Note: I'm sorry I haven't been updating, again, I'm sorry but I really am busy :( Double chapters this weekend! :D

Tia's POV

When science had ended, Ridge stayed close to me, almost clingy. "She's going to be here soon" he whispers as we pack our stuff up. "Ridge, I'm sure it'll be fine" I sigh, trying not to shove him away as I pick my bag up, bending down and he bends down next to me. "You don't know what she's like" he sighs, glancing fearfully at the door.

Rolling my eyes, I begin to walk towards the door-he followed like a dog on my heels. "You'll come with me right?" he asks. "Of course" I reply, turning round and gesturing for him to lead the way. He walks out of the door and we walk down the stairs in silence.

Sure enough, a teacher is there at the bottom, glancing impatiently at his watch. "Ridgedog Voxel?" he asks, glancing at Ridge who nods, his expression blank. "There is someone here to meet you." he tells him, gesturing down the corridor. "My friend can come with me" he says. "I'm afraid no friends aloud" the teacher sighs impatiently again, glancing at his watch. "She's coming with me" he insists, narrowing his eyes. Instead of staying to argue, the teacher sighs-I mean really, he sighed a lot- and flicks a hand at me to come forward.

I follow Ridge obediently down the corridor. My stomach did a flip. What was this girl going to be like? If Ridge hated her, maybe she was even worse than Ashley and Sips. I dreaded the thought, but it was too late to turn back now. He took a deep breath, glancing at me. I smiled lightly and he opened the door. 

"Ah, Ridge, my son. You're here" a deep, commanding male voice said, and, peering round the door as I enter, I see a large man, who looked incredibly intimidating. His eyes narrow when he spots me, shifting a bit in his suit. "Who's this?" Ridge's dad asks. "My friend" Ridge mutters, looking elsewhere. Then I see her.

She was incredibly gorgeous, with short, cropped brown hair, vivid red lipstick, piercing emerald green eyes and amazing figure. She smiled when she saw Ridge, who didn't return it.

I didn't get it. She was beautiful, why didn't Ridge have any interest in her?

"Hello, I'm Ridge's dad, nice to meet you. Your name is?" the man asks, leaning in and offering a large, sturdy hand. I shake it numbly. "Tia," I say quietly, smiling politely, "it's nice to meet you too." 

"Ridge, you remember Syncrasis, of course" the man says, gesturing at the girl and releasing my hand. "Yes" Ridge sighs. "Hey Ridge" she grins.

Ok, now I was beginning to see why he hated her. Her voice, for a start, was horrible, tinny, the voice that goes with those annoying teenage girls with blonde hair and bubblegum on reality tv shows. 

"Hello" Ridge nods, looking back to his dad expectantly. "Ridge, my son, you know you are betrothed to this girl, and one day both of you will rule over the demigod kingdom that is our dear home, Voxeltopia" the man smiles eagerly. Ridge remains quiet, stiffening just the slightest. There is an awkward silence for a moment, so I take the time to inspect the girl who, to my surprise, is already staring at me with those piercing eyes that seemed to cut into my soul. 

I stare back at her, almost innocently and she narrows her eyes slightly. A warning? A warning of what?

I blink, slightly confused before the silence is broken.

"So, you two will be spending lots of time together" his dad smiles, clapping his hands once in anticipation. Syncrasis looks happy, to say the least. She bats her long, black eyelashes at Ridge and winks, and he doesn't even look her way.

"Now, if Syncrasis and my son will excuse me, I would like to speak to Ridgedog's...friend" he says, almost spitting out the word friend like it was a bad word.

Ridge hesitantly leaves, and I hold up a flat palm (Wait for me). He nods, and leaves, Syncrasis almost jogging after him. The door shuts, and I'm left alone with the teacher and Ridgedog's scary looking dad.

"Tia, is it?" he asks. I can hear the teacher shuffling with some sheets behind me-looks like I wasn't the only one being intimidated by this man. "Yes sir" I reply formally. A smile flickers onto his face. "You're polite, at least. Anyway, I just want you to do something for me" he says, continuing to smile. "What would you like me to do?" I ask. "Don't get attached to my son. It's all well him having friends. But he is not aloud to stray from his true demigod purpose-to rule over us all. He will marry Syncrasis, whether you like it or not" he says, the smile no longer on his face. I frown uncertainly.

"I never said I wanted it to happen, sir" I reply, my voice getting quieter-I was treading into dangerous territory here. Talking back to a demigod king, good move Tia, good move.

"I can see it in your eyes. My son does not befriend people easily. You have developed feelings for him, so I ask you to keep them to yourself" he says, stepping forward. "I don't have-" I start, but I'm cut off by his glare which makes me flinch and step back. He steps forward again, his expression blank.

"Disobey me at your peril. There is nothing you can do" he says softly. I swallow as he glares down at me, and my eyes widen as I back up against a wall. "Excuse me, Mr Voxel-" the teacher protests, but is silenced by a sudden powerful force coming from the man's hand. My bottom jaw begins to tremble.

"Scratch my last request. Stay away from him. Do not talk to him, do not acknowledge him. Disobey me, and you will wish you were never born" he smiles, before gesturing at the door and turning his back. I sprint out of the door, slamming it hard behind me. Ridge is waiting outside, and Syncrasis is nowhere to be seen. 

I didn't notice my eyes were brimming with tears until Ridge glanced at me worriedly. His dad was so incredibly scary. So much power! With the flick of a wrist he had muted a teacher. What would he do to me? I was beginning to fear for not only my own life but the life of my friends and family. 

"Tia? What's wrong? What did he say?" he asks. I run past him, and then I feel it.

Some invisible force brings me to a stop, and I struggle weakly. "I...I didn't know I could...Tia?" he says from behind me, pulling up at the side and breaking off the force holding me still.

"He said if I went near you he would kill me" I whisper, looking away. "Look at me" he whispers. I glance at him, trying not to let the tears show. I was so scared I was going to cry. I kept expecting him to pop up behind me and snap my neck. "Please don't let him kill me, I don't want to stay away from you" I whisper, practically throwing myself into his chest. His arms wrap tightly around me.

"I won't. I promise" he whispers in my ear, clutching me tightly. I swallow, relaxing slightly.

"He'll kill you anyway" a whiny voice says behind me. "Piss off Syncrasis" Ridge snaps and I pull out of his grip to turn and look at the girl. "Make me" she snaps back, stepping forward. 

I suddenly fly backwards, hitting the wall hard. I yell out, feeling a strong force crushing me against the wall. I try to yell out again, but my throat felt constricted. Choking, I tried to hold my throat but my body refused to move. It reminded me of putting two magnets together, when they were on the same colour, and they pushed each other away. It was the same force, but stronger.

"Let go!" Ridge yells, holding up his own hand and trying to use the power he used to stop me, but it didn't seem to be working. "Aw, Ridge, you're still as weak as ever. Being in a mortal school has taught you nothing, whereas I have been taught all about my power" she taunts, twisting my neck harder. I could feel my head going a deep shade of red, and I felt like my head was going to explode.

"Hey!" a voice shouts. The force stops and I collapse to the ground, coughing and groaning. Glancing up, I see Galaxy, Lora and Silva shoving Syncrasis who glares hatefully at them. Martyn, Toby, Sky and SSundee stand behind them, going over to Ridge.

"I won't waste my time then" Syncrasis growls, storming past them. Hands help me up, and I stumble to my feet, clutching Silva for support who helps pick me up. "Are you OK?" Lora asks, brushing some stuff off my jacket. Galaxy presses a hand to my throat and it cools, and I sigh, shutting my eyes.

"I...I'm fine" I squeak, my voice refusing to co-operate. "You should go to your rooms for a bit, I'll tell the teacher's you and Ridge are with the head teacher" Galaxy says, lifting her hand. "Thanks, that's the secon-" I try and say, but my voice cuts off at the end, and I rub my throat, coughing. "It's fine, I understand" Galaxy grins.

"Tia? Are you OK?" Ridge asks, going over to me and grabbing my arm. "M' fine" I squeak.

He leads me back to my room. I lie on the bed, rubbing my throat weakly. Syncrasis was definitely going to be a problem. 

Leaving to the bathroom, he returns with a cold glass of water in hand. I rest my voice for ten minutes, sipping it softly before he begins to speak.

"I'm not doing a very good job in protecting you, am I?" he murmurs, and I turn to see him lying on the bed, sideways.

"How do you mean?" I ask curiously, my voice better now, a little deep and rough, but better.

"Since you've become my friend, you've been kicked, punched, bullied, threatened, thrown down the stairs, chased after, and almost choked to death. I should be protecting you, but I'm too weak" he sighs, groaning at the last part. "Ridge, you aren't weak, you just aren't trained properly" I protest, patting him on the head. "Maybe we should stay away from each other" he says, sitting up. 

"Wait, what?" I frown, blinking at him. 

"You'll be safer if we stay apart. You can be with your friends more" he shrugs. I narrow my eyes as he gets up and I grab his arm, pulling him roughly back down onto the bed.

"Ridge, I don't care if I'm in danger being your friend, I want to be your friend no matter what!" I say fiercely, trying not to cough from my throat.

He blinks at me, then looks ever so slightly down. My breath catches in my throat when he leans forward by an inch, stopping to let his gaze flicker back to mine. Seeing that I hadn't reacted, he licks his lips nervously and leans in.

The bell rings and we jump apart before we can meet in the middle. I scowl and he laughs awkwardly, scratching his head. I sigh heavily, looking down. Dammit. I was getting so annoyed that he got so close and then we didn't finish it.

He suddenly lifts my head up with his hand and finally, finally we kiss. It's a simple, three second kiss, but it was soft, gentle, almost innocent and my eyes shut. We part quickly and I smile, looking down with a blush. It wasn't what I had expected, but it was just as good. 

"Come on" he whispers, tugging me up. "Let's get to class".

Note: YAY FINALLY SOME TIDGEDOG! THEY KISSED (QUICKLY BUT IDC)

This is a big dose of Tidgedog, but I'm going to cut out their POV for a few chapters to focus on the Yogscast, Team Crafted and O.C contest povs in the next few chapters, so this is just gonna be the only Tidgedog for a few chapters!

ALSO, BIG ANNOUNCEMENT YAY

When this book hits 4,000 reads, I will enter another O.C from the competition a few chapters back! So, if you haven't already and you want to join, go back to that chapter ( Chapter 16 ) and enter your own! You can also add stuff to your own and edit it too! :D More chapters coming up soon! Also, remember to check out my other books, Apprentice, then Immortality (which is the book after Apprentice) and my Mobcast book-it would be very much appreciated! :D THANK YOU ALL LOVE YOU GUYS :D