{ Mia }
As Cole and I went back to class the teacher finally let me in . I went to sit next to a cute redhead with green eyes that seem to draw you in . I turned to her, smiling." Hey, I'm Mia nice to meet you " I extended my hand.
She curled her lip, her green eyes glinting with amusement. "Don't touch me, nerd." My throat tightened as laughter echoed around me .I clenched her fists under the desk, staring at the chipped wood, willing myself not to cry.
Then, I heard her say."Teacher tell her to sit elsewhere ."
" Mia get away from my daughter, sit somewhere far from her ."
My stomach dropped. Her daughter? The realization hit like a punch to the gut.
" B-But m-miss I didn't do anything wrong" I frowned.
" You offended my daughter and for that ...." The teacher's fingers tightened around the wooden ruler. In one swift motion crack! The ruler cracked against my cheek. A sharp sting bloomed across my skin.
The room was dead silent. No more laughter. Just wide eyes and stiff shoulders. Even the redhead who mocked me now looked away.
My ears rang. The heat on my cheek spread, stinging, throbbing. I stared at the floor, my breath shallow. No one moved. No one spoke. Were they scared? Shocked? Or just waiting for me to break?
I raised a trembling hand to my cheek, my mind racing. Did that just happen? Did she really—?
Cole bolted up from his seat. "Hey! What the hell—?!"
The room fell silent. My pulse pounded in my ears.
I had known this school would be tough, but this? This was something else entirely.
" SIT DOWN COLE!! " She barked out loud.
" You dare disrespect me and my daughter?! Go to the principal's office. NOW !! " She screamed in my ear.
My legs felt like lead, but I forced myself to stand. Every pair of eyes in the room was on me, watching, waiting.
Cole clenched his fists. "Mia didn't do anything!" His voice was sharp, protective. "You can't just—"
"I said now!" The teacher's voice cracked like a whip.
A lump formed in my throat, but I swallowed it down. I turned to Cole, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's fine."
It wasn't fine.
But I wasn't about to make things worse.
I grabbed my bag and walked out, my hands shaking. The hallway was eerily quiet, the air thick with something I couldn't name. As I made my way to the principal's office, one thought pounded in my mind, louder than my footsteps.
Why does this keep happening to me?
As I arrived at the principal's office time froze once more, my heart pounded in my chest and my palms started to get sweaty. ' oh no he's here '
Just then, I felt a strong arm on my shoulder turning me around towards him with amazing force.
" Hey there cupcake. What's wrong?"
" What happened?"
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breath. "I... I don't know."
He pulled back just enough to look at me, his brows furrowed in concern. "You're shaking."
I clenched my fists. Of course I was shaking. How could I not be? My cheek still burned from the hit, the laughter still rang in my ears, and now, now he was here, acting like he cared.
I stepped back, wiping my face quickly. "I don't need your pity." My voice was meant to be firm, but it came out weak, barely above a whisper.
His expression darkened for a second, but he sighed. "It's not pity, Mia." His gaze flickered to my cheek. "Who did this to you?"
I hesitated. Admitting it felt like losing. But what was the point in lying? He'd probably figure it out anyway.
"The teacher," I muttered.
His whole body tensed. "She hit you?" His voice was eerily calm, but his eyes burned with something dangerous.
I nodded slowly. "In front of the whole class."
Silence stretched between us. Then, his jaw tightened. "That's not going to happen again."
A chill ran down my spine at the way he said it. "What do you mean?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he glanced toward the principal's door and smirked. "Let's just say… some people need to be taught a lesson."
He turned to me ." Let's go get some ice for your cheek ." I nodded and got up with him.
While we were walking towards the nurse's office I turned to him and asked." Who are you ?"
" You'll find out, soon enough cupcake."His smirk was playful, but there was something else there too something knowing, like he had seen more than he let on.
I sat on the nurse's chair, the cold ice pack pressed to my cheek. The numbness felt like a small mercy against the burning sting. But it didn't stop the twisting knot in my stomach.
He leaned against the counter, his arms crossed, eyes fixed on me. His presence was overwhelming, like a shadow looming over the room.
"You good?" he asked, his voice smooth but sharp, like someone used to getting what they want.
I let out a dry laugh, but it came out more like a rasp. "Oh yeah, just got slapped by a teacher in front of the whole class. Totally fine."
He smirked, but his eyes his eyes were something else. Hard, calculating, like he wasn't just looking at me. He was measuring me. Judging.
"You know," he said slowly, pushing off from the counter, "you could press charges. Make sure they know this won't be the last time someone gets their hands dirty."
I glanced up at him, surprised. His tone was too casual, too calm. Like he'd seen this kind of thing happen before.
"And then what?" I muttered, pulling the ice pack away for a second. "They'll just find another way to make my life hell."
He tilted his head, considering my words for a moment. Then his gaze darkened. "Maybe," he said, voice low, dangerous. "But it doesn't have to be that way. People like her? They need to be taught a lesson."
I frowned, the knot in my stomach tightening. "What do you mean?"
He smirked, but there was no humor in it. "Let's just say… not everyone gets away with making you feel small."
The way he said it like he was speaking from experience sent a chill down my spine. There was something in the way his shoulders tensed, in the way his eyes flickered toward the door like he was already thinking ahead, already plotting.
I blinked, unsure whether I should be relieved or terrified.
He softened slightly, his expression less intense but still unreadable. "You'll be okay, cupcake."
I swallowed hard. "I don't need your pity," I said, trying to sound firm, but it came out weak.
He just raised an eyebrow, then reached out, gently fixing the ice pack back against my cheek. "It's not pity, Mia. You'll understand when I say it's just... not over yet."
I didn't know what he meant by that, but something told me I wasn't going to like finding out.