Page 21 of I Don't Need Your Protection
Sophie is about to say something, but the bell rings, letting us know breakfast is over and we should get to class. I sigh in relief because I have no idea how I’m supposed to explain Caleb. Even though I don’t want to admit it, he’s right. He won’t be able to protect me adequately if I draw attention to him. I have no choice but to do as he wishes—pretend he doesn’t exist. At least when we’re in public.
After I quickly gobble down the rest of my pancake, my friends and I follow the students toward the school building, which holds all the classrooms. It’s right next to the dining hall building. I’m super nervous for classes at this prestigious school because I have no idea if I’m at their level, but I’m so thankful that my new friends share this class with me. That’ll definitely help me ease into my new world.
Things are definitely looking better now than they did two days ago. I think a lot has to do with my amazing friends. Maybe I was wrong and I will have a great time here. For thefirst time since my parents died, I feel good. Happy, even. Will all this go away when my parents’ killers are caught and I’m forced to live the life of an heiress?
Chapter Eight
Addie
Caleb walks a few feet behind me as my friends and I enter the school building and head to first period. He keeps himself so well hidden that most people don’t even see him. I spot the girls who were all over him in the dining hall glancing around, most definitely searching for him. I wonder if I should just take them out of their misery and tell them they’re wasting their time. Maybe once he’s no longer my bodyguard, they can try again. But would he even stay here once his job is done? I guess not, unless he’ll still be hired as my security detail. But he won’t have to watch over me like a hawk. I’d be free to do what I want without having to answer to him.
My friends and a few others stop before a classroom. Chemistry. Along with sharing this class with all three of them, my warden is in it as well. He told me he’ll be in all of my classes.
He finally emerges from wherever he was hiding, leaning on the wall with his arms crossed, intense eyes on me. My gaze leaps to his buff chest and muscled arms as they flex with his every move.
As if he’s got the spotlight on him, a flock of girls rushes to his side, each demanding attention from him. But he keeps those eyes on me.
“No surprise there,” Raven says with an eye roll as she nods in their direction. “The brooding bad boy who’s got the entire female population worshipping him? Yawn.”
“Well, he is kind of mysterious,” Sophie points out.
The girls pull and tug at various parts of him, but he still doesn’t drop his gaze from me.
“He’s kind of rude,” Carly says. “Remember how he didn’t answer any of my questions yesterday, Addie? Now he’s ignoring all the girls.”
We continue to watch as girl after girl tries to flirt with him, but he waves them off. Luckily, he took his eyes off me, maybe because he realized my friends are asking too many questions. Impeccable hearing, right? Though he still watches me from the corner of his eyes.
Some girls give up and go to their classes while a few stay behind and try to win him over by twirling their hair or batting their lashes.
“We’d better get to class,” Sophie says. “I don’t want to be late and ruin my perfect attendance.”
“Tragedy of the century,” Carly jokes.
We enter the chemistry classroom and they take their seats.Carly waves me over, gesturing to the empty desk next to them.
“No one wants to sit near the losers of the school,” she informs me. “So this seat has been empty since the beginning of the year.”
“I don’t think you’re the losers of the school,” I say as I sit down and take out my laptop. “You guys are great.”
Sophie smiles. “Thanks. That was very sweet of you.”
“Unfortunately, most kids here don’t share your views,” Raven says, pushing some blonde hair out of her eyes.
Caleb enters the classroom after most of the students have settled down and chooses an empty seat across the room, directly in my line of vision. Obviously, he chose that seat because he needs a clear path in case someone crashes in from the window and tries to hurt me. Caleb would be by my side within seconds.
Some girls surround him, but most have given up. He turns his head away from me, but I know his eyes are still on me.
Sophie talks about the book she’s reading—something about dragons—until the teacher walks in. He’s an older man, dressed in a crisp suit, and whatever white hair he has left is brushed in this very “gentlemanly” kind of way. He looks like he popped in from the 1950s or something.
“Good morning, students.” He glances around until his eyes focus on me. “Ah, there you are…” He glances at his attendance sheet. “Addie Nelson. And…Caleb Foster.”
Caleb doesn’t even look at him. Or at me, but I know he is somehow still watching me.
“Welcome, new students,” the teacher continues. “Wouldyou like to tell us about yourselves?”
I shake my head while Caleb crosses his arms over his chest.
“All right,” the teacher says. “I’m Mr. Barnelli. This class is a very difficult one and I suggest you ask another student for help catching up. Now, where did we leave off yesterday? Oh, yes.”
