Page 31 of Redeeming the Villain

Blair: Grab lunch or coffee soon?

I’d love to!

I know it’s safer to avoid her if I don’t want another Malik run-in. But she’s my friend, the first one I’ve met here that I trust. I haven’t known her long, but there’s something really genuine about her.

Stowing my phone in my purse, I slip my backpack on and grab Sunny’s leash, hooking it to her collar. Our first class of the day doesn’t start for another hour. But it’s a little bit of a walk, and I want to take it easy, especially since I felt so rough yesterday.

My phone chimes in my purse. I lead Sunny out of our room and hear it lock behind us before checking my phone, expecting a text from Blair.

But instead, it’s from an old friend—one of my only friends.

Phillip: Hey, Alora. I’m transferring to HEAU. I’ll be on campus tomorrow. Meet for coffee? I’ve missed you!

Are you serious?!

Phillip: One hundred percent!

Excitement skyrockets in my body. I haven’t seen him since I got back to the States. The year I took off after high school, I spent all of my time with him at his family’s place in Italy.

I’ve known him since I was really young. His dad's also a politician, and our dads were good friends once, forcing us to spend a lot of time together as kids. But we were never in the same place at the same time. He was studying overseas, and I was shipped off to live with my aunts in Avandale.

I can’t believe he’s actually going to be here. I sigh, feeling a tiny bit of weight fall off of my shoulders. I didn’t realize how lonely I had felt until now.

I like Blair a lot, and I think we’ll be great friends, but she’s in the same group as Malik. Being near her is being near him.

But Phillip is solely mine. He knows what Malik put me through and always threatened to beat his ass. Of course, I don’t want any unnecessary drama. But it would be nice to have some support on my side and brute force if Malik needs a lesson.

My mind flashes to the party and the moment I slapped him. I still feel like I blacked out when I snapped. I had a moment of fearlessness, but the fear has indeed returned. At least a little bit.

To be honest, I just want to forget all about him and just focus on my music and classes. But now there’s a new thing entirely I have to force from my mind—how good his hands felt on me, how his touch lit me on fire. Whether it was anger or something else, he ignited me in a way I’ve never felt before.

I want to forget it all, pretend he doesn’t even exist. Maybe Phillip can help me do just that.

One day, I’m going to get out of this town. I’m going to take Micah with me, and we’re never looking back. We’re going to go far away from here and start anew together.

Opening the front door to the house, I enter first, keeping Micah positioned behind me in case my uncle swings the second we’re inside.

“You’re late,” my uncle grunts, waiting for me the moment I walk in the house. Arms crossed and fuming.

I shoo Micah to the side, encouraging him to go up to his room. He doesn’t need to see this. He sneaks away as I distract my uncle, stepping forward with my hands raised.

“I-I’m sorry. A road was closed, and we had to take a new path home.”

“What do I say about excuses?” His nostrils flare.

“They’re for weak people.” I repeat his words back to him.

“And what are you? Are you weak?” His voice is cold and steady, the calm before the storm.

He walks toward me, and I brace for impact, but nothing comes. Striding past me, he pushes the door shut behind me, closing us off from any potential onlookers.

And then he makes his move.

Grabbing the back of my neck, he whips me around and pulls me down, bringing his knee up at the same time.

Oh fuck, I wasn’t ready for head pain. He usually prefers my torso.

I take the blow, his kneecap colliding with my nose, hearing a crunch as excruciating pain erupts through my face.

---