The Bully's First Love

The Bully, So Stubborn

It was after school.

I was waiting for Rohan at the end of the hall that led out of the building.

This made me smile to myself because it reminded me of how I used to spend waiting for him to come out of his room to play.

It also reminded me of how I learned patience by being his sister. Lord knows how much I had to wait for him all throughout these years.

But darn it.

Checking my wristwatch, I saw that almost two hours had already passed by since classes had ended for the day. My eyes scanned the emptying halls. Then I let out a sigh.

It seems like Rohan had evaded me.

Again.

Pushing away from the wall, I heaved another sigh and turned to leave.

This was driving me crazy. He was driving me crazy by being so exasperating and stubborn. He really should just give up and talk to me because this only served to challenge me more and I loved a good challenge.

Rohan knew that.

Which was why it was confusing me why he wouldn't just concede to me.

I stepped outside and walked down the marble stairs. The air was slightly crisp and the sun was already starting to set. Turning towards the path that led down to the parking lot, I waved goodbye at the people I knew that were still lingering on school grounds.

"You're still here, Schuyler?" a deep voice spoke and I twisted my neck. Nick Fuentes was coming towards me, holding a tennis racket and wearing his club uniform.

"I was hoping to catch my brother," I told him, putting my hands inside my blazer's pockets to keep them warm. It was getting chilly.

Nick's dark brow rose. "Brother? I didn't know you still have a brother."

I sighed, "Fine. Former stepbrother."

"Oh. Him."

"He's transferred here in North High."

"Yeah. Finn told me about him during lunch. You know Finn right?"

My eyes narrowed at him. "Of course. He was sitting in front of Rohan and told me to leave."

Nick lifted another brow. "That's not what he said. He just said Rohan isn't your brother."

"It might as well be. He didn't take my side."

Chuckling, Nick ruffled my hair. "Better get going, Schuyler. It's getting dark." He suddenly frowned. "Maybe you should wait until I finish practice so I could take you home. It's going to be over in a few minutes anyway."

"I'll be fine," I assured him. "Dad bought me a car during the summer."

"All the more reason you should wait for me."

I grinned at him. Nick was one of my childhood friends and we lived in the same neighbourhood. He was a year older than me. He was tall, lean and dark-skinned with black hair and eyes. He was also the team captain of the tennis club and was really sweet to me.

"Are you insulting my driving skills, my dear upperclassman?" I asked him in mock-hurt.

He grinned. "As far as I know, you don't have driving skills, Schuyler."

Nick never called me by my first name. I had the same name as his cantankerous grandmother who liked to hate his guts.

I straightened my spine and narrowed my eyes at him again. "You know what? I'm going to wait for you."

"Really?" He eyed me with suspicion.

"I'll wait for you so I could show you my driving skills."

"No, I think you should just go home." He held my shoulders and turned me around. "I'm still taking my team to nationals. I can't risk dying."

"You are such a jerk," I said, laughing.

"And you're too wilful. Now stop being a brat and listen to your elder for once."

"Now who was the brat who peed on his-?"

He pushed me forward and I laughed again.

"Go home, Sky." His voice was tender when he spoke. "And keep safe."

I looked back at him with a fond smile. "You too, Nick."

**********

Rohan had just got home and was pressing the code on the keypad when he noticed something was amiss.

Since the divorce, he'd been living in an apartment that was just a few blocks away from his new school. The keypad went green and the lock on the door clicked but he didn't open the door yet. Bending down, he picked up the little piece of paper he had inserted in the crack between the door and the frame.

He stared at it, his gut tightening.

Then he slid his gaze to the door.

This could mean two things.

There were unsavoury people inside his apartment, possibly burglars.

Or his mother was home.

Rohan fervently wished for the first. Hell, he'd gladly tackle a group of burglars rather than face his mother.

Slowly, he turned the knob and pushed the door open. He closed it, grabbed the taser gun he'd hidden under the table in the entry way and walked the short hall into his apartment.

There was a swivel chair in the middle of the room.

Rohan didn't own a swivel chair.

But he knew who did.

"f**k," he muttered, dropping his hand holding the taser to his side. "How the hell did you know?"

"Damn it, Rohan." The chair turned around and Skull frowned at him, stroking a white cat in his arms. "You didn't let me be dramatic and shit."

But Rohan wasn't listening anymore. His eyes were locked on a scowling Leon, who was sitting on one of the leather chairs.

"I'm not helping you take that s**t down, Skull," John mumbled as he walked out of the kitchen, holding a bag of chips. "I was hungry," he explained to Rohan when he saw him staring at the chips.

"How the hell did you know I live here?" Rohan grumbled.

John jerked a thumb at Skull. "Leon and I were set to find you when you didn't show up at school when this asshole suddenly pushed us into his car, saying he had a surprise for us."

Rohan looked at Skull.

Skull raised a brow at him. "My grandparents own the building."

Shit.

"Jesus, did you grow taller over the summer?" John asked with a frown as he tore the bag open.

"Why the hell didn't you tell us, Rohan?" that question came from Leon who was still glowering darkly at him.

Shit.

Rohan knew they'd find out but he didn't expect them to be here in his apartment. This meant they knew everything, everything that Rohan kept from them.

Leon Gage, John Steele and Christopher Lawrence had been his friends since he was in middle school.

With messy black hair and silvery-gray eyes, Leon could clear a room with just one glacial stare which was why Rohan felt the overwhelming need to flee right then and there. Leon also used to be unstable, violent and depressed because of his horrible past. That was until he met his current girlfriend, Sophia Gideon, and mended his estranged relationship with his father.

John, on the other hand, had a cheerful disposition. Dark-haired with green eyes, he was fiercely loyal to Leon having been friends since their childhood. He also used to be a ladies' man before he dated his girlfriend, Terry Evans. Not to mention he was filthy rich, being the only heir to one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the country.

Christopher, or Skull as they called him, also had the dubious distinction of clearing out a room with his size alone. He was tall, muscular and had short brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. But despite his looks, Skull had a pleasant personality, though he liked picking up fights because he enjoyed them. He was also not very smart and had to repeat a year, much to the exasperation of his grandparents, his only living relatives.

Rohan looked at John. John was staring at Leon, his body tense with worry. John caught him looking at him and he shrugged.

"I didn't tell him," John mouthed.

"Rohan?" Leon prompted angrily and Rohan looked at him, clenching his jaw.

Then he put down his bag and taser on the table and took a seat on the leather sofa. Taking off his blazer and tie, he announced, "My mother got another divorce."

"I figured," Leon dryly said. "Since when?"

"Last year. Before Christmas."

Rohan watched Leon's expression darken further. "And you're only telling us this now?"

"John knows."

John, who had been checking out his wall-mounted TV and built-in media console, twisted his head around.

"He told me to keep it a secret," he said defensively.

"And I appreciated it." Rohan glanced at Skull who had sat beside him, playing with the iPad system and was turning the lights on and off. "Stop it, Skull."

Skull tapped on the iPad once more and the curtains went swishing around his windows, making the cat lying on the swivel chair hiss. Grinning sheepishly, he put down the iPad and sat back, folding his arms.

John took the other chair, looking warily at Leon. The air was tense and awkward. He was glad Skull had sandwiched himself between them, knew this was Skull's way of protecting him from Leon in case fists came flying.

"That was a f*****g long time ago, Rohan," Leon said quietly. "Is this why you barely hung out with us anymore? Or why you always stood us up during the summer? Will you ever going to tell us? Or me?"

Rohan felt a twinge of guilt.

He tried so many times to tell Leon and Skull but he couldn't. He just couldn't.

Even until then, words were failing him.

"I..." He leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees, his gaze on the carpet. "I didn't know how to tell you."

"Rohan, it's not like it's the first time your mother had a divorce."

It's true. It wasn't her first time.

It was her fifth f*****g divorce.

"Are you afraid we'd feel sorry for you?"he heard John ask. "Because I don't know about the two of them but I do."

Rohan lifted his gaze up.

John's face was warm when he said, "I do feel bad for you. But that doesn't mean I'll treat you any differently. Kid."

"I feel bad for you too, Rohan," Skull told him, bumping his shoulder. "Especially now that I don't have anyone to copy off."

"I never let you copy off me,"Rohan deadpanned.

Skull looked blankly at him. Then he slammed his fist on his palm and said, "Oh, yeah. That was Jimmy. Still, my point remains. It sucks that we don't go to the same school but hey, at least we have a new cool place to hang out in."

"Rohan."

Rohan's gaze reluctantly slid to Leon.

"Is it because of me that you didn't tell us about it?"

He felt his body get tight.

The atmosphere grew tenser.

Even John and Skull didn't know what to say.

Rohan wanted to tell them that no, it wasn't because they'd pity him if they knew that he didn't tell them.

It was because he was ashamed. Ashamed of living like this, ashamed of having a father who didn't stick it out and a mother who never was there for him. Ashamed that he was the only person left that was still completely f****d up.

It used to be easier to tell them when they were still in the same hell as he was. But now that they weren't, now that everything was fine for them especially for Leon, he didn't want to put a damper on things.

They finally had happiness and even love.

He didn't.

So he didn't want to be the one to bring them down, knowing how he had f****d things up for them so many times already.

Words still failed Rohan.

But he decided to be honest. Leon was like a brother to him because he took him under his wing when no one else would, when everyone had already given up on him.

"I didn't want to cause you any more concerns," Rohan slowly said. "I've caused you enough already."

Leon sucked in breath and closed his eyes tight, but not before Rohan saw the remorse flash in them.

"You're... you're finally happy," he reasoned. "And it's nice to see you happy, Leon."

Leon opened his eyes. "Rohan-"

"Understand the kid, Leon," John interrupted. "He may look like he doesn't care but we know it's difficult for him. You of all people should know that considering you also didn't let us in before."

Leon stared at him, incredulous. "So it's my fault?"

"You're his role model," Skull inserted. "Remember when talking to you used to be like pulling teeth?"

"But the thing is, all of you were there for me!" Leon shouted, his body tight with fury. "I was all kinds of f****d up and all of you were there by my f*****g side. Don't you think I'd want to repay you for what you've done for me? We're friends, Rohan. I just want to be there for you."

Rohan stared at Leon, his throat closing.

"I'm sorry this happened to you again," Leon continued, his voice gruff. Then his gaze went to John, "It took me a long time too to understand that I wasn't alone. That I had people who cared for me too." His gaze returned to Rohan. "So please. Even if you think we can't help, just remember that we're here for you. We'll always be here for you."

Rohan felt shame burn inside of him.

But it was a different kind of shame.

He was ashamed he didn't think of this, mad at himself for worrying Leon so much.

Growing up the way he did, he learned not to hope for too much. Dreams die early, people leave and only the bitter taste of disappointment remain.

He'd never had anything like friendship. He never thought he would have this.

And he almost couldn't put a handle on it when his eyes started to sting.

"I know," he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose, swallowing painfully. "I'm sorry for worrying you, guys."

Skull wrapped his arm around his shoulders, silently squeezing, and Rohan was then about to lose the battle with his tears.

But then, Skull put another arm around him, pulling him close into a very tight embrace, making him unable to cry or breathe.

"Alright, Skull," he choked out, patting his back. "Thank you. You can let go now."

"I love you, Rohan," Skull whispered into his ear.

His pats turned to slaps. "Let go, you asshole."

"I told you this before and I'll tell you again. My grandparents can adopt you."

"Can't... breathe..."

Over Skull's shoulder, Rohan could see Leon shaking his head at them and he was relieved to see Leon was grinning. But he still couldn't f*****g breathe.

"Let him go, Skull," Leon ordered and Skull, after giving Rohan a final hug that almost broke his ribs, finally let him go.

"And make him stand up," John called out, popping a chip into his mouth. "I want to make fun of his uniform."

Rohan chuckled, wiping at his eyes. "f**k off."

"Seriously, how tall are you now?"

"He's probably taller than you now, John," Skull pointed. "So you can't call him kid anymore. Rohan, you can totally take this jackass on now."

It was obvious John and Skull were trying to lighten up the atmosphere. Rohan appreciated the gesture. Leon too realized what they were trying to do.

With a sigh, Leon sat back and focused on Rohan again. "Why transfer schools though?"

His smile died and he looked away.

"Mom," he replied in hard tone.

"Ah," Leon muttered in understanding, knowing how manipulative Rohan's mother was.

"Hey, nothing's going to change." John stood up to sit beside him and ruffle his hair. "We're still going to be totes besties forever."

"Can we have a party here?" Skull mused, his eyes wandering around the apartment. "We totally can right?"

"What's up with you and parties, Skull?"

"Well, since you're already taken, someone has to keep the girls happy, John."

John raised a brow. "And that person is you?"

Skull ignored him. "Don't you want to live in the penthouse instead?" he asked Rohan. "I can have it vacated for you."

Rohan sighed and slapped John's hand away from his hair. "No, thanks."

"But it has a hot tub," Skull whined. "Hot tubs are awesome."

"I don't need a hot tub."

"We can totally do poker night here from now on, right Leon?" John called out.

"Yeah. And you're done keeping secrets from us, Rohan," Leon firmly said.

Rohan pursed his lips. Then he nodded.

Then he slapped John's hand again when it began creeping up his hair.

Rohan didn't know what good he'd done to deserve such friendship. He wasn't even sure if he was worthy of this. Before he met his friends, his life was wake up, make it through the day, go to sleep, no f*****g meaning at all.

Good s**t rarely happened to him.

But, as he elbowed John's side and squeezed himself out of the sofa, Rohan thought that his life may not be so bad after all.

**********

Rohan was looking out of the window, watching Skull's car disappear round the corner of the street after a night of playing video games, catching up and s**t talking. He had his cell phone on his hand and he was twirling it around.

He was restless.

Nervous.

Finally, when he got enough courage to do it, he looked at his phone, slid down his list of contacts and found the number. He pressed call, put the phone on his ear and waited.

But his father never answered.