CHAPTER SIX — RIVEN

The following Monday, when the boys and I head into school two periods too late, we realise that something is wrong.

Everybody is excited, buzzing all around as they whisper to each other in hushed tones.

I watch the students pass us, their eyes locked on us, before they tear them to run away.

"What the fuck?"

I say dumbfoundedly.

The stares and pointing fingers are something I've gotten used to now, but this is just plain weird.

"Is it me, or is everybody looking at us differently today?"

Nabu asks from beside me.

I nod my head, agreeing with him, and I'm about to open my mouth when I hear my name being shouted.

I turn around at once, recognising the voice, and spot Musa practically running towards me.

Her entire face is drained of colour.

"Musa," I rasp out as I take a step closer to her, my arms already outstretched for her to step into them. "What's wrong?"

She's shaking as she wraps her arms around my middle, tipping her head up to look up at me.

"Why aren't you picking up your phone, Riven?!" She shouts, then turns to look at the guys. "Why aren't any of you picking up your phones?!"

We all frown at her, and they each take a step closer.

"What's wrong?"

I ask her again, cupping the side of her face so that she'll look at me again.

Musa meets my eyes, taking a deep breath in, digging her fingers into either one of my arms.

When she opens her mouth, everything in me turns cold.

"Stella passed out," Musa whispers shakily. "Everybody found her passed out with Brandon by her side."

I feel my eyebrows furrow as I blink at her.

"Brandon?"

I ask, feeling my heart beating faster in my chest.

If it's the same one I'm thinking of…

Musa nods her head, taking a deep breath in before she replies.

"Brandon Stone. Remember him?"

The guys beside me exclaim, taking another step closer to us both.

I barely give them a second glance.

I'm seeing red.

Feeling my body tense up, I force myself to keep on breathing.

"Brandon fucking Stone." I manage to get out between gritted teeth. "Why the fuck is he back here, and why the fuck was he anywhere near my little sister?"

Musa's watery eyes dart between either one of mine as she shakes her head at me.

"I have no idea, Riven, but we need to go to Stella. The nurse isn't letting anybody expect her family to go in and see her, and your parents aren't picking up, so you're the only one here who can."

I nod my head at her, holding her by the wrist as I drag her in the direction of the nurse's office.

There's a couple of teachers at the door, and when they spot even more students walking towards them, they begin to shake their heads.

It's only after they've seen me that they let me through the door.

I don't stop to hear what they have to say to me—I walk straight through the hallway, and into the room where I know where my little sister is.

"Stella," I breathe out as I approach her. "What the fuck?"

She blinks up at me from her space on the sofa, and tries to sit up too.

I place a hand against her shoulder, kneeling on the ground beside her, and force her to remain flat.

"I'm okay, Riven."

She tells me in a shaky breath.

My jaw is tight as I shake my head, my eyes scanning her from head to toe.

She isn't okay, and neither is this.

"Why the fuck wasn't an ambulance called?" I say in a tone more angrier than expected. "What the fuck did he do to you?"

She takes a deep breath in, closing her eyes for a second before she opens them again.

This time, she doesn't look at me.

Instead, she looks to the space behind me.

The atmosphere in the room shifts.

"I didn't do anything to her," a voice murmurs from behind me. "She passed out after seeing me."

My nostrils flare as hot air shoots out through them.

Standing up slowly, Stella reaches out for me, but I turn around before she can touch me.

And lo and fucking behold, there he stands.

"Brandon Stone." I snarl out, taking a step in his direction. "What the fuck do you think you're doing back here?"

His jaw clenches as he takes a step closer to me too.

"I didn't want to be here," he mutters under his breath. "But I'm here now, so you'll need to live with it."

I walk towards him, not stopping until there's only an inch of space between our bodies, then I push him with my palms against his chest.

"Why the fuck are you here?!"

I shout, shoving him backward again.

His lips curl as he looks straight at me, standing his ground, and I hate myself for ever calling himself my friend once upon a time.

I hate myself for introducing my little sister to him.

"Riven."

I hear Stella whisper out behind me, but I don't bother to reply.

I need to know why he's back, and I need to know why he's back now of all times to return.

"We've moved back here."

Brandon finally gets out.

I feel my eyes twitch as he speaks, and my entire body feels like it's on fire.

"Who the fuck is we?"

He looks me in my eye, jaw clenched before he speaks.

"Myself, my father, and my sister."

I laugh because it's the only thing I can do.

"Your sister? Your goddamn sister?" I throw my hands up in the air, my laughter growing louder. "The same sister that caused everything to turn to shit? You brought that bitch into my town?!"

He lunges for me, hands around my collar as he throws me to the floor.

I'm ready for it though, because as soon as my back hits the ground, I turn around and force him on his back, my arm pulled back as I punch him across his face.

We're relentless as we throw punches and kicks, ignoring the screaming of those around us.

All the anger that's been building up inside of me from that night years ago is finally being released.

He elbows me, causing my lip to bust as a gush of blood runs down my chin, and that's when I hear it.

The scream.

"Stella!" I snap my head to where my little sister is, my mouth dropping wide open when I see how many teachers are now surrounding her. "Her heart rate is dropping—someone call an ambulance!"

Author's Note:

Thank you for your review @ Skylar!

Absolutely no offence taken - I love reading longer chapters too! I do hope to create longer chapters as the story continues but it really does depend on a chapter to chapter basis. As for POVs, a lot of characters will have them but Brandon & Stella will most definitely have a large chunk of their POVs. When it comes to their romance, you'll see a shift in the POV change too!

Thank you so much for reading!

~ lovelanii