Chapter 2

    ♡

    While in class, my attention falls on the back of the head that belongs to a boy who I cannot seem to take my eyes off of. Ryder Jones. Even his name is the most addictive sound that a human can hold. His scent smells like that of cinnamon. His eyes are the color of the deepest abyss from the most crystal clear sea. His voice. . .his voice is warm and soft like cookies that just popped out of grandmothers oven. 

     Overall I think that Ryder Jones is by far the most drool worthy man in the history of high school. But I will not tell a single person that. Not even my friends. I am sure every other girls answer differs from mine. They assume that the infamous Cooper Rhodes has the most beautiful aroma of all time.

     "Kyla are we disrupting you?" The teacher asks and my eyes make their way around the room to the other students that have all drawn their attention to me. "No. Not at all." I feign innocence.

     Before Mrs. Matthews can carry on with her pointless history lesson, I pull myself from the chair and start towards the door. School is already weighing on me and it's only just started. 

     "Miss Daniels, where do you think you're going while class is still in progress?" She growls at me. A shrug unexpectedly falls upon my answer as I say. "I thought I would sit this class out, not really feeling it today." 

    "Please," the woman sighs. Gesturing to my now vacant seat she pleads. "Sit back down, I have not given you permission to leave." 

    "I'd rather not. If that's okay with you." 

     "Listen, Kyla. I'm trying to give you the benefit of the doubt due to recent events in your family. . .but I will not except your sour attitude. Understand?" Her heels click against the tiles as she steps closer towards me and suddenly it's as if the room is shrinking, the walls are closing in and her figure is nearing me. 

   I take my leave before I lose my damn mind and I find myself walking down the empty halls. Holding my backpack near to me I pray this day will end soon. I truthfully have no legitimate reason to leave school. When I'm home the memories somehow always catch up to me when I am alone in my room with the window open and the quiet murmurs downstairs. 

     Yet it is not like school is much better than that. You don't think I hear the questionable whispers? The concerned eyes? I hear and see everything that happens around me and so far, ten people— five of which I don't even know— have asked how I am and if I need anything, mostly they tell me how sorry they are, which I can't tell you how much I want to shut them out. But I can't. 

     Fresh air is of great convenience when I spot the doors are just up ahead at the end of the corridor. All I need and all I want is some air that I can easily breathe in and out. My heartbeat steadies when I plop myself onto the cold concrete slabs that lead down into the parking lot outside. 

     Cars of all different colors, shapes and sizes are parked in the white lines. Only when it is entirely silent, no wind, no birds, nothing; that a familiar sports car comes hurtling into the lot. The careless driving is all the evidence I need to tell me who it is. 

     I watch as the sports car screeches to a stop only inches away from scraping the side of Riley's vehicle. The vacant spot is now filled as it had been this morning and Cooper steps out from within, heading my way with his head held high. 

     Standing to attention I block the whore from either stepping any further onto school property or into the hall behind me. At this he breathes out exhaustion and in aggravation then looks me in my eyes with those grey, almost blue eyes of his own. 

     "Yes?" He's impatient that much is evident when he speaks, reaching into the back of his pocket for a stick of gum and discarding the wrapper on the floor once he's popped it in his mouth.

     Cooper is much taller up close, maybe his height is more intimidating due to my short frame. He's got to be at least six feet tall. That'd make him about three inches taller than me. Which, front and center is quite a bit of a difference. 

    Cooper Rhodes is best known for his brawn physique. It's sculpted by the heavens above as well as his face. Obviously his personality wasn't as much as a God's given trait, more like the devils given trait. 

     "So. . .you kinda almost caused some serious damage to my friends car over there. Does that not phase you?" Even with the aggravation clear in my voice, Cooper manages to grin like the devilish boy he is. 

     "Mm." He cocks his head to the side, eyes roaming over me to then travel further upon Riley's car. When his gaze returns to me, he shrugs. "No. Can't say it does." With a pat on my shoulder he maneuvers around me and up the steps. Naturally, I stop him once more and complete my argument. 

   "You think this is cute huh?" I scoff. Cooper merely shrugs those broad shoulders of his. "Well let me tell you something, funny boy. This act of yours, not giving a shit? You think it's a laugh now. You and your homeboys get off on being assholes. But what happens when you're all alone in the big wide world? Who's gonna think it's funny then?" I poke a finger at his surprisingly solid pec and immediately retract my hand. My point has been made. 

     His eyes dig further into my soul with each passing moment shared between us. I can feel the poison easing it's way into my bloodstream from this one encounter.

    Cooper runs the pad of his index finger against the plumpness of his bottom lip and leans in just enough  for the warmth of his breath to raise the hairs at the back of my neck and I shiver. 

    He whispers, "watch yourself Kyla. This world—it'll take you down right along with me if you're not careful." Then just like that Cooper Rhodes is gone, the door shutting behind him. 

     Once I've returned to the universe of a high school student, I end up getting to third period with only five minutes remaining until my next class. 

     "Well look who decided to join the class." Ms.Shepherd shuffles around the papers on her desk. 

     I'm quite surprised I showed up at all.