(Jameson's POV)
I hate it. Why would she go alone into the woods with that jerk. Countless thing could happen.
Why do I even care?
I don't care.
I do care.
I don't care.
But the truth is I do.
Ever since I walked past her that day I came out of the principals office. And I don't know if I like it. This feeling- whatever it is - is new to me.
I've never felt my stomach twist at the sight of seeing any girl with other guys. Never felt so much anger seeing Peter even so much a look at her. I've never felt so protective of someone, never so much as even cared.
It's not who I am. Not who I was.
I'm cold, I wear a mask and I ignore almost everyone. I'm sick of the attention, the girls especially. I'm sick of the fear I see in peoples eyes when they look at me.
You're not your brother.
I remind myself every. Single. Day. My older brother, Zack, is not someone you want to meet. If people think I'm ruthless...
My brother isn't exactly what you would call the brotherly type. He's cruel, selfish and will do anything to get what he wants and will go to unthinkable measures to get what he wants. I feel sick at the thought of him.
My father isn't much better.
I flex my back at the thought, feeling the thick scar that goes down my back, from my shoulder to my waist.
My 12th birthday present.
But this is exactly why I didn't want my friends to agree to come to the palace with me. The guys have been there before countless times, breaking me out in the middle of the night when I needed to escape, sneaking them in, dinners, parties and the list goes on.
I'm scared to bring her.
Clara.
My chest tightens as I think about it. The guys are used to my parents and my brother, but I'm nervous about Clara meeting them. I want to keep her away from all of this.
I want to keep her safe.
Well you're doing well so far considering she's off in the woods probably being murdered.
Okay that's it.
I make my way to Xavier, my oldest friend. We met when we were six and have been inseparable ever since. I smile at the memory of when we first met. Xavier was stuck in a tree and I, after hours of trying, helped him down. Typical Xavier.
"Hey man! Where's Clara?" Xavier looks around me, lifting my arms and walking in a full on circle around me as if she was hiding.
What the hell.
"She's not there you idiot." I roll my eyes at his poor humour.
I will never admit that I do actually find it funny.
"Just checking," he grins before he quickly sobers up and goes all serious. "Okay but seriously. Where is she?"
"That's exactly the problem. She went off into the woods with that thing."
"Jamie. I love you bro but you gotta be more specific. I am about two seconds away from freaking the hell out."
A small smile pulls at my lips. I love how much the guys get on with her, it's like we've known her for years.
"Lewis." His name tastes like bile on my tongue.
"Lewis? LEWIS? As in LEWIS LEWIS?"
"Do you know him?" My heart starts pounding in my chest. Xavier looks frantic as he turns and calls to Grayson to gesture him over.
"Everything okay guys?" He looks between us confused.
"Lewis is on you're hockey team right?"
"Right?" He slowly looks between us again. "Why?"
"Clara went off into the woods with him for a walk" I rush out, getting annoyed with how long we've just standing here doing nothing and only thinking about what he could be doing right now.
Grayson makes an 'o' shape with his mouth. "Yeah that's probably not the best idea. Biggest player on our team. Biggest manipulator too. Not good news."
"Which way did they go?" Xavier throws his drink into the trash and starts walking towards the woods, me right on his heels. Grayson gives Tom and quick nod as if to say 'be back in a second.'
We make our way to the woods.
"So what's the plan guys. A few punches? What exactly is the plan?" Grayson throws his hands in the air.
"Uhhh...Jamie?" We all stop dead in our tracks.
"A plan would probably be a good idea." I try to think of an idea.
"Jamie you don't have a plan?!"
"I do." I defend myself. Xavier just grins at me, his eyes saying he clearly didn't believe me. They both raise their eyebrows at me.
I carry on walking without looking at either of them. "We'll improvise when we get there."
"I knew it." Xavier triumphantly grins.
"Knew what?" I avoid his eye contact.
"Don't play dumb Jamie it's okay." Xavier wriggles his eyebrows laughing.
"No, I'm- Gray, help me out here."
Grayson looked between us with a dumbfounded expression on his face. "I'm 'sure' Jamie was always planning to improvise." He rolled his eyes but he smiled nonetheless.
I gave Xavier a winning smile. "See?"
"Fine, fine. But just so you kno-"
"There." I saw a flash of brunette hair and a flash of blonde. We all looked to the right where I pointed and we started towards the pair.
I caught muffled talking the closer we got but couldn't make out what was being said apart from that there were multiple voices. Wait.
"Is there a third person?" I kept my voice low, but the threat that lined my voice was deadly.
"I can't see who it is." Xavier craned his neck to try and see.
"Guys," Grayson breathed. "That's Ruby."
"What the hell?" I was careful not to step on any twigs and give away our spot. "What is she doing here?"
We all edged closer until we individually hid behind three trees and listened into their conversation.
"I've told you once before. Clearly you didn't hear me the first time." The shadow of Ruby towered over Clara, clearing trying to intimidate her. I clenched my fists.
Ruby. She's been creepily obsessed with my group since we started school. I've never given her the time of day yet she still never gives up. It's very clearly a popularity thing and to be honest it's very sad. Not to mention she's sabotaged every single relationship the twins and Xavier have tried to be in.
We are not a fan.
"Stay away from what's mine."
"Or what, Ruby? Please enlighten me." Clara's voice. My chest swelled with something unknown and frightening. I try to not think about it. She had her arms folded, clearly frustrated with this conversation, yet her tone was confident and not backing down from Ruby.
The lips tug into a small smile.
Ruby moved another step closer to her yet Clara doesn't even move an inch. "See this?"
She lifts something in-front of Clara's face, waving it around in a patronising way.
Clara's voice wavers slightly. "Why the hell do you have my phone." She attempts to reach for it, and almost does until Ruby passes it to Lewis.
"It was easy really, sweetheart." Lewis's mocking tone came out slithery and fake.
I'm going to kill him.
"I slipped it out of you're back pocket while we were in the tent."
Now I'm really going to kill him.
I look to Xavier and Gray, saying 'I'm going in' but they both frantically shook their heads and held up their hands, signalling me to wait for a second. Xavier pressed his finger to his lips and pointed at the phone. We all looked over.
Lewis unlocked it and the bright screen shone through the dark woods. It was almost blinding. He started scrolling through something. Messages maybe?
"Give it back, now." She attempted to reach the phone again but Lewis drew his hand back yet again, shaking his head mockingly.
"What's wrong? Am I reading something I'm not supposed to?" Lewis kept scrolling through the phone. "So many missed calls from you're father. And the messages...it's entertaining really."
"What's any of this to you?" Clara demanded, her fists clenched by her sides.
"Well, you see. Ruby over here told me who you're father was. And I have to say, I'm impressed Rose. You may recognise my last name, Sutherland."
Clara went stiff. "You're father is John Sutherland?"
"That would be correct." He continued scrolling through her phone, almost bored.
"My father fired you're dad." Clara's voice was numb, not giving away anything.
"Correct."
"That has nothing to do with me." Clara's voice went quiet near the end.
"No, but. After I read his messages, and realised who he really was...I can't say I'm surprised. I think it's time we showed everyone who he really was, don't you think?"
"Don't read through my messages. And no. Give me my phone back." Clara again attempted to take the phone again.
What the hell is going on?
"I mean, how he treats you is terrible. What would happen to him if everyone knew..."
"Stay out of it. It's none of you're buis-"
"But it is. You see, my father was left with nothing. Now you are going to pay for that."
"How?" Her voice broke.
"You'll see."
I saw a tear roll down her cheek.
That's it. I look at Xavier and Gray and nod. We all step out. Xavier heads straight to Clara. Grayson heads straight to Ruby to get her to back away from Clara.
I go for Lewis.
"I told you to stay the hell away from her" I punch him square in he jaw, smiling when I hear the satisfying crack of his jaw. I grab the phone out of his hands as he drops to the floor, clenching his jaw in pain.
Ruby screams dramatically and runs to his side.
"Jamie" Ruby whiles. "Clara was the one attacking us! Not the other way around." She give me her stupid pout and flutters her creepy eyelashes.
What the hell. They're not going to fly off you're face are they.
"I suggest you two get out of here before I break more than just his jaw."
"We're leaving! We're leaving!" Lewis attempts to scramble backwards.
I grab his shirt and yank him up so he's standing again so I'm talking to him on the same level...well not really because he's small as hell.
"If you ever threaten her again. If you ever come near her again, it will not end well. Do you understand?"
Lewis is still, only glaring at him.
"I said, do you understand?" I seethed through clenched teeth, my knuckles white and still tightened around his shirt collar.
Lewis vigorously nods his head and I release him, causing him to stumble backwards.
Ruby's face drops as she immediately gets lewis to stand up and heads back to the camp.
My breathing is heavy and I try to control it but my mind was racing and clouded by anger. My heat rate is pounding in my chest and I can't help but glare into the back of Lewis as he and Ruby stumble back through the woods. My hands are shaking from adrenaline.
They instantly relax as I feel a pair of hands softly take mine in theirs, stopping the shaking. I look down to see Clara, her eyes glossy from tears and her lips plump and red.
I think my heart stopped beating altogether. Why does she make me feel like this?
Not the time to think about that right now, Jameson.
I frantically searched her eyes and take both her hands in mine. "Are you okay? What happ-"
I'm cut off as Clara throws her arms around my neck and buries her face into the crook of my neck, hugging me.
I freeze for a split second out of shock before I instantly gently wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her body closer to mine, wanting her to be as close as possible. Scared that she will leave again. Scared of not being able to keep her safe.
I'm not sure when we became more comfortable with each-other, it just feels so natural. And strangely I like it, even though this is all new to me.
I lean my lead down so only she can hear me whisper to her, my nose grazing the side of her hair. "Do you want to talk about it?"
She hugs me tighter. "Not right now," her voice is shaky and her heart is beating fast against mine.
Thunder booms in the sky as a big streak of lightning cracks above us. Of course there has to be a storm.
Xavier and Gray come over and we all decide to head back to the camp, Clara's hand intertwined with mine the whole time, staying close by my side. It started to rain heavily and the thunder grew louder and louder, the sky occasionally glowing white from streaks of lightning.
All I can think about is how much I hate not being able to protect her. I know I have to let her fight her own battles, but it kills me seeing her like this. I know this time I intervened, and maybe I should have earlier, but it wasn't my battle to fight, despite me wanting to fight anyone who gets in her path.
I also can't stop thinking about what Lewis was saying about her father. What did he do? What did the messages say? What did he do to Clara, most importantly. That's all I care about right now. But I can't have those questions answered right now.
We shortly arrive back at the camp to find it completely empty. The only noise heard was the crickets and the storm.
The fire pit was empty, with a few drinks scattered around the logs, but we'll deal with that in the morning. We go into the huge tent, finding Savannah and Tom huddled in a blanket, waiting for us.
Rain splatters onto the tent roof from outside, but thankfully the lights the girls put up earlier made the tent cozy and warm.
As soon as they see us enter Savannah rushes up to Clara, engulfing her in the hug to which she sadly let go of my hand.
Tom gives us a 'what the hell happened' look, to which I give a look back saying 'I'll tell you later.'
Savannah fusses over Clara like an overprotective mother for a while as we all get ready for bed. She's a good friend to Clara and I respect her for that.
Soon we're all huddled into our tent room. The girls decided they didn't want to sleep next door during the storm by themselves. So now we're all squashed together in our sleeping bags ready to go to sleep and it did not go unnoticed that Clara was still wearing my hoodie, which engulfed her small frame, making me smile.
But as I close my eyes all I can think about is the little time we have left here before I have to go back home to the palace.
3 more days.
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It's finally hereee, as requested. I hope you
guys enjoyed it, this chapter was a bit
longer than the others <3
THANK YOU SM FOR OVER 60K READS ILY ALL
Reading you're lovely comments really makes my day, so thank you :)
I laughed sm reading the comments about the grammar mistakes guys because I'm literally a grade A English student...I just get so excited to write the story, so I apologise again for any grammar mistakes, I promise they are not intentional! <3
(Just need to do a lot of proofreading)
Please continue commenting, it makes my day. Again, thank you so so much for making my story feel special and appreciated. Have an amazing day/night <3