Chapter 3 Chapter Three

- CHAPTER THREE

ADORE

Something warm brushed against my cheek. Warm air fanned my face and then a hand gently shook my shoulders.

“Adore.”

The voice sounded distant, like it was coming from the end of a long tunnel.

“Adore, open your eyes.” the voice sounded desperate.

My lashes trembled but refused to lift. My body felt heavy, like something had pinned me to the ground.

“Adore.”

This time the voice was closer.

Sharper.

My eyes finally opened.

Light flooded my vision and I blinked against it, disoriented. A shadow stood above me, tall and unmoving, blocking part of the sunlight pouring through the open doorway.

It took a few seconds for my blurry sight to focus.

And then my heart stuttered when my gaze met his.

Angelo.

He was kneeling in front of me.

His dark eyes were fixed on my face, watching me with an intensity that made my chest tighten.

I gazed around and noticed that I was no longer in the old library, rather I was outside with several eyes peering over me.

I blushed at the attention and quickly made to sit up, in my hurry, I hit my head against his.

"Ouch". I cried out rubbing the spot.

He didn't say anything, didn't move, just watching me with those gaze that can send flutter into the heart of any girl.

I gazed at him and I forgot to breathe, oh damn it, he is just so handsome and damn it, he wasn't supposed to see me like this, it's so embarrassing.

"Is she okay?"

"What the hell happened to her?"

I heard the whispers around me.

I pushed myself up slowly and gave him my pretty smile.

"Hi..." I waved awkwardly at him. How does one face her crush after he had seen me in one of my worst moments?

He didn't say anything, neither did he reply to my "hi" he simply stood up from his kneeling position and so I tried again, laughing awkwardly.

"You....you saved me". I muttered but Angelo didn’t smile neither did he soften in any way.

Instead, his jaw tightened and he said he said slowly, “What the hell were you doing wandering around this part of the school alone.”

Something in his voice made my stomach twist and I licked my suddenly dried lips.

He wasn’t concerned about me, he was angry.

My brow furrowed, but why would he be angry?

My fingers curled nervously into my skirt.

“I didn’t wander,” I murmured and gazed around, the students' faces had gone from concern to curiosity.

My gaze landed on Imogen and her girls , her eyes were narrowed into angry slit, glaring at me and daring me to say a word.

Her words earlier jumped unbidden into my mind, "you are not fit to be the Mafia princess".

I couldn't help but flinch and quickly averted my gaze, I don't want to escalate this and cause more trouble.

"If you didn't wander, what the hell were you doing there...that library is no longer in use?" Angelo asked and I said the first thing that came to mind.

"I...I was looking for you?"

Now he looks confused, "for me? Why the hell would you look for me in an abandoned library?"

I swallowed and quickly searched my bag for the birthday gift I wanted to give him, I would give it to him to avert attention but would tell him about my feelings another day.

"I...I wanted to give you this". I said.

I held up the box of cake I had spent the night preparing for him and also the music box I had bought for him.

"Awwwn". The crowd murmured.

"Is this a love token?" Someone said.

"Every body knows that the Mafia princess is madly in love with the Futham prince". Another said and I blushed.

"Happy birthday Angelo." I whispered and his face darkened immediately.

"The music box contains your favorite songs and the cake is..."

"Awwwn..." The crowd muttered dreamily.

"I don't want it". He snapped and turned to leave.

"Oh no!" The students said and clicked their tongues in disappointment.

"Angelo wait... I..."

"Don't you get it, I don't want it". He clenched out.

"But..."

His hand whipped out and hit the cake from my hands, my heart broke when I watched it fall on the ground and next, he took the music box and flung it away also.

"Maybe, this should tell you how much I detest things like this". He said coldly.

"But...how could you do this? You saved me and..."

"That doesn't make me yours does it?" He interrupted harshly and I shook my head.

"I just..."

"Keep your gifts to yourself 'Mafia princess'". He spat the words with so much venom that I flinched.

Tears gathered in my eyes, "what did I ever do to you? We used to be best friends, why do you hate me so much now?"

His expression closed off and he turned to leave.

"You do not have to be a jerk you know". Adonis suddenly clenched out and before anyone could realize what he was about to do, he grabbed Angelo by his collar and his fist connected with Angelo's chin.