Bodyguard: Ace Cain

Note for readers: All chapters are from Reign's POV unless otherwise noted.

Reign's POV.

Never fall for the boyfriend of your best friend, they said. When in fact, they ought to be warn you not to fall for your attractive, youthful bodyguard—who just so happened to be your teacher. This was not intended to occur this way. Attachment were to be minimized. However, I completely failed that mission. The good news is that I was not the only one who violated that agreement. The tale, which we had anticipated to be straightforward, proved to be more intricate than we had anticipated.

It began the week following the first day of classes. Our original art history instructor made the decision to retire. Mrs. Petula was, admittedly, quite elderly. After years of service as an instructor at Arbor High, she deservedly needed a vacation. Who exactly would replace her was a mystery, but it did not take long for some high school kids to start rumors. It was only when we noticed a name scrawled on the whiteboard that people began to converse more.

The whispering was astronomical as my friend Tana and I found our seats in the cramped space. Though the name remained faceless, one could only speculate as to what this Mr. Cain might look like. The name gave the impression that it would be some old guy again. Is there any reason why this school could not hire someone who is a little younger?

"Who do we think this guy is gonna be?" Tana asked as we took a seat.

Smiling, I admitted I did not really care to know. "Hopefully, whoever it is is more capable than Mrs. Petula."

She chuckled. "If he turns out to be a looker, maybe I will get more invested in this class."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh please, art and history are two things you'll never enjoy," I countered. "Even if it turns out that he is attractive."

Tana was not the most academically gifted person I had ever met, at least not in my experience. Especially when it came to historical subjects. Tana was going to nod off, whether it was world history or something as basic as art history. It was hard to blame her—the lectures do get boring at times. I will not even begin to discuss the films they force us to watch. I felt like hitting the snooze button just thinking about it.

Art was something I cherished. My mother introduced me to some amazing artistic visuals when I was a young child. I learned a lot from her, as she was also an artist. Being the daughter of a Helix meant that I had to match my parents' intelligence and skill level. They would do anything to ensure that I was flawless. Regretfully, it implied that there was no margin for error. My dad would not let me hear the end of it if I made the smallest mistake. Particularly in light of my mother's disappearance, but more on that later.

The class was still whispering about the new teacher when the bell rang. The collective silence that descended between us was telling; I am not sure what everyone was expecting. The door slowly swung open, and a very attractive man emerged. He had stunning hazel eyes, dark hair, and a tall build. His jawline had a definition that was to die for. Let us not even talk about how his outfit revealed his body. It seemed as though his garments were on the verge of ripping. The guys looked on in jealousy as the girls gawked at him in wonder. Our prayers for a hot teacher appeared to have been answered. The only thing about him that surprised us was how young he appeared.

Mr. Cain glanced around, seemingly disturbed by the quietness. Has this guy previously instructed a class? It seemed as though he was at a loss for words, let alone actions. It was turning into a big staring contest, and neither of us was helping him. Some of the faces were frowning, while others had smiles on them. Even without making an introduction, Mr. Cain appeared to have gained both allies and detractors.

Glancing around again, those succulent eyes met mine, making me jump a little in my chair. I am not sure if it was his handsome appearance or his hardened gaze, but feeling him engulf me in this way made my cheeks flush. It may be my imagination, but it felt like I had taken him back just as much as he had taken me back. It was weird feeling.

He cleared his throat and called out to me with a soft smile on his face. "You," he uttered. "What is your name?"

I felt more heat rising on my face as all eyes were fixed on me. "R-reign," I stumbled to say. "Reign Helix." I made an effort to sound more assured.

"Okay Ms. Helix, pass out these papers for me." He opened up the briefcase he carried.

I turned to face Tana, who gives me the go-ahead with her eyes. Reluctantly, I made my way to the front of the class to collect the papers he requested that I distribute. I go around the room, giving a piece to each person, myself included. The class looked over the paper in dead silence. Upon first glance, it appeared to outline the topics we would be covering in this class now that Mrs. Petula is not here. In case we needed to get in touch with him for any questions, it also included his contact details. There would be more to this class than just lectures and once-a-week films. Mr. Cain intended to put us to work. Something I doubted this class was able to accomplish. If he believed this class would be so open to change, he was in for a harsh awakening.

Mr. Cain sat behind the desk and, much to the ire of some students, glanced around at us once more. For years, this class has remained the same. People begged to take it every year because it was more laid back. Until this point, no challenge had been presented. Despite the absurd number of disgruntled campers, Mr. Cain was not going to back down.

"What on earth is this meant to be?" Jake became very animated. He never really possessed much of a filter.

Mr. Cain straightened up and put his hands in his pockets. He grinned and said, "This is what we will be covering for the next eighth months."

Tana chuckled. "I thought this was an art class." I smiled at her as she laughed.

"Art history," he brought up again. "We are not going to limit ourselves to just drawing or watching movies. We will acquire knowledge."

Hearing this news, the class let out a frustrated groan. This was not a work-based class. It was our one chance to unwind before a demanding school day. Furthermore, we were seniors. Learning was not the main focus of our thoughts. Our primary concerns were prom and eventually graduating. The class that everyone had once begged to take became one that nobody wished to attend.

The complaints from the class did not seem to bother Mr. Cain. To our dismay, he stuck to his changes. To their disappointment, that is. Whatever he chose to do, I did not care. After all, he was the instructor. A few are more laid back than others. Mr. Cain is one of the purists and values art highly. It was, dare I say it, kind of hot. You do not come across someone who values color's beauty very often.

All of them kept bitching while I stay silent the entire time. I assumed that would make him ignore me, but instead it made him more aware of me. I think he wanted to hear my opinion because he saw that I had not said anything about it. It would not matter if I was against it or not, to be honest. He was still going to follow his own path.

"Ms. Helix, would you like to add anything to the mountain of grievances that already exist?" He inquired. He has now singled me out twice.

My shoulders shrugged and everyone looked at me again. "Is it important what I think?" I put him on the spot.

Stooping over the desk, he gave a nod. "Course it does." He met my gaze and says, "Let me hear it."

Feeling the pressure just from his eyes, I took a gulp. "Well, to be honest, I do not really care," I said. "I already know a lot about art history."

He raised an eyebrow at my answer, looking intrigued by that. He had no idea that I grew up in an environment like this. I only took this class to unwind and get a simple grade. Everything he had in store for us, I am ready for. I was not going to be like everyone else—including my close friend Tana—who might struggle. Mr. Cain felt like intimidating me for some reason. Maybe because he knew only my name, but I am not sure. It was a little unsettling.

He put his hands together and grinned. "Alright, then I know who to ask those tough questions." He got to his feet. "Should we take attendance?"

He then snatched up the attendance sheet and called out everyone's name. I looked at Tana, perplexed as to why he had chosen to start picking on me. Mr. Cain seemed like trouble, and if my father found out, that is exactly what I would get into.

Tana and I would usually spend a few hours at the library after school. Although we would say it was for studying, the main purpose was gossip. Particularly following that lesson. Even just thinking about it bothered me. Call me crazy, but Mr. Cain had a personal grudge against me. He picked on me even though we did not know each other from a can of paint. There was more going on here. However, Tana did not seem to think so.

"This is the first time you have even met the man," she countered. "You want me to think he's out to get you?"

As we made our way to the front door, I rolled my eyes. "He was, I assure you. He didn't pick on anyone else."

Tana found the absurdity amusing. "Reign, come on." She was not buying it.

"Just wait, you're going to be proved wrong." I remained true to my narrative.

There was something he wanted to say, even if he was not aiming at me. I sensed something when our eyes met for the first time. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what it was, but I will find out eventually. Regardless of my location or travel distance, Mr. Cain will always surface in some way.

As we stepped outside, the rain was falling quite heavily. While Tana's parents waited for her to emerge, my dad was, of course, nowhere to be seen as usual. His tardiness was nothing out of the ordinary. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt today, but it was not looking good. I have never had the best relationship with my dad. Especially in light of recent occurrences. But at the very least, he should have shown up.

I sighed as I looked through my phone and saw that he had not sent me a single text about canceling. I missed my mom even more because of things like this. She would not be running late, or even better, she would not abandon me. This was paradise.

Tana noticed that my dad was also absent when she turned to face me. "Do you need help getting home?" Her soft expression begged the question.

I smiled impeccably at her. "No, it is not a problem. My dad is just a little bit behind schedule." I offered a justification.

Tana was more astute than that. "Reign, your dad frequently arrives late," she said. "My parents are happy to drop you off, and it is pouring rain."

"Seriously, I'm fine." I lied and said, "He will be here any minute now."

She did not want to ask me any more questions about it even though she did not think I was telling the truth. "Okay, when you get home, call me."

I gave her a quick hug and nod before she headed off with her parents. I am left here waiting for my father to arrive while the sound of thunder reverberates through my ears. It was a good thing the entrance had a little roof over it to keep me dry. It was still very windy and quite cold, though. In five minutes, if he did not show up, I would have to get ready to walk. My dad's as trustworthy as a crook, so hopefully he did not leave me hanging here.

Fortunately, some faculty members were still present at the school. Even though it was not the person I wanted to see, it would do. Perhaps if I am lucky, he would explain his reasons for picking on me. When all was said and done, he was here to save my bacon for the evening. Had Mr. Cain not shown up, I would have been drenched.

Mr. Cain rolled down his window to meet my gaze as he pulled up in front of me. He looked over at me, this strange smile resting on his face. But there was nothing to be afraid of. He was just trying to be kind.

"Are you stuck?" His tone was slightly amused as he asked me.

I crossed my arms over my chest and rolled my eyes. "Yes," I firmly said.

Mr. Cain continued to smirk. "I can give you a ride, you know." He recommended.

That made me apprehensive, but I did not really have a choice. "Are you certain you have permission to do that?" I pondered.

I was a student and he was a teacher. Should someone witness me entering his vehicle, they might interpret it incorrectly. Other than a straightforward ride, nothing was happening here. He cannot be implicated for that by anyone. Still, there was a risk. And anyway, how would my dad feel about me getting out of a teacher's car? He would probably be pretty angry. In this instance, he should've picked me up himself like he was supposed to.

He laughed and opened the door, not caring if it was appropriate or not. "Where are you located?" That was all he asked for.

Though it did not seem like my dad would be there, I bit my lip nervously to get in. "About ten minutes away," I hastily entered.

With a smile on his face, he slowly pulled the car out. "And you were whining about that?"

"I was whining because you work as a teacher," I shot back and smirked at him in the process. "Anyway, how old are you?"

I was unable to resist asking. He did not seem old enough to be a teacher. More so to a group of seniors in high school. Is not he supposed to be teaching first grade or something? Considering how young he was, that seemed more like his speed. At Arbor High, we were accustomed to more senior instructors, though. Among the faculty, Mr. Cain had to be the youngest. Why would he want to accept a job like this?

I had a ton of questions, and he did not seem to want to address any of them. He couldn't fault me for being curious. None of us expected him to come through that door. Perhaps I should not have been so critical, but my curiosity outweighed my judgment. You never know; he might have selected this position for a variety of reasons. All people must find a way to make money.

"Is my age significant?" He questioned. "That is a personal question, Ms. Helix."

I groaned. "Please stop with this Ms stuff," I begged. "School is not in session. Reign is just fine."

Mr. Cain laughed once more. "It would be impolite of me to disregard protocol," he protested.

"In the same way that it is impolite of you to ignore inquiries," I chuckled.

He was somewhat perplexed by that before realizing what game I was playing. To my surprise, he answered without giving me a lecture. "I am 21 if you must know."

As soon as I heard him say that, my eyes popped out of my head. He began teaching at the age of 21. He ought to be attending college or something. This guy hardly knew any more than us, really. And here he was, imparting knowledge on art history. Perhaps even more, if we are fortunate. Given his age, how was it expected that we would take him seriously? Were they attempting to change things or make a point?

Either way, it was a significant achievement for him to be able to do what he was. It seemed inappropriate to refer to Mr. Cain as such because of his young age. He would probably allow us to address him by his first name if he were cooler. However, I do not think the school would accept that. I could not help but wonder why he decided to become a teacher. He could have been doing so much more, but he decided to teach instead. Something which pays less than it ought to. He must've had a part-timer.

I laughed, shocked. "There is no way," I said, not willing to accept it.

He nodded his head. "It's true. Would you like to see my ID?" He inquired.

"No, it is just shocking," A giggle escaped my lips. "What brings you to teach here? At Arbor, that is."

Mr. Cain gave a small laugh and backed into my driveway. "Well, you will discover the truth in due course." He was really enigmatic.

I gave him a squinted look. What could he possibly mean I'll find out. His pre-existing attractiveness did not help either. I don't want him to be attractive and mysterious. My curiosity about him will only grow as a result of that. I should exercise caution when making wishes, though. Regretfully, despite his air of mystery, his presence here would no longer be kept under wraps. There was only a single reason why Mr. Cain was here.

It felt strange that he would turn off his car. I approached my door and tried not to think twice about it. When I take out my key and open it, my father is waiting for me. He nodded at my entry wearing his best suit and his hair slicked back. My dad never waited for me to arrive by the door. I was astonished to discover that there appeared to be more going on.

"Well, you two made it," my dad boasted.

Mr. Cain is still trailing behind me as I stared at him bewildered. "What do you mean both?" The strangeness of things only increased.

My father instantly sighed upon seeing my face. "Now, try not to get too worked up over it—it is just temporary." He warned me in advance.

That was ineffective, though. "What in the world is happening?" I inquired right away.

"Reign, meet Ace Cain, your new bodyguard." He gestured toward Mr. Cain.

I looked at him, perplexed by the sudden news. Once my teacher, Mr. Cain now expected me to think of him as a bodyguard. None of this made sense and I didn't understand why I needed a bodyguard of all things. Nevertheless, it did explain why he appeared to be rooting for me at school today. It is likely that he was already aware of his responsibilities. And yet, here I was, in complete darkness.

I laughed and shook my head, sick of surprises from my dad. At the very least, he could have alerted me to what was about to happen. Once more, I was caught off guard. This time, at least, it was for my safety rather than my mother vanishing completely. I assume that is the reason he initially got me a bodyguard. If he had not made so many enemies, we would not be in this situation.

I sighed. I had to fight hard not to lose it. "Is that the reason you abandoned me here?" Afterwards, I focused on Mr. Cain. "And you—you were aware of this!"

"Let us not rush things," my dad added. "Ace will be by your side every step of the way due to recent events."

My eyes rolled. "I have other classes where he's not welcome," I mentioned.

That was irrelevant, though. "In the unlikely event of an emergency, he will be near enough to reach you." My dad replied.

"You had the opportunity to inquire if this was my desire," I retorted.

When my dad came to hug me, he laughed. "I am the adult here, and you would have just said no." He planted a kiss atop my head. "It is only temporary, as I mentioned. Your disappearance is not something I need."

I was even more hurt by that because my mother was still missing. No sign of her could be found anywhere. How she could be here one day and gone the next baffled me. Other than saying he was working on it, my father would not give me any more details. It would soon be two months since she disappeared. I felt that he was not working quickly enough. By this point, anything could have happened to her.

Even so, I found it difficult to approach him with further questions. There would inevitably be repercussions for the life my father led. Regretfully, there would occasionally be fatal consequences from those actions. But my mother was a strong lady. If she could not take it, she never would have gotten married to my father. It is me that finds all of this nonsense questionable. Will a solution ever come along?

Introductions were void because my father needed me to be at an event in an hour. Naturally, Ace, also known as Mr. Cain, would be joining me. It did not feel good at all, like the freedom I used to have was being taken away from me. That said, how were we going to deal with him serving as both my bodyguard and my teacher? It must have taken some maneuvering on my father's part to get him hired by the school. There is no other rational explanation.

"Please put on your finest attire, and Ace will be joining you for the event." Saying that, my father left through the door.

I was not given the opportunity to object or ask questions. He departed with such abruptness because he knew that I would. I merely groaned and made my way to my room to get ready. Tana would be ecstatic to hear that our teacher doubles as my bodyguard in addition to being hot.