Liana Hart trudged down the street toward Crestwood High, backpack digging into her shoulders, stomach twisting with dread. She kept her head down, imagining every pair of eyes judging her curves, her weight, the way her hips swayed when she walked.
Her twin brothers, Jax and Jordan, strode ahead effortlessly—lean, athletic, impossibly handsome. Heads turned as they passed, whispers following them like a halo of admiration. And then there was Liana, the middle triplet, curvy, plus-size, but beautiful in ways she refused to see.
"I'll be fine," she muttered to herself, though her voice barely carried over the hum of students heading inside.
"You okay, Lia?" Jax's voice broke through her thoughts. His protective blue eyes softened as he looked back at her. "Don't let anyone get to you today."
"I'm fine," she mumbled, but her stomach twisted. She wasn't fine. Not with today. Not with him.
Ryder Cole leaned against the school gates, dark hair messy in that infuriatingly perfect way, smirking like he owned the world. Popular, dangerous, and cruelly handsome—he was the king of Crestwood High. And she was his favorite target.
Beside him stood Mallory Steele, the cruelest girl in school. Mallory had made it her mission to make Liana feel smaller than she already did.
"Look who's waddling in," Mallory sneered, loud enough for nearby students to hear. "Hope you didn't plan on eating all the donuts again, whale."
Liana's cheeks burned, her stomach twisting in humiliation. She wanted to disappear. She wanted to fight back, but the words stuck in her throat.
Ryder's eyes flicked to her, dark and sharp. "Relax, Mallory," he said, voice calm but firm, smirk twitching at the corner of his lips. "She's fine. She's… like a little sister to me."
Like a sister.
Liana's stomach sank. He thought of her as family, and yet every word, every shove, every cruel teasing from him lit something in her she couldn't name.
"Little sister who's too fat to ever touch someone like you!" Mallory cackled. "Ha!"
Jax's fists clenched, and Jordan stepped forward, protective instincts flaring. "Back off, Mallory," Jax warned, his tone sharp. "Or you'll regret it."
Ryder waved them off casually. "Relax, Jax. She's fine. Trust me."
Heat burned Liana's cheeks—not anger, not shame, not exactly embarrassment—but something else. Something she hated and wanted at the same time.
Everyone laughed, whispered, and stared… but somehow, Ryder's teasing stung more than all the others combined.
Because he wasn't just anyone. He was Ryder Cole. And he had made it very clear: he alone had the right to bully her.
Laughter echoed from the group of students surrounding Mallory, but Ryder's sharp voice cut through it like a blade.
"Mallory," he said, dark eyes flashing. "Enough."
The mean girl froze, glancing at him nervously. "What—?"
"Let me make this crystal clear," Ryder said, stepping closer, tall and imposing. "No one—no one—but me, gets to mess with Liana Hart. Got it?"
Mallory's lip curled in defiance, but she stammered, "B-but she's—"
"Bullied by anyone else and I'll make sure you regret it," Ryder snapped, tone low, dangerous. Then, just as suddenly, he smirked, the teasing glint returning. "But me? I get to bully her. Only me. Understand?"
Liana froze, a mix of relief and embarrassment flooding her at his words. Only he could humiliate her… and somehow that made her chest flutter in a way she hated herself for.
Mallory's face turned red with anger and humiliation. "This isn't over, Ryder!" she shouted.
Ryder chuckled, shaking his head as he turned on his heel. "It is for now," he said. Then, with casual ease, he fell into step beside the triplets.
Jax and Jordan flanked him, protective but clearly used to this dynamic. Liana hurried to keep up, feeling both safe and utterly exposed.
As they walked down the sidewalk, Ryder's gaze flicked to her, smirk widening. "You know, Hart… you should really stop trying to hide that blush. It looks good on you."
Liana's cheeks burned hotter. "I'm not—"
"Mm-hmm," he interrupted smoothly, walking just a step too close. "You're totally pretending you're not affected. But I see it. I see everything."
Jax glanced at her, frowning, but Ryder ignored him completely. His smirk was infuriatingly smug.
"You know," Ryder continued, his voice dropping low so only she could hear, "if anyone else even thinks about teasing you, they're dead. But me? I get the first bite."
Liana's stomach twisted in equal parts dread and something else—something she shouldn't feel about her bully, the guy she's loved forever.
Jordan nudged Jax and whispered something, both of them laughing quietly. Liana felt like they were in a bubble of protection and chaos—protected by the triplets, teased by Ryder, and completely powerless against both feelings and words.
Ryder leaned just a little closer, tone teasing, almost cruel. "You're going to have to get used to me, Hart. I don't go easy on anyone I… care about."
Liana swallowed hard. She hated him. She loved him. And she was completely, helplessly trapped in his game.
Liana tried to keep her head down as they walked, but Ryder's presence made it impossible. He fell into step beside her, hands casually in his pockets, eyes glinting with that maddening smirk.
"You're lucky, you know," he said, voice low so only she could hear. "No one else gets to laugh at you, make fun of you… except me."
Liana's stomach twisted. "Lucky? You call this lucky?" she muttered, glaring at him.
"Mm-hmm," he said, leaning slightly closer. "Because everyone else—every single person in this school—would eat you alive if I didn't step in. And honestly… I kind of like it."
She wanted to roll her eyes, stomp her foot, do anything to make him stop, but the words left her tongue-tied.
Behind them, Mallory Steele stood frozen, fists clenched, teeth bared, and cheeks red with anger. She watched as Ryder led Liana away, stepping around the triplets like they were nothing. Liana's heart hammered in her chest—not from fear, but from the awareness that Ryder was in control.
"Ryder!" Mallory hissed, striding toward them, but he didn't even look back.
"Go ahead, Mallory," he said casually, smirk never leaving his face. "Try something. I dare you."
She stopped short, glaring, and muttered something under her breath, but didn't move. She could see that the smirk on Ryder's face wasn't just teasing—it was warning. He meant it.
As the group continued walking, Ryder's dark eyes flicked to Liana, studying her with a mix of amusement and something she couldn't name.
"You know," he said softly, voice just for her, "you really shouldn't scowl like that. It doesn't suit you."
Liana's cheeks flamed, both from embarrassment and irritation. "I'm not scowling. I'm just… annoyed."
He leaned closer, smirk widening. "Annoyed, hmm? I think you mean excited, Hart. You like this, don't you?"
Liana wanted to hit him. She wanted to run. And yet… something about the way he said it made her heart skip a beat.
Jax and Jordan exchanged glances, smirking slightly at Ryder's antics, used to him teasing Liana but still protective. Liana kept walking, every step a battle between annoyance, embarrassment, and forbidden desire.
And behind them, Mallory's furious glare burned in her back. The war had only just begun.
The doors of Crestwood High swung open, and the second the four of them stepped inside, the hallway went silent.
Liana felt it immediately —
the stares.
The whispers.
The confusion.
The cruelty.
She tried to shrink herself, tugging her hoodie tighter around her body, wishing she could disappear into the walls. But standing beside Jax, Jordan, and Ryder made disappearing impossible.
To everyone else, they were basically gods.
Tall. Muscular. Athletic.
Popular. Untouchable.
And then there was her.
Liana Hart.
The fat girl.
The odd one out in a family of beauty.
Whispers rippled through the hall like fire.
"How is she related to them?"
"The triplets? No way."
"She's too… big."
"Did you see her thighs?"
"She must be adopted."
"Why does Ryder hang out with her?"
"She ruins the whole aesthetic."
"Look at the whale walking with the hottest guys in school."
Liana's face burned. Her chest tightened. Every word hit her like a slap.
Jax glared at a group of juniors who quickly looked away. Jordan shoved a guy who snickered too loud. But Ryder… Ryder just grinned, hands in pockets, walking like he owned every square inch of the hallway.
His voice cut through the whispers.
"Damn," he said loudly, leaning in close to her ear, "you're really turning heads today, Hart."
Liana stiffened. "S-stop," she whispered, eyes on the floor.
Ryder chuckled. "What? It's true. Look at them. They're obsessed with you."
She knew he was teasing.
She knew he didn't mean it.
But his voice still sent butterflies tumbling in her stomach.
Mallory, storming in behind them, shot daggers at Liana's back. Students rushed to her, whispering about what Ryder said earlier. Mallory barely held back her rage, jaw clenched so tight it trembled.
Liana kept her head down until they reached their first class: English.
As soon as she stepped inside, the room buzzed with new whispers.
"That can't be their sister."
"She doesn't even look like them."
"Jax and Jordan are so hot—how did she happen?"
"Imagine being Ryder's friend and looking like that…"
Liana felt like she was being suffocated.
Jax squeezed her shoulder.
Jordan shot warning glares around the room.
And Ryder?
Ryder pulled out her chair with exaggerated politeness, smirking.
"There you go, princess," he said smoothly.
A few students gasped.
Mallory's friends glared.
Mallory herself stood in the doorway, fists clenched, jaw wide open in disbelief.
Liana's heart stuttered. "Ryder, don't," she whispered, mortified.
He leaned down, lips brushing her ear.
"Relax," he murmured, voice low. "I'm just being nice before I bully you again."
Her breath caught.
Then he straightened up, shot Mallory a smug look, and dropped into the seat right behind Liana — the one he always took so he could torment her all year long.
As class settled and whispers died, Mallory stomped to the back row, eyes burning with jealousy.
And in the middle of it all, Liana sat tense, heart racing, wishing she could disappear and wishing Ryder would never stop looking at her — both at the same time.
The bell hadn't even rung when Mallory struck.
She sashayed down the aisle like she owned the room, arms crossed, chin lifted, her perfect blonde ponytail swinging like a weapon. Her eyes locked onto Liana with pure venom.
"Well, well, well," she said loudly, making sure the whole class heard. "If it isn't Crestwood's very own beached whale."
Liana froze. Heat crawled up her neck. Her heartbeat roared in her ears.
Snickers filled the room.
Mallory smirked, loving every second of it. "Honestly, Liana, did you walk here? Or did the ground shake too much? Because we all felt something."
Jax shot to his feet. "Mallory, shut your mouth."
Jordan stood too, voice sharper. "One more word and—"
"Oh, please," Mallory scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "Your sister can't handle the truth. She's—"
She didn't get to finish.
Because Ryder moved.
Fast.
He grabbed Mallory's wrist and yanked her toward the back corner of the room, dragging her away from Liana so hard her heels scraped the floor.
"What the hell—! Ryder!" Mallory hissed, struggling.
Ryder didn't care.
His jaw was clenched.
His eyes were cold.
"Enough," he said, voice low, dangerous. "Didn't I make myself clear this morning?"
Mallory's mouth opened, but he cut her off with a glare so sharp she actually stepped back.
"I said," Ryder continued slowly, like he was talking to a child, "no one—no one—bullies Liana except me. Do you have a problem with following simple instructions?"
The class went dead silent.
Mallory's fake confidence cracked. "But Ryder—she—she's embarrassing you!"
Ryder stepped closer, towering over her. "She's not embarrassing me. But you? You're starting to."
Gasps echoed around the room.
Mallory's face drained of color. She swallowed hard. "Ryder… you didn't mean that."
He leaned in, voice soft and lethal. "Keep pushing, Mallory, and see what I mean."
Then he let go of her wrist, turned his back on her completely, and walked straight to Liana's desk again like nothing had happened.
Mallory stood frozen, humiliated, shaking with anger she didn't dare release.
Ryder slid back into his seat behind Liana, tapping her shoulder lightly with his pen.
"Hey, Hart," he whispered, tone teasing again, as if dragging his own girlfriend across the room was casual.
"You okay? Can't let your fan club upset you."
Liana stiffened. "Ryder… why—why did you do that?"
He smirked, leaning forward so his breath brushed her cheek.
"Because I told you already," he murmured, eyes flicking to her lips for just a second too long.
"No one messes with you but me."
Liana's stomach flipped, her face burning.
Behind them, Mallory seethed — her glare burning into Liana's back, full of rage, jealousy, and disbelief.
And class hadn't even started yet.