Chapter 2

It was just as if the mysterious boy had poured a bucket of water on Richie and his gangs. They shook as the mysterious boy walked menacingly towards them. Ariana and Leslie moved back into the locker room as they watched the scene unfold. Ariana was sure that a confrontation was about to happen.

"Yo! Brandon what's up", Richie chuckled.

Ariana could tell that Richie was intimidated by Brandon's height. Richie was fairly the tallest boy in the whole school and now with Brandon's arrival, he was pushed to the second position.

"I'm good. Mind asking what you're doing here?",he asked.

"Nothing really... Just wanted to say hi to my best girls", he chuckled.

"I see. I think you're done and you won't mind showing me round the school?", Brandon said.

Richie looked as if he wanted to refuse but when he saw the look of Brandon's face, he smiled before he and his friends followed him out. Just before he stepped out of the locker room, Brandon's eyes locked with Arianna's and for several minutes they stared at each other. Brandon left soon and Ariana felt like a tight rope had just been loosened from her neck.

"Whew is it just me or this place is really hot", Leslie said, fanning herself.

"Shush, let's get to class", Ariana said.

School went by in a blue and soon, it was the closing hour. Since the girls lived in different areas, they departed when they got to a T-junction. Ariana took the right, Emily took the left while Leslie went straight ahead. Few meters away from her house, at an alley demarcating her house, Ariana stopped suddenly. She had just heard a sound but wasn't quite sure what it was.

Deciding to ignore it, Ariana moved forward. She was almost at the junction of her home when Richie and his friends came out of a corner. From the sneer on their faces, Ariana could tell that this was about to go bad. She backed away from them as slowly as she could without them noticing but it was a futile attempt as Richie already knew what she was about to do.

"Don't even think about it?", Richie sneered.

"What is it you want?", Ariana croaked, trying to sound brave.

Her heart was hammering in her chest as she tried desperately to look for any means of escape. There was none as Richie's friends barricaded the whole alley. One of them threw a spoilt apple on Arianna's shoes as she watched in horror as the foul liquid stained them

"There's no Brandon to save you now", Richie said.

If Ariana knew better, she'd have thought Richie was somewhat jealous especially with the look on his face.

"And why do you find it so hard to leave the lady alone", a voice said.

Brandon walked towards the alley, his backpack resting on his shoulder. Richie seemed to be in shock before he waved it off.

"I didn't expect to see you here or do you suddenly have the hots for the school need", Richie mocked.

Fast as a lightening, Brandon's fist landed on his face. Richie didn't see it coming as he could have easily blocked it. He fell to his feet and Ariana had a hard time keeping her laughter in.

"Yo! Man, what was that for?", Richie gasped, spitting out blood.

"Get up and get lost. All of you", Brandon said, quietly which was worse than his rage.

Scrambling to his feet, Richie dashed away from the alley, his friends in tow. Without another word, Brandon left leaving behind a very confused Ariana.

"Thank you. And your bag, you dropped your bag", Ariana said.

"Pick it for me nerd", Brandon mocked.

Ariana stood shock still. She knew he would be just like them but the reality of it happening shocked her to the core and here she was, wishing he would be different.

"And I thought you'd be different", Ariana muttered.

Before she could utter another word, Brandon slammed her back to the wall. He was baring down on her and Ariana was once again reminded of his height. His breath was hot on her face and she could actually smell the alcohol oozing out of it.

"Now, let's get one thing straight nerd. I do not like you and me rescuing you doesn't prove anything. Stay away from me and I'll pretend like you don't exist", Brandon seethed.

Ariana gulped at the look of rage that clouded his eyes. He was angry and she hoped that he wouldn't strike her but despite all these, she felt safe with him. She couldn't explain it but she felt secure in his arms. It was a sick idea one that she shouldn't harbour but that was exactly how she felt.

"I'm sorry... Please, let me go you're hurting me", Ariana choked.

She was close to tears at how he seemed to hate her even when she was completely innocent in all of this. Brandon spat on the floor, very close to her feet before picking up his bag then walking away.

Ariana dabbed her tear streaked face as she made her way home. At that moment she just wanted to sleep and forget that any of this happened. She arrived home but it was empty as her parents were still at work. She made her way into her room, stripping off her clothes before making her way into the bathroom.

She stayed under the shower for long minutes as she allowed her tears flow down with the water. When she was getting too cold, she stepped into her room, wrapping herself in a big towel. She picked up her phone, deciding to call her best girls.

When their faces appeared on the screen, Ariana burst into tears. All the pent-up emotions she had hid so well from them came pouring down.

"Oh darling, what's wrong?", Emily asked.

There was a look of distress in her face same with Leslie who was close to tears. Ariana felt bad for her friends but they were the only ones she could talk to.

"He's just like them. I knew it", Ariana croaked.

"Brandon?", Leslie asked.

Ariana nodded and began to tell them all that had happened. When she was done, it seemed as if a heavy burden had just been lifted from her shoulders. She felt more free than before.

"But I don't understand. One minute he's saving you, the next he's something else", Emily said.

"That's the thing. I don't understand it myself", Ariana said.

"Well, I don't know what's up with this guy but Ari, I think you should stay clear of him. He might be dangerous for all we know, I don't trust him", Leslie said.

"I agree with Leslie. Ariana, you've got to be careful around him. And to think I was crushing on him before, he's just a total douchebag. So much for his handsomeness", Emily hissed.

Ariana smiled. That was her friend, blunt and straight to the point. Emily made friends easily and also discarded them easily. She was like that, never had time for nonsense.

"Thank you guys, I feel more lighter now that I had someone to talk to", Ariana smiled.

There was nothing she wouldn't do for her friends. They were like her backbone apart from her parents. They were there anytime she needed them.

"Be good Ari, I've got to run now. Dad's organizing this crazy dinner for some expatriates and I've got to help mum prepare" Emily said.

"I've got to help my brother with his homework", Leslie said.

"Thank you guys, love you. See you tomorrow", Ariana said before disconnecting the line.

She smiled as she made her way downstairs to get some dinner. Deep down, she knew that everything would be fine.