Sitting opposite the principal I fiddle with the ring around my finger while he fills out the document in front of me. I can feel my palms sweating in the slightest while my heart rate is above average at the moment. Am I really about to lie to protect Rhys?

"Alright. Now that I have Mr Farnell's statement I'll need your account on what happened," Mr Burton asks and pulls out a new sheet of paper. "Please explain what happened in thorough detail from the end of the third period."

《《《

"Kira! Would you slow down?"

Ignoring Taylor I stand to my feet, tugging the zip across I spare a glance at Rhys. He moves just as quickly clearly wanting to talk to me. All lesson he was trying to get my attention whether it was tiny bits of rubber, paper or even moving his chair back when Taylor went to the bathroom.

The phrase "we need to talk about yesterday after class." was enough for me to want to flee. I don't want to talk to him at the moment and especially not over yesterday. For some reason I don't think it was purely over our talk, I have a feeling it was about Brian.

I'm actually 99% sure it's over Brian because that Lachlan guy - he's best friends with Rhys - something I discovered that afternoon. It wouldn't surprise me if he heard me fire up and recited it to him. Or he heard from the rumors that I had a mental breakdown courtesy of Brian.

Either way, I don't want to acknowledge it.

By the time I'm at my locker I can feel my chest rising and falling a little faster from power walking through the hordes of students. I stop and put in my combination when my fingers graze over the metal that's imprinted with the insults.

Even though Blair's brother scraped the metal off and painted over it, some words are still engraved into it. It's not the greatest but if I don't pay attention too long then I'm fine.

Just as I unload my stuff I noticed a pair of shoes hiding behind the door of my locker. "I think you running away was a stupid move. Especially considering I know where your locker is."

"I really don't want to talk about it." I close my locker, reluctantly meeting eyes with Rhys.

He leans against the adjacent locker before crossing his arms. "I don't care if you don't want to. I want to know what he said to you."

"It doesn't-"

"Yes it does because I want to know whether his payback is justified," He clucks his tongue while I feel my jaw drop. "If not then I guess I'll just have to do something else to get him to be silent instead of running his mouth."

"What did you do to him?" Rhys raises an eyebrow waiting for me to answer him first. I exhale out of annoyance before answering. "He said some things that would really hurt. He knows because our mom's used to be friends, we were as well but there's no need for details. We aren't anymore obviously-"

"How personal was what he said?" I bite the inside of my cheek, breaking eye contact with him. "Because from what I heard it was something to do with family."

I nod slowly and finally look back at him. "It was about my family or more so how it's no longer the happy, cheery, american dream anymore."

"So you're from a broken family?" He questions and I awkwardly shift stances. I go to walk away but he pushes off, blocking my way. "So am I, so you don't have to worry about me blabbing which makes this all the more sweeter. The prick deserves what he's got."

"I don't like that word," I whisper, his lips quirk into a momentary smile. "It's too vulgar."

"Too vulgar? That's probably one of the nicest swear words I know," I frown and he looks away for a minute, covering his amusement behind his hand. "That's actually really funny that you think it's vulgar."

"I just don't like it. Anything else but that," I shrug, crossing my arms until I realize I have no idea what's happening or happened to Brian. "What did you do?"

Rhys' eyes twinkle for a moment when he flicks his head behind me. "Have a look for yourself."

I look over my shoulder and end up doing a double take when I spot a pink haired boy storming down the halls. But that's not even the best part. The fact he's wearing what I think are girls clothing - from how snug they're clinging to his body - almost makes me laugh.

Brian locks eyes with me and I didn't think it was possible for his face to get redder but it does. He walks with his fists clenched and teeth bared in anger. When he gets closer he starts screaming.

"You son of a bitch I will make you life a living hell," When he raises his clenched fist to his hip height I'm yanked back by my wrist. I look to Rhys who is half shielding me when Brian stops a meter away. "Oh. I didn't even realize you had a guard dog, how cute."

"I'd watch your mouth strawberry shortcake," Rhys chuckles, not intimidated at all by Brian. "It would suck if you ended up getting blood on your designer clothing. But I must admit that you surprisingly suit girls clothing for someone so manly like you are."

My eyes flicker between them when he puts empathize on manly. For the first time, I see fear in Brian's eyes which isn't something I would ever expect. I think Rhys threatened him. I just don't know what with but judging by his paling complexion it can't be for something good.

Brian's eyes fall on mine. "You're really going to let him get away with this. We used to be friends-"

"That was before you punched her in the face," Rhys chuckles and let's go of my wrist, closing the space between them. "And before you vandalized her locker. Don't forget about the verbal abuse you threw at her yesterday over something extremely personal. Yet you think you're her friend?"

I blink a few times, looking around when people slowly stop walking to watch the scene going down. Brian's anger and confident exterior is faltering by the second. And Rhys knows it which is why his smirk is getting bigger by the second.

"You're her friend though?" Brian scoffs out, looking over his shoulder at me. "I wonder what your mother would think with you being friends with scum like him. Your mother hated smokers right?"

It takes a split second before he's shoved into the lockers by a fistful of his shirt. Rhys towers over him and Brian sinks back as if the metal will swallow him up. I look around noticing the phones directed this way while Rhys laughs lightly.

"Well she let you be friends with her," Rhys' smirk drops into a straight line. "You need to watch yourself very carefully right now otherwise-"

"You have no proof it was him or me for that matter." I raise my voice over the top of Rhys' and hesitantly pull the sleeve of his jacket that's connected to the hand holding Brian against the locker.

"I know it was him." Brian snaps and I pull harder to get him to let go.

Rhys pulls his arm away from me, stepping closer with narrowed eyes. Mine flicker behind him and give a subtle nod, disguising it as a head roll. I see Rhys look over his shoulder and freeze for a moment, he pivots in a circle before jabbing a finger into Brian's chest.

"I didn't do it," Rhys smiles maliciously at him. "I was with Kira and didn't leave the classroom."

"You know what you-"

"What's going on here?" I cross my arms over my chest, taking a step back when I see Mr Farnell push through the crowd. "Principal's office now, all three of you."

"But I didn't do anything." I state with a look of horror.

He narrows his eyes at me. "This is your third trip within two weeks to the admin office that I'm aware of. I'm starting to believe this is a common thing for you Kira, by arguing you're already making a bad impression."

I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, sending glares to both boys who seem a bit shocked as I head to the office. This has got to be a joke. My dream of having my senior year run smoothly seems like it's crashed and burned, severely.

》》》

"Alright. Please come in," I look up as Mr Burton speaks to both Brian and I. After I wrote my report, Rhys and I swapped which means he's still inside, where we're all about to get interrogated. "Take a seat and we can get started."

I slip inside, instantly taking the middle seat to avoid them sitting next to one another. Rhys looked at me with a raised eyebrow and leans closer when Mr Burton stops an office lady as she goes past.

"I read what your wrote," He whispers and I furrow my eyebrows. "You pressed hard on the paper and imprinted it onto the next one."

"So Brian believes that Rhys stole his clothes during the third period but he was in class the whole of the period," Mr Burton sits down with a sigh. "According to Kira he was there the whole time which leads me to ask - how would you notice that?"

"He sits diagonally from me and his head blocks the view of the clock," I explain which is partially true, Rhys gives me a look but doesn't speak up. "I didn't see him leave."

Brian snorts. "Just because he didn't physically do it himself doesn't mean he didn't orchestra it."

"I can't blame you for thinking that," Rhys crosses his arms, giving a shrug. "You did after all bully my brother and on top of it hit then harass a friend of mine. Which is the reason why I had him against the locker, I wasn't going to let him hurt her anymore than he has."

"Since when has she been your girlfriend?" Brian leans forward with a grin. "Is that why you're so protective? I didn't realize that big, tough Rhys would ever date someone so weak."

"What's weak is your insults," I deadpan, clucking my tongue. "Rhys wasn't going to hurt him, he was only trying to prevent me from ending up in tears again because of Brian."

"Are you certain that Rhys didn't do this?" I nod without hesitating.

He nods back before reaching forward to write something out. "And you're just going to believe her like that?"

"Unlike you she's been the victim in multiple situations with you being the cause," He tears off a slip and extends it. "You've got a week of detention starting today while Rhys, physical violence won't be tolerated in this school even with good intentions. I expect you to help set up easels on Sunday, be here at two pm. You're free to leave."

Both boys take the slips and Brian almost knocks me out of the way as he goes. "Mr Farnell!"

"It's fine," I exclaimed, not wanting to cause anymore drama than I have. Mr Burton looks to me with a frown. "It really is. It was just a knock."

"What if next time it isn't just a knock?" Rhys questions with narrowed eyes.

"If he bothers you come and see me," Mr Burton intervenes and I nodded slowly. "I wouldn't want this to deteriorate your progress nor would Mrs Hale."

"I will. Thank you."

Quickly I exit knowing that it wouldn't take long for Rhys to connect the dots. Preferably, I wouldn't like him to have heard that but I don't have control over what others say. It just leaves me between a rock and a hard place when I have to explain.

"Mrs Hale? She's the counselor," Rhys catches up and I mentally curse for his long legs. "I'm guessing that's where you went yesterday during third."

"Why do you care?" I retort and shrug. "I don't get it. I know you're saying it's purely because you don't want your brother to get hurt but it doesn't mat-"

"Would you just shut up for once?" Baffled by his words I stop walking in the middle of the hallway. He continues until he's by my side. "Stop worrying for a moment. I've talked to you a few times and you're so guarded about others intentions. It's like you're afraid to try new things."

"I'm not," I pause knowing he's right. "So maybe I am. But for a good reason, look at Brian-"

"I'd rather not look at trash," Rhys whistles lowly with a shrug when I give him a look of disbelief. "Brian is a shitty person. I on the other hand am not - at least not to you at the present time - therefore you should stop worrying that I'm conducting some mass scheme."

I huff and shake my head. "You said it yourself and correct me if I'm wrong that you would ruin me or anyone I care about if I were to hurt your brother."

"I don't think you could hurt him if you tried," he chuckles and I roll my eyes, walking towards the doors that lead to the car park. "You're not a threat because despite your pessimistic attitude, you don't want to cause drama or pain to anyone else."

"If I'm not a threat then why do you need to hang around me?" I push open the doors, hearing it screech in need for oil but it stops when Rhys comes out. "It seems pointless."

I reach the bottom of the stairs and spin to face him as he comes down. "Did you ever think that I might like being around you?"

"Because I'm just that much fun," Each word is filled with sarcasm before I return to a normal toned voice. "I'm not a threat and there's no need for you to hang around anymore that you know this."

I walk backwards waiting for him to speak and when he doesn't I head towards my car. Spinning my bag around I manage to get my car keys out and into the lock when Rhys finally calls out to me.

"I meant what I said about being around you," Looking over my shoulder I wait for him to elaborate and he does with a smirk. "It's good to have someone that I can have an intellectual fight with that can hold their own. Especially when you're so shy, it's shocking really."

"I'm quiet. Not shy," I open the car door, throwing my stuff into the passenger seat. "Did you really do that to Brian?"

He shrugs, stepping back once. "As you saw I didn't leave the classroom once. But I may have made a trip during lunch and had someone who owed me swap his clothes."

"Someone who owed you?" I question and he nods.

"I covered for him with his parents once before," He explains briefly. "We're sort of friends or partners in crime when it comes to parties at least."

I furrow my eyebrows trying to think of who it could possibly be. Rhys doesn't really hang out with anyone but his brother - although he's more monitoring him than anything - and Lachlan who's on suspension. I don't have any idea who this could potentially be but they must be loyal to Rhys in some way.

"Did he know about what Brian did?" Rhys nods once.

"Most of it. It was his idea to make it female clothing," I snorted, shaking my head at him. "But if Brian does or says anything, even looks at you in a bad way, don't be afraid to tell me. I can make sure this time he leaves you alone for good."

I smile softly. "Thank you but I hope he doesn't for his own sake. I don't think I want to know what else you're capable of."

"A lot more then taking away his masculinity," Rhys adjusts his bag on his shoulders while wincing almost. "I've got to go somewhere before I have to pick Nate up so I'll see you tomorrow maybe."

"Have fun with whatever you're doing," He gives a tight lipped smile, taking a step back. "Bye Rhys."

He walks away and I get inside my car, using it's confines to take a deep breathe. I slouch against the wheel while processing what just happened. This won't go down well with dad once he finds out.