14 Pinky promise

                                    

                                          
It was days after the incident and nothing seemed to change so she only squeezed deeper into her small shell and tried her best to be invisible. If it worked.
She was always the first to leave a class and would she go straight to her usual place before everyone was out in the halls. 
Just like every other day, she sat in the old and forgotten library.
Although it could no longer be called a library because of the lack of amenities, little to no furniture, and no presence, she could still perceive the smell of old books, and old wood and  anyone could feel the emptiness of it from afar. 
Which was why she chose this spot, plus no student in their right senses would choose to hang out there. Except for her, of course.
Placing her chin on her knees, she read a book, 'Unexpected Blessings' by Taylor Barbra.
 Not her kind of book, but she'd found the not-so-old book covered in dust in the very library she sat in, although the book had some pages torn out of it, she was more than enjoying it. 
A chair scrapped somewhere in the library which had Jade almost pee her pants, echoed. Adrian Bradford sat in front of her with a very apologetic face, her instinct was to make a run like a scared puppy but she didn't.
All thanks to Tylor Barbra's book, she wanted to at least act a lady, not a child, and finish her book in peace. 
She decided to act cool, she closed her book picked up her bag a stood to leave. He grabbed her hand. 
Some days ago, she would have blushed about it, but at the moment she felt disgusted by the mere touch. 
She jerked her hand away from his like it burnt her. 
"Hey, please listen, I didn't mean to, let me explain"
She didn't want to listen to more lies at the moment, maybe some other time. 
"No need to explain I understand." She made to leave, but Adrian was fast to block her path. "Look, I did it for you" and that's what broke her nerve.
"'No! Don't-you-dare," she said through clenched teeth. "You did it for yourselves "
"Ourselves?"
Jade was furious he even had the right to act oblivious. "For you and April's dimwit! All you guys ever do is harass me, ever? I barely know you"
Tears threatened to spill but she wasn't about to look weak, at least she was trying.
"Look, let me explain" She persuaded her but she didn't care.
"Go on and lie" She waited for him to spill the tea with her hands crossed.
He let out a deep breath. "Sit" sounded like an order when she pointed to her seat. She gave the most murderous glare she could make and didn't move a muscle. "Please!" He added but when she just moved he knew she meant business.
"Look, I know this might sound odd, but April kinda had a feeling that something has gone on between us since the day I took you with me" "What?" Her voice echoed in the room. 
She couldn't believe that, and it was damn impossible. He sighed for the tenth time and continued. "So they had a really bad plan going for you and I just had to make it look like I didn't like you, "he said.
Like he didn't like her? Did he? She raised a brow and he realized what he had said. " You understand me don't you?" He tried to clean things up.
" B-but you don't- and h-h-ow could s-she even think that? it's crazy," she stuttered although her voice was rising. She let it, and for some reason scolding him came naturally.
"Yes, it is." He gulped. "And I'm sorry, but I can make it up to you. If you would let me."
She didn't want to be lied to again or fall into some trap, but why did she have a strong feeling he wasn't lying? What if he did it for her? 
Didn't change the fact that he had hurt her by tossing her away like he didn't want anything to do with her but if she was being honest it helped. April would sizzle into steak if had friends or worse if her new crush befriended her. They'd be an assassination attempt for sure.
Believing people was now a hard thing for her, when she looked at him, she wanted to see a lie but he looked too afraid, sorry, and soft at her. He was staring back and for minutes they just stared at each other. His eyes pierced hers deep, along the line his gaze was growing dark and she had to retreat. 
Never had she met anyone who had so many emotions displayed so clearly in their eyes one time it was perfectly casual and amused, the next moment it seemed lost, and then it was protective but still friendly and soft but it was the way his eyes darkened that made her move on her feet every time, because it was a look she didn't understand, it was confusing and yet so captivating, her body was beginning to heat up.
One minute he was helping her up, the other he was pushing her down, and next, he was staring at her like that. It was hot and cold and he wanted to destroy her.
She mentally slapped herself awake " Bring it on!" She saw him blink fast she thought he had a whiplash, he didn't expect her to respond like that.
"Very well!" He coughed "Let's start with something small."
He brought out a paper and handed it to her. She eyed him suspiciously, he just nodded his head and gestured for her to open it.
She unfolded the paper and read its contents.
It started with an apology and ended with
"First step: Defense"
She peered up at him and wondered what he was up to. It seemed of no use to reject his offer anymore after all she wanted to be able to defend herself from people like him.
"Go through it when you're alone, and promise to do exactly as I say" Her instincts screamed 'NO' but a more equally dominant side screamed 'YES'.
She leaned forward still staring at the paper like a piece of art, and stretched out her pinky finger. 
He chuckled, he had the guts to chuckle. She was annoyed but blushed nevertheless. Yes, she was still one of the few who gave pinky promises.
He joined his pinky finger to hers which was much bigger and warmth sipped into her like she just touched a wand.
"I-I-I p-promise." She was suddenly feeling nervous and scared.
"There's more on the back," he added with their pinkies still joined. She flipped it and read. 
1. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR HEAD UP!
She gulped down and nodded her head, the irony of her situation was swinging in her face. The floor was her art. "I-I will t-try my best." She accepted. "Bien! I will be watching and I believe in you princess."
He turned to excuse her. "Good luck, I will be watching, and by the way nice hideout." He gave her a wink and then he left her looking red and confused.