Dakota enveloped me in a warm hug within a beat of my heart, and my eyes closed when he placed a kiss on the top of my head. “Easy, little Angel, I won’t hurt you,” he murmured, and only then did I realize I trembled. Gentle fingers under my chin encouraged me to tilt my head to meet his eyes. His were full of concern, relief and warmth. “You are so damn brave that I’m in awe,” he admitted with a wry smile which turned into a grin that I bet made all the girls swoon. It was full of mischief while making you feel warm and included in his scheme and enhanced his natural beauty.
Why are the people in this school so damn gorgeous? Even several teachers are, and I have never seen so much beauty under one roof. Not like this. Their good looks were devastating, attractive, and yet I sensed something dangerous lurking under the surface. But Dakota reminded me of a puppy, too. What the hell? I was beginning to understand why they said Marcus would wait until I was ready to explain things. Because I am not prepared to learn their truth. No, until I knew I could stay I shouldn’t learn the secret living under their skin.
I rubbed Dakota’s back, and he sighed as if the weight of the world fell off his shoulders. Moments later, he smiled and released me from his embrace. “Thank you, Angel, I feel much better. I hope you do, too,” Dakota told me with a sweet smile. He was more beautiful than Riff and Kyler because he had this sweetness to him the other boys lacked. It’s like if this were a pack of dogs, Riff, and Kyler were the more dominant duo while Dakota was relaxed. Not submissive, but not a leader either. Safer, more innocent, yet more dangerous. What happened if the powers that be issued an order? As he said, Kyler’s dad was his dad’s boss. Thus, he responded when Kyler barked.
Ah. Perhaps that’s why Kyler was so used to getting his way because his dad was the boss of whatever business supported the town. That would explain a lot. Alas, it didn’t give him permission to act like the world owed him just because he was born into power. But the question becomes what did Riff mean that after school, he could do something about Kyler? What would change after school? Ah well, only time will tell. Not worth borrowing trouble when the answer would be revealed soon.
The teacher walked in a few minutes later, introducing himself as Mr. Lynch. He said I could sit beside Dakota since every other seat was taken, and the boy brightened. My soul relaxed, and I gave him a smile which he returned with that heartthrob grin of his. Once the bell rang, our teacher explained that we were to sketch something for our homework, but we had all week to work on it. During class, he instructed us to draw anything we liked, so long as it included perspective. I perked since I liked perspective, but I needed to work on it. Here, I could do so and receive the instruction I needed to perfect it.
“I only intend for this to be a beginning, class, a rough draft. You have this week to work on it during our time together. Over the weekend, I will go over them and give each of you what instruction or insight you need to perfect your drawing. Next week, you will draw it again for a grade,” Mr. Lynch explained while walking around the classroom.
Relaxing, I debated on what to draw, chewing my bottom lip while my mind went over the possibilities. With a shrug, I stuck with what I do best, and let my hand dictate what I drew. Keeping perspective in mind, I hummed while I drew. When we were told to clean up, I had a few straight lines to direct the eye and create the illusion of distance. With the beginning of a doorway or a mirror, and a hallway or a room. I wasn’t sure yet.
Dakota smiled brightly, leaving the classroom with me. He made idle chatter while heading towards his next class, and my feet kept pace with him. I didn’t have a class, so it wasn’t as if I had anywhere to be, anyway. Besides, I sensed he needed to talk, even if it wasn’t anything important topic wise.
His beaming smile faded, becoming an angry frown while his stance shifted to become defensive a moment before Kyler rounded the corner with two different boys. Kyler scowled, although he picked up his pace. Dakota stepped in front of me, and I gasped in surprise. “Move,” Kyler growled, and Dakota shook his head, albeit I noticed he kept it bowed. “Don’t make me force you to, you know that I can. Do as your told, Dakota, or suffer the consequence. Go to class. Now.”
Placing my hand on his arm when he trembled with clenched fists, I told him to go. He stared at me over his shoulder, and I dropped my eyes after a moment, seeing the light change to indicate he nodded. He ruffled my hair, kissed my forehead, and stared Kyler down when he stepped around him. Dakota’s eyes met mine, his full of worry, before he turned the corner, and I sighed with relief that at least he was out of the line of fire.
“I’ve decided, I don’t like the way you run your mouth,” Kyler mused with a cruel smirk. “So, I’ll help you wash it.” I scoffed, stepping back because I could guess
