Taming The Bad Boy By Ivy Coleman Chapter 29

Voices neared closer as Sam looked pleading at Hunter. Hunter’s eyes scanned across the forest as he caught sight of bodies moving closer towards them.

Any minute now, whoever was out to search for the two was going to stumble across them and lead them back to camp.

Hunter inhaled slowly before he nodded. He walked towards the individual searching through the trees, stopping beside Sam as Sam craned his head to look at Hunter. “I gave you my word, Bambi. I’m not going to break it.” Sam nodded, sighing in relief at Hunter’s silent promise as Sam joined him in walking towards the shadow.

“There you two are!” Mr Hornton sighed as he clasped his chest when Hunter suddenly appeared in front of him. He calmed himself, pushing his glasses up on his nose before his eyes widened. “Hunter! What happened to your hand?” Hunter only stared at Mr Hornton who blinked slowly before nodding. “I see… well let’s get you two back to camp and then we’ll bandage that up.” he coughed uncomfortably.

Sam held back a laugh at how a teacher had cowered under Hunter’s intense gaze, deciding to withdraw their authority and bow before the king and drop it.

The three walked back to camp as Sam’s chest squeezed tighter together. He was not nervous in confronting Lyle, he was nervous about Hunter taking one glance at Lyle and losing his shit again. He knew Hunter had gave him his word, but Hunter snapped easily and so what would happen if he saw Lyle?

Would he be able to hold himself back?

Or would the beast run wild?

The three finally made it back to camp as smoke circled the air, students talking and poking sticks into the fire as some ate and some played cards. Sam gazed around, grateful when he didn’t see the blond-haired boy anywhere for Hunter to see.

Turning to look at Hunter, Sam saw those forest green eyes calculating his surroundings as he searched for the manipulative boy. Sam tugged on the end of Hunter’s sleeve as Hunter pried his eyes away and looked down at Sam. Sam smiled softly. “Go get your hand fixed.”

Hunter stared down at Sam with an unreadable look. Hunter raised his other hand that was only bruised and bloodied, not broken in any form. He stroked Sam’s cheek as Mr Hornton cleared his throat and looked away with raised eyebrows. Hunter leaned in close so only Sam could hear his lowered voice as Hunter’s eyes flashed with a warning directed towards Lyle. “If you need me just scream as loud as you can. If he touches a bone in your body, I’ll break him in half.”

Sam nodded stiffly as he warmly patted Hunter’s side. Hunter nodded as Mr Hornton glanced out of the corner of his eye to make sure the two were done with their moment. Sam stood by, not moving until he saw Hunter was inside of Mr Hornton’s tent and could not risk seeing Lyle.

Hunter walked long strides beside Mr Hornton who cleared his throat and pushed his glasses up.

“Listen, kid.” He started as Hunter glared at him from the corner of his eye waiting for Mr Hornton to tell him to back off Sam as it was against rules to have relationships never mind being deemed ‘inappropriate’ in the schools eyes. “If you two have got something going on then you might wanna keep it on the down low. You’re fine here since none of the teachers are here but I can’t guarantee that none of the other students will tell if they catch you. Oh hey—I guess it’s a good job I gave you two that cabin.”

Hunter eyed him before he released his tense, hostile glare. Perhaps Mr Hornton was not as bad as he seemed.

Hunter entered the tent and Sam took that as his chance to quickly take Lyle into a more private area before Hunter exited and saw them.

Walking over Sam was quick to stride past Happy and Kay, not having the time to talk to them as he made sure to flash them a kind smile, so they didn’t think he was purposefully blanking them nor being spiteful. Happy grinned back as he waved, Kay nodding his head as his lips turned upwards slightly to show neither of them were offended.

As Sam approached I ye’s tent he called out Lyle’s name who soon appeared with a smile once he saw Sam. “Sam! Hey. I’m glad you got back okay. Mr Hornton said you two got lost. Are you alright?”

Sam felt a cold shiver roll over him as he felt like just telling Lyle right in this through his teeth as he nodded.

“Yeah,” He nodded as he rubbed the nape of his neck. “Listen. Could we talk? In private?”

Lyle was cautious but didn’t show this to Sam as he smiled and nodded cheerfully, grinning, “Of course!” and the two walked off.

The two ventured into the forest but did not stray from the straight path laid out in front of them as they did not want to get lost. The approached an open bank where the trees no longer rested.

Sam stopped as he turned to Lyle who stood in front of him.

Lyle crossed his arms over his chest as he watched Sam, eyeing him cautiously. In his mind either Sam was going to confide in him how he was right about Hunter and Lyle had manipulated him better than he thought. Or Sam was going to tell Lyle he didn’t agree with what he said and needed to stop saying so.

Neither option included the thought of being caught out.

“I know what you did, Lyle.”

Lyle laughed as his brows crinkled together. “What do you mean?”

Sam frowned as he stared ahead at Lyle. “I know you set me up. I know everything—how you want Hunter’s title. How Hunter never said those words. How you were just manipulating me to get your way.”

Lyl’s smile fell off instantly, replacing his usual wicked smirk as he let his hands slump down by his sides.”Thank God. You know I was beginning to feel sick with how happy I had to keep acting.”

Sam flinched as he watched the real side of Lyle unravel. Sam’s brows winded as he flashed his eyes down over Lyle. “Why would someone do that? How sick does someone have to be to try and control someone like that?”

Lyle only yawned, sighing as he cocked his hip out as if Sam was wasting his time. It made Samangry that Lyle wasn’t taking him seriously. Perhaps Lyles would be more frightened if Sam told him Hunter knew too. From the ways he was reaching, Sam doubted Lyle knew that Hunter knew also.

Lyle smirked curly as he walked towards Sam who instinctively backed away but then stopped once realising he didn’t need to. He stood his ground as Lyle stood a few inches apart from him.

“You know, Sam.” Lyle started, his smirk widening as Sam waited for the toxic words to tumble out. “I’ve never met someone as pathetic as you. You’re so easy to manipulate because you’re so weak. Ha! Honestly, I didn’t even have to try. I had more respect for you—I thought you’d be hard to get close to but you just accepted me straight away. Cute little Bambi trying to see the good in everyone. Well I’ve got news for you, Sam. No one’s good in this fucked up world.”

Lyle didn’t have time to react, how could he when he would have never saw it coming? Sam’s fist pummelled down into Lyle’s nose as Lyle stumbled backwards. He gasped, eyes widening as he looked up in shock at Sam whose brows twitched angrily.

“Well I’ve got news for you, Lyle,” Sam spat, repeating Lyle’s words. “Only Hunter calls me Bambi. Ass-wipe.”

Lyle chuckled, still clutching his nose as he stood up with unsteady feet. He steadied himself as he let go of his crimson dripping nose and clapped sharply.

Sam fought back the wince as the claps echoed in his ears. “Well, well. Who would have known the rabbits got guts?”

Sam pursed his lips, glaring at Lyle who smirked. The blood dripping down his nose and coating his toxic smirk only made him look darker than he was as he stepped closer towards Sam again.

Lyle leaned in mockingly as he chuckled manically at Sam. “Just admit it, Sam. I was right anyway. Whether or not I manipulated you, Hunter will never love you. That thing can never love. He’s heartless.”

Se glared as his fits clenched together. “That’s not true! Hunter cares about me. He’s shared things with me that no one knows about. You have no idea!”

Lyle laughed bitterly as he placed his hand mockingly against his heart. “Aw. Isn’t that sweet. The rabbit thinks the Lion cares for him. You really are more pathetic than I originally thought.”

Lyle leaned in close, his lips almost brushing Sam’s ear as he got closer. His lips turned into a crude snarl as he growled down Sam’s ear, “Every second I spent with you I wanted to rip my eye out. It was disgusting being around a gay.”

Sam’s fists shook as he moved his head back and looked directly into Lyle’s eyes. Not wavering or moving away as he exhaled sharply. “Well I feel sorry for you.”

Lyle froze, silenced as he waited for Sam to continue, watching with an unreadable expression.

“Out of all your crap the only truth you managed to tell was that no one likes you. You were right and now I see why you have no friends. You manipulate everyone you come into contact with because you’re afraid. You’re so scared of people actually loving and being nice to you that you treat them like dirt, like their just gum stuck to your shoe. You hurt others because inside you’re just empty and hollow. You’ll never find love and you’ll never have true friends. So, I just feel sorry for you.”

Lyle stood back as he tucked his hands into his pockets. He tilted his head as if considering Sam’s words but the bored, mocking look on his face showed Sam that Lyle was not actually taking into consideration Sam’s words but only pretending to process them.

A strand of white hair fell in front of his sharp blue eyes as he lifted his head back up. Kicking a pile of dirt beneath his foot he looked at Sam as his dark lips parted. “You know what, Sam.” He said as Sam watched him.

The wind blew between the two boys glaring intensely at each other. The one burning with anger, the other oddly calm. The trees were far behind them, only a large rock to the left and nothing but the open hill around them.

“You’re right” He said as his lips slowly crawled up into his toxic smirk. He stepped forward as Sam stepped backwards, Sam watching Lyle with big eyes trying to figure out what Lyle was getting at. “I am empty and hollow.” Lyle’s finger pressed into Sam’s chest who flinched, glancing down at it before looking back up at Lyle. Lyle huffed out a laugh as his fingers brushed over the tiger’s eye. “Let’s see how strong Hunter is when he finds you.” Sam frowned, brows furrowed about to ask what Lyle meant but he had no time to say anything as Lyle stepped forward one more step, smirking as he finally got Sam to step back onto the edge of the cliff behind him.

His fingertip that rested against Sam’s chest applied pressure as he smiled and pushed the small boy over the edge of the cliff.

“Bye Sam.”