But then she froze, and I heard her heartbeat accelerate.
"Brian." She whispered.
APOV
"Chloe." Brian cocked an eyebrow and glanced at me. "Why are you holding that little twerp's hand? I'm your boyfriend."
I felt Chloe subconsciously step back a little, and she pressed herself against my chest.
Her voice shook a little as she replied.
"I was never, and never will be your girlfriend." Chloe said, and with each word her voice got stronger, more confident.
"What are you talking about? You loved me." Brian walked forward, right in front of us now. I felt Chloe grip my hand tighter, and I looked at her face. She looked frightened.
"Alright." I stepped in front of her and gave her the umbrella, stepping out of its dry protection and into the wet rain. "Let's get one thing straight. Chloe never loved you, and never will. How could she love a lying, abusive little mutt? You're the reason she started cutting herself, got it? So stay away from her." I threatened.
Brian blinked at me, then threw his head back and started cackling. I cocked an eyebrow, smirking. Did this pathetic little human think he could honestly beat me? I may still be in high school, but he didn't know we were Mai.
"I have never hit Chloe in my whole entire life." He said.
"That," Chloe stepped forward. "is the biggest, most pathetic lie I have ever heard."
"When? When have I ever hit you?"
"Um, try a couple nights ago, when you slapped me across the face?" I cringed a little. Any thought of Chloe getting hurt pained me.
I heard Brian growl and clench his fist.
"What? You going to fight us?" I smirked.
"No. Because I know I won't win...alone. I know what you are, Chloe. I know that you're Mai. You're a filthy, disgusting animal."
My eyes widened, and Chloe's heart beat accelerated a little.
"W-what?" She laughed nervously. "What's Mai?"
"Don't lie to me. It's an ancient race, descendants of the goddess, Bastet. And your little boyfriend over here is Mai, too. That's why you wouldn't kiss me."
"How do you know all of this?" I asked, bewildered. Was he Mai, too?
"Because my father is the leader of the Order. And I am joining him. This organization was made to execute anybody we can from your race, and we will get you." Brian said ominously, his face half in shadows. Then he slunk away into the rain, turned a corner, and was gone.
Chloe was half-paralyzed from shock and fear. She was gripping the umbrella firmly, her white hand shaking. I walked back to her and took the umbrella, but it was no use. I was already dripping wet. I held her cold hand in mine and we silently started walking back to our house.
She was jumping at every rustle, and she held my hand so tight I think it was losing blood circulation. But it didn't matter. I would keep Chloe safe, no matter what.
We walked back to her house, and she stepped in through the front door with the umbrella, and I slipped in through her window and went in her closet. We trained a lot in the rain, so Jasmine and I kept an extra pair of clothes in Chloe's closet. I slipped on the tight blue T-shirt, my brown beat-up leather jacket, and a pair of jeans. Suddenly, I heard a crash downstairs. Chloe and her mom were yelling at each other, and pretty soon I heard Chloe stomp up the stairs. She violently kicked her door open, walked inside, spun on her heel, and kicked it closed. The walls shook a little. She flopped onto her bed and cried.
I stood there awkwardly, wet clothes in hand. I dropped it in her sink and walked back. I sat down on the edge of the bed, rubbing her back.
"It'll be okay." I soothed.
"No it won't." She looked up at me with her tear-stained face. "I hate her, Alek. I hate her."
"Well, I hope you're not talking about me." Chloe's mom stood in the doorway, eyebrows raised, arms crossed.
