Page 41 of Jerk

Pushing through the crowded house, my eyes scan through bodies for his face. I still don't see him. My goal was to protectmyself. I didn't want to get tangled in another Crown, especially not him.

Pulling my lighter from my clutch, I grip it as I push through the back patio doors. The cool air soothes me as I walk towards the lake, the moon making the water shimmer. The music fades as I get closer, the night air continuing to soothe the burn on my face. Reaching for my pack of colourful cigarettes in my garter, I take in the earthy smell of the lake, the air clean and crisp.

Know what? It's a good thing he left. I'm flying way too close to the sun. Too close to the enemy.

As I bring a purple cigarette to my lips, a flame comes in front of my face, my brows raising.

“Need a light?” Vince appears next to me.

“I like to smoke alone.” I let him light it anyway, taking a long puff.

“I wanted to catch how you look under the moonlight.” Ew.

I need to break it to him. “Listen, Vince. You’re fun to dance with, but that’s as far as we’ll go.” His eyebrows lower, like I’m speaking another language. Then he laughs. "What's so funny? I'm serious.”

He continues to laugh, this time with a hint of nervousness as he takes a step closer. "Are you playing a game, Hannah?" His hand comes to my waist. My skin crawls. "You were all over me in there.”

“I was into the music.” I push his hands away, my cigarette between my fingers. “Not you.”

“Aw, c’mon.” His hands move back, this time lower as he cups my ass. He pulls me against him, his athletic stature showing when I push back. He hardly moves. “Stop playing hard to get."

“Stop playing stupid." One hand comes to my arm in a very tight grip. “The fuck, Vince? Stop.”

His demeanour shifts. “Don’t be a cunt.”

“Don’t be desperate.”

The world tilts, my back landing against the grass with a thud. A sharp pain pulses through me as Vince lands on top of me. His lips come towards mine before my splayed palm meets his face.

“Absolutely not.” His weight presses into me, and it’s getting harder to move. “Get. Off.”

“You’re into this fucked up shit, huh?” he chuckles. “I see how you are with Rowen.”

“Vince, stop!” Pushing on his face doesn’t stop him from reaching for my tits. He tugs on my bra, exposing me.

“You want us to work for it, don’t you?” His elbow lands against my chest, a breath of air pushing out of me as he pins me to the ground.

“Vince!” When his hand pushes between my legs, I scream before his hand slaps over my mouth.

“You’re all mine now.” Fighting against him is useless. He's too heavy, the pressure of his body choking me. I squeeze my eyes shut as his hands roam my body, and I do my best to think of anything else.

Someone else.

Rye comes to my mind. His fiery touches. His consuming hold. It feels different than this. It feels like?—

Crack!

The pressure on my body lifts before my eyes open in time to see something knock Vince’s face to the right. Blood flies from his lip as he topples over, his body sliding off mine.

A flash of red moves by me before I hear another crack. Pushing up on my arms, I follow the sound to see Rye on top of Vince with a long, thick branch. He throws it to the side and replaces it with his fists.

I freeze, watching as Vince's face gets pound after pound, Rye using him like a speedbag. Vince’s fight is weak, helpless against Rye’s onslaught.

Crack!

The sound of something breaking pulls me out of my mesmerized state. My eyes zero in on the blood on Rye's fist. More blood pours onto it as he keeps pummelling Vince.

“Rye!” I call, my voice hoarser than I’d like. So I clear my throat and try again. “Ryung!” It’s like he’s in an angry trance, Vince’s body going limp, but he doesn’t stop. Pushing to my feet, I yell his name as loud as I can. “Ryung! Stop!”