"Rhys Lawerence Adams," I scold from the end of the hallway, my phone clutched in my hand tightly as he visibly flinches. "You promised me you wouldn't do anything."

As I get closer to him I see him relax and look at me from over his shoulder. He says something inaudible before shoving a textbook into his back pack harder than necessary. I stop raising an eyebrow for him to explain.

"I didn't do anything."

The lie infuriates me more as I show him my phone. "Really so this magically happened to Mr Frankel's classroom?"

Rhys does a double take of the photo and a grin slips onto his lips. But when his eyes meet mine it quickly fades. I cluck my tongue and turn it around to look at the photo myself. His classroom was absolutely trashed.

Apart from the obvious tipped over tables and chairs, the paint splattered onto the whiteboard won't come off with just water and then there's his desk. The once pristine white - organized to perfection - has it's contents stuck down in super glue and out of place.

"Firstly - he deserved it for being a shitty teacher not to just you but several other students," He closes his locker and tugs the zip across his bag. "Secondly, who told you my middle name?"

"I know it was you by the sketch I drew for you - that paper mysteriously vanished from my English textbook first period - while it appears to be drawn on the whiteboard," I cluck my tongue with a raised eyebrow. "And Lachlan told me when I asked, well demanded, where you would be."

"You talked to Lachlan?" I nod slowly and he exhales. "I'm surprised he didn't hit on you."

"Why would he?" I snort unattractively, flushing as he smiles.

"He thinks you're hot and I honestly don't want to see that happening."

"I don't think that would be the end of the world if he did," Rhys' head snaps to me with a stern look. "What? He seems nice and it's not like he's ugly. . ."

"No."

"What?"

"Lachlan doesn't do relationships," He deadpans. "So I'm saying don't bother going there."

"Has he ever had one?"

Rhys shakes his head and stops for a moment. "Not ones that are in a commitment. I'm the one in our friendship who would be dateable."

My lips suck in as I nod once. "I'll remember that but I feel like I should tell you he invited me along to get frozen yogurt after school with you guys. Something about wanting to get to know me better which is-"

"Nate has gotten into his head that we're secretly dating," Rhys explains, scratching the back of his neck with a slight shrug. "I swear that I'm going to kill my brother one day because he never knows when to shut his mouth. Plus I wasn't the one who did that to Mr Frankel's classroom, I merely supervised."

I narrow my eyes. "Did you get Nate involved in-"

The bell goes and he flashes me a smirk. "Sorry babe I got to go," He ruffles my hair as he goes past, calling back over his shoulder. "See you this afternoon."

I rock back on the heels of my shoes, gaping as his figure disappears before me. He is clueless that he called me babe. My cheeks flare up with heat and I fight the smile as my heart flutters at the nickname. I like him calling me that.

Maybe I should have gone with my gut instinct and said no. There's a thick tension and I have no idea why. Well actually, I do but I don't understand why. Unless it's as simple as jealously which seems ridiculous. He has no need to be jealous.

When we got here we found a booth that resulted in us being split into pairs. My first instinct was to have Nate sit beside me but I didn't have time to react before Rhys and Lachlan sat on opposite sides of the table.

Because I was the closest to Lachlan he pulled me in to sit beside him. That left Rhys with an undeniably pissed expression until Nate dragged him to order for us. Against his will he went and came back with a completely calm exterior.

Now, it's dead silent while everyone seems focused on our iced treat.

"Alright I can't take this," Nate shakes his head, flicking his spoon between both of them. "Suck it up. We're here to know Kira better so first question - what's your favorite color?"

I smooth the surface of my yogurt about to respond but Rhys beats me to it. "Dark red."

"Well it looks like we have that in common," Lachlan chuckles and I look to him as he moves the seat. "I've got to ask whether you've got good taste in music as well."

"Define good taste?"

I break off a bit of yoghurt and stick the small plastic in my mouth. "Metal. Alternative. Something better than country."

"Thirty seconds to mars is my favorite band," I state watching the grin pull on his lips. "Followed by Muse and Good Charlotte."

"What's your favorite song by thirty seconds to mars?" Rhys finally asks, seeming interested all of the sudden.

"Conquistador," I answer and his lips slip into the tiniest smile. "I'm guessing you're a fan."

He nods. "It's actually the first song of theirs that I heard. So its got some significance to me. But they've got good music."

"Okay so we've established music tastes. Are you any good at video games because it's rare to find a girl who has good music taste?" Lachlan interferes and I raise an eyebrow.

"Is that why you haven't had a girlfriend?"

Across from me I see Rhys move in the slightest and Lachlan fakes a smile, sending a glare his way. I feel like that was a lie. Especially considering Nate seems to be stifling laughter as Lachlan drapes his arm on the back of the seat.

"You could easily change that," Lachlan chuckles but speaks with what I suppose to be a husky tone. "You've got good music taste which is a bonus to your beautiful face. I'm surprised you haven't got a boyfriend already."

My mouth feels dry and somehow I barely get a response out. "If I did get a boyfriend it wouldn't be you. I won't do smooth talkers."

Nate snorts, followed by several coughs as he chokes. I tear my eyes from Lachlan's and reach over the table with a napkin to offer him. He takes it and covers his mouth while Rhys wacks him on the back a few times trying to fight back the smile.

"Well I guess that takes Rhys out of the competition."

The bitter tone makes my eyebrows furrow and I retort back with confidence. "He's not as smooth as you may think. Flirting, yes? But when it comes to girls, no."

Lachlan looks between us. "Wait, you've told her about your lack of-"

"Experience?"

"Well I wouldn't go that far. The guys not a virgin," My confidence slips when I look back to Rhys who is sending daggers at him. Lachlan snorts and leans back while crossing his arms. "He lost it last year to some random at a party who later became a booty call whenever he wanted. Wait, you might actually know her-"

"Rhys."

Nate's usual playful demeanor turns into one cold and harsh. I look between the brothers to see the youngest's eyes on something behind us. Mine follow on instinct seeing a group approaching the counter.

Three of which are adults with two children. I furrow my eyebrows and wonder who they are when one of them has their eyes focused on us. He doesn't look that old but he's not a teenager, my guess is he's the eldest son or a family friend of the people he's with.

"Who's that?" I turn back only to be met with glances at each other.

"Nobody."

Rhys answers bluntly while putting up his usual tough exterior. Obviously somebody. Both Lachlan and Nate have changed to match while I feel nothing but confusion by their mood shift. I stab my plastic spoon and tap my nails against the wood.

"I call bullshit on that," I fake a smile as Rhys narrows his eyes at me. "Who is he or am I going to have to ask him myself?"

Rhys looks behind me again while shaking his head. "Someone I used to work with."

"And is he one that didn't get paid as much as you did?" I ask light heartedly which gains instant attention from Rhys. "Is he one that doesn't want you to go back to work?"

His eyes flicker to Nate who shrinks down having been busted. "What did you tell her?"

"Some guy had her by the throat," Nate blurts out and I kick him with wide eyes. He yelps, rubbing his leg. "If I'm going down I'm dragging you with me."

"Who had you by the throat?" Rhys snaps, eyes set alight with rage. "Is that what the scratch is from? Did someone threaten you?"

"I handled it," I deadpan and clear my throat. "Just not the same way you handled that guy that tried to intimidate Nate."

"What is she talking about?"

Rhys sends me a glare which I return. "Like your brother said I'm not going down alone. I can take care of myself sometimes and don't need you to do it for me. Who is he?"

"Nobody."

With my patience at breaking point I shrug. "Fine. I'll ask him myself."

I grab my bag and quickly move out of the booth. Behind me I hear movement while I approach the guy, putting my bag on my shoulder. He's focused on his phone  although he looks up, eyes fixated on me and for some reason it feels invasive.

"Hi I was just wondering if I could ask you a question?" The older couple look behind at us but quickly go back to the screaming children wanting yogurt.

His lips quirk and I notice his dark eyes flicker behind me. "Sure thing."

"How do you know Rhys?" I point over my shoulder when I feel a hand encase mine, tugging me back.

"I think you can ask him yourself," Fighting Rhys' grip on me I inhale out of annoyance. "Honestly I didn't think you were the kind of guy to have a girlfriend."

"She isn't my girlfriend," Rhys' arm wraps around me and before I know it he's passing me off into someone else. "His - yes. Mine, no."

I look up to see Nate who keeps his arms looped around me when I spin around. "So you're telling me she isn't the girl I've heard about you being around?"

"She's my brother's girlfriend," Rhys lies and I try not to react to his words. "You know my brother. After all you're the one who instructed Pete to terrorize him, not very nice of you. You're lucky I have morals not to return the favor."

The threat is obvious especially when Rhys' head visibly turns towards what would be his younger siblings. I notice the clench of the unknown persons jaw, his dark eyes burning into me with a glare. He doesn't believe it.

"You touch them and I swear-"

"Oh, it won't be them I touch if my brother isn't left alone. It'll be you," Rhys fake laughs and clasps his hands together. "Be smart and don't make me follow through with my promise. I won't hesitate."

The guy's eyes finally tear from mine when his father asks if everything's alright. When his family leaves out the front door his attention diverts back to Rhys. He looks pissed and considering he's associated to the person who terrified Nate, I don't think it's good to provoke him.

"It's not me you have to worry about when everyone finds out about your girlfriend," Once again his eyes move back to me. "She's cute, innocent and probably shouldn't be left in the dark for too much longer."

"She's not-"

"She's also not your brother's type because incase you're forgetting I've been there," He raises an eyebrow and moves to step closer. Rhys watches him like a hawk and I try not to show how intimidated I am. "I would probably stay away from Rhys. He might be easy on the eyes but when someone looks like that - there's got to be some form of baggage - his just happens to be dangerous."

"Time for you to go Tyler," Rhys snaps and Tyler scoffs. "Now."

"I'm going," His eyes flicker between us. "For what it's worth - you would make a good couple - it's a shame that it won't ever work out."

Tyler walks out and my eyes instantly land on a tense Rhys. "What the hell is going on?"

"Nothing you need to know about," Rhys turns around and if he were closer I would probably have hit him. "Can you take them home? I have something I need to do."

"Rhys!" I snap as he moves back to grab his bag. "I will full name you again and this time it will be followed by a rant."

He only spares me a glance. "I'll be gone before you finish anyways."

"You're a jerk," I state which makes him stop in his tracks. "I know you're not telling me something rather significant. And by the sounds of it, it's going to get someone hurt."

"I'm protecing you whether you like it or not," Rhys states, his eyes move to Lachlan. "Make sure that they get home safely, text me once they are."

I've almost finished writing this story completely now and I'm excited to publish the remaining parts.

Question: song that suits this story?

Thoughts? Feelings? Predictions?

-inspiredrlh 💕