Jesse's Reaction, PT. 2

“Tell me what you saw,” he ordered.

“They were holding hands in the cafeteria.” Brody searched his face. “I thought you knew.”

He threw the ball at his friend before he snatched his backpack from the bleachers and stalked out of the gym. She wouldn’t do this to him, he thought as pain and fury seared his chest. The bell rang, prompting everyone to get to class. The hallways flooded with students. He went against the crowd to reach the cafeteria, but by the time he got there, it was mostly empty. He broke into a run as he sprinted to her next class. Several people called out his name and a teacher told him to slow down, but for once in his life, he ignored everyone. Brody must be mistaken. Violet wouldn’t do this. Not today. Not after what they shared last night.

He turned the corner as the second bell rang. He took a few steps forward before he stopped dead in his tracks. Tobias and Violet stood outside of her class. Violet was smiling at Tobias like… Like she should be smiling at him. He tensed as Tobias grasped Violet’s hand and pecked it before he scuttled down the hallway. Violet watched his rapid departure with a bemused expression on her face before she grinned and shook her head.

As if she sensed him, she suddenly turned her head. Her eyes widened when she spotted him, and her smile vanished. He stepped forward, determined to get answers, but Violet hastily shook her head and walked into her class.

What the fuck?

The third and final bell rang. Teachers came out to close their doors. One of them noticed him standing there and frowned.

“Mr. Sampson? Is something wrong?”

“No,” he said and pivoted on his heel.

His temper, something that hadn’t been provoked since last summer, threatened to break free. Why would she suddenly date someone after what happened last night? And why choose a creep like Tobias? The guy spent his days in the library or in empty classrooms, scribbling in a notebook and talking to himself. He thought he’d made himself clear when he told Tobias to steer clear of Violet, but apparently Tobias hadn’t taken him seriously… Or, had Violet sought him out? The thought incensed him so badly, he smashed his fist into the building, bruising his knuckles, but he didn’t notice.

He was in no mood to sit in class. He walked toward the parking lot, nodding to the security guards who knew him by name. His reputation as a good student and athlete allowed him to walk off property without being asked if he had permission.

It took extreme discipline not to give into his demons as he navigated out of the parking lot and gently rode over the speed bumps. It wasn’t until he was on a deserted country road that he slammed on the accelerator and let the engine release a roar that he silently echoed. He drove to a park. The sound of his phone chiming made him impatiently dig through the zippers to find it.

Madyson: I couldn’t find you at lunch. I had a surprise for you.

Madyson: Do you want to go to a concert in San Antonio this weekend?

He tossed his phone on the seat, slammed the door, and paused. He’d been dating Madyson for almost a month. He’d planned to break it off even before last night’s incident, but hadn’t been in a rush to do so because he suspected Madyson would make a scene. Is that why Violet decided to date? Because he was? Did she think last night meant nothing to him?

He scowled as he headed for the trail. Running always cleared his head and right now, he needed all the help he could get when his emotions were choking him. He should have pushed the issue this morning during their ride to school. He should have just laid it out and found out what she was thinking instead of being blindsided by this. He couldn’t make sense of what she’d done. Was she deliberately trying to gut him, or did she truly like Tobias?

He picked up his pace. Was it a coincidence that Tobias asked her out today, or was this something Violet had orchestrated? His chest burned, and it wasn’t from the run. He thought his torture was coming to an end, but Violet had introduced another level of hell he hadn’t known existed. Was she trying to hurt him? If she had feelings for him, and he’d been dating all these girls, was this her way of hitting back at him? But that look she gave him in the hallway wasn’t smug or challenging. She’d been alarmed, horrified, even. That was the second time she’d run from him today. Clearly, she wasn’t ready to discuss what was between them and had decided she’d rather date a weirdo. Why?

 Rage burned in his gut at the thought of watching Violet with other guys. He’d always known that was a possibility, but she must know he had feelings for her. He slowed and braced his hands on his thighs as he tried to catch his breath. Is that why she decided to date other guys? Because she was freaked out that their relationship would change and how their parents would react? He didn’t care what challenges they had to face. They would get through it together, but clearly, Violet didn’t feel the same.

He straightened and slicked back his sweaty hair and continued along the trail at a jog instead of the breakneck sprint he’d started with. The run had taken the edge of his anger, though it still heated his brain. But he was thinking a little more rationally.

If Violet wanted to date, he didn’t have the right to stop her. In fact, arguing with her when he had been dating himself would only reinforce whatever reservations were making her do this in the first place. She had the right to explore and experiment. He grimaced. Though what she saw in Tobias, he had no clue. His head cocked to the side and his bad mood lightened a bit. At least she was dating Tobias and not one of his friends. Tobias had no game. He was awkward and weird, and he wouldn’t last.

Jesse abruptly turned to make his way back to the parking lot. Violet had every right to date, though he wasn’t sure what Isaac would think about it. He secretly wanted Isaac to forbid it, but that was selfish on his part and if they came out to their parents, that would apply to him as well. He gritted his teeth at the realization that his suffering wasn’t at an end, but another beginning. He could endure whatever she threw his way because in the end, she would realize no one suited her like he did. He knew her better than she knew herself. He adored everything about her and would do anything for her… even allow her to date someone else, even though it would kill something in him to see her with another guy. But Violet wouldn’t go too far. She was a good girl. She just wanted the right to choose. She wanted freedom. He would allow it because once he finally had her, that would be it for both of them. When she was ready, she would come to him. He could wait.

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

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