After School, PT. 1

“Is it true?”

Jesse looked up from his notebook to find Blaine, Anton, and Brody in front of his desk. They were staring at him avidly as if… He didn’t show his nerves as he straightened and sat back in his chair. “Is what true?”

“That you beat up Tucker?” Blaine blurted and got elbowed by Anton.

Jesse narrowed his eyes. “Where’d you hear that?”

“One of the guys from Tucker’s band said you jumped him in the parking lot after school yesterday. Did you?”

Brody eyed Jesse’s bruised knuckles as he drawled, “I would have done the same if I heard my sister’s boyfriend telling the whole school he slept with her and was sharing her with his bandmates. Me and some of the boys were thinking of kicking his ass, regardless if it’s true or not.”

“It’s not true,” Jesse snapped.

“It isn’t?” Blaine asked with great interest and took a step back as Jesse rose from his seat.

“Violet never slept with him.” The memory of him claiming her virginity for himself made his dick twitch. He sat before any of them noticed he was getting an erection. “She’s breaking up with him.”

“Because she heard what he said about her?”

“No,” he growled and fixed them with a level look. “She came to the conclusion on her own that she didn’t want to be with him. I don’t want anyone telling her what that asshole said about her.”

“How are you going to keep it from her? Everyone’s talking about it.”

“By countering it with the truth. She wouldn’t sleep with him, so he started that rumor to ruin her reputation.”

Anton and Blaine glanced at one another before they left to spread the word, leaving Brody, who gave him a speculative look.

“I would have had your back if you asked me to come with you,” he said.

“I know.”

“Coach wasn’t happy you took off like that.”

“I talked to him this morning.”

Brody crossed his arms across his chest. “Did you get him good?”

His fingers twitched with the need to make a fist, but he resisted. “I wanted to do more, but it’s probably best I didn’t. He’d be in the hospital, otherwise. He’ll think twice before he decides to spread rumors like that about Violet or any other girl.”

Brody shook his head. “I hope Violet learned her lesson with Tucker, but I have a feeling she didn’t. What does she see in these losers?”

He had no idea, but it didn’t matter. If he got his way, she wouldn’t date anyone else.

Brody filled him in on what he missed at practice yesterday and their upcoming game before he was cut off by their teacher, who called their attention to the board. As Brody took his seat, Jesse slouched in his chair and stared at the clock.

 Why the hell had he brought them back to school? He should have taken her home. Allowing her two periods to think was dangerous. The last time he thought they were on the same page, she started dating Tobias. He wouldn’t stand aside this time. He couldn’t. Not after having her. Not after being inside her. Not when he was so close to having all of her.

He felt like he was walking on a tightrope. He was afraid of coming on too strong and revealing how truly obsessed he was. He had no idea how she felt about him, but based on her recent dating frenzy, she would choose anyone over him.

The guys she dated were the bottom of the barrel, the invisible ones other girls dismissed without question. Tucker had been a departure from the others. He was the only one bold enough to kiss her in front of him. Part of him suspected Tucker had been daring him to do something. He wanted to, but the smile on Violet’s face stopped him from interfering. He knew about Tucker’s playboy reputation and had wrongly assumed Violet would break up with him if he pressured her sexually. It never crossed his mind that Violet would welcome his advances. He’d taken great pleasure in smashing his fist into Tucker’s pretty face. He wasn’t sure how far he would have gone if Violet hadn’t stopped him.

One of his teammates had shared the rumor Tucker started about Violet at practice yesterday. He hadn’t thought twice about running off the field, changing out of his uniform, and tossing his gear in the car. It was sheer coincidence that he spotted Tucker’s vehicle and saw two people on the side of it. Even as he started toward them, they’d moved to the back of the car. The last thing he expected to find was Tucker with his hand in Violet’s pants.

For the past seven months, he’d been forced to watch these losers hold her hand and touch her. It drove him crazy. He felt like he was coming out of his skin. He did everything in his power to distract himself. His aggression in sports increased, and he made sure to fill his days with as much activity as possible. At night, he staked his claim in the only way he could. They never had a replay of Violet touching herself or waking up when he was in her room, though he’d done his best to make that happen.

The only thing that kept him sane all these months was believing she wouldn’t go beyond chaste kisses, and even that made him sick to his stomach. But he wasn’t a hypocrite. He’d kissed his fair share of girls, but he had never slept with any of them. He hadn’t wanted to. He’d been saving himself for her. He thought they had an understanding. The betrayal, rage, and pain that consumed him was something he never wanted to experience ever again. He’d never lost control like that before. Violet uncovered a part of himself he didn’t know existed.

He hauled in a breath and slowly let it out. The need to check on her was hammering at him. What if she changed her mind again? He dragged his sneakers restlessly across the floor as his heartbeat accelerated. Then he would find a way to change it back again.

Violet joining him for lunch had been a relief, but he had no idea what she was thinking. It had been a calculated risk to kiss her at the park. She could have freaked out or slapped him down. He’d been prepared for anything. She resisted at first. Then came sweet acquiescence. He willed her to let down her guard and acknowledge what was between them. When he felt his control fraying, he pulled back. Her dazed, blissful expression was one he intended to see often.

**This is a raw draft of the prequel for Corrupt Idol. Please do not share or distribute.

Copyright © 2024 Mia Knight. All Rights Reserved.