Chapter Four

Ria used to like school. It was the one place where she felt safe, where she belonged. But now? It was becoming increasingly clear that her school was now a source of frustration. And that frustration presented itself in the form of two boys - Lawson and Declan.

She brisk walked down the hallway as she shrugged out of her backpack, pulling it to her front. Unzipping it, she removed a bottle of spray paint and headed straight for his locker. Stopping before it, she gave the can a hard shake before she uncapped it and sprayed a penis with huge balls at the side onto the locker. Several students gasped at what she was doing and some of them laughed. Just then, Declan came out of a classroom and he froze when he saw the obscene graffiti on his locker.

"You fucker!" Declan said as Ria escaped down the hallway. She ran as quickly as she could, but it took only one look behind her shoulder to see that Declan was fast catching up to her. "Come here, Ria!"

"Fuck you!" Ria yelled as she made a sharp turn. For someone his size, he was definitely not going to be agile. But when she looked behind her, she saw him fluidly turn the corner, still chasing her. She cursed under her breath and made for a door but rough hands closed around her waist, pulling her back.

His breath was hot on her neck. "You could've just asked nicely, Ria," he said, whispering into her ear. Shivers spread across her body and she freed herself from his hands. Turning around, she raised the can of spray paint up to him.

"Don't you dare try anything!" Ria said.

He laughed. Then he neared her and clutched onto her waist. Heaving her up, her feet left the floor.

"What are you doing?!" Ria protested. He turned around with her still in midair. With one foot up on a ledge, he propelled himself off the floor and put her up on a high place. Her hands caught at the protrusion of wall, and she skipped back into it as her legs dangled over the edge. The floor was far away, and if she jumped down, she wouldn't be leaving unscathed. "Declan, get me down!" Ria yelled and Declan only jumped back down onto the floor, laughing at her.

"Get down yourself, Ria," he said. "Just jump off."

Ria stared over the edge of the protrusion. "Declan! I'm not saying it again!"

"Saying what?"

"Get me down!"

"Or what?"

"Or," she said. "Or! Or!"

He laughed again. "You're not making any sense, Ria," he said. "Are you really the top student? Oh wait, you aren't anymore, right?"

"I'm smarter than you ever will be!"

"If you're so smart, then get down from there!" Declan laughed before turning away for the other corridor.

"Declan! Don't leave me here!"

But he only laughed. And within seconds, she was alone.

❃❃❃

Ria stared out of the window. The sun had set a long time ago, but she could see rays of sunlight peeking over the mountains. The moon was high up in the sky, and she sighed as she contemplated what she should do. She gave another cry of help, but nobody came to her rescue. She looked down at her watch. It was late, and she still wasn't home. Oh, the hell she would have to face!

"Help!" Ria cried out again.

But only silence responded.

She picked her legs up to her chest and buried her head between her legs. What was she going to do? She removed her head and looked over the edge again. Could she maybe make the jump unhurt? Maybe it was not as far as it looked. She bit her lips in consideration and was about to position herself better to jump off the wall protrusion when someone interrupted her train of thought.

"Enjoying yourself?"

She looked towards the source of the sound.

"Declan, go away."

"Are you sure you mean that?" Declan said and she paused.

"No, I'm sorry," she said. "Please get me down."

"Let's see," he said. "What will you give me in return for your freedom?"

"What?"

"I'll get you down on one condition."

She scoffed. "I'm not bargaining with you. I'm not giving you anything. Get me down or the teachers will hear about this."

"The teachers are familiar with my antics, Ria," Declan said. "Have they done anything yet?"

"No," she said between gritted teeth.

"You might want to reconsider that threat," he said. "It's not a very good one."

She shut her eyes tightly before opening them again. "Declan, please. I know you're a good person deep down."

"Astute observation," he said. "Like I said, I will help you on one condition."

"What is it?" She didn't like where this was going.

"I'll get you down if you promise to kiss me afterwards."

Did she hear him right? "You want me to kiss you?"

"Did I stutter, Ria?"

She sighed heavily. "Okay, okay, fine. I'll kiss you. Now get me down!"

Declan half-smiled before he got onto the ledge at the window again. He held onto her waist and lifted her before he jumped off the ledge, and they both landed on their feet in front of the window. Her eyes flew open and darted everywhere. Looking down, she saw her two feet on the floor and she relaxed a little.

"I'm waiting," Declan said.

She stared at him. "This is extortion."

"And? Get to it."

She put one hand on his chest and closed the distance between them. Declan put his hand on the small of her back and drew her in. Pressing her lips to his, she nibbled onto his lower lip as he pushed his tongue into her mouth to taste her. They kissed for a while, hot breaths mingling until slowly, her background faded into noise.