My Fake Boyfriend Is the School Bad Boy novel Chapter 139

Chapter 139 Walking Past The Flashing Cameras

The metal keys hit the wooden floorboards with a sharp clatter. The sound broke the thick silence resting over the porch.

Ryder stared at me. His broad chest heaved. The cool evening breeze ruffled his dark hair, but he remained frozen in place. He looked at

my face, my swept-back hair, the midnight blue silk. The shock registered in the rigid set of his shoulders.

“Raisa, he breathed. The syllable cracked in his throat.

He bent down. He scooped the silver keys from the wood. He stood tall again. The golden flecks in his hazel eyes burned with intense

heat. He lacked his usual sarcastic shield. He offered zero deflections.

“You look…” He stopped. He shook his head. The English language failed him.

My mother stepped into the doorway behind me. The floorboards creaked under her weight. “Have her home by midnight, Ryder.”

Ryder shifted his focus to her. He set his jaw. He stood with a commanding posture. He did not offer a casual teenage greeting. He

addressed her with solemn respect. I promise, Mrs. Petrova. I will keep her safe.”

My mother offered a small, knowing smile. I know you will. Have a good time, both of you.”

I turned back to Ryder. I grabbed my small black clutch purse from the entry table. I pulled the front door shut. The lock clicked into

place.

We walked down the wooden steps. The spring air carried a biting chill. The damp scent of impending rain hung over the neighborhood. Ryder walked beside me. He matched his long strides to my smaller steps. We reached the battered, dark blue Ford truck parked by the

curb.

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He reached out and opened the heavy passenger door. The hinges offered a loud, protesting groan. I gathered the heavy folds of the midnight silk in my hands. I climbed into the cab. The dark fabric settled over the faded vinyl seat.

Ryder shut the door. He walked around the hood of the truck and climbed into the driver’s seat. He turned the key in the ignition. The massive diesel engine roared to life, vibrating through the floorboards. He reached for the dashboard console and turned the heater on. He

directed the warm air vents toward my side of the cab to chase away the chill.

He shifted the truck into gear. We pulled away from the curb. The streetlamps cast rhythmic, flashing shadows across his sharp profile.

The air inside the cab hung heavy. A thick, unspoken tension vibrated in the space between the seats. The fake dating contract lay in

ashes. The boundaries evaporated. We existed in a new, uncharted reality. Every breath carried genuine weight.

“Thank you for the dress,” I said over the rumble of the engine. “It feels right.”

Ryder kept his eyes fixed on the dark road ahead. His large hands gripped the steering wheel. His knuckles shone white under the

dashboard lights. I wanted you to have a sword. You deserve to walk into that room and make them beg for mercy.”

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13:49 Fri, Jul 10

Chapter 139 Walking Past The Flashing Cameras

‘I am terrified, I admitted. The confession slipped from my lips before I could stop it. I spent my entire high school career hiding from them. I hide in the library. I hide behind my index cards. Tonight, there is nowhere to hide. The cameras wait by the doors. Trent waits

inside. Harper waits inside.

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Ryder brought the truck to a halt at a red traffic light. He turned his head to look at me. The dark storm in his eyes shifted. A fierce,

unyielding protective instinct replaced the chaos.

He reached across the center console. He grabbed my left hand. His calloused, warm palm covered my trembling fingers. The heat from his skin rushed straight into my frozen veins, steadying my frantic pulse.

“You do not need to hide,” Ryder stated. His rough voice filled the small space. “You are the smartest person in that building. You possess a fire they cannot comprehend. And you are not alone. I stand beside you tonight. I will not leave your side for a single second. We face

them together.

The light turned green. He released my hand to shift gears. The absence of his touch left a cold void on my skin, but his words built an impenetrable fortress around my heart. I took a deep breath. The panic retreated.

The drive to Crestview Prep took twenty minutes. We pulled into the massive South Lot. The space resembled an exotic car showroom. Sleek black luxury sedans, imported silver sports cars, and rented stretch limousines filled the paved rows. The wealth of the student body

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