Chapter 11

11

T he entirety of the game, I watched men kick around a football like their life depended on it. Before talking with Daniel tonight, I wouldn't have understood, but knowing that some of these players were hoping to make a career out of it, I understood their competitiveness a little bit more. Still, I didn't see the necessity of running around and kicking a ball into a net.

Sports just weren't my thing.

Regardless, I enjoyed the game. I even got excited when either team scored. Plus, it was a great time for me to spend with Ivy and Remy, who told me all the newest drama on campus, including a professor love triangle that had ruined a long-term relationship between Professor Aster and Professor Fortenberry, who had been dating for quite some time.

Daniel raced down the field with agility and speed, taking two balls to the goal and scoring. No one else on his team scored, because Forrestbriar's goalie did a great job of blocking the shots…or whatever they were called. Since I sat in a sea of green with Ivy and Remy, I never cheered for Castleton, who wore purple and silver.

But when Noah scored the winning goal in the last twenty seconds of the game, I stood with the entire crowd and cheered for our academy's victory.

Admittedly, it was thrilling.

I refused to think about how good Noah looked sweating on the field and jostling a ball down the pitch to a win. For some reason, I watched him more than any other player, though I did everything to appear like that wasn't the case.

The Forrestbriar team celebrated on the field, and multiple fans flooded the pitch as well, shouting with excitement. Thankfully, Ivy and Remy didn't drag me to that.

Instead, we waited until things had calmed down before leaving the stands.

"Hopefully, the loss doesn't affect your date with Daniel too much," Ivy whispered as we walked to the exit. A few elbows made their way into my ribs as we pushed through the throng of people.

"Why would it?"

"Athletes take losses hard, especially from such a rival." She looped her arm through mine as we stood near the exit, waiting for the team to finish up their post-game talk. "It's like when someone gets a better grade or is more favored by the teacher than you. That's how they feel right now."

Suddenly, I wondered if it would just be better for me to return to my dorm than spend time with Daniel. I knew I was always in a terrible mood after someone did better than me in academics, especially if that someone was a long-time rival, such as Noah Lawrence. At least Daniel and I had that in common.

As much as I would love to bail on the date, I knew Ivy would just torture me again and make me go out with Daniel some other time. Since I'd moved my schedule around and made time for this date today, I was just going to deal with it and go. I didn't want to fit a date in some other time.

Once outside the stadium, my friends and I stood around chatting, watching as others filed out of the structure as well. Laughter filled the air around those who were students or fans of Forrestbriar, the air around those who came for Castleton stale and sour.

"Hey." We all looked to the side as we heard the voice, Daniel just a few steps from us. He looked pissed off and defeated, but his mouth spread into a smile when we made eye contact. I couldn't help but smile back at him, especially now, understanding how to empathize with him. Other players and their mates shuffled out of the stadium, both in green and in purple.

"It was a great game, Daniel. Sorry about the loss, though," Ivy started, reaching out to pat him on the arm as he got close enough.

Daniel shrugged, joining me in my personal space and throwing an arm around my shoulders. "Eh. We'll take them out next time. I'm still a winner because I have this beautiful woman to enjoy the night with."

I tried to exude warmth, but honestly, his words and the fact that his arm was around my shoulder so casually rubbed me wrong. I hardly knew the bloke, and he was acting as though we'd been together for months and using incredibly corny lines. The smile I was giving him must have looked as uncomfortable as I felt, because Ivy was giving me a face.

"Well, we'll get out of your hair! You two enjoy the night!" Ivy grabbed Remy's hand and gave me a stern look before they walked away as quickly as possible. It took all my self-control not to groan in annoyance at her for putting me in this terrible situation.

"Sorry we lost. Would have liked for you to see me in a better light."

"It's alright, Daniel. You played well; at least, I think. Sorry, I don't know much aside from kicking the ball into the net."

Daniel laughed, pulling me closer to him. "You'll learn it in no time." I forced another smile into place.

"Sure," I responded, trying to step nonchalantly out from under his arm, but then he stiffened.

"Henri…" Daniel's voice was suddenly low, and he moved so he was in front of me, not on my side. He took a step closer, backing me up until my back pressed against the wall of the stadium. My throat was dry as I looked around, seeing that there were now people in embraces, kissing or running from the stadium hand-in-hand.

The more I looked around, the bigger the pit of dread in my stomach grew.

"Daniel, I think it might be best if we postpone our date. You've had a long evening with the game, and I'm sure you need rest," I said, desperate to run to my room. My observations led me to only one conclusion, and I didn't even bring my antidote. Not that it worked.

"Henri, come on. Don't bail on me now. I've waited since the beginning of our secondary years for a date with you." He leaned in, caging me in with his arms as he leaned against the stone structure behind me.

"Daniel, now is not the right time." I looked at his eyes, seeing them glazed over. "Oh, no."

The love potion had gotten him, and it seemed I was his target. This couldn't have been any worse. Gently, I tried to push his arms away from me so I could make a break for it.

"Henri, I've been in love with you for years. Just give me a chance." Daniel bent forward, his mouth intent on landing on mine.

"No," I whined as he tried to kiss me, turning my head to the side. But that didn't deter him. Daniel's lips landed on my neck, and he started kissing and sucking, despite my protests and shoves. "Daniel, stop."

"Can't," he responded, grabbing my arms, which were furiously shoving at his shoulders, and pinning them against my sides.

"Please, stop," I repeated, trying to calm my racing heart. Daniel was so much bigger than me, and there was no way I could overpower him. Looking around, I knew no one would even notice my struggle, everyone enraptured with the focus of their desires. My eyes snagged on Lukas, and I considered calling out his name, but he was hand-in-hand with a petite girl who looked nothing like the one he had been with earlier, traipsing across the sidewalk.

Daniel's lips weren't merciful against my skin, and I knew there would be bruises from his assault. I pushed against him, trying to free my arms, but it was no use.

"Been waiting for this for years," Daniel said against my skin, moving his hands to my hips and gripping with bruising strength.

"Stop it!" I yelled, shoving at him again and trying to kick. Nothing seemed to affect Daniel at all.

He stood taller, pressing his body against mine and gripping my chin in one hand. "You're so beautiful." Then, he was descending again, moving to kiss me, and there was nothing I could do to stop him.

Whoever was using this stupid love potion would rot in prison for the rest of their life after I was done with them. I understood more clearly now that this wasn't just causing chaos, but actual damage. I hated myself for not working harder to find the anti-potion, because how many people had endured what I was experiencing right now? What Daniel was experiencing?

"Please, stop," I cried, tears finally slipping down my face, both for myself and for everyone else. Daniel's body was squishing mine against the wall, and I couldn't breathe, couldn't move. "Daniel, please."

But I couldn't stop his lips from landing on mine with crushing force, no matter how hard I shoved my head into the stone behind me. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to just breathe.

And then the pressure of his mouth and body were gone.

My eyes shot open just in time to witness Noah punch Daniel with so much force, Daniel landed on the ground a few meters away.

"When the lady says stop, you fucking stop. Learn some self-control!" Noah stood over Daniel with a menacing glare, fists clenched at his side. Pushing on Daniel's hip with his foot, Noah growled, "Now get on."

Daniel scrambled to his feet, shooting me a look still filled with desire, but when Noah took a step toward him, he bolted away.

I just leaned against the wall, allowing my heart to return to normal while I took slow breaths. Tears still streamed down my face, and no matter how I scolded myself, they wouldn't stop. I closed my eyes to straighten my thoughts, but I just couldn't seem to think right.

"Are you okay?" Noah's voice was the softest I had ever heard it, and that coaxed my eyes open. He approached me slowly, as if I was a startled animal.

Immediately, I nodded in response.

Grass stains covered the white shoes Noah wore. I'd never paid attention to football shoes before, but suddenly, they were much more interesting than meeting his gaze.

His shoes stopped moving when they were almost toe-to-toe with mine. Gently, a finger brushed the underside of my chin and encouraged it upward. There was no force in the movement, but I tilted my face towards his.

"You're not okay." His green eyes were darting back and forth as he tenderly moved my chin to the left and right. I focused on his heaving chest. "Fuck, Baker. I'm sorry."

I shook my head, sniffling. "Why are you sorry? If it wasn't for you, I—" My mouth closed as I refused to finish the sentence. Or the thought. I looked back up into his eyes.

Muscles feathering in his jaw, Noah looked absolutely murderous.

"You have bruises already forming on your neck, Henri. I obviously didn't get here soon enough. I'm going to kill that—"

"Noah, I'm fine," I said, grabbing his arm as he turned, surely to hunt Daniel down. "Please," I added softly. His attention immediately went to where I was touching him, and I dropped my hand.

He took a labored breath, running his large hand over his face. When he met my gaze again, his eyes were clearer.

Both of his hands moved until they were on my face, thumbs brushing away the tears staining my cheeks. Our gazes locked, and I wasn't entirely sure I was breathing.

"Come on, we'll get rid of those bruises."

"It's fine, Noah. I'll just figure something out tomorrow."

"Henri, please just shut up and let me take care of you." His expression was so serious, I simply nodded, letting him grab my hand and pull me away from the stadium. We passed by plenty of couples under the effects of the potion, and I burned on the inside.

Finally, Noah led me to the potions building and walked me up to the lab we'd been working in for weeks. Still holding my hand, he grabbed a stool and pulled it over to our normal workbench. "Sit," he commanded, giving me a light push on my shoulders so I would obey.

Then, he took off into the supply closet. In his search for…I wasn't even sure, he made an incredible amount of ruckus. I was positive I'd even heard glass breaking.

I moved to see if everything was okay, but his voice stopped me. "Sit back down, Baker. I'm fine."

I grumbled and sat back down. All of this was unnecessary. I was sure I could go to the school medical building, and they would have a contusion salve there to help with the bruises. Or perhaps a healer could use a spell to get them to heal completely. All of this with Noah was completely unnecessary.

"I can quite literally see the wheels turning in your head. Probably thinking about how you don't need me to do this for you." Noah emerged from the closet with hands full of bottles and vials. His jaw was clenched as he neared our bench.

Unable to refute his claim, I remained silent.

He let all the items he'd collected tumble to the bench top uncaringly before turning his full attention on me again. Rough fingers guided my chin to the side so he could look at my neck. I hadn't seen it, and honestly, I didn't want to.

"If you know I don't need you to fix these, then why did you drag me here?" I asked quietly, not hating the feeling of his fingertips brushing my cheek. Actually, I had to try everything not to shiver.

"Because I need to do it for me."

It took me a few seconds to understand his words, and I couldn't utter a single word in response once they sunk in.

So, for the next thirty minutes, I let Noah rub the contusion salve and who knows what else onto my neck.

"How did you fare tonight?" I looked at him as he dipped his fingers into a dish of ointment. "With the potion?"

Noah gave me a blank look before returning to his work.

"I saw you with your date tonight. Was it hard to be around her when the attack happened?"

I was convinced he would not respond since he stayed silent as he applied the ointment to my neck. With his face so close to mine, I could see the texture of his skin and the micro lines that had begun to form around his mouth and between his brows. It made him more real, more normal to me.

"She's not the one I fancy, so I was completely fine around her." His tone was gravelly, and his eyes stayed glued to my neck, a muscle feathering in his jaw. I had the weird urge to touch it.

"She's not?" The brunette girl was one of the prettiest girls I'd ever seen, so I found it hard to believe he didn't fancy her even a little. I knew he had someone he liked, since the potion did indeed affect him, though he seemed mostly fine now, if not a little agitated.

He didn't respond, so we spent the rest of the time in comfortable silence.

The only signal I had that he finished was the absence of his hands and the quiet gathering of the supplies. I turned to watch him, awed by our quiet companionship tonight. It was unlike both of us…but I wasn't opposed to it.

"Thank you," I whispered, reaching out to touch his hand. Just as my fingers grazed his skin, he jerked his hand away.

"I've had enough of touching you for a night," he grunted, and I literally flinched.

Standing, I made to exit. What I thought was perhaps a white flag being raised to our near decade of hatred and rivalry was something else. He was disgusted just by touching me, apparently, and I didn't have to stick around and help him tidy up when he was the one who dragged me here.

"Wait, Henri, that's not—"

"Don't worry about it, Noah. I'll see you later." I pushed the door open before giving him one last remark. "Good game, by the way."