Hated By All, Loved By Four

☆═ ⋆★Do Blondes Float?★⋆ ═☆

••●─🕸️⋅🕷KAITO'S P.O.V.🕷⋅🕸️─●••

Sebastian didn’t even try to hurry out, he took his time and when he finally left I could bring my eyes to the blonde woman standing beside me with a look of horror on her face. I can smell her fear. The alpha in me points out that her skin is almost touching mine, and I move a few inches away while she’s still distracted.

Her scent is driving me crazy. You ever smell something you know is so damn sweet? Yeah, that’s what she smells like. It pisses me off to no end. I inhale, then force myself to exhale before asking her why Sebastian brought her here.

“What are you doing here?”

She slowly turned my way, eyes wide and shivers moving over her skin.

“Uh, all the clubs are full. Sebastian mentioned the only free ones are... swimming and track.”

I almost said she should have just gone for track but I’m guessing she already refused if she’s standing right here in front of me. The club is like any other. You sign up, and if there’s an opening you can join in. I have no teachers, lifeguards, or instructors because I’m just one man and I doubt I could drown easily.

When I die it won’t be through something like that.

“Do you know how to swim?” It wasn’t what I wanted to say but I don’t own the club, people are just too scared to try out.

And we like it like that.

Yes, we do. I don’t like random people in my space, and right now she is in my space like a parasite that you can’t get rid of.

“Yes, I’m a good swimmer. But it’s been a while since I swam.”

“Did you bring anything to change into?”

Her lips parted, and then she winced. “Sorry, I didn’t think I’d be picking the swimming club.”

“Strip then. You’ll do two laps in your underwear.”

“Two laps?”

“Yeah, or you can leave.”

Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth as she thought about what to do. The longer she thought the more annoyed I got. She seemed to notice that my body was growing tenser. She turned toward the rows of chairs and ran over to place her phone and bag there.

I looked away as she stripped. I could hear the rustling of clothes, and then a few minutes later she was back in front of me. Wearing a white bra, and black lacey underwear. Her cheeks were red as she tried to resist covering herself up.

I noticed the twitch in her fingers. That self-conscious behavior that my best friend has. I almost felt sorry for her. She’s not not ugly. She shouldn’t feel like she has to cover up. Everyone is built differently.

“Uh, so do I just start?”

“Yeah. Take that ramp, jump in, and complete your laps. If you complete it, sign your name up there and you can be a part of the club.”

I walked off to where I kept my towel. My skin was cold now, and some droplets of the water were drying. I took out my phone. Finding several messages. I was allowed to keep my phone from home instead of being given a new one like every student.

Mom: Are you okay, baby? Are your teachers treating you right? Do you want to come home? I miss hearing from you, please respond soon. Mommy loves you, Kaito. There’s no one more perfect than my baby boy.

Yet she sent us here.

Dad: Your mother is sad, reply to her messages. You know we had no choice, Kai. It’s been a year, we haven’t heard anything from you. I don’t want to keep getting my information from Malcolm. Talk to me son, I love you. I only want you to be better.

Adora: Hi baby bro, it’s me again. I want to apologize again. I’ll keep apologizing until you forgive me. Kaito I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted to know. I’m worried about you. The family misses you. The injuries have healed nicely. I’m taking care of your cat. Can I come to visit you this year? Please?

Haruko: Ohayo, otōto-san. It’s Haruko again. I haven’t heard back from you. I hope you’re sleeping better. I miss hanging out with you. Are they treating you okay? Do you need us to come get you? We will, in a heartbeat. You’re a part of this family, otōto-san. Please call us.

Rioji: I’m in Osaka for the weekend. There’s a wolf I’m here to meet. If you want to meet up. Please let me know.

Rioji: if I could just stop by I would but I don’t want to wreck your progress. You know we love the f**k out of you. Just please, Kai, try to get better and open up to us. Whatever we did to hurt you, we’ll fix it. I promise I miss you.

Rioji: I’ll stay for a few more days in case you change your mind. I’m not giving up, Kai. I made a promise to you when you were just a baby, and if I’ve failed to protect you, I won’t fail again.

Takara: Kaito.... was it one of us? Did we hurt you? You say we all did it, but what did we do? It’s killing me on the inside, Kai. I don’t want you to continue to hate me, god, kaito what can we do to fix this? If this school doesn’t work I might not be able to live with your hate. Just tell me, whatever we did, whatever I did, I’ll fix it. I’ll change. Please, just forgive us. For whatever it is. I can’t hug you without you tensing up and running away, or hurting me. What changed, Kai? Who did this? Who did we let hurt you? What happened, Kai? I’m begging you to forgive us. Rioji is in Osaka for the weekend, I’m coming in two months. I don’t care about the school rules, I’m going to see you. Even if it hurts I need to see you, the pain in my chest is only getting worse.

Takara: We just want you back.

I read the last text and felt a prickle on my skin.

They let it happen, Kai. They can’t claim innocence now after what happened. They could have prevented it. You saw how it played out for you. If you’re hurting, they should too.

My alpha was heating up on the inside. His anger made me want to break something. Like all their messages before, I just read and didn’t reply. I shoved the phone back into my bag and reached for the towel when I realized I couldn’t hear the sound of water sloshing around. Did Valeria leave?

I turned my attention to the pool, walking toward it.

Shit! I thought she said she could swim.

I sprinted forward and plunged into the icy water, the shock jolting through me as I immediately swam toward her motionless form. How long had she been down here? I’d only been gone ten minutes—how did this happen?

Reaching her, I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her tightly against me as I kicked upward, pushing us both toward the surface. Breaking through, I dragged her to the edge, hoisting her onto the cold, hard tiles and laying her flat on her back. Without hesitation, my hands pressed against her chest, starting urgent compressions to expel the water. After a few tense moments, she coughed, sputtering as water spilled from her mouth.

“What the f**k is your problem? I thought you could swim?” she was shivering, and clutched her chest as she coughed some more.

I got to my feet, raced around to where my bag was, then grabbed the large towel and brought it over to her. I wrapped it around her body, patting her dry with a frown on my face.

“I can swim.” she croaked out. Is she serious? I just saw her drowning. “I just froze up when I got there. i....” she hiccuped and began sobbing. I wasn’t sure what to do. My first thought was to call Malcolm but I know his game is still on. And this would distract him.

I didn’t touch her as my skin began to feel like needles were poking it. I shut my eyes, and started murmuring to myself- I’m fine. I’m in control. No one can hurt me without my permission. I own my body and what can be done with it. I’m fine. I am okay.

I finally opened my eyes enough to look at the crying girl. “What went wrong?”

“I don’t know. One minute I was fine, and the next I couldn’t move my body.”

“Why didn’t you join the track team?”

She rubbed her eyes. “I used to run alot. I can’t run in a club without it feeling like I’m being forced.”

“Is it possible you feel the same way about swimming?” my tone was dry. I couldn’t find any emotion to put behind each question.

“Oh... I guess I never thought of that.”

“No, you didn’t. You can sign up for the club, but you aren’t able to swim without my supervision. If you’re going to do this s**t then you better not drown in front of me.”

“Thank you.” She whispers. Her skin is flushed as warmth returns back to her.

I sat there for a while, not sure what to do with myself. It isn’t until the doors to the club open that I realize I haven’t moved an inch. Sure there’s space between us, but I’m not sure why I haven’t left. Malcolm walks in alone. I’m guessing Seb must have gone for his yoga. I don’t think it’s time for that but perhaps he wanted to get an early start.

Mal stares at the two of us.

“Kai, are you alright?”

I finally moved, standing and strolling over to him. “No, I am not,” I whisper so only he can hear me. “I’ve got alot of messages from my family, and a girl who almost drowned.”

“s**t,”

“I’m going to go back to my place and clear my head. You take care of her. You wanted us to get to know her but I am nobody’s caretaker. I can barely care for myself.”

“I get it. I’ll call you later, okay? Don’t sleep angry,”

Malcolm didn’t try to talk me into texting my family back. He doesn’t know why I’m so spiteful towards them, and until he finds out, he won’t force me into anything. But he tries to be the middle man between us.

I grabbed my bag, pulled on my jacket, and slipped on my slippers. I left like that. Not bothering to shower or change. I walked out of the building and kept going until I made it to the lighthouse further away from the rest of the school. As the only level five, I have a single place to myself. It’s a renovated old lighthouse where I can stay and hide away from everyone. I have a therapy session today, but I can skip it. It’s not like it helps me anyway.

I dropped my bag and took a quick hot shower before drying up and laying on my bed naked.

Her skin was too cold. Touch is scary, Kaito. I know it is. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you. Sleep.

And I did, right on command. I shut down my brain, and everything else. Falling into a nightmarish sleep.