Shield Read online

  As my mind wandered and started forgetting about the math problem, someone softly knocked on my half open bedroom door.

  "Hey." I turned my head towards the voice. My grandfather stood uneasily in the door frame. He didn't look too sure of himself, which was odd considering the way he was scolding me last night.

  "Hi." I answered softly and forcing a smile at him.

  "Can I... can I come in?"

  I frowned. "Y-yeah of course."

  His eyes wandered around my room as he stepped in and sat down on my white sheeted bed. He looked uncomfortable to say the least.

  "Doing some math homeworks?" He asked curiously peeking over my shoulder.

  I nodded. I thought it was the right moment to ask him to explain it to me, but I didnt even had time to form the sentence in my head, he spoke again.

  "How about you take a pause and we go to the mall?"

  The mall?

  "Really?!" My hand immediately flew over my mouth after the high pitched word left my mouth.

  "Yeah really princess," he laughed.

  I rarely had the chance to go shopping and its probably because I'm living with a grandfather. Dont mean to offend him, its just I dont think in his 65 years of existence he has ever shopped for himself.

  I've been there not more than five times, and he'd just drop me off there while he'd go grab a coffee somewhere and read. Despite the crowd of people, I liked shopping for clothes. Well, I just loved clothes. I guess its just me trying to fit in and be a normal teenage girl.

  "I think I kind of owe you that, I shouldn't have raised my voice at you like that last night."

  Even though he was the one apologizing right now, I felt guilt wash all over me again. He felt bad because I couldn't handle a little bit of yelling. I am pathetic.

  "But that doesn't mean I'm okay with what you did. And I still dont want to see Mikhailov around you okay?" His gaze was stern again, but softer than yesterday.

  I just nodded, even if questions about Killian were burning on my tongue.

  "Anyway, get dressed, I'll wait for you downstairs." he dissmissed getting up from my bed. He kissed my forehead and walked out of my room. When I heard his footsteps in the stairs, I happily closed my math book and headed for my closet. I pulled out black skinny jeans and a white t shirt.

  After putting the clothes on, I went in the bathroom, brushed my teeth and attempted to fix my hair. I ended up leaving them loose. I've never really paid too much attention to my hair since they weren't too messy just a little wavy, but I always thought they had a weird colour.

  And kids would always tell me about it. Not in a nice way.

  Not even fifteen minutes later grandpa was waiting for me in his truck and I was in the entrance putting on my shoes and my denim jacket. I happily jogged to his car with my bag in hands.

  "Tim Horton's first?" He proposed, a playful glint in his baby blue eyes and a smirk plastered on his face as I sat down. He loved coffee and I loved hot chocolate. 1

  "Yes!" I chirped.

  ————

  I was walking around the store, my favorite one, looking for this stupidly amazing hoodie I found online. So far, after four stores, I hadn't find anything, so I still took my time to look at the other items, also because nothing is ugly in this store. I always found something in here. I tried not to forget the reason I initially came here, a lilac hoodie. Grandpa always makes fun of my colour choices when I buy clothes, specially hoodies. I only had three, because the brand is pretty expensive, and they were all a flashy or pastel colour.

  I wandered through the clothes racks, trying not to overthink too much wether people were looking at me or not. I've already had enough of the costumers talking to me about their sales. I liked shopping, but not with tons of people around. Being all by myself also didn't really help.

  I walked further in the store admiring the clothes, until I realize I wasn't in the right section of the store.

  Oh, thats the men's section. Oops.

  My legs found a way to clumsily turn around and walk to the other aisle. But of course me being me, I wasn't looking where I was going and I came in contact with another body.

  "Woah there." A masculine voice said.

  I mumbled a 'sorry' as my eyes met the features of the guy standing in front of me. I expected him to curse at me for being the clumsy human I am, but surprisingly he seemed amused by it. His lips were lifted up in a smirk and his eyes held a teasing glint.

  He looked around my age. The thing that mostly caught my attention was his long brown messy hair reaching his shoulders. He looked strangely familiar, but I couldn't put a finger on where I could have seen him. Its not like I socialized or went out a lot. 1

  "Watch where you're going kid." He warned in a playful tone. Not and evil type, he sounded actually genuine.

  "K-kid?" I repeated furrowing my brows together. Do I look like a child?

  He just laugh at my confusion and ran a hand through his hair as heat made its way on my cheeks. I expected him to just walk away, I wanted him to walk away, but then his smile fell down, leaving place to a frown. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

  "Huh? Um.. I-I dont-" I stuttered incoherent words, fazed at his sudden mood swing. My frown deepened and I stood even more uncomfortable as a voice I thought I wouldn't here as soon cut me off.

  "We've been here for 2 hours Josh, how the fuck can you stare at clothes for that long?"

  The person appeared from my left and I immediately recognized the tall and build figure. I think he was as startled as me, he was just quick to hide it.

  He looked at me with those same unfazed brown and dark orbs. A little part of me hoped that even after what he told me last night, he would show a sign of recognition, so when he only stared blankly at me my heart dropped. He stood indifferently taller than his friend in front of me. 1

  "What are you doing here?" I flinched at his harsh tone as he stared down at me.

  "I-huh.. I-"

  "Oh geez thats why you looked so familiar!" The long haired guy, I assumed was Killian's friend exclaimed. "She's the girl from the storage room isn't she?" He questioned a little too enthusiastically to the man next to him.

  The girl from the storage room. He saw me? Or did he heard me? Oh boy, this is humiliating.

  Killian glared at him. "Oh sorry kid, I didn't mean to offend you," he said looking down at me with... compassion?

  "Its okay." I half smiled.

  "I'm Joshua, but you can call me Josh" he winked and reached out his hand towards me, "whats your name?"

  I hesitated for a moment before deciding that I didn't have a reason to reject him or feel threaten by him, and I softly shook his hand with mine. "I'm Sadie."

  "Whoa I love that name. You know I asked this grumpy guy to tell me how you were doing after Wednesday, but he just told me to fuck-"

  "Enough," Killian snapped. Both of us stood dumbfounded at his sudden interruption although, Joshua didn't seem too concern about it. He just raised his hand innocently and an arrogant smile was plastered on his face. I felt a pair of dark eyes burn the top of my head as I lowered it and stared at the ground. I hoped he would have said something nice or just anything else than:

  "Lets just fucking go."

  I watched as Killian walked towards the exit probably catching any females attention in the store.

  "Oh well," he sighed and managed to smile down at me despite Killian's sudden annoyance, "goodbye kid, see you again someday." He ruffled my hair as if I was a 5 years old child and followed Killian's steps.

  I stood like a lost idiot in the man section of the store for seconds, minutes maybe asking myself what the fudge was that. I noticed how my palms had become sweaty and how I could feel my fast pulse in my neck. I hate feeling like this.

  I managed to come back to reality, only to text my grandfather and tell him I was done shopping. I didn't want to stay here as my mood suddenly dropped. I didn't want to blame it on Killian's attitude, but deep down I knew his rejec
tion was the reason my heart ached. As stupid as it sound.

  I could just continue my usual shopping online.

  ————

  Monday came by fast, way too fast. Hearing my alarm at 7am was always painful. I forced my lids to stay open, even if all I wanted to do was curling into the comfort of my thick blanket and close my eyes for another five minutes. Just five more minutes. I knew if I dared to do this, I'll wake up two hours later. 1

  I forced my body out of the warmth of my bed and dragged my feet to the bathroom. I washed my face in attempt to wake up and hopefully get rid of any sign of exhaustion. I then walked back to my room to get change. I traded my pyjamas shorts and oversized shirt for denim jeans and a black strapless top. I didn't took time to brush my hair, I only passed my fingers messily through them and finished by covering my naked arms and naked shoulders with a brown colour like cardigan.

  I ran upstairs for breakfast, expecting my grandfather to be at the dining table watching the news on tv from there with his coffee, only to find the area empty.

  I guess I'll have to take the bus this morning.

  He was still sleeping, which rarely happened for him to still be in bed at this time, but when it does, I have to take the bus. And it isn't something I enjoyed. It meant leaving the house earlier and being stuck with multiple people in a restricted space. I liked to have as much time as possible away from anything related to school, including the students. 1

  I dropped my bag in the entrance and walked to the kitchen to make myself a bowl of cereals, suddenly less motivated than I already was. I ate it quicker than usual as I realized I only had ten minutes left. I did what I had to do left in a record time and before I knew it, I was in the entrance nervously tying my shoes and hoping my grandfather would miraculously come out of his room now.

  Of course he didn't, so I had no other choice than leaving right now to take the bus. I sigh the second I step a foot outside as I felt this same usual knot of nervousness in my stomach. 3

  I got this, I got this, I repeated in my head.

  My feet carried me towards the bus stop as my mind imagined the worsts scenarios. What if I trip in the stairs? What if when I go to a seat, I somehow fall in the alley in front of everyone? I prayed to God there would be an empty seat and I won't have to sit with a stranger.

  I was so caught up in imagining the worst scenarios, I didn't notice the black car slowing down next to me. When I did I ignored how familiar it seemed and walked at a faster pace as my heartbeat quickened. I kept my head low and I wrapped my arms around my stomach as if it would protect me from whoever was driving that car. The noise the engine was making made my whole body shiver in fear as it kept following me down the street.

  Could it be them?

  Just as I started debating wether I should run back home or keep walking, an annoyed voice interrupted my thoughts.

  "Sadie! Would you mind stopping for one fucking second?"

  "Sadie! Would you mind stopping for one fucking second?"

  My head snapped to the side, where the voice came from. Saying that I was surprised when I saw Killian's hard features through the rolled down window wasn't enough. I was petrified, excited, anxious and a mix of other emotions I couldn't describe.

  I did as he said though, I stood on the sidewalk as his car also stopped on the side of the street in front of me. I frowned at him as he leaned and looked at me through a pair of sunglasses 1

  "I-I have to go, I have to take my bus." I said softly not meaning to sound rude as I saw my school bus turn the street corner.

  "Let me drive you." He said before I could take a step forward. I froze and my hand tightened nervously on my back pack strap. He wants to drive me? He wants me in his car?

  I couldn't see those dark tummy turning eyes through the dark lenses, but I knew they stared at me intensely waiting for my answer.

  "N-no, you don't need to."

  What was worst; taking the bus with a bunch of high school students or being in a car with Killian Mikhailov? I couldn't decide. But there was one of these options where I surely felt safer.

  "I dont want you taking the fucking bus. Get in." His tone left no room for argument, but I still tried to protest as the bus approached the stop sign. I kept debating in my head but couldn't find a rational reason not to go with him. 3

  "B-but-"

  "Sadie." He growled my name in what sounded like a warning. His demanding tone and rough voice turned my insides into goo. I couldn't explain the foreign feeling, but it only took me that to obey and hesitatingly open the passenger door. He watched my movements as I entered his car, making my cheeks heat up.

  I carefully put my bag on my lap and buckled my seatbelt as Killian regained the street. I sat still and let my eyes divert in his direction. I admired how strong and defined his jaw was and how smooth his tan skin looked in the sunlight. I then let my eyes drop to his broad shoulders and his muscled arm that held the wheel. How did he got so..manly?

  "I dont like when people stare." His hoarse voice suddenly warned. It didn't sound like a threat, but it still made me turn my gaze away from him. 2

  "S-sorry." I mumbled shyly.

  I fidgeted on my seat as silence fell again in the car.

  "W-what..why are you driving me?" I managed to ask to break the uncomfortable silence.

  "I was passing by and it happens I saw you walking."

  "Dont you have like..classes?" I asked curiously.

  "Yes, later."

  "Why were you on my street? Do you live close?" The questions escaped my mouth before I could even stop them. I had an urge to fill the silence.

  He let out an exasperate sigh and ran a hand through his messy hair. A-am I being annoying? "I had to stop by Tim Horton's. My friend wanted a coffee. Do you have other stupid questions?" 6

  I gaped like a fish at his annoyed tone. I should really learn to shut my mouth sometimes. Either I talked too much and I was annoying, or I didn't talked enough and I was boring.

  I shook my head side to side and switched my gaze to look through the window. It didn't felt real being in his car. His words were always so rude and mean but his actions were saying the contraire. I didn't recall Killian being this confusing.

  Yeah maybe because he's not 12 years old anymore idiot.

  I mentally rolled my eyes at myself.

  I watched as we passed different neighbours in the town and let my mind wander to different, irrelevant things. Minutes later, we turned on my high school's street and the familiar surroundings bring a wave of anxiety inside me.

  The uneasy knot in my stomach was stronger and my breath became short. I unconsciously started fidgeting in my seat and started playing with the rings on my fingers. I wish I was in my bed right now.

  "Can you stop fidgeting like that?" Killian asked in his usual hard tone as he kept his eyes on the road. 5

  "Huh? Oh sorry." I apologized as I realized how annoying and stressful I must be playing nervously with my hands and squirming in my seat.

  The building I dreaded every morning quickly appeared in my view and unconsciously, my leg started bouncing again while Killian's complain was quickly forgotten.

  Before I knew it, he was pulling up in the school's parking lot. He sighed as he stopped the car and passed a hand through his hair taking off his sunglasses at the same time. I'm guessing this is when I have to get out of the car. My teeth captured my bottom lip and started chewing on it out of instinct as my hand reached for my school bag.

  I dared to glance towards him, but he was already looking down at me, letting me see his beautiful brown orbs for the first time this morning. The morning's sunlight hit perfectly into them, making the chestnut colour stand out even more.

  Brown is such a pretty colour, I stupidly thought.

  My heart was already beating fast in my chest, so when his hand suddenly reached for my face, I am positive it skipped a beat. His hand rested on my neck and I almost flinched at the light contact. It felt so warm and tingly.
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  Oh god what is he doing?

  Am I dreaming?

  His thumb went for my bottom lip and pulled it out of the grip my teeth had on it. "Stop doing that." He simply said with his deep voice before slowly taking his big hand back, his eyes never leaving mine. 2

  My heart might have stopped beating for a moment actually.

  I was stunned at how his touch left a tummy turning and tingling sensation again. The contact had been so warm and gentle, I couldn't believe it was the same person who had been mean and grumpy this whole time.

  I dont blame him for being like that though, maybe he had a bad morning.