The Four Beta Brothers – Chapter 18

JUNIPER

Despite the rough way the weekend started out, it ended up being better than I had anticipated. I hardly spent any time in my dorm, thanks to Asher. Between studying and eating nearly every meal together, he kept me distracted the entire time. It made me dread Monday, though.

He kept me in a small bubble, where I didn’t have to think about the horrible video going around the entire school, but it would be impossible to avoid it today. I had to go to my class. Ditching wasn’t an option, even though part of me wished it was. I just hoped the day wouldn’t be as bad as I imagined it.

I had to worry about at least. It didn’t calm my nerves much, though.

forward. My hands slammed against the ground, and pain shocked my arms. My palms stung from rocks scraping against them, and my knees throbbed from the

ritten in big black letters. Below my name, my phone number was written. I looked around, and the papers were everywhere. I saw orange plaste

should be added to that list.”

t of them, but I did know Ashely. She stood behind me, right where I was shoved from.

aid, “Bully should be added to your list of adjectives.”

erful, and I was able to keep my balance after stumbling for a moment. I turned my body so I could keep an eye on all of the girls.

f growled in my head, and a sense

ooks so scared,” one of the girls taunted.

e again, I will report you all to the admin.” I

dn’t know that.” I stared directly at Ashley, but I made sure to keep my eyes on the other girls.

Shut up! You’re useless!” Ashley lunged at me, and I put my

. Just leave me alone already!”

ks,” Ashley snarled. Her claws started emerging from her fingers, and if she kept this up, she would pierce my skin.

g me into the wall.

would make everything much worse.

.

could get suspended if she got caught in this situation, too.

“Hey, Nathan.”

Nathan?” one of the g

nd her ear. “We were just helping her when she fell down.”

you guys were bullying her, which would be an absolute shame. I really hate when my fans turn out to be bullies.”

bullying her,” Ashley said. She shot me a warning look, and I had the feeling she didn’t want me to tell Nathan

s just leaving,” I said in return. I wasn’t about to pretend that Ashley was innocent, but I was ready to get her away from me.

ls watched her, waiting for some sort of

, but his eyes were intense, changing the vibe completely. “I hope to see

longer to look at Nathan.

ous. It’s like they think I’m too stupid to see through their lies.”

ieve Moira and her friends were good people, but every day, it became clearer and clearer what kind of people they truly were.

“Are you okay?”

y hurt you before I got here?” Nathan took a step closer to me, and his e

thing.” I quickly became aware of the throbbing in my hands and knees again. For a moment, I had be

sorry you have to go through this.”

anyone will do anything serious against me.”

ng this bullying. If you don’t, it’ll just get worse.”

ew they were right. “I will. Immediately after cla

f you get me your schedule, I would be perfectly happy to be your personal bodyguard.”

d my lips tight. “I can’t ask that

looked at me when I was staying in their dorm only confirmed my suspicion. Even now, the way he held and kissed my hand, the way he stepped in to protect me, I felt his affection. I appreciated the way he looked at me. It was nice to have another person looking at me fondly in the sea of hatred, but I wasn’t going to lead Nathan on.

at don’t bother you. I don’t like seeing you hurt, Juny.” Nathan stroked his thumb over my palm, and his to

omething at the back of my head, but it felt like reaching into a dark void. The nickname f

eet, which was why I wanted him to know there was something going on with Asher and myself.

. That’s not going to stop me from caring about you, though. Please, let me walk you to class. If you got hurt by something I could’ve prevented, then I wouldn’t forgive myself.”

myself and still wanted to help, then I didn’t see anything wrong with that. “Okay, but only for

by yourself,” Nathan insisted.

me walking me to class.”

ure you are safe, so I will do what I need to.”

, then.” I started walking towards my next class, wanting to take advantage of the escort. Even though I didn’t want Nathan to walk me to every class, it did make

tarstruck when she saw him, and she wasn’t going to risk ruining her reputation with Nathan Burrell.

d next to me.

oodness of your heart,” I laughed, side-eying him.

u’re in the crowd to cheer me on,” he said.

an find it in the goodness of my heart to go to your g