Pups

Raquel’s POV

We all have that someone that grates on our nerves and has us cursing their soul to the abyss of eternal damnation. Harsh, but true.

For me, that someone is Leo Draven.

“Look what the dog dragged in Leo snickers and his Grade A asshole friends join in. He leans on the locker beside mine, takes a piece of my hair, and twirls it around his finger. “So what did you do yesterday, four eyes? Start the new season of Harry Potter!”

As if on cue, his friends start hollering, some even going as far as wiping imaginary tears from their eyes.

Kick him in the balls, Raquel, my mind screams at me.

Slamming my locker shut, I face Leo to find him with a cocky grin on his face. Exhaling harshly, I push my glasses back up the bridge of my nose. Just go away, Leo.”

One of his friends speaks up from behind him. “God, what a freaking nerd. Look at how big those glasses are”

Just as Leo is about to answer, a pair of long limbs find their way around his neck and lower his head down for a kiss. Those limbs belong to Kendra, the head of the cheerleading club. I hate to say it but they make a perfect couple

Beaury? Check.

Athletic skills? Check

Hearts made out of stones and lacking human empathy? Double check.

While they are distracted with sucking their faces off, I quickly make my escape, sidestepping his heard of friends and rounding the hall to get to my Geometry class.

I’m such a wimp. When will I finally have the balls to

to tell Leo and his pack of hyenas to fuck off?

Sighing, I enter my Geometry class and find a seat by the window. The sun streaming in from the window hits the edge of my glasses and forms a golden circle on my table which I trace with my finger absentmindedly, my mind running a mile a minute.

It doesn’t even matter if I stand up for myself or not. After all, I’m moving next month due to the promotion my mom landed. I will finally be able to put all this behind me and start afresh. No, Leo. No annoying jocks showing me into lockers. No bitchy cheerleaders making ridicule of my outfits. None of those.

Just a fresh start.

Opening the door, I let myself into my eerily silent home and throw my keys onto the table by the door.

Entering the kitchen, I pick up the note on the counter and scan through my mom’s writing, “Have to work overtime, sweetie. The pizza is in the microwave. Kept some money on the fridge for you in case you need to go out. Love you.”

The usual.

1 can’t blame her though. Ever since the news of her promotion, she has had to work herself to the bone to make sure that everything is settled here before we move.

And true to her words, some twenty notes are being held to the fridge by a magnet.

Heating the pizza, I take a seat at the counter and dig in. The silence in the house is deafening and at the same time so loud. It’s like I can hear my every single thought and at the same time, I’m hearing nothing. I hate it.

My phone pings, the screen lighting up to show that a message was sent to the school group chat.

CADE: Party at my house tonight. Everyone is invited

Cade happens to be one of the jocks that I could actually stand and that’s because he ignores my entire existence.

After eating, I head into my room and throw myself omo the bed. My eyes lock on the ceiling, examining the intricate pattern designed on it.

My phone pings again. I lift it over my face to see that another message has been sent to the

group o

chat.

CADE: The dress code is bikinis and swim trunks. It’s going to be lit so don’t even think of missing it

I hate parties. I hare drinks. Mix that in with stupid teenagers and it might just be my worst nightmare. But there is something I hate more. Silence. Silence has the ability to weave thoughts into your head. Thoughts that I will rather not have. Thoughts of my dad who recently passed away. His death is one of the main reasons why we are moving- to get away from this town that holds nothing but sad memories. Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

I can’t stay in this quiet house that has most of those memories.

That’s how I find myself parking my car in front of Cade’s house. My polka dot white bikini is hidden under the tank top and jeans shorts I have

wom over it

Even from this distance, I can tell that the party is already in full swing. The music from the house can be heard at full blast, red plastic cups littered the front lawn and people in all stages of undress pill around the house.

Taking a deep breath to brace myself, I open my car door and start heading for the front door, narrowly hitting a drunk girl that has only a bikini bottom with no top on. How have his neighbors not called the cops yet!

Inside the house is basically in the same state as outside. A lot of people from school are present but thankfully I can’t see any of my tormentors around.

Locating the kitchen. I find an unopened beer bottle, uncap it and take a swig, wincing as the bitter taste hit my throat. Powering through it, I take another swig, this one is not as bad as the first.

The balcony is the only place that doesn’t have a drunk teenager so I take myself there. Leaning over the railing, my drink in hand, I watch the way the sky drifts between dark blue and black. The night air flows around me, wrapping me in a blanker of comfort.

Coming here was better than staying alone in that shell of a home.

“Well, what do we have here?”

Chill run down my spine as the owner of the voice registers in my mind. Jake, my worst tormentor.

Whereas, Leo derives joy in verbally annoying me, jake on the other hand gets his kick from inflicting pain on me. It varies from shoving me into lockers to putting his foot in my way and making me and my tray of food land on the floor in the middle of the cafeteria

“Damn. You clean up nicely. Almost didn’t recognize you,” he says.

I ignore him, hoping that he will take a hint and leave me alone.

“I’m talking to you, bitch” A cry escapes my lips as Jake grips a fistful of my hair in his fist and forces my face to meet his.

“You’re hurting me. My hand closes over his fist as I try to peel it away from my hair.

НЕ eyes darken as his gaze roams over my body and leaves me feeling dirty in every place they touch. Ive always wanted to have a taste of you. Guess today is my lucky day”

No, no, no. This can’t be happening to me.

He kisses me. I gag as his wet tongue forces its way into my mouth. Tears roll down my cheek as his fingers glide down my butt and squeeze. Hard,

“What the fuck!” A voice yells out

Within a second, Jake is off me and on the floor with Leo above him, his fist smashing Jake’s face.

“Lea, stop. I whisper yell so as not to draw attention to us. Pulling on his shoulder, I drag him off Jake who scurries away back into the party with his bloodied face.

Leo faces me. “Why the fuck did you come here, Raquel Leo barks, his face hard with an expression I’ve never seen before. “Did you show пр for

I know he saved me but that doesn’t give him the right to talk to me in such a manner and I tell him just that, “Thank you for helping me our bur you’re not the boss of me. I can go wherever I want to.” I dart to his left to get the fuck out of this party that I’m now starting to realize was a bad

t to his left to get idea in the first place.

He grips my hand, halting my movement. “Where do you think you’re going to? Are you going to look for Jake so that he can finish what he started?”

My hand starts moving before I even realize what I’m doing. The sound of my palm slapping him across his face seems amplified by the still night

air.

Shaking. I bring my hand back to my side. My mouth opens in shock as an angry red mark in the shape of my palm starts to take form on his cheek.

What have I done!

2/4

1:03 PM ©

Chapter I

I’m not the only one in shock as Leo gapes at me. “Did you just slap me!” Then be is laughing darkly, his head falls back and a deep rumble sounds from his chest.

Leo, I’m so sorr

I’m cut off as he advances. I back up against the railing and cage myself in with no way of escaping as Leo’s fingers coll around the railing on both sides of my waist.

He holds my eyes, not saying a word. Something hot and dark passes through his eyes and before I know it, his lips are over mine

SEND GIFT