When A Bully Falls In Love by Valerie Sax (good books to read for women TXT) 📖

~Aoife~

It's been a week I tried my best to avoid any contact with Xander.
He sent me a card apologizing for his action, but as I promised to Matt. I am done with him.
He tried to talk to me, but every time I was lucky to come up with excuses. I hoped he would stop trying to reach me, but guess what I was wrong.
Well, how long?
I ignored all his apology gestures. It's Friday, Luka, Clara and me, planned a movie night. Aunt Agnes needed to see her doctor; She left early. It's only me responsible for closing the library.
I dropped a message to meet them in an hour and started to finish my work quickly.
No one was there in the library, and it scares me alone to work.
"This is the last batch," I talked to myself; I wanted to finish my work hastily.
I was busy racking up my book on the fifth shelf; it was a strenuous job.
I thought to grab a bunch of books and climb the ladder. One last thing, and I am done for the day.
I placed my last book.
"All done," excitedly, I backed myself before thinking I was on the ladder.
I was so immersed in my thought of movie night I didn't realize when my feet slip off. I screamed as I knew I was about to fall hard on the floor, but nope I was not hit by the floor, but caught by someone.
My eyes were closed tightly with the fear of hitting the hard floor, but I found myself in somebody's arm.
Unintentionally, my hands were on his neck, tried to hold him tightly as my neck was under his neck.
Slowly I opened my one eye and saw a perfect jawline. I could feel his strong muscle holding my body. His eyes were looking at me with a smirk.
I opened my second eyes. Suddenly, I realize I landed on the wrong guy. I jerked my hand from his neck. He kept me delicately on the ground.
Great, It's Xander. What is he doing here?
Our eyes clashed before we say anything. His eyes were scanning every part of me. He was the only man who could kill me with his looks. I would be lying if I say I am not scared of his carnivorous looks towards me. Is this only me, he looks like that or every girl?
Well, how does it matter to me?
"I am sorry. I didn't know..." I tried to talk as his eyes were piercing me.
"Oh, I am not..." He answered in a husky voice tried to fix my hair.
"What?" I pulled my dress, tried to fix my clothes.
He touched my hair, tried to keep them behind my ears.
In nervousness, I backed myself and hit the bookshelf.
"I send you a sorry card, tried to talk to you, but  I guess you are ignoring me. Right?" He raised his brow and crossed his arms on his chest.
I didn't want to look at him. The way he looks at me could change my rebellious answer.
"I am done with you. I don't want anything from you, please, leave me alone." I grabbed the trolly without looking at him and walked towards the storeroom.
I could hear his footsteps and sharp breath following me.
"I am sorry for what I have done with you. It was not me who kept that bucket or that poster." He whispered behind my back.
I exhaled warm air from my chest. 
"I don't want to talk about anything. Please leave," I said.
"At least, look at me." He gruffed and touched my waist to turn me.
"Stop, stop touching me." I pushed him.
"What do you want from me? Why the great Xander Baston wants my forgiveness?" The anger busted from me.
His nostrils flared with anger when I pushed him, but he kept calm.
"I am sorry for touching you. just listen to me..."
"No, you listen to me. I was about to die, and I don't know if it because of you or your friends. And the action you showed me that day was way beyond the damage. You have already done the damage." My tears came out as my voice answered him in a distorted voice.
"What you wanted to show me that day? Tell me?" I screeched.
He wanted to cup my face, but I glared at him.
"I was not expecting you that day. And it's all my mistake. I accept it."
"I am so so sorry for hurting you. I will never do such things again."
He drew a long breath.
"Please leave," I closed my eyes and pointed him out.
He walked out without saying anything.
I held my hair to the back of my head and sat down on the floor. 
After a few minutes, my phone buzzed.
"Hello,"
"Where are you, Aoife?" It's Caleb's voice.
"I am in college, just finishing my job. Why what happened?"
I said.
"I am outside, and I need your help." He answered.
"What? You are outside? I am coming. Wait," Hastily, I wiped my tears and took my bag.
I locked the library and ran out.
He was in the parking, waiting for me.
I ran and hugged him.
"What a surprise? Can you get out of the rehab like this?" Happily, I asked.
I was happy to look at him.
"I lost the money you gave me. The drug guys took the money from me, and I couldn't make it out to rehab,"
He answered.
He was taking a heavy breath and rubbing his temple again and again.
I looked at him and said,
"No, you are lying to me. Show me your hand." I grabbed his hand, tried to pull his sleeves up.
I saw the puncture marks of the needles. 
"Stop, stop," He screamed, tried to get rid of me.
"All this time, you were lying to me. You have never been to rehab. You were taking drugs." I screamed and slapped him.
"I need money, do you get that?" He pushed me.
"I am not going to give you a single penny," I pushed him back.
He slapped me in anger. I fell hard on the ground. The blood drops came out from my lips.
With a painful jaw and dizzy head, I looked back, and Caleb was on the ground.
Xander was beating him badly. 
I didn't understand what happened suddenly.
"Stop," I screamed.
Xander walked towards me and cupped my face.
"Are you okay?" 
I nodded my head, but before I said anything to him, he went back to beat Caleb.
Caleb hit him with a knuckle duster, which he stopped with a punch.
Xander punched his face while sitting on his chest. They were fighting and trying to kill each other.
Hastily I stood and ran towards them.
I tried to grab Xander's hand, but he was too strong for me. 
"Xander, stop it. Stop." I screamed.
He was punching on Caleb's face as I could see the blood oozing out from Caleb's nose and mouth.
I screamed for Matt; he came running from the back and held Xander's hand.
"Xander, stop," He grabbed his hand, but Xander didn't want to stop.
I ran towards Caleb to check on him.
He was not in the condition to talk. There was blood everywhere on his cloth.
My tears didn't stop when I saw him like.
I glared at Xander, who was breathing heavily, wanting to kill Caleb.
"Matt, can we take him to the doctor?" I begged Matt.
"You still want to save him?" Xander spitted out.
I wanted to give him a tight slap for beating him like this.
But Caleb's health was more important to me.
Matt picked Caleb and helped him to settle into the car.
"What are you waiting for? Come your hand is hurt, and I am sure you are not able to drive,"
He signaled to Xander.
I could see his knuckles were bleeding too, but my anger covered my thoughts.
He slammed the door hard when he settled into the passenger seat.
We drove towards the hospital.