Chapter Seven

The day had been hot and muggy, making Bella's skin sticky and sweaty. She kept her spare stick of deodorant in her locker and made sure to apply some every other period. She was practically grossing herself out.

"Hey there." Sophie leaned up against the locker next to Bella's as Bella subtly applied the deodorant.

"Hey." Bella grunted as she yanked her shirt back down. "Man this building has air conditioning right?"

"They say so." Sophie was smiling. She had been smart and worn a halter top and shorts and sandals. Bella had worn a maxi skirt and a ruffle blouse.

"You wouldn't know it." Bella slammed her locker shut. "I'm counting the minutes until I can get out of here."

"Same." Sophie agreed and they began to make their way to fifth period class. "So I have something to tell you." Sophie sounded nervous.

"Yeah?" Bella turned her head slightly so she could listen better.

"Yeah." Sophie nodded. "But I don't know how you'll take it."

"Now I'm scared." Bella raised her eyebrows.

"Wellll…." Sophie gave a laugh that sounded more like a hiccup. Then Bella spotted Kyle. He was walking towards them, down the hall.

"Shoot." Bella muttered under her breath. She had been making huge efforts to avoid him ever since their run-in in the hall. He was worrying her.

"Huh?" Sophie heard Bella's noise. She saw Bella duck her head, then looked up to see Kyle coming. "Bella, this is ridiculous. You broke up with him! Why are you so upset when you see him?" Bella sighed. Sophie didn't know half of what had been going on. "Well I'm going to be late." Sophie had stopped in front of her class. Bella hadn't realized they had walked that far.

"But what were you going to tell me?" Bella snapped her mind back to Sophie's earlier statement.

"Too late now." Sophie was inching her way to the door. "I'll have to tell you later." Bella looked up and saw Kyle getting closer. The halls were slowly getting emptier. If Sophie left her, Bella would be open prey for Kyle as the predator.

"Don't go!" Bella grabbed Sophie's arm.

"Bella!" Sophie cried and snatched her arm away. "I have a presentation in this class! Why are you acting so weird?" She turned and flounced into the classroom. Bella watched her only hope of survival disappear into the room, mixing with the sea of students. Now Bella would be alone for the rest of her trek down to the choir room.

"Been avoiding me?" Kyle asked as he closed off the distance between them.

"Why would you think that?" Bella stepped around him and continued down the hall. Unfortunately, Kyle followed.

"Don't play innocent." His voice was tight now. "I know you've been doing everything possible to stay away. And I don't like it."

"Just let me get to class in peace." Bella whined. "Leave me alone for crying out loud! Can't you take a hint?" After those words, Kyle grabbed her wrist and yanked her down a side hall and into an empty classroom. "Kyle let go of me!" Bella cried but he was already closing the door behind him. "What do you think you're doing?" Bella pointed to the door. "You let me out now!"

"We are going to have a little talk." Kyle purred.

"I don't have anything to say to you," Bella stepped forward, "except 'back off'!"

"Shut up!" Kyle growled. "You are my girlfriend and I don't like to be spoken to like that!"

"I am not your girlfriend!" Bella hissed. "I broke up with you because you act like this!"

"I'm the best thing that ever happened to you! There was a time not too long ago when you were drooling over me and wishing I would ask you to the dance!" Kyle reminded me.

"I don't have time for this." Bella's eyes darted around the room, looking for another exit. "I broke up with you, end of story."

"I don't like that story." Kyle stepped forward and grabbed Bella's arm, squeezing it tightly.

"Ouch!" Bella tried to wiggle free. "Don't touch me!" Even though Bella was a football player and she was strong, Kyle was stronger. He did sports too and it was hard for Bella to fight when she was scared. She was scared out of her mind now.

"My story goes something like this: you adore me and stay with me forever." Kyle painted a picture in Bella's mind.

"Why?" Bella's voice grew strained. Kyle was still gripping her arm. It was turning white as all the circulation was going away. "At the dance you didn't seem crazy about me or anything. You were perfectly happy dating any girl. So now why are you so obsessed with having me?"

"Because you are a woman." Kyle whispered. At first, Bella didn't understand. Then slowly it dawned on her. But that couldn't be right. Kyle couldn't think something like that.

"You mean you want me because I'm more mature than other girls?" Bella's voice shook.

"Mature in what way?" he wiggled his eyebrows. Then Bella saw it clearly. Kyle liked her because of her mature body. For junior high, she was ahead of most girls. Her breasts were bigger, more apparent. Her curves more refined. Then she remembered something else. Kyle had started to have an interest in her right around the time she got her…..period! No! It couldn't be! How would he know about that?! "Yes I knew about your monthly friend." Kyle read her mind now. Bella gasped.

"You are a total creep!" she cried. Before she could even think Kyle was raising his hand and letting it fly down to her face. Bella was tough. She could take a slap. It stung, but she wasn't going to cry. She was more infuriated. Kyle wanted to take advantage of her! Just because of how she looked! It was so unfair! Then they heard voices in the hall and froze. Kyle's eyes grew wide and Bella could tell he was listening very intently to hear whether the voices were a threat. "I'm going to let go now and you are going to be quiet." Kyle told her, giving her a steely look. "And then we are going to leave silently. You are going to go to class and tell the teacher you were at the office getting advil for a headache."

"I will do no such thing." Bella huffed. "I'm going to the office alright! I'm going straight to the principal to tell him what you did!" Kyle laughed.

"No you won't." he shook his head. "Because if you tell the principal about all of this, I'll tell everyone your secret."

"What secret?" Bella didn't know what he was talking about.

"THE secret." He gave her a look. Bella's eyes grew wide. Oh no he didn't!

"You are not serious!" she cried.

"Sh!" Kyle glanced back at the door. "Yes I am. I will make sure the whole school knows. You can't tell anyone what's happening, and I will find out if you do, or your secret is spilled. "I'll be around." And with that Kyle left Bella standing alone in the empty, dark classroom wondering how she had gotten herself into this mess.

You're probably wondering what the secret is. I promise you one day you will find out. But for now this is suspense. I have to keep writing Kyle chapters to keep the story plot right so deal with the creep for a while.