Once I’ve got my breathing under control, I look away, feeling embarrassed. Fingers grip my chin and Dominic gently forces me to look at him.
“Rory,” he demands and my eyes reluctantly lock on his.
“Do not ever be scared of telling us what you’re thinking,” he tells me, his gaze growing soft. I stay silent.
“I know you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself,” Dom persists. “You’ve shown that a million times over. You’re still here, even after what your father put you through.”
Mason grips my hand like he’s afraid I’ll pull away again. “We just want you to lean on us, Angel.”
“We’re going to be overbearing and shit,” Maverick tells me. “But we want tohelpyou, not cripple you.”
“You have to tell us what you need, Rory,” Alec says, having turned around in his seat.
“We’re going to be protective assholes, Sweetheart, but we only do it because we care. Because weneedto,” Dom reveals.
I faintly hear the bell ring. I take a deep breath, relaxing my stiff muscles.
“What do you need, Angel?” Mason lifts a hand and strokes my cheek. I lean into his hand.
“I-I need you to bear with me, I’m not used to having this many people care about me,” I whisper honestly. I hesitate before adding, “And I need someone to carry my bag because my whole bodyhurts.”
Everyone takes relieved sighs.
“Of course, Rory,” Mason says, lifting my hand and kissing it.
I slide out of the car, Dominic grabs my waist, helping me lower myself to the ground before backing away. I can tell I've scared him—made him thinkhescared me.
I walk up to him and throw my arms around his waist. I realise it’s a little much.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper as his arms come around me.
“Don’t ever apologise for speaking your mind, Rory.” Dominic sighs before kissing the top of my head. Eventually his arms release me and I take a step back.
Everyone gets out of the car and grabs their bags—Maverick taking mine too. We all walk into school together before going our separate ways. Maverick and I come into our English class just as she’s saying our names.
“Here,” Mav grumbles. I slide into the corner seat and he sits beside me, pulling out our stuff.
Maverick opens his laptop lid and starts working on another assignment. As the teacher drones on about the classics, I find myself nodding off.
About halfway through the lesson, Mav nudges my shoulder and tilts his head towards the window. Mason’s standing there waving. I slyly wave back and he pretends he’s having a fight with his hand. He silently cries out in outrage when it gets the better of him, forcing him to disappear below the window.
He pulls a laugh out of me which has the teacher giving me a stern look. Mav leans forward, glaring in a cold expression and she quickly looks away.
My eyes shift back to the window and I see Mase laughing at me. I poke my tongue out and he gives me a heated look. I remember what Luc said yesterday and go red.
“Mr Lawson!” A teacher yells at Mase in the hall and tells him to keep walking. I snicker and Mav rolls his eyes at his brother. I sneakily wave goodbye as Mason’s resistance draws the attention of our teacher who glances around to see who he’s talking to.
I shift uncomfortably in my seat, feeling the dull pain of my ribs start up again. Maverick gives me an ‘I told you so’ look and I scowl at him.
When I finally find a half okay position to sit in, the bell rings. I slowly stand and Mav packs up our stuff.
"Thanks," I murmur. He puts our bags over his shoulders, then grabs my hand, not looking at me when he does. I bite my lip to keep from smiling. I’m winning him over.
The hall grows quiet. Maverick’s hand tightens around mine when everyone stops and stares at us. I keep my eyes trained on the ground as we walk. Anyone who meets Mav’s eyes immediately looks away and eventually the hall fills with chatter again.
We walk to my next class, Psychology, where we meet Alec, Mason and…Dominic?
"You weren't here yesterday," I point out when I slowly sit down between him and Alec.
