✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

My heart is so full of you

I can hardly call it

My own.

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

-Chapter 35-- A protective wall around me-

"Hey, are you listening? "A girl with fiery pink hair dabs me lightly on my left arm, catching my attention.

"I'm sorry, what did you say? "Alex." She rolls her green eyes and looks at her paper again.

"Did you answer the second question? "My gaze was on her, as a sheepish smile stretched slowly on my face as my head slightly shook from side to side, guilt seeping through my bones.

She was going to say something but the bell cut her off.

Thank God... The bell saves me right on time.

Everyone starts gathering their belongings and making their way out the door. My mind wasn't letting me focus on anything today.

My thoughts kept wandering back to last night and what occurred between the twins and I.

At how my body was responding to Leo's rough touch and soft possessive lips.

And also about how close I was about to lose my life, so easily like that. Damn, I am still shaken up by that fact alone.

Does my father know that the twins own a firearm? I doubt it. Maybe I should convince my dad to take them to therapy or something.

I looked at my schedule and it was lunchtime. A sigh comes out of my lips, already not liking the idea of lunch.

I couldn't make any female friends, for some odd reason that I can't wrap my head around to understand their bad attitude towards me.

Some girls had this secret vendetta against me. And I don't even know... Why?

Have I somehow offended them in some way?

Maybe I said something they didn't like. Or is it my poor choice of clothes today?

I haven't even been here a day, and I already have enemies... Making friends feels like a difficult dream. It is not as easy as the TV shows make it out to be.

Maybe one of the twin guys did something to those girls. And now got them taking out any frustration that they have with my step brothers on me.

I wouldn't be surprised if the twins did something to those girls that left them a little bitter inside.

They don't have anything better to do than cause unnecessary drama with a person who has no involvement in whatever situation my stepbrothers dragged them into.

At least I got along with some of the teachers. Some are painfully nice and understanding, while others are just plain rude.

Man, why is it so hard to make friends here? Oh well.

I gather all my stuff and make myself out of the door, and wander down the bright hallway until I find the cafeteria.

I was planning on going to the library to wait it out until the next class, but I'm hungry and a girl needs to eat.

Besides, Leo has accustomed me to eat a lot.

I could already hear him lecturing me to never skip eating again, and teaching me the importance of food for the body...I sadly smile at that as I make my way down the long hall.

When I'm inside the enormous cafeteria filled with people, I quickly make my way to the small line of students waiting to get their food.

While waiting in line, I took that time to look around the enormous cafeteria. Let's say everyone was in specific groups, where they belonged. There were some unique ones spread around, but everyone stayed in their specific groups that matched their aesthetic.

The lunchroom is so colorful, it was kinda pleasing to the eyes. I could look at the walls forever and never get tired of their color.

"Emma, if you don't proceed in the line. How are we going to get our food? " A familiar deep voice says it with humor behind me.

My gaze snaps to the person behind. It was Leo. He gently grabs my shoulder, making my body tense up immediately. Then he starts motioning me to step forward a few times to close the gap that the line had formed.

"I'm sorry." I say, out of reflex.

"Don't be... How are the classes going for you? "It kinda shocks me that he is being nice, right now. That was a complete contrast to last night, when he was so rough around the edges.

"They're going... Great. Leo. "I gaze ahead as I step forward, again.

"Emma... If anyone is troubling you in any way, shape, or form, don't hesitate to just come to me. I'll fix that problem really quickly. Okay?"His voice was so close to my left ear that my body froze in place as my poor heart accelerated in speed.

Why is he so close?

Is he crazy?

"Come on, Emma, keep moving forward before the people behind us start complaining that we're holding up the line." I could almost imagine the cocky smile forming on his face as he said those words with a hint of amusement in his low tone that made my knees feel weak.

I nodded as I strolled forward to get my lunch. It wasn't anything fancy, but it was edible. When I was about to leave Leo's side to go to the library. Leo grabs me by my grey bag back strap.

"Hey, what the hell, Leo? "The tray of food nearly slips out of my hands. Good thing, he didn't pull me in the process.

"Where are you going?" Is this deja vu? Because he's given me the same curious vibes of Kevin from this morning at the parking lot.

"Uhhh. To eat on a table... Duh. Leo. " From the corner of my eyes, I noticed some people were gazing this way. Others gasped for some weird reason, as if I had disrespected a king or something. And it kinda feels that way now that more and more people's attention is being pulled this way.

Am I missing something?

Why is everyone staring at us, like if a fight is about to break out?

"Come with me." He doesn't even give me time to object when he starts pulling me by the strap of my grey bag back.

Many eyes followed us when we passed by. Some threw me pity looks, while others were checking me out... completely, as if they were judging my whole existence and worth by the way I look... just like I do with them.

This was the last thing I wanted to do... stand out. Especially in school. When we make it to the direction that he is pulling me in, he finally lets go of me.

He is such a gentleman... When he wants to be.

I observed the table. Let's say that there seem to be two groups of people here.

The athletes and the troublemakers. This was an odd combination of friends. And by the feeling in my gut, I could already sense that they were not good people to build a deep bond with.

Some of the females were already giving me looks. Do I look that dislikable to be around or what? Or maybe I dressed weirdly today? I need to step up my game with these clothes.

As if they are figuring out if I'm rich or poor by the way I dress... I mean... If they assume I'm poor, then they're right because nothing that my father owns belongs to me.

Some of the guys stopped talking to each other when they saw us approaching. I immediately spotted Kevin in the group with a brunette on his lap.

I am pretty sure his girlfriend is a redhead. What the hell is he doing with this girl? Is this the side chick that the redhead was talking about yesterday? Perhaps it is.

Kevin is bold in doing that out in the open with another girl. I kind of pity the pretty red-head a little.

Now that I think about it... Where is she and the pretty blondie? Oh well... Not my problem.

There's only one chair vacant... Where am I going to sit? Before this became awkward, I proceeded to turn around to leave. The last thing I want is to humiliate myself in front of people who could literally destroy you with their words.

But Leo had other plans in mind and it showed when he took my lunch and placed it on the table.

And then he proceeds to pull me onto his lap. My eyes go wide... What the hell is Leo fucking thinking?

Is he forgetting that we are siblings? Doesn't he think that his friends are going to find this weird.

Does he really want me to stab him with this plastic fork because he is tempting me, right now?

Is this one of his many jokes that he likes to pull on me?

Or was this retaliation for denying him yesterday for not sitting on his lap?

Before I could even say anything to this guy. A cheerful girl with black straight long hair says, " New girlfriend? I see Leo.

What happened?

Got tired of the blonde that quick? "

Everyone at the table stopped chatting when they heard her words. All their eyes were on me now.

Observing me from head to toe, like if they're trying to find any flaws in me. They wouldn't see any because all my flaws are inside me... in the deepest darkest part of my dimly lit soul.

My head shakes from side to side, as my gaze drops down, not knowing what the hell to say or do. This is so nerve-racking... being at a table full of strangers.

My words were stuck in my throat, too frightened to explain this odd situation in front of these people.

Plus, sitting in Leo's lap wasn't helping with my anxiety at all. Leo and Kevin are taking this stupid inside joke of their's way too far.

Damn it, Why do the twins like to put me in uncomfortable situations like this?

Do they like seeing me uncomfortable all the damn time?

Do they find this funny? Because this isn't funny to me.

" Damn, Leon. It didn't even pass a day and you're already hitting on the new girl. When you're finished with her. Share. " A guy with dark tattoos says, as many around the table snicker at his words. I don't find what he said amusing one bit.

What the hell is wrong with these people?

Share... Ewww, no.

What kind of drug is this dude on?

Seriously, I want to know... because no one in their right mind would say something like that and think that's, Okay.

Only a lunatic who has no self-awareness of what he said would utter such nasty things like that.

And here I thought Kevin and Leo were the only demented ones in the area. But, I was so wrong because these people are even worse.

Who finds humor in that?

Kevin and Leo don't join them in their laughter. Instead, they got more serious. A cold, unhumorous expression was displayed on their faces.

If I was that inked guy, I would probably start running by now.

Some stopped laughing when they laid their eyes on the twin murderous glares.

I just hope they don't fight... that is not what I want to see on my first day here.

"For your information. That's their little sister, Idiot. "When I hear Hansol's stern voice, I gaze up, slightly surprised.

My soft little smile that emerged on my face to greet him disappeared as quickly as it came.

When the tension in the air got worse.

I hadn't noticed that Hansol was here amongst this group of people. Maybe the nerves didn't let me observe them that well.

I looked around the table once more to see if William was anywhere amongst them, but nope... I felt a little disappointed not seeing him here.

I wonder what he's up to?

All the others stopped laughing when they heard what Hansol said.

"Wait...You guys have a sister? " Another guy at the table just shamelessly stares at me as if a weird-looking alien has asked him for his blue energy drink that he had in his right hand.

"But... She looks nothing like you guys at all. " A girl that was sitting on one of the guys says as she doesn't stray her hazel bright mesmerizing eyes away from me.

"Yeah, she's so tiny, too.

Poor thing, it's like you guys took all the tall genes before she could even take some." Some guy chants as others snicker at his second comment. Many of them looked really amused, especially the guys. They had this evil glint in their eyes that shone brighter than the little stars at night.

I could already feel their wicked intentions towards me. Even though some of them seem and even sound like "good guys", those are the ones I need to be afraid of more.

Something deep down in me warns me to stay far away from the devils with a nice smile and kind words.

What if they are worse than Leo and Kevin? I already have two sociopaths to handle. There is no time on my watch to deal with more crazy people.

'Birds of a feather flock together.'And I think those wise words apply perfectly to all of them.

Like, why aren't they finding it weird that I'm sitting on top of Leo's lap... No normal siblings would do this... Are they that afraid to say anything?

"I'm just gonna make this clear once.

None of you better lay a finger on her. Understand. " Leo sounded so deadly. I tense up, while everyone at the table goes completely silent, many of them frowning at the warning... Not liking it one bit that Leo set up a visible wall around me.

All the guys nod their heads, not trying to piss him off, I presume by their facial expression alone. But their eyes say otherwise. It seems like they're going to push his button by using me somehow.

You can just tell that they're straight-up lying to Leo's face by their body language. They don't even try to conceal it at all.

Why do I have a feeling they're gonna do the complete opposite of what they're agreeing to right now.

"Wow. I would never have thought that the twins would be such protective big brothers.

Now, I like that." The same dark-headed brunette that asked the first question says with humor in her voice, as some of the other girls agree with her.

I shut them all out as I started devouring my food quietly. Ignoring everyone's hard stares. I just wish lunch would go fast and be over already.

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

Please ignore any bad grammar for now. I'll fix it in the future.

⭐

😭

Please leave a comment, I would love to know what you guys think of this chapter. It would keep me more motivated and make me laugh a little.