Miles,

We've heard a lot about you and I would like to give you the honour of being a part of my gang. I would like to offer you the position of the lead fighter of our gang. The details can be discussed once you are brought to the gang headquarters. Waiting for a positive response.

Love,

King

I've never ever read a more obnoxious letter in my entire life. My eyes bulged at the audacity of him giving me the honour.

If I wasn't suffering with a fractured rib, I would've hunted those six douche bags and made them regret the day they were born.

Even his name sounded obnoxious, and I don't even know how that's possible.

We've heard about gangs sending in their fighters in the rinks to earn some extra cash or sometimes, just to practice, but no one really approached us like this.

Lexi looked pretty alarmed by the letter while I simply scoffed, shoving it in a desk drawer in my room.

It was now Thursday and I couldn't wait for the week to be fucking over. I was still recovering from a fracture on my rib, the teachers won't stop giving us homework, I feel like I'm already failing maths and last but not the least, Jason's gang has taken it upon themself to get on my last nerve, by making pervy comments whenever I pass by them.

As if on cue, I heard irritating footsteps from my side as I closed my locker shut.

Yes irritating footsteps, apparently some people are capable of making that happen.

"Good morning sunshine." Jason's voice made Lex and Cole stop whatever conversation they were having as I sighed, really not in the mood.

"Or should I say, Good morning, Miles." He leaned forward when I turned slowly to glare at him.

'Just bang his head in one of the lockers.'

For the first time, that sounds practical.

'I'm literally you...'

"I'm really not a morning person and I'm trying extra hard not to rip the rest of your hair out right now, Jason." I snapped at him when I saw two more figures coming to stand behind Jason. One of them being Locke, and I frowned when my eyes landed on the other figure, realising it's Logan.

Why's he with the douche group?

I turned my head to look at Jason as I saw him advance towards me.

"Woah there buddy, know your limits." I said raising my hand in front of me.

"What? Now that you're not a fat nerd, you think you're too good for me?" He said menacingly.

God he really does need help.

Cole took a step forward while I blocked him, from moving any further, with my arm.

I scoffed. "Too good for you? I was way out of your league, even back then." I spit at his face.

"Your nerdy self, who waddled like a penguin was out of my league? Sure darling." He said crossing his arms over his chest, while his minions, including Logan, snorted.

Cole stiffened beside me as he clenched his teeth, glaring at Logan.

"At least I didn't go around bullying kids, craving the attention that I didn't get from daddy." I shrugged, making him drop his smug look.

His body stiffened as it looked like he was going to advance towards me again when his gaze shifted to something behind me as he looked at me again, walking back.

"This isn't over." He said over his shoulder, before scurrying away, followed by Locke and Logan who had the same weird looks on their faces.

I frowned in confusion at their sudden urge to pee their pants, and as if on cue my unasked question was answered.

"What did that fucker want?" Ryder's voice echoed through the corridor, making me turn to him as he looked at Jason's back as if he could shoot lasers with his eyes.

I rolled my eyes at those pansies. They weren't afraid to pounce at me in the middle of the hallway but one look at Ryder and they scurry off like squirrels?

Scratch that. Squirrels are cute.

"Good morning to you too." I joked, making him snap his eyes at me.

He took a huge step, stopping right in front of me, before scanning me from head to toe.

"What did he want?" He asked again, meeting my eyes.

I opened my eyes to answer with a 'nothing' or 'stop overreacting' or 'you're making my heart flutter'. Probably one of the first two but I couldn't, as Lexi opened her big mouth.

"Thank God you came when you did, because he looked like he was seconds away from pouncing on her." She said, faking exasperation, while my jaw dropped at that.

She wasn't completely lying. Being the professional that I am, I managed to get on his nerves. He did look ready to pounce at me but I didn't find it necessary to tell that to Ryder.

Ryder's eyes snapped back to mine. "He was going to what?" He growled in an impossibility low voice, making my eyes widen and heat erupt in my core.

"B- but he didn't. Come on Ryder, you're overreacting." I finally said, startled by his reaction.

From the corner of my eyes I noticed, Cole and Lex exchange looks with a smirk.

"Yeah he didn't." Cole started, making me sigh. "He only called her, what? A fat nerd and said she wad-"

"I'm sorry, he called you a what now?" Ryder said in his same deep voice, followed by a dark chuckle. "Wait here, I'll be back in a minute."

I desperately latched my hands around his arm, feeling his bicep tense under my grip making me imagine what it would feel like to be held by him.

What the fuck?

I shook my head at the thought, making Ryder turn to face me. "Oh no you're not going anywhere, big guy. I don't want you to get in trouble because of me."

When the rage in his eyes didn't falter I continually. "If it helps, I did some pretty serious damage to his ego. He's probably out there, sitting on a football, crying."

The corner of his lips moved as a small smile found its way to his face. "You did, didn't you."

I nodded, frantically.

I heard Lex and Cole high fiving each other, making me narrow my eyes at them.

We parted ways to go to our classes. Thankfully I had maths with Lex and Ryder, so that I could keep an eye on him making sure he doesn't run off to look for Jason.

I didn't notice Logan with Jason and his dumb friends before, but I brushed of the suspicion and tried to concentrate in class.

*****

I groaned walking out of Maths followed by Ryder who simply chuckled at my tired state.

"Stop it. I don't know what's wrong with me. I used to be good at studies." I whined, glancing at Ryder as we slowly made our way towards the cafeteria.

It was finally lunch and not surprisingly, I was starving.

Before Ryder could reply with a snide comment, my body lurched sideways as I felt someone's elbow digging into my side as he ran through the crowd.

Ryder's arms were around me in an instant before I could fall face first.

"Hey! Watch where you're going asshole!" He called out as I winced in pain.

Now before you judge me for being sensitive, let me remind you that I have a broken rib that's still recovering and that guy elbowed me right in that area.

I bent over to catch my breath, making Ryder squat and look up at me, concerned.

"Hey hey you good?"

I nodded taking deep breaths, as I thought that sucking it up and taking a painkiller later is a much better option than having to explain to him why I have a broken rib.

"I'm good." I said with a weak smile as I stood up straight, trying not to wince.

Ryder opened his mouth, probably to object when we sensed movement in the hallway as more people ran in the direction, that the last kid ran in.

He glanced back at them and shifted to, very unsubtly, shield me from the commotion.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I looked at where they're running to, only to see a small crowd at the end of the hall, by the main entrance.

Then there were shouts, from somewhere in the middle of the crowd and Ryder and I looked at each other, as we heard a familiar voice.

Our eyes widened as we rushed towards the crowd, pushing people out of the way.

In the centre, leaning against the locker was Logan and what made me gasp was that he had his arms around Jennie's waist, as the two looked at a small, devastated figure, standing in front of them.

Perri stood there looking up at Logan with tears in her eyes as I could tell that she was trying hard not to cry.

"How could you do this?" Perri asked blinking vigorously, to keep her tears at bay, as her eyes slowly turned red.

"Don't you use that accusing tone on me." Logan said narrowing his eyes at Perri.

I never liked the guy. Perri was too good for him as she treated him well, always trying to keep him in the loop, while he used to be on his phone.

I almost wanted to go and snap his fucking neck at the way he was taunting and looking down at Perri, while Jennie dragged her claws over his chest, smirking.

I moved to take a step towards them when two hands grabbed my arms, stopping me. I looked to the sides to see Ryder and Cole holding me back.

Cole was looking straight at Perri with his teeth clenched, while Ryder shook his head at me and looked at me as telling me that it's her fight.

"You're lucky I even dated someone as annoying as you in the first place." Logan scoffed, making me clench my fists.

"You should really be thanking me, because if it weren't for me, you'd still be a good-for-nothing virgin. At least half of it doesn't apply anymore." He laughed, making Perri look down in shame as a single fell out of her eyes and on the floor.

I saw a flash of red as I was pushed back yet again, falling in the arms of Ryder who steadied me, rolling his eyes. "Why are you getting pushed around today?"

"Same question, buddy." I shook my head, standing up straight before glaring at Logan and Jennie, who were looking right at me with smirks plastered on their faces.

I turned to the other side to see Cole nowhere in sight and assumed that he already ran after Perri.

I clenched my fists as I decided on not wasting my time on them and ran out of the school where I saw Perri heading, Ryder following close behind me.

People were already snickering and talking about what they heard and that made me sick.

We reached the back of the field and spotted Cole squatting in the back of the stands. Ryder and I ran there without a second thought.

"He- he humiliated me." Her sobs greeted us when we reached near them.

She had folded herself in a ball as she continued crying, while Cole squatted beside her, side-hugging her, patting her shoulder.

"Why her? What- what's wrong with m- me?" She sobs making my heart clench in pain, as Cole's grip on her tightened. "Am I not good enough?"

"Hey hey, don't you dare think like that Perri." Cole said shifting to look at her, cupping her face, making her look at him. "You are a beautiful and amazing girl and that ass didn't deserve you. He doesn't even know what he just lost."

Perri sniffled looking at him before launching herself in his arms, as fresh tears erupted from her eyes. "It was so embarrassing. I can never go inside ever again. I can't believe he said that about me."

My fists clenched as I heard those very familiar words.

"What did I do to make them hate me so much?"

"Am I really that ugly and fat?"

"Do I really not deserve to live?"

A warm hand enveloped mine bringing me out of my trance, as if sensing my discomfort.

"Just say the word Per, and I'll go punch him till his head works right." Cole said tightening his hold on her and she cried on his shoulder. I nodded frantically, loving the idea and stepped forward but was pulled back immediately.

"No. None of you will do anything stupid." He said sending me a pointed look as if he knew exactly what's going on in my head. "I'll do whatever needs to be done. Besides, I think we all agree that Perri is better off without that sorry excuse of a boyfriend." He said looking at Perri with soft eyes, making her crack a small smile through her tears.

"Totally. We never told you this before, but we never really liked him." Cole said to her tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Yeah, specially Cole." I said widening my eyes a little. "Hated him with a burning passion." I said masking my smug look as Cole glared at me.

Karma is a bitch.

That made Perri turn to look at Cole with furrowed eyebrows. "Why didn't you say something, then?"

"You were, well, happy and I didn't want to ruin that for you." Cole sighed.

"You're still my friend Coco, your opinion matters to me." She said sniffleing.

A look of hurt crossed Cole's face but he covered it with a smile, before nodding as Perri went back to clinging to him.

They spoke in whispers when Ryder grabbed my hand dragging me just outside the stands, out of hearing distance.

"Did I make myself clear or do I need to repeat, Miles?" He said right after we come to a halt, making me turn to look at him.

I gave him a confused look in response making him roll his eyes.

"I need you to, not do anything stupid or get hurt." He said looking down at me, not letting go of my hand and my stomach thought it would be the perfect time to start fluttering.

"Yeah yeah." I said waving my free hand dismissively, and both know I was lying because he didn't let the topic go.

"I want you to promise me, Miles." He continued, knowing that there's something brewing in my head.

He wasn't wrong though. As pleased as I was at the thought of Ryder beating up the three ass-keteers, I knew that wouldn't be enough. By their reactions and the looks on their faces when they see Ryder, I don't think getting beaten up by him would be a big deal for any of them.

What they deserve is to be humiliated, just like Logan did to Perri.

Yes, I know I'm not being the bigger person but I've spent all my life being walked over and forgiveness is the last thing any of those assholes deserve.

I looked up at Ryder, mustering the most blank look on my face.

"I promise, I won't get hurt, Ryder."

*****

I stood with Lex by the school gate as I checked my phone.

You can hold him, right?

Pfft are you kidding? Easily.

Great. Just be on time.

But are you really sure about this?

Yeah I'm sure. They crossed the line with Perri, you know?

Yeah I get it. Just be careful, my grip might just slip if I sense you being in danger.

Got it.

I heard the school bell ring, as I send the last text.

It's show time.

*Author's note*