While I strove to break free from these two inhumanely strong football guys, Kaden had led us to the back of the building where, as I expected, no one was around. And from that, I knew they had malicious intent so excuse me if I was distraught.

A tremble of trepidation traveled down the length of my body, inciting my breathing coming in short just when I realized we were moving towards a trash dumpster that was located at the far end of the path.

"You guys are gonna beat me up and throw me into a dumpster?" I spoke for the first time after minutes of forced silence.

They all cracked out laughing as if I had come up with the funniest joke. I opened my mouth to protest but nothing came to mind. After a while, Kaden whipped around to nod at his friends.

Without another word, I was pushed onto the pavement like I wasn't even a human being. Luckily for me, I got to put my hands down in time to support my weight. I was too close to smashing my face into the hard ground.

Kaden squatted down in front of me, making a mocking tsk sound. "Not so brave without Ethan now, huh? I still remembered the way you called me out in front of everyone."

"I'm sorry, Kaden. I made a mistake. Just please, please, don't hurt me," I told him seriously.

"Nobody's going to harm you, bro" he told, though I wasn't really convinced. "Not when this school has a zero-tolerance policy for bullying," he assured me.

"Yeah, you think we are that stupid?" One of his friends chuckled, throwing his head back and the other guy joined him.

In my stunned confusion, I looked up to Kaden. "Why did you bring me here then?"

"You'll see." Kaden's eyes flitted around as he stood up. "Come out, man. I took this trash out for you," he shouted at whoever was there.

An instant later, Kaleb stepped out from behind the corner building, spearing me with the nastiest glare. The scalding heat of his stare made me shudder. Terror starting to bubble up inside me as he approached.

"You're one stubborn mule of a guy, you know that? I asked you nicely to stop seeing Ethan but clearly, you wanna test my patience." Kaleb's voice dripped with anger.

With gritted teeth, he continued. "Guess I'm gonna have to tear your face apart with my bare hands for you to understand."

With that, Kaleb charged forward to grab me. I reacted fast by coming to my feet and tried to run away but luck wasn't on my side that day; the other two guys moved quicker to confront me and blocking the way. They shoved me off into Kaleb's grip.

Kaleb went to snatch my backpack off me with ease. I was caught off guard by how fast he was and my attempt to get it back had ended up with me being humiliatingly pushed onto a pile of trash bags nearby.

In a trembling voice, I begged Kaleb to stop his doings while I helplessly watched him flip over my backpack and dump out the contents. Books, notes, and my stationeries littered the ground and at once he began to stomp on my belongings with his boots, I felt like shedding a tear.

Not satisfied with that, Kaleb sprinted to pick me up by the collar and then slammed my back against the wall. I tried my best to hold in a scream after the jarring pain from the impact caught up with my nerves and without me knowing it, Ethan's name escaped my mouth.

"Whoa, easy man. I think Andrew's got the message now," Kaden made an effort to reason with his friend, worry etched on his face.

Kaleb smirked and held me tighter. "Well, I've changed my mind. Beating him up would be more satisfying, don't you think, Kade?"

Kaden shook his head, not able to look me in the eye. "I didn't sign up for this shit, man. Just let Andrew go. He's literally one second away from shitting his pants."

"Stay back or you'll be next," Kaleb warned him sharply.

Kaden knitted his brows slightly, giving him a look of disbelief. "This is fucking crazy. You're gonna get us in trouble."

Out of thin air, a trash bag came flying and landed on his face sending him stumbling back a few steps. "Ow," Kaden groaned, rubbing the aching spot with his palm.

"Hey, assholes! Get away from Andrew." I immediately turned, mouth parted, and not comprehending how to react when I heard Steve's voice.

Appearing infuriated, he then came scurrying all his six feet athletic self in our direction with someone who I least expected to be showing up that day behind him.