Saved by the Bad Boy

Sawyer

Warning: This chapter does contain mention of physical assault and could be triggering to some readers. Please don't read if this may trigger you. 

Lacey was exhausted. She'd had the week from hell, continuous little pranks being played on her, Lacey suspecting Jessica but unable to prove it. There had been dog food piled into her locker that spilled out when she opened it,  an assignment going missing from her locker and a pin put onto her chair in music class now that seats were assigned. 

To top it off she still had been commuting back and forth to her house and work, cleaning and tidying as well as grudgingly handing over part of her wages. She was currently living off noodles and sandwiches to get through, her work providing much needed meals when she was working. 

Lacey was grateful to be the only one on the bus at the moment, trying to gather her thoughts in the quietness, the bus driver focussed on the road and trying to see through the pouring rain that was bucketing down. It suited the mood she was in at the moment, feeling rather despondent and miserable, wanting nothing more than to snuggle up under her blankets and crawl into bed for the next few hours. Her first week at school already had Lacey rethinking staying at Raven Academy but she also didn't want to let a few bullies run her away either. 

The bus came to a staggering halt, its doors opening with a loud screech. Lacey stood up reluctantly and made her way to the front as the driver, a thick balding man, glanced at her in concern.

"Are you going to be ok in this weather" he said indicating at the rain "can I call someone to meet you so that you aren't alone? It's pitch black out here and hardly any light."

"I'll be ok thankyou for your concern" Lacey said touched that he had suggested any of what he had said in the first place. 

The bus driver looked ready to argue but sighed at the determined look on her face and gave her a nod as she trudged down the steps and out, rain instantly hitting her from all directions.

With a shriek from the tires, the bus sped off and Lacey headed through the gates shivering from the cold despite the sweater she was wearing. Lacey began to jog, her teeth chattering as she made her way towards the girl's dormitories, desperate to get inside and warm herself up. So focussed on the building that was a small distance in front of her, she didn't see the arm that grabbed her and forced her against the back of the building she had just passed.

Lacey gave a muffled scream as a hand blocked her mouth, struggling furiously against the assailant's grasp. It was too dark to see them properly, the assailant wearing a black hoodie and jeans to blend into the dark. She had no doubt by the strength and thickness of the arm that it was a boy though and she cried out as his hand slapped against her face and she felt a knee push into her stomach, forcing her legs apart.

"Listen b****" the person whispered and Lacey was right in that the voice was most definitely male. 

"If you don't shut up I will do more than just slap you, you worthless piece of dirt" he hissed and she cringed as she smelt his breath close to her ear and felt his face directly next to hers. 

He gripped her hair tightly and pulled it as she shrieked into his hand, another slap to the face rendering her silent as her fear grew.

"You know it's a shame about me having to do this but somebody paid me and quite frankly I need the money."

Tears sprang to her eyes as she felt him begin to fondle her underneath her sweater as she squirmed , one hand going to the zipper of her jeans. She would rather go out fighting then let him do this thought Lacey grimly, getting ready to bring her leg up and hopefully hurt him enough to run. 

"Hey" a voice roared and her assailant swore, looking over at the figure approaching. 

Without hesitation her attacker ran in the opposite direction as Lacey slid to the floor, one hand clutched to her cheek as she sobbed, not caring that the rain continued to fall on her in steady drips from the sky. 

She heard the other person come closer, their footsteps steady but quiet, as though they were trying not to scare her more. 

"Are you ok? I could try and run after them but I really don't want to leave you alone here" the voice murmured, clearly a young man with a hoarse gruff voice. 

"Please don't leave" Lacey sobbed, grabbing at his arm as he gingerly helped her up. 

"It's ok" he soothed "I'll stay right here until you are ready to go. I'll make sure you get back to the dorm and from there you can call security."

Lacey felt extremely grateful to this kind stranger who was offering to help her after such a traumatic experience. His hand was large and strong as he gripped hers reassuringly, his eyes gleaming as he looked at her. Lacey blinked away her tears and wiped her eyes as she got a closer look at her rescuer. Her eyes widened in disbelief. The man who had saved her was none other than her rescuer from the diner! She could just make out his black hair and the scar on his cheek as he moved restlessly in front of her, his clothes just as soaked as hers were. 

"It's you" she breathed as he c****d his head at her inquisitively. 

"From the diner" Lacey clarified hastily "you helped me in the diner the other week."

He gave a smile "I thought it was you" he admitted "I'm afraid that it would have been nicer to meet a different way though,"

"I'm Lacey" she told him in a quivery voice as he squeezed her hand. 

"Well Lacey" he quipped "I'm Sawyer. Shall we get you back to your room now?"

She gave a weak nod and allowed him to put his arm around her, supporting her weight easily as they made their way to the building. Lacey couldn't help sneaking glances at him, the way his jaw was clenched, his eyes flashing and the scar that somehow magnified Lacey's attraction to him. This was a shock to her because never before had she been attracted to any man or boy before, but this one was different and called to her in ways she couldn't define or explain.