“Who is he exactly?” I ask.
I’m not given an answer. Instead, I get an accusatory glare from Aiden. “What were you thinking? I could’ve hit you!” he growls loudly.
“But you didn’t.”
“But I could’ve!”
I step a little closer to him and crane my neck so that I can look him directly in his agitated gray eyes, trying to communicate my trust in him. “But you didn’t.”
“I can’t believe this is the second time I’m telling you not to get in the middle of a fight,” he says.
“I jumped in for you, Aiden,” I say, hoping my cheeks don’t look as warm as they feel. “Look around—there are students and teachers everywhere.”
My words register when he looks directly at one of the vice principals, getting into her car a few rows away from where we’re standing. He looks back down at me, an unknown emotion running through his eyes. “It would’ve been worth it.”
“You’ll get another chance,” Julian cuts in.
I’m brought out of my little Aiden bubble by the sound of Julian’s voice, and step back from Aiden for the second time in the last five minutes.
“Will someone tell me who he is now?” I ask.
“Ryan Simms. He’s a Silver, and someone you don’t want to get involved with,” Mason says.
“Please. If Kaitlyn’s got her grubby little hands all over him, I don’t want anything to do with him.”
“She called him her boyfriend. She sure moves on fast,” Mason jokes.
“It makes logical sense. She feels rejected by Aiden, so naturally she’ll move on to the guy who hates him as much as she does,” I explain, pieces clicking together as I speak.
“They’re perfect for each other, then,” Julian adds.
“Are you going to tell me why you hate that guy or . . . ?”
“It doesn’t matter, just stay away from him,” Aiden says, his impassive face back, but still looking annoyed from the encounter. He walks back over to the driver’s side of his car. “Go home and study, Amelia.”
He gets into his car and the loud engine comes to life, then he pulls out of the parking lot and disappears down the road.
“Did he seriously just leave without telling me who that guy is? He threatened me!” I explain to Mason and Julian.
Mason gives me an exhausted smile. “Come on, k-bear, I’ll walk you to your car.”
We say good-bye to Julian and head to the other side of the parking lot.
“Mason, seriously. Ryan threatened me. I think I have the right to know why you guys hate him.”
He sighs. “He and Aiden go way back. They’ve always hated each other.”
I’m about to open my mouth to ask why, but Mason cuts me off. “I can’t tell you why, just trust me when I say that he’s the biggest asshole on the planet, and that you’re better off not knowing him.”
We get to my car, but I don’t make a move to get in. “Is he going to be a problem?”
Mason gives a humorless laugh. “He’s always a problem.”
“Kaitlyn’s up to something. She hasn’t done anything since she ‘broke up’ with Aiden, and now she’s with his enemy?”
“Nothing’s going to happen to you, k-bear. I’ll make sure of it.” The strength and determination with which Mason makes that statement makes me blush.
“I’m not worried about Kaitlyn. I can handle myself, remember?”