Killians POV
It had been the worst week of my life. I had not seen or talked to Kelsey or her friends. My guides have been missing in action. All the while, the Fulturts have been even worse than usual. I feel very alone, especially after I was given the chance to communicate with someone that didn't want to beat my face in. Though the loneliness was nothing new, it still weighed on my soul. Instead I focused on a smell that plagued my nose. The smell of mangoes and pineapples has driven me to the brink of insanity. I have searched the entire school building, but the source of the mouth-watering scent still evaded me.
It was once again lunchtime and for once I just wanted to skip the time of the day. I walked to my locker with a new detention slip to add to my collection. This time it was for spitballs that I didn't shoot but I was never popular with teachers. No matter how good my grades were.
Consumed in my thoughts, I almost bypassed my locker. Luckily, I noticed in time and spun the black dial. I pulled the locker open and froze when I saw a new bundle of blue flowers laid on top of my books. A small smile graced my lips as I picked it up and nestled it next to the first one in the pencil holder. I shoved my bag inside the metal box and grabbed the most recent book I had been reading on my path to self-discovery.
"Hey…" a familiar voice greeted from behind me. I was slow to turn around, I already knew who stood there. Her blue eyes trained on my own blue and green ones. She had dark circles under her eyes, her hair thrown up in a messy bun, and wore sweat pants. I frowned at the sight of my short term friends' condition.
"How can I help you?" I asked emotionlessly. Though I felt bad that she was not doing well, I was wary of trying to be her friend again.
"Would you join the others and me for lunch? It is important that we speak with you." Kelsey asked in the softest tone I had ever heard. The pleading look in her eye froze my denial in my throat. I barely knew her and yet I hated to see her so distraught.
"I'm not su… fine." I agreed as soon as the scent of depression and sadness hit me. The indescribable feeling of seeing her upset pushed me to agree. Especially when the pain she was in was because of a nobody like me. A soft smile crawled onto her face as I closed my locker. Not having been to the cafeteria since the first day of my freshman year I followed closely behind her once I was sure my locker was closed.
The first thing I noticed upon entering the cafeteria was the table Kelsey led me to. It had been decorated with streamers, table toppers, and table cloth all in my favorite color, orange. All of Kelsey's friends were seated with a buffet of fast foods covering the table. When we reached the table, Kelsey had me stand at the end while she joined the others who had stood. I raised a confused eyebrow and she smiled weakly.
"Killian Jonas Kane, everyone! We met last week and made friends with him. During that time, we found that he was a very good person. Then we made ass's out of ourselves by assuming the worst of him. He didn't deserve that and we put this together to apologize. Killian, we are truly sorry for how we treated you." Kelsey boomed from where she stood. The entire cafeteria's attention on her. My cheeks heated as whispers shot from table to table about not only myself but the others as well.
"We feel horrible about our actions that day. We didn't learn much about you but we stitched something together based on what we did know. We all hope that you can forgive us for jumping to an untrue conclusion." Mira added before the rest joined in on a collective "We're sorry". Nobody had ever done anything this nice for me. They weren't ashamed of my friendship and that made me happier than anything on the table. When I looked at each of their faces, I noticed something off. John stood to the back and glared daggers at me. I squinted at him to show no fear and it was enough to shake his resolve.
"I can see that most of you are sincere in your apology and for those, I will forgive. The one that looks like he could bury me alive can fuck off, all the way to bitch town." I announced to the group with an odd calmness. Kelsey was the first to notice my not so subtle glare at her mate. He only rolled his eyes but she saw that as well. She jerked her elbow into his ribs before she sat down and offered me the seat next to her. John scoffed at his mate and stormed out of the cafeteria.
"Let's eat," Kelsey suggested with a fake smile but I had other plans for her. I pulled her into a hug. She instantly hid her face in my neck while I rubbed her back.
"Go after him. He is your man and I could never be mad at you for taking care of him first. Though he could lose his attitude, I know he makes you happy." I whispered in her ear and she nodded. With a reassuring smile on my lips I pulled away and she stood from her seat. I watched as she walked out of the lunchroom to find her boyfriend before I turned back to face the others. They each had watched what happened as well but I shook my head and they seemed to understand.
Kelsey's POV
When Killian told me to go after my mate, I knew I made the right choice to befriend him. I hurried out of the lunchroom with warmth bubbling in my stomach as my heart clenched. My nose discreetly lifted to the air as I sniffed for my mate's scent. It was easy to catch his scent and I rushed to follow it. It led me through the maze-like hallways to an empty classroom. My heart clenched again as I reached out for the door. Not understanding its warning, I opened the door and instantly felt the muscle break. Inside, John leaned against the science table. His arms across his chest as a brown-haired girl stood across from him. She twirled her hair with a flirtatious smile on her face.
"I saw what happened in the cafeteria. If you want… I could make you forget about your girlfriend for a while." She offered as she leaned over the desk that separated them. Her thin arms pushed her chest forward. I thought nothing would come of it but the muscle in my chest shattered when John smirked. The brown-haired girl took it as an invitation and walked around the table. She looped her arms around my mate's neck and leaned in. My jaw dropped as he allowed her to leave a trail of kisses down his neck. With my heartbroken, I let loose the fiercest growl in my arsenal. That grabbed both of their attention as I leaned against the doorway, the door was thrown open.
"You son of a bitch, this is what I get for coming after you? Well, rest assured, I will never do that shit again. Slutty girl, you can keep him. He and I are no longer together." I seethed as tears gathered in my eyes. When I looked in his eyes, they held so many emotions but I didn't wait around for him to talk. Ignoring my mates as he yelled my name, I backed out of the room and nearly ran down the hallways back to the cafeteria. I held in the tears as I walked into the crowded room and took the only empty seat next to Killian.
Killian noticed me instantly and he pulled me into a hug. I let him hide my face in his neck as he rocked us back and forth. It was then that I noticed the hot streams of tears running down my face. Killian rubbed my back as I cried into his neck, he said nothing as the others joked around.
"Kel, what's wrong?" Killian asked lowly in my ear once I basically took the spot in his lap.
"I went after him… but what I found was worse than I thought possible..." I continued to explain what happened. I didn't leave a single thing out even though I knew the others listened in as well. The more I talked the more stiff his body became. When I chanced a peek at his face, fear shot through me for a moment. His eyes glowed their unusual colors again but when he looked back at me, all I saw was concern. My fear quickly fell away as I melted against him. It was platonic and we both knew it so I snuggled into his protective hug.
"If he cannot see the beautiful, brave, kind, and caring person that you are. Then it is his loss." Two voices mumbled into my ear. One was Killians and the other was much softer, almost feminine.
"Selene?" I asked in recognition. Between the voice in the eyes, I knew it was Selene, but asked anyway.
"Yes, but please do not fear us. We will remain at your side no matter what you choose to do about your mate. Both Killian and I care about you and will support what you decide." Selene said and tears welled in my eyes. Of course I have had others who claimed to be there for me, but this felt different. It felt as though he would fight to protect me but would never force me into a decision.
"Thank you, you have no idea how much that means to me," I replied and hugged them around the neck.
"Oh Kelsey, we love you like family and we want you to be happy. We want you to be safe." They said with so much love and sincerity that there was no way he could be lying. We sat like that for a while, me in his lap as I hugged him and I felt safe. We both knew it was not a romantic connection we shared but it was strong all the same.
"Thank you, you have become such an irreplaceable part of the group but even more than that you have become my best friend. I am so glad that you forgave both me and the others." I said and kissed his cheek. He smiled at me and whispered back a 'no problem' as he turned to grab his drink. I snuggled back into him knowing he wouldn't mind.
Suddenly, I was shoved into my original seat by Killian. When I looked up to find out why he was no longer next to me. Instead he was sprawled out on the floor with his hand to his very red cheek. Confused, I searched the room to see what had happened. It all made sense the moment my eyes met the glowing red eyes of my mate.
"What the fuck, John? What is your problem?" Mara screamed at him.
"None of your business Mara! Now, Mate, Why were you on his lap?" John growled out as his eyes flipped back to me. I glowered at him as he stood there with anger in his eyes.
"What's it to you? You were just in an empty classroom getting smooched on by some slut." I countered with both pain and anger flowing through me.
"It wasn't what you thought but even if it was, does that give you the right to snuggle up to another man?" he shot back and I swear I had steam coming from my ears with how pissed off I was.
"For one, he is still fucking gay! For two, my MATE decided it was okay for some slut to touch him. For her to kiss his neck! So he was consoling me because MY boyfriend is an inconsiderate, classless, and boneheaded jackass. He was simply doing what any good FRIEND would do for their crying friend!" I yelled and the cafeteria fell silent.
"So anyone is allowed to put their hands on you when you are upset. Kinda sounds like what a whore would do." John yelled back and I froze. The cafeteria was filled with gasps and whispers with the exception of Killian. Tears welled up in my eyes and slipped down my cheeks. John's eyes instantly filled with regret but this was something he could not take back. Before I even knew what was happening, Killian stood between us with one of his hands balled up in the neck of my mate's shirt. The other poised and punched John in his nose.
"I will say this once and only once. Never and I mean ever, call her a whore you ungrateful hypocrite. She chose to apologize to the others but you acted like a child. You allowed another woman to not only touch you but kiss on you. Kelsey deserves so much better than that, than you. I may not be a romantic interest but I will make sure she is happy with who SHE chooses." he yelled and John didn't say anything.
Killians POV
My emotions were out of control as I glared at the mountain of a boy in front of me. He was laid out on the floor from the power of my blow. I stood between the two mates to protect Kelsey. I would never allow him to hurt her while I was able to protect her. When he finally stood, I expected him to look pissed. Yet, there were tears in his eyes as he turned and walked calmly out of the cafeteria. I relaxed the farther away he got knowing I didn't have to fight him. Kyle ran after him and I turned back to my friend.
"Thank you again, Kay. I am sorry you got hit because of me." Kelsey mumbled and I froze at the nickname. It had been a long time since someone called me that.
"No need to apologize for another person's actions," I said and cupped her face in my hands, making her look at me. Tears filled her eyes and I took her hand before leading her out of the cafeteria. I didn't stop until I reached the benches in front of the school. I wrapped my arms around her and let her get it all out.