering, "alright Sweet-pea."

I feel myself relaxing in his touch but he pulls away before I allow myself to be completely calm, "I'll see you around."

Ryder turns around and leaves the hall and I turn in the other direction and take a seat at the back of the seating area.

———————————————————————————

We've been separated into groups to do a vocal exercise which I have never really liked because I'm the only six former in this class, so whilst everyone is learning how to harmonise I've practically aced everything.

I can sense a presence walking up behind me. I turn around and am faced with Beckie Stone; a Notorious bitch and hardcore bully.

"Well, Charlie, colour me shocked when I'm sent a video of Zander Lovelock wrestling your father saying how your family are the Lovelock's rival." She says with a playful smile on her face.

I hate that fucking cocky smile.

"Oh well" I try and play it cool, "it was aught to of come out sooner or later." I inhale a greedy breath hoping she doesn't see my discomfort.

"Such a shame everyone finding out about you like that." She says before she slurps on the straw of her drink. Condescending bitch.

"What will Ryder think of you now? You two always seemed so cosy together. Do your parents know you're shagging?"

My face reddens at the sudden accusation, "w-where not-" I swallow my words down before I get myself into some deep shit, "we're just friends."

Beckie smiles again. She's trying to play that fake nice girl act, "poor, poor Charlie Simmons. Can never get Ryder Lovelock because she's used goods."

"I don't want Ryder-" lying. Lying bitch.

Without hesitation Beckie uncaps her drink and pours it over my head, cold chunky milkshake seeping through my uniform and soaking my underwear.

I try and take a few deep breaths before I absolutely lose my shit but the taunting laughs of her and her plastic posse make me see red.

In a split second, I have Beckie on the floor and I'm clawing at her making it look like a bitch fight before I start pummelling the shit out of her. Today I'm going to show everyone that no one can mess with Charlie Simmons.

"You crazy bitch! Get off me!" Beckie screeches from under me but I barely listen to her as I go to town on her, throwing punches and yanking at her hair.

Cameras flash and the hall door swings open, and a booming voice follows, "what the fuck is going on here?!" The recognition in their voice makes me stop mid-swing. I look up and see Ryder's shocked face. I scramble off of Beckie and make my way to Ryder.

"What's happened to you." Is the first thing he says to me.

I look down and see the thick sludge of Beckie's milkshake still on me, "oh uhm... nothing it was an accident-"

"Bullshit. What happened Charlie?" He demands, "if you won't tell me I'll ask Beckie, it looks like she got the brunt of it all."

My mouth opens and closes a few times before my gaze falls to my feet. I don't like showing this aggressive side to me and on the rare occasions that people do, it's never been in front of Ryder.

"Beckie?" Ryder demands, "what did you do to Charlie?"

"W-What makes you think I did it?!" The sound of her voice pierces my ears.

All Ryder had to do was give Beckie a look, and I know that look all too well because Ryder has had to use it a few too many times sticking up for me, "what did you do?"

"I- I dumped my drink on her..."

"Why?!" The sound of Ryder's deep voice fills the hall.

"I don't know..." bitch, yes you do. You're JEALOUS!!!

"Come with me, Charlie." Ryder holds out his hand and I take it before he directs us out of the music hall and into the disabled toilets that are next door.

Ryder grabs a few tissues and places them on the sink. I look at my reflection in the mirror and my hair is all over the place. My mascara is smudged and I look like Kirby has just spunked all over me.

"I have some leggings in my bag." I say to Ryder. He nods his head and leaves the bathroom.

I grab the tissues and start dabbing at my clothes until he comes back in. He has my bag in one hand and a spare shirt in the other. Ryder places my bag on the counter and puts the button-up top next to it, unzipping my bag he pulls out my leggings and put them in a pile with the top.

He turns to me and says the one sentence that could make any girl combust.

"Okay, Sweet-pea. Take your clothes off."

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