Chapter 3 Tiger vs Dog

Jordan’s Point of View  

Mr. Benjamin allowed me to use the computer in his office to check my email, and luckily for me, the agency had already sent the details of my employer. I copied the house address and the phone number to call; my interview was scheduled for tomorrow evening after school.  

Even though I didn’t get to fix my phone, I was still able to reach out to my employer, and now I have a means to protect myself from Killian and his hoard of bullies.  

So, I came to school early today, trying to finish my after-school duties so I wouldn’t be late for my interview this evening. This job opportunity wasn’t just a means of escape from my uncle; it also meant I could save some money for college and afford a life outside of them.  

My grip on the mop tightened as I cleaned out the swimming area. 

“Ouch,” I groaned as I lowered myself to sit on the steps just a few inches from the pool. I didn’t feel the pain yesterday, but today, my sides hurt so much that even breathing was painful.  

Suddenly, the door to the pool area opened, and a tall figure strolled in. The moment my eyes met the green that belonged to Killian, my body jolted up, momentarily forgetting the pain in my ribs.  

What the hell is he doing here? 

The swimming pool is closed until I’m done cleaning. 

“Found you,” His eyes narrowed darkly on me, and my breath hitched. My eyes darted around, trying to find the nearest escape route; there was only one, and that was the place he came in from.  

Can I just run past him and somehow miraculously try to evade him? 

The freak is almost 6'5", and he fucking plays football, one body slam, and I might wake up in the E.R. 

“You keep playing with me, little bird.” He mused as he neared me, and I backed away from him, holding the mop tightly in my hands, as it is now the only weapon I might have to defend myself if need be.  

“What do you want?” I squeezed out, keeping at least four steps in between us. That didn’t stop Killian from coming even closer to me; he backed me into a wall.  

“I heard you applied for a position in the student sports committee,” he finally said in the same alluring voice that reeked of his masculinity. “But I didn’t believe it, because where would you find the nerve?”  

I swallowed hard.  

“I’m just trying to survive.” My voice quivered, his eyes raked over my form, and I felt bare beneath his gaze.  

“Surviving is being the obedient little dog you are,” He slammed his hands at either side of my head, finally caging me in, and that was when breath totally left my lungs.  

I wasn’t asthmatic, but my throat tightened. 

“You sit when I tell you to, you fetch when I order you to, and you bark when you’re told to.” My gaze shifted from his face, and he gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his expressionless eyes. “The sports committee is no place for a dog.”  

Something stirred inside me, a warmth fueled by so much anger.  

“Are you scared?” I cocked my head to the side, copying his taunt. “If I’m a dog, then it shouldn’t matter to you if I’m in the committee or not.”  

A strange emotion flickered in his gaze, and his jaw clenched.  

“You’re not the big bad tiger you claim to be if a dog threatens you. Did you come looking for me because of this news?”  

Taunting him was a big mistake because he lifted me like I weighed nothing, and then with a forceful shove, he pushed me into the pool.  

A small scream escaped my parted lips as I managed to float up to the surface, taking a huge gasp of air.  

“Please!” I screamed, thrashing as wild as I could… I needed him to understand that I couldn’t swim. 

I sank almost immediately, I thrashed even more, and I tried to scream, but only air bubbles escaped my lips.  

Was I really going to die like this?  

Was this really going to be it for me?  

And just when I thought I was about to drown, I felt firm arms grab my waist from inside the water, and I was pulled out.  

A noisy choking sound escaped my lips the moment air rushed into my lungs; the water had gotten into my nose and my throat. I curled up against the ground, coughing as hard as I could, trying to expel the water from my system.  

“What the hell are you doing, man?” I heard the soft voice that belonged to Nolan, and only then did my eyes open properly—maybe it’s because of the near-death experience, but for a second, I thought it was Killian who brought me out of the water.  

Right. Why will that devil ever do anything good for me? Why would he bring me out of the very water he threw me in? 

“She could have died.”  

“How was I supposed to know she couldn’t swim?” Killian maintained his position, with his hands fixed in his pockets like he didn’t just try to kill me right now.  

“You have to take these things seriously,” Nolan said as his brown eyes turned back towards me, and they deepened with concern. “Are you okay?”  

Maybe it’s receiving a little thread of humanity from one person, but that one question brought tears to my eyes. No one had asked me that in years, not since my parents passed away.  

Not since I came to this school.  

“Yes, I’m great—” I snapped, a little offended. “Ecstatic even, cough! Cough!”  

I scramble up to my feet; to hell with the after-school duty. I’m done. My entire body was trembling from the cold and the fact that I just almost got killed by this lunatic.  

“Jordan?” Nolan pulled me just before I could walk past him; that was the first time he was using my name. “Please wait, I’ll take you to the nurse’s office.”  

I shook my head as my eyes flickered towards Killian, who had a knowing smirk on his face, the tears in my eyes spilled down my cheeks, and I sniffed shamelessly.  

“Now, where did all that courage go?” He taunted me, walking closer to me, but the instant Nolan came in between us. “Say it to me in the same voice; call me a big bad tiger again.” 

“Kill, that’s enough." Nolan pulled him. “She is frightened; don’t do that now.”  

“Then, when is the best time to get her to stop her stupid aspiration?” He asked.  

“I’m not going to stop,” I declared with so much anger in my voice. “In fact, I’m going to strive to get into position."  

I sniffed. 

“You don’t want to challenge me, little bird.” He tried to reach for me again, but Nolan stopped him. 

I stumbled back. 

Killian is not normal; he is crazy—he is a psychopath.  

“I think we should go,” Nolan said as he gripped his friend by the arm and forced him out. The whole time, Killian’s emerald eyes were locked on mine as if promising me much worse things.