Greyson's POV

"Hey, man. That party last night was sick. Is there going to be another tonight?" Junior slaps me on the back as he enters the storage closet that we use as our break room. We're allowed in the teacher's lounge but it's always filled with people who either hate me or think I'm wasting my life.

"Of course. When has there not been a party on a Friday night?" I ask with a smirk.

"True. I have got to say I'm sure glad that you stayed here. If you had left for school like you wanted to when we were kids I would be hating life." He grabs a handful of pretzels from the bag that I keep on my shelf. When we made this into our break room we each picked a shelf and filled it with things that we might need. Mine was filled with mostly food and an extra set of clothes in case I have a late night.

Junior's is more what you'd expect from a hoodlum. He has jars that are filled with different drugs, mostly weed, and cigarettes. But, I know that there are other things because I've seen him selling. That's his part in the gang. He is a pusher. If he weren't my best friend I know that I would hate him. I hate him sometimes and we are best friends.

We found this room back in tenth grade and it wasn't until this year that I found out that Amy knew about it. I was walking down the hall one day when I saw her talking to a teacher. I slipped into an empty classroom and listened to their conversation. She was telling him that no one except janitors was allowed inside. She said it was because of a health and safety thing. He seemed to buy it but the next day I tried to go inside and found it locked. I went to Amy's office and she gave me a key. We never talked about what went on and I think it's better that way.

"So, are you ready to sub for the P.E. teacher?" Junior asks me as he lights up a cigarette.

"Why? You're here and you don't look hungover." I said. I hate teaching especially when it's the class that Olivia's in. I still don't know how he got the position, but I'm sure it has something to do with Nate and Amy. The best place to sell drugs is probably high school.

"Come on man. I'll clean the bathrooms." He pleads with me.

"Deal." I toss him the mop that was behind me and push myself away from the wall I was leaning against. "What was the plan for today?"

"Self-defense. Just the basics." He waves his hand pushing smoke towards me. "But do whatever the hell you want. No one will care."

A couple of minutes later I'm in the gym and waiting for students to arrive. They shuffle in and my eyes don't register anything after I see her walk inside laughing with Olivia.

"Ryane?" I ask out loud and instantly regret it.

"Yes, she's new. Ryane this is my brother, Greyson, the one I was telling you about. Where's Junior?" She asks and tries to hide the blush on her cheeks.

"I told you to stay away from him, O." I scold her and then look to the students who are all looking to me for directions. Most of them look terrified. At least with my job, they will do as I say. There's one good part of being seen as a monster. Even as a student no one messed with me except occasionally Junior. The rest of them think that I killed my own uncle for my position among other rumors. The guys stay away and the girls only try for a night.

"Run five laps and then get in a big circle!" I yell at them. Instantly they start running in a huddle except for Ryane. She looks me up and down before finally running after the group. She's new; I'll give her a week to understand how Daytonville High works. When they've finished they make a circle in the middle of the gym around the mats that I've put out.

"Okay, we're going to be learning some basic self-defense moves. Who here knows some?" I ask the crowd and see that almost everyone is raising a hand. "I need a volunteer."

All of the girls step closer and look at me like they want to eat me. All of them lean forward except Olivia who makes a gagging face and Ryane who steps back. The guys look at me with fear and envy. No one raises their hands. They are probably thinking about the time I sent a boy to the emergency room for trying to give Olivia a rose.

"How about the new girl?" I say to the group and have to hold back a laugh when the girls groan. Ryane slowly makes her way to the center of the circle and looks up at me with big, blue eyes. Her hair is back in a ponytail and I want to rip it out; tell her that she can never wear it up again. Instead, I smile at her.

"Don't worry, Princess. I won't hurt you." I whisper.

"You're the one who should be worried." She says so quietly that I almost don't hear her.

I laugh and turn her around. "Okay, so I'm going to try and grab her from behind." I reach around her and grab her arms.

"If someone is holding you like thi-" Before I can even blink I am slamming into the mat. My back hits hard and I look up to see Ryane smiling. No one except Olivia laughs which makes it not as bad as it could be.

"So, I take it you know a little," I smirk and take the hand she's holding out for me.

"You have no idea." She winks and I feel her thumb make a circle on the back of my hand. I shake my head because I need to stay focused and all I want to do right now is kiss her. I look over at Olivia and she smirks.

"Everyone partner up," I call out to them and everyone has a partner except for Olivia. Olivia glares at me, but before I can say anything Ryane walks over to her and asks to be her partner. The entire class watches her waiting for me to rip her head off but I just nod. "Now, we're going to practice that move. One person will be the attacker and the other the victim. Then you'll switch."

I walk between them all and correct stances as well as switch partnerships to make them more equal. They are all quiet except for Ryane and Olivia. I had hoped to keep Ryane as under the radar as a new person could be, but by not doing something to her I've already told them all that she is under my protection. It's not bad, but it does put her in a bad spot, not that she knows that.

"Next move," I say and they all stop. Ryane saunters up to me and smiles that infectious smile. I am definitely in trouble.

"I'm ready to throw you again." She says with a chuckle and Olivia wiggles her eyebrows at me. I only remain calm from years of dealing with the worst possible things. The rest of the class goes by quickly. I touch Ryane as much as possible without drawing even more attention knowing full well that it's a mistake. Only Olivia knows better than to think I'm just helping her get better. Olivia knows me far too well. She even calls me over to help them multiple times even though neither of them needs help.