The ProtectoR

A paper from a Red-head.

"I doubt your Dad would smile to that." He said.

"Well, this is College and my dad ain't here." She pursed her lips. "Just avoid me, that's all. If you must guard me, then do it from a mile away . And don't ever let anyone find out the real reason you're here."

Wow. He felt more like a servant, than he was a bodyguard. A rejected servant.

"Yes Rose" He said coldly.

She eyed him. "It's Rosetta "

"Pls, enlighten me on the difference?" He gestured with an open palm.

She shook her head and walked away.

She wasn't the least bit boring, but she was going to be a pain in his ass alright.

He went through the books on the shelf, examining the thick covers in search of one to distract himself with. If she was still in the library, he had no place else to go.

.............

Back at the auditorium, Nathan climbed the steep stairs, his eyes roving for an empty chair. The hall was almost filled, and the History lecturer was in class.

He'd waited for Rose to get back to class, before following, making sure he wasn't noticed.

Distracted stares went to him as he hunted for a chair, including the lecturer whose eye signals hinted at Nathan finding a seat as soon as possible and not distracting his class.

Nathan spotted Rose seated with her flock of friends some rows in front as he clambered another step. When their eyes met, he could feel the brief warning in the fiery brown of her eyes.

Avoid me.

Before she looked away.

Well she didn't call the shots, did she?

He soon found a seat and plopped into it, flinging his bag on the desk.

The lecturer had ventured into some history about the 4th Earl of Chesterfield.

"Lord Chesterfield was a British Statesman and man of letters. Among his letters to his son is a popular adaptation.....There is nothing that people bear more impatiently, or forgive less, than contempt; and an injury--"

A hand jabbed him at the back. He turned to stare at the brown-haired guy he had talked to earlier.

"We meet again don't we?" He said.

"Yeah, I guess so" Nathan replied, his expression lightening up at the sight of a "friendly" familiar face, though they'd just met a few hours ago.

"Did you get to meet with the Queen?" He asked, leaning over with his hands on his desk.

Nathan gave a small smile. "Is that what she calls herself?"

"Oh no. I made it up " He laughed. "I'm Drew by the way"

"Nathan. Nice to meet you"

"I wonder if this is really history?" Drew said, yawning exhaustedly. "I think if I wanted some ridiculous quotes by Chesterfield I'd have bought his god-damned biography."

Nathan sniggered. "I was about to chip in the same thing...or something similar rather. He looks more like a philosophical fanatic if you ask me."

"Pls, I can't wait for the free-periods. I'm bored to death " Drew said.

Nathan smiled. Boredom for him, was probably going to be trailing and keeping his eyes on one person for as long as God-knew-when.

Something light hit his shoulder and fell into his lap. A paper.

A paper?

Who the hell threw papers at this time of the day?

He carefully opened it,---his martial instincts kicking into place ---to meet the words 'HI HANDSOME ' written boldly across it.

Drew howled in excitement from his seat, apparently appreciative of the welcome distraction.

Was Rose begining to play tricks on him? She certainly didn't look the sort.

Nathan turned to find out who had thrown it. His gaze involuntarily went to where Rose sat, but she wasn't looking his way...at all.

Someone else was, seated in the same row with Rose was the fair girl with dark-blonde hair. Her eyes were on him.

Was she one of her friends?

Someone to watch out for, maybe? A potential threat to Rose?

Her eyes flicked between him and the paper he held, naive- curiosity on her face.

She clearly wasn't the one. And she didn't look like someone he'd need to screen as a potential undercover threat to Rose.

There was a flickering movement, a hand waving.

In another row, a red-haired pretty lady with green eyes was waving at him, then smiled, before poking another girl that muttered something to her, and laughing.

Drew interjected. " Woah...You've got the hotties coming already. A rare feat to achieve in this Godforsaken place. That makes the two of us.

"I'm the leader of the party though, first on the hot-list... and ain't no-one able to snatch that position...

"so with that in mind, I officially welcome you aboard." He whispered to Nathan overhead.

"I'm not a fan of clubs, really" Nathan said.

"Awww, come on man. It's going to be fun. I just created it, and there has been a steady influx of excited members." Drew beckoned.

Nathan smiled. "No. I think I'll pass. "

Clubs were notorious for consuming it's members into lodes of activities, and you had to attend to show you loved and supported it.

He had just one objective, keeping his eyes on his ward. Maybe in a different situation he'd have welcomed the distraction. Maybe

"Oh," Drew said, disappointment shrouding his voice.

...........

His eyes trained on Rose, keeping a good distance from her, as she gallivanted the hallway hosting the brown lockers.

He checked his watch, History class was over. It was still free hours, so he probably had all the time in the world.

Students shuffled across the lobby floors, oblivious to the idea of a martial-trained bodyguard in their midst.

If this was what boredom felt like, the one Drew talked about, then it was really--really miserable. Maybe he should have taken on Drew's request.

The memory of his sincere and friendly club invitation came back to him, and he almost cringed with guilt.

He should have accepted his offer. As it stood, if he didn't die of anything else, it'd be boredom, made more painful by the fact that he was resented by the person he was protecting.

He was trained to fight, not to stand and watch an ungrateful, spoiled brat enjoy herself, and live out her days.

A hand slapped him on the back.

A hand he would have taken care of, if not his will to control his impulses.

Drew came up in his eyesight, standing beside him. "Man, I think you should go talk to her " He looked Nathan over.

"What?" Nathan asked, squeezing his brows.

"You've been staring at her all day dude" Drew said, a bit loudly.