Tom's POV
He sneered, his gaze flicking briefly toward the end of the hall — toward Imogen, who had just stepped out of class. Her eyes darted between us, confusion flashing for a second before she fixed her glare on Tyler. The tension between them was thick enough to choke on, and that only seemed to amuse him more. His smirk curved wider, sharper, cruel.
"I was talking about her," he said, voice low and dripping with venom. "Stay away from her."
Those words hit harder than his grip ever could. My stomach twisted, my chest tightening in that awful, humiliating way — because part of me, the dumb, hopeful part, actually felt something when he said it. My heart fluttered like an idiot's. I fucking had this coming. I knew she was with him — or at least tangled in whatever mess he had going — and I still let myself hope she wasn't. That maybe she was different.
Fuck.
He noticed the shift in my expression, the flicker of realization or whatever pathetic emotion had flashed across my face, and his smirk grew even wider, like he'd just won a game I didn't know we were playing.
"She's mine," he said, leaning in so close I could smell his cologne and rage. "Stay away, or else. You've been warned, Fisher."
With that, he roughly let go of my collar, the force making me stumble back against the lockers. My breath hitched in my throat as he straightened his jacket, all smug and composed like he hadn't just slammed me into cold metal. Then, without another word, he turned and walked straight toward Imogen.
I watched, every muscle in my body tight with something primal and raw. He slipped an arm around her shoulders like he fucking owned her — and maybe he did. Maybe he always had. He leaned in, close enough that his lips brushed her ear, whispering something I couldn't hear but could feel, like a knife twisting in my chest.
She froze for a split second, then turned her head, her eyes meeting mine across the hall. For just that one heartbeat, I saw something flicker there — regret, guilt, maybe even sadness — but it didn't matter. It didn't fucking matter because a second later, she looked away. She let him guide her off down the hallway like nothing happened.
I stood there, my fists clenched, throat burning, heart pounding like it was trying to escape my chest.
He was right.
I fucking did this to myself.
I knew better, and still, I let her in.
I had this coming.
I avoided them like the fucking plague for the rest of the week. It wasn't hard — Tyler was always hovering over her, that same smug, evil-ass smirk plastered on his face like he was proud of something. Every time I caught sight of him, it made my blood boil. I hated that bastard more than words could say.
By the time the bell rang on Friday signaling the last period has began, I was done. Done with the bullshit, done pretending it didn't bother me. I grabbed my bag, jumped on my bike, and rode home like hell itself was on my heels. The wind against my face did little to clear the storm brewing in my head, but at least it drowned out my thoughts.
"hey mom" i greeted planting a kiss on her cheek. "hi sweety you home early" she said "yeah i had a free period last so i thought it be best to spend it at home" I responded. makes it fucking easier to avoid those two anyway. "im going to my room" i said leaving heading to my room.
"Hey, Mom," I greeted, leaning down to plant a quick kiss on her cheek.
"Hi, sweetie. You're home early," she said, glancing up from whatever she was typing on her laptop.
"Yeah," I muttered, kicking off my shoes. "Had a free period last, so I figured I'd come home early."
And maybe because it's easier to fucking breathe when they're not around, I thought bitterly.
She smiled softly. "That's nice, honey."
"Yeah," I said, forcing a smile of my own as I grabbed my bag. "I'm going to my room."
Before she could say anything else, I was already halfway up the stairs, shutting the door behind me with a dull thud. I tossed my bag on the bed and collapsed beside it, staring at the ceiling.
I just needed one fucking day without them — without her smile, without his smirk, without the chaos they dragged around like a storm. Just one goddamn day to feel like myself again.