Melting your heart of iron

Song : I'm yours by Alessia Cara

(Author's POV)

In the game room, soft moans can be heard. The intensity of the voice rises, echoing and filling the corridor.

Levi cups his hand over Lin's mouth. 'Will you pipe down? Someone might hear you.'

Lin, her voice softening, pleads, 'I'm sorry but can you continue?'

Levi's brows furrow, he retorts sharply, 'Get off. I'm done.'

Lin who straddled him on the arm-chair was pushed away. She gasped. 'Levi, what's wrong with you?'

'Nothing. What's wrong with you?' he rose from the chair and zips his trouser.

Lin buttons her uniform and goes to find her panties. 'You're different. Don't you want me? You're the reason I turned down 3 TV shows.'

Levi smirks and shrugs nonchalantly. 'And I thank you for your resilience to love me.'

Lin is done dressing up. 'What?'

'You announced to every New Yorker that Jacob's yours so why should I want you?' Levi reminds her of her mistake.

Lin pursed her lips.

'Thought so.' Levi pockets his hands.

'What am I to you?' Lin smiled cheerfully hoping for the answer she wants to hear.

Levi laughs mockingly. 'I told you this before. You're nothing but a toy.'

'What?' Lin nearly screamed.

Levi lifted her chin with his fingers and brought his lips closer to hers but didn't kiss her. 'You have no value.'

Lin fumes. 'You can't say that to me. It's so unfair. You don't show me no respect and you only call me for s**'

Levi chuckles. 'And when I call you, you come running. Whose fault is that?'

Lin could find no word to say. She was utterly disoriented by his words. Why was he being this cruel? The more he pushes her away, the more she wants to be with him but he doesn't know that.

'You forgot your necklace.' he blew a kiss to her before exiting the room leaving Lin to her ungathered thoughts.

Lin collapsed on the arm-chair. Suddenly, she begins to laugh. The laughter got intense until she became silent. Then came the waterworks. Lin broke into loud sobs. Levi always made her cry. That's why she chose to do what she did on Tuesday - announce to everyone that Jacob is her boyfriend. She kissed her best friend just to get back at Levi and it had no effect on him whatsoever.

* * * * *

Josie and Charlotte are heading back to class when they see Adolph and Gracie.

'Couple goals.' Josie nudged Charlotte chuckled softly and they both snicker.

'Mein Gott. He really did that?' Adolph laughed.

Charlotte admires both of them. If they were ever going to be a couple, they would look good together. Grace stood a head taller than most of her peers so kissing Adolph wouldn't be difficult. Their height difference isn't much. Adolph, on the other hand, is handsome. His chiseled features convey mirth as he laughs to whatever Gracie's saying. Charlotte didn't realise when she smiled.

'You like him too?' Josie points at Charlotte with a gasp.

Charlotte was caught red handed. 'No. He's handsome but no. He's not my type.'

'Uh-huh.' Josie sounded unconvinced.

Charlotte whine. 'I'm serious. It's not like that.'

'It's not like what?' A deep voice said behind her.

Charlotte whipped around only to find Levi standing too close to her.

'We'll meet you later, Josie.' Levi said not taking his eyes off Charlotte.

'Okay.' Josie had a goofy grin on her face. 'See ya, Char.'

She went off to meet Adolph and Grace. Before they walked into the classroom, she winked at Charlotte. Charlotte nearly rolled her eyes.

A hand held her chin and guided her face to the left. It was Levi.

'My face is up here.' he smiled.

Charlotte slapped his hand away. 'What do you want?'

Levi smiled. 'You've changed overnight. Why are you giving me a cold shoulder?'

Charlotte scoffed and palmed her face. 'Jesus Christ.'

A hand peeled hers off her face. 'Don't hide your face. I want to see your pretty face.'

'Stay away from me, shoplifter.' Charlotte retorts and turns to leave but his grip was on her wrist.

'No-no.' he shook his head.

'What!' she glared at him.

He brought her close to himself. 'Remember Monday night? When I saved you?'

Charlotte wanted to reply when he placed his forefingers to her lips, shushing her.

'Easy there, darling. You voluntarily said that you're mine. So why are you running away from me?' he tucked a hair away from her face.

Charlotte realised she just hit troubled waters. He was right. She clearly told him she would belong to him. He took it seriously? It was a joke.

'This isn't some fantasy novel where I suddenly belong to you. Wake up, handsome.' Charlotte found her voice. She found courage but of course, what she said was from a movie.

Levi cups his hand over his mouth. 'Did you just quote Brynn Gaines from ADULT HIGHSCHOOL? Jesus. English, how boring are you?'

Charlotte punched her fists on his chest. 'Screw you.'

Levi scoffed as though he didn't feel any pain. 'Your fists ain't got shit on me.'

When Charlotte saw that her hits had no effect on him, she slapped him in response to his insult.

The look in his eyes made her worried. He didn't frown. He was smiling. 'I like the feeling of your hands on my face.'

Charlotte looked at him as though he grew an extra head. 'What?'

Levi continues as he takes her hand. 'But instead of hitting my face, why don't you can try something new...' he begins to trail her hand down his chest. When it got to his belt, she pulled away immediately.

'What the hell?!' Charlotte massaged her left wrist as she pulled it away from him.

Levi burst into laughter.

'I hate you.' she screamed at him. 'Normally, carefree people are supposed to be sane but you, you're crazy beyond fixing.'

Levi bows his head and lifts it up. 'Thank you for the compliment, Queen Charlotte. I'm sure George will be proud if he sees you again.'

'George?' Charlotte has a confused look on her face.

'Your King George.' Levi cups his hand over his mouth to suppress his deep throaty laughter.

Charlotte grabs his shirt in her fists. 'You lied. You didn't get rid of my phone, did you? Where the hell is it?'

Both of them argue loudly and soon, eyes fixate on the pair.

'What's going on?' asked a female student passing by.

'I don't know. I just got here.' Another replied.

A boy interrupted them. 'Those are seniors. I hear who started the fight was the girl. She called him crazy.'

'The rich newbie? Who does she think she is? I bet she hasn't been attacked by Levi in Hide and Seek.' Another boy scoff.

Charlotte yelled even when her voice strained. 'You can't just expect me to forget about what happened.'

Levi fires back, 'It was just a lousy kiss. It meant nothing. Grow up, kid.'

Her brows furrow, Charlotte retorts sharply, 'Nothing? You messed with my feelings.'

Levi pouts. 'And I'm sorry I did.'

Charlotte's anger grew. She knew he was being sarcastic. He never meant every word.

A fragile silence hung between them, the now crowded hallway held captive by their argument, waiting for resolution or further escalation. Students whisper to one another, speculation infiltrating their conversations.

Charlotte begins with a mirthless laugh. 'Wow. You are an ass.'

'And for that compliment, I thank you.' Levi smiled again and it irritated Charlotte, she felt like hitting him in the face.

'I wish you were at your bedroom window last night. I wish that rock met your stupid, ugly face!' she screamed.

From among the students gathered, Josie called to Charlotte but she ignored her.

Levi turned red. 'You're the one that broke my window last night?!'

'Yeah. And guess what? It felt good.' Charlotte smiles back. Take that, asshole, she thought.

Levi clenched his fists. 'You vandalised my house!'

'You have violated my lips. Twice!' Charlotte retorts.

Quiet snickers are exchanged among the students.

Levi begins to approach her with both his fists still clenched. The onlookers inch closer, sensing a possible escalation. The atmosphere thickens with anticipation.

'What are you gonna do, big bad wolf?' Charlotte lifts her face to his. A look of defiance on both their faces.

Levi took a deep breath and exhaled sharply before he spoke. 'You.'

'Yes. Me.' Charlotte had already balled her fists.

'What is going on here?!' Mr Gale roared amidst the crowded students. 'Everyone back to class. Now!'

The bell rings, signaling the dispersal of students to their classes, Charlotte and Levi's argument concludes but the duo glare at each other. Their emotions still raw.

'Miss Park told me what happened.' Mr Gale came between them. 'You're both constituting nuisance in a learning environment?!'

Charlotte looks behind Levi. There she was. Josie. She mouthed 'I'm sorry.' to Charlotte who wasn't offended by it at all.

'Young lady, I had high hopes for you but you disappoint me.' Mr Gale scolded her. Then he turned to Levi. 'And you....I have no words for you except that I will gladly melt that iron heart of yours.'

Charlotte knew what would come next.

'Detention!'

The hallway returned to its lively rhythm, leaving the memory of their heated discussion to linger in the minds of those who witnessed it.

N/B : Hello, everyone. I'm still not backing down from the offer I have for you all. Let's fix a goal of aiming 100 powerstones this week. 100 powerstones means mass release. Also, your reviews and gifts will go a long way. I signed a non-exclusive contract with this book. That's why I have to type this along with the chapter. Follow me on Facebook @Adira_Hikari for more information. Creation is hard, cheer me up, guys with your comments and gifts.