His problematic mate

Chapter 4

“Alright, mom. I promise you that I will start to take self-defence lessons, but it’s too expensive. We won’t be able to afford it,” I said with a sigh.

She agreed to let me work next to college, so I could also agree with her condition if that would make her worry less about me.

“That’s for me to figure out, sweetie. I still have two years to find someone for you who will teach you for a good price.” She said happily and moved to hug me. “We will be fine, I promise. Everything will be alright.” She said while she caressed my back gently and I nodded my head against her shoulder.

“I know.” I said, and she went to do her things in the kitchen while I went to my room, thinking about what I agreed to.

I knew that I still had two years to figure everything out, but I would have to make time for work and my self-defence lessons next to college, which would be more than challenging.

While thinking about my future, I suddenly got an idea which would also answer my question about what to do this afternoon. Other days, I started studying or reading after school , but I didn’t need to study for anything and I wasn’t in the mood for reading either.

“I will start training.” My face lit up from determination. I couldn’t practice self-defence alone, but I could at least get in shape before I started, so that would be out of the way and I would need to spend less time in the gym when I was already in college.

I patted my shoulder for my brilliant idea and changed into one of my T-shirts and shorts to go for a run.

I never liked sports, but maybe just because kids had more time to bully me or throw balls at me when we had PE. Thinking about running though, even made me excited at the moment, so after dressing up, I quickly put on my training shoes which were a bit small for me already, but I just removed the insole and it fitted me again perfectly and I went to the kitchen.

“Mom, I have decided to start training already because I have time to spare now.” I said and mom looked at me in surprise as she looked at my attire, then she beamed at me happily.

“That’s a good idea sweetie.” She said and and came to hug me again. “I know you will be strong soon, my precious daughter. I am so proud of you.” She said and wiped her tears away before letting me go. She was always so emotional in situations like that.

“Thanks mom.” I said because her words made me happy. I didn’t want anything else, just for mom to be proud of me. Other things didn’t matter. “I will be back soon, maybe in one-two hours,” I said and she nodded her head with a smile.

“Alright, but don’t go too far and stay out of the woods. There might be some wild animals lurking around.” She said for the hundredth time in the last sixteen years and I nodded my head.

“Alright mom. See you later.” I waved at her and left the house.

Our small cottage that my great grandma left for mom after she died was between the city and the woods, so as I stopped in front of the house and looked left and right, I was thinking about which direction to go for a run.

I hated the city and I hated to see people's judging looks when they saw my dark appearance. Nature was a better choice for a run anyway, so it was decided. Mom asked me not to go into the woods though, so I turned on my heels and started running in the clearing between the woods and the city.

Running wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Of course, my muscles started burning after five minutes of running, but I enjoyed looking at the scenery and smelling nature. Hearing the chi-ripping of birds and the noises of the wind as it was shaking the tops of the trees. It gave me a feeling that I loved but wasn’t able to feel so often.

Freedom.

After another ten minutes went by, I couldn’t take it anymore and slowed down my pace and started walking instead, while breathing heavily. I walked for a few minutes until my breathing got back to normal and I wanted to start running again, but I found myself at a pond so I stopped to look around. It was a beautiful small pond, which separated the woods from the clearing, so I decided to sit down and take it all in for a few minutes. Everything was so peaceful and quiet. It brought a good feeling in my gut as I was looking into the clear water of the pond to see fishes swimming around freely.

To be honest, my first thought was to grab one and take it home for dinner, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do that. Maybe if we were on the edge of starving, I would do that to save ourselves, but otherwise…

I suddenly heard noises from the woods, so I stood up and looked around in alert , expecting to see an animal, but I took two steps back from the surprise when I saw a guy leaning against a tree on the other side of the pond.

I was scared, I had to admit it. The guy was looking dark with black, messy hair and he was wearing black clothes as well with black shades which didn’t make sense since the sun wasn’t even shining. His skin was pale, as much as I could see from him, because he was wearing a long-shelved T-shirt and pants, so it was only the skin of his face that I could actually see.

Then again, I shouldn’t judge people just because they look dark. I shouldn’t act the same as kids do towards me at my school.

“Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you.” He said in a deep voice that made me shiver and goosebumps covered my whole body quickly.

“Everybody would say that.” I murmured and I didn’t think he would hear it, but I guess he did because he let out a chuckle.

“Right, but I would have hurt you already if I wanted to.” He said confidently and I studied him for a few seconds.

“Who are you and what were you doing in the woods?” I asked him with a suspicious look on my face and he let out a sigh and sat down by the tree, leaning his back against it.

I guess he didn’t want me to be afraid, but I didn’t sit down again and stayed alert. The pond was between us, so I knew that he wouldn’t be able to get to me so quickly if he wanted to attack me, but I didn’t want to take my chances.

“My name is Draco and I was just walking in the woods before I saw you, so I thought I would join you.” He said with a shrug of his shoulders.

‘Walking in the woods? Wasn’t that a bit strange?’ I asked myself, but I guess he read the expression on my face and continued.

“We just moved here to the other end of the forest and I always liked to walk through the woods back at home, it calms me down.” He explained and I nodded my head in understanding. “What’s your name?” He asked.

“Raya,” I answered simply. I didn’t think it would cause any harm if I told him my name.

“That’s a nice name and it suits you, Raya.” He said with a smile and I just studied him for a few seconds before he spoke again. “You shouldn’t come so close to the woods, there are a lot of wild animals living in it, they might attack you.” He said and my heart started beating faster.

“I didn’t want to go into the forest, I just … I was running and saw this pond so I took a break.” I answered and he nodded his head in understanding.

It was hard to tell with his sunglasses on, but he looked to be around my age, but he sounded much older.

“Alright.” He said and it looked like he wanted to say more, but he suddenly stood up and turned his back on me, standing in a position which said that he would be attacked or he was going to attack someone anytime. My gut told me to run, but I was curious about what was going on.

“What is it?” I asked him as I took a step closer. He looked back at me with wide eyes like he just realised that I was there as well.

“Run.” He said with a slight panic in his voice while he turned back to look forward and my eyes widened, but I didn’t move. My legs were rooted to the ground and I was curious as well.

He took a few calculated steps forward and it was hard to see him because of the bushes, but I still saw when something big with brown fur jumped on him and tackled him to the ground. 'Oh my god, was that a bear?'

“Draco.” I yelled after him. I was worried about the stranger I had just met. He was attacked by a wild animal after all, but I didn’t dare to go closer to see what was going on. I just heard struggling and growling, but then after I heard an animal whining, all of the noises stopped and it was quiet again. “Draco?” I called out to him in a quieter voice while I was shaking from fear, but let out a sigh of relief when he walked out from behind the tree while dusting his clothes.

“Why the hell didn't you run?” He asked, sounding angry, and I noticed that his clothes were ripped and he was bleeding.

“Are you alright?” I asked him worriedly and he waved me off.

“It’s not my blood, but you didn’t answer my question, Raya.” He was scolding me and it was so strange to hear him say my name like we had known each other for our whole lives.

“I was worried. What the hell was that?” I asked and he let out a sigh and I took a few steps closer. He looked at me and that was when I noticed that he wasn’t wearing his sunglasses anymore. I guess he lost it while fighting with that animal.

“It was a wolf, but I… I scared him away.” He said, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of his. He had a light shade of green eyes and they were really beautiful and rare. “What?” He asked when I was just staring at him with my mouth agape.

“Your eyes… they are beautiful.” I said and his eyes widened before he realised that he didn’t have his shades on. He turned around and went to look for it, then he returned a minute later.

“Whatever.” He murmured grumpily and I couldn’t help but chuckle. “What’s so funny?” He asked with a confused expression on his face and I shrugged my shoulders. I wasn’t afraid of him anymore at all. I had a feeling that he was harmless, to me at least.

“You.” I just said with another giggle and he studied me for a few seconds before one side of his mouth curled into a smile.

“You know, every other person would have run to the hills even just by looking at me. I know I said that I wouldn’t hurt you, so you don’t need to be afraid of me ,which was true, but you are still here even after that wolf attacked me.” He said as he folded his arms in front of his chest and I just shrugged my shoulders again.

“When they weren’t bullying me in groups, students used to run from me as well, only because I looked ’dark’ and creepy as they always said.” I said nonchalantly and his eyes widened slightly under the dark sunglasses that were sitting on his straight nose again.

I didn’t know why I was sharing that with him. I guess I saw myself in him a little and it was good to talk to someone like normal people do. Apart from my mom and the principal, which was a bit weird if you ask me, but I didn’t have anyone else to talk to.