Binding 13

"Sha

The sound of my name being called out, followed a few moments later by Joh

"What's wrong?" Joh

"Nothing lad," Gibsie quickly replied, holding his hands up. "I swear."

"She's fucking crying, Gibs," Joh

Panic roared to life inside of me, urged on by the sight of Bella standing outside the bathroom door, observing our interaction with a dark expression.

I knew that look well.

It came with a promise of pain.

"Sha

"Please don’t talk to me," I choked out before sidestepping around him.

Joh

"Don’t touch me!" I hissed, panicked, and yanked my arm free.

Joh

"Joh

"Gibsie, maybe you should fuck off and leave us alone," Joh

"Suit yourself, Bulldozer," Gibsie chimed before sauntering off.

"Sha

"No," I strangled out, begging the lord to take mercy on me and not have Joh

"Then what's wrong?" he demanded. "Talk to me!"

"I just need you to leave me alone," I choked out, moving to step around him again.

"I will –" Joh

My gaze flickered to where Bella was glaring daggers at me.

I flinched at the sight of her menacing expression and Joh

He craned his head around and his whole body visibly tensed.

"Jesus Christ," he growled, ru

I shook my head. "Nothing."

"Sha

When I didn’t answer him, Joh

"Fine," he snarled, turning his back to me. "I'll find out for myself."

"Wait –" catching ahold of the back the navy hoodie he was wearing over his uniform, I dragged him back to me, "Please don’t say anything."

"Don’t say anything?" Joh

"She didn’t!" I lied, desperate to defuse the situation and stop this from exploding. "I swear."

"Don’t even think about lying to me again," Joh

"No, you're wrong, I just–" My words broke off and I grunted as a sharp pain ricocheted through my belly.

"Shite." His hand shot out and clasped my elbow, steadying me. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I strangled out, breathing through my nose, as I clutched my side. "I'm fine."

"Jesus Christ," Joh

"What – no!" I spluttered, panicked.

His gaze darkened. "Is it her? Has she been giving you shit?" He reached up and touched my neck. "Was that her?"

I shook my head.

"Don’t lie to me, Sha

"I'm not lying to you!"

"Then tell me what's going on," he demanded, ru

Oh, god.

Mortified, I waved for Joh

I closed my eyes when I said this, mentally kicking myself for telling him this.

"It's my first one," I quickly rambled on, watching his side profile carefully as I indulged him with my worst nightmare. "And I'm in some serious pain."

Rocking back down on my heels, I exhaled shakily and peeked up at his face, expecting him to turn and run for the hills.

Joh

It tightened.

Rooted to the spot, I stared up at him in terror while he mirrored me.

"You coming, Kav?" one of his friends called out.

Joh

"Joh

"Fuck off, Feely," he growled. "I'm talking here."

"Alright, lad, but we're heading down town for lun–"

"I said I'm fucking talking here!" Joh

"I probably shouldn’t have told you that," I quickly finished, stepping back, putting some space between us, cheeks burning an unflattering shade of scarlet. "Go on with your friend. I'm fine."

"That's what's wrong?" he asked, ignoring my words, blue eyes searching mine. "That's why you're crying?"

"Yeah," I whispered.

"You're in pain?"

I bit down on my lip and forced another small nod.

He blew out a breath. "I have some ibuprofen in my gear bag for my adductor." He looked at me with a hopeful expression. "Would those help?"

"God, yes," I sighed, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me at the thought of pain relief.

"My bag's in the changing room in the P.E hall," he stated, gesturing towards the entrance. "Come with me."

I glanced uncertainly to where Bella was still watching me and debated my next move before deciding to go with Joh

I needed the medicine and he was throwing me a lifejacket by offering me a temporary escape.

Shame or pain, Sha

Shame, I decided, and fell into step with him.

"Slut!" Bella called out, loudly enough to garner everyone's attention.

I groaned internally.

"That's right," she hissed when my step faltered. "I'm talking about you, slut!"

"Don’t," I begged when I felt him stiffen beside me. "Joh

Joh

Frozen to the mortal spot, I watched their heated interaction, knowing this was my perfect opportunity to bolt, but unable to make my legs run.

I was exhausted from ru

It certainly seemed that way when I heard him roaring profanities right back at a screeching Bella.

A large crowd was gathering around to watch, and it didn’t seem to faze Joh

"Leave her the fuck alone," he was barking. "She's not your business."

"You're my business," Bella screamed back at him.