Chapter 10: Little Miss Hero

CILIAN

Their gazes pierced into him like a stray dog was at their feet. Cilian grinded his teeth, ignoring the throbbing pain on the left side of his jaw where a blueish grey bruise was forming. Damn, their hits were just as hard as he remembered. It seemed that everything in the past was the exact same, which unfortunately meant that these two- James and Francis, would be looking for him to return the cash he borrowed. They were more like beavis and butthead, and were stupid enough to believe his promise of returning the cash. It wasn't like they were hurting over the lost 50 bucks, coming from rich families and all. Usually Cilian would've been able to avoid them like the plague, but all that happened- it threw him off his game. He let out a heavy sigh, standing up with a slight tremble. "Just relax, alright? I said I'd get the money, even with interest." His voice was rough, fighting to leave his throat.

Jamie- the one with the bad bowl cut, scoffed. "I think we takes us for fools."

"Yeah, it's been three damn weeks, asshole." Francis sneered, cracking his knuckles in an attempt to look threatening. It failed, in all honesty.

Cilian rolled his eyes, pushing back his tousled hair. "Is this the part where you teach me a lesson?" He dryly said, rolling back his shoulders. A fight was the last thing Cilian needed right now, but he also couldn't afford to let himself be beaten.

"You guys don't have to do this…" He said, mostly for their own sake.

"You did this to yourself," James was the first one to approach, his stance sloppy with fists held up at his chin. Cilian held back an annoyed sigh.

Just as he raised his own fists, the door to the storage closet swung open and a backpack landed itself against the back of James' head. He fell to his knees and yelped like a wounded puppy, clutching his head. Francis whipped around, while Cilian's gaze shifted towards the door. There stood. Wait- Ivy?

Cilian's eyes nearly bulged out his head, taking in the sight of the girl who stood there panting, her hands in fists at her sides, her chestnut brown hair lifting in the wind, faintly blowing over her shoulder and staring daggers at James.

"This is a school, not a frickin fight club!" She shouted, snapping Cilian out of his thoughts. He turned to look at Francis, who advanced towards Ivy with a seething rage. No way, he wouldn't really hit a girl, right?

"You bitch. Who the hell do you think you are, huh?" Francis' words dripped with venom, and Cilian could see Ivy tense up, panic washing over her face.

Cilian's nerves electrified. He rushed forward and grabbed Francis' shoulder, digging his nails into the skin. Damn it, Francis was already lounging towards Ivy, bound to make contact in mere seconds. Ivy's leg somehow swang up even faster, her foot colliding with Francis' crotch. Cilian recoiled from the sight, wincing himself. He stepped back with wide eyes. Francis let out a pained yelp, stiffened, before dropping to the floor in a foetal position, trembling. Damn, he wouldn't wish that pain on his worst enemy. Well- maybe a little. Ivy stumbled back herself, breathing heavily.

"Stay back! Or I'll do it again." She stuttered out, puffing her chest. It looked like a sore attempt at a bluff.

"You little-"

Cilian whipped around to find James now standing up, clenching his jaw so hard it would snap. Shit. He got between him and Ivy, raising his fists in a defensive stance. James' expression suddenly changed. His skin reassembled a sheet of paper, his eyes slowly widening. He seemed to blankly look past Cilian, causing him to raise a brow. But then Ivy gasped behind him, and he turned to see what was going on. His racing heart came to a screeching halt.

"That was quite the kick there."

Cilian's gaze fell on Hyun Kim. His tall stature loomed down behind Ivy, an arm draped over her shoulder, his face at eye-level with hers.

"I'm impressed, princess." He cooed, a smirk spreading across his thin lips. Ivy visibly tensed, while Cilian wanted nothing more than to slip out of this situation entirely. Just what the hell was Hyun Kim of all people doing here?