Chapter 132
Crew’s POV
Fury burns through me like wildfire, Alison’s peck on my cheek a spark that ignites a rage I can barely contain. Her lips, soft and daring, left a mark I wiped away, but the damage was done—Lily saw it, her red-rimmed eyes wide with hurt, her quick retreat with hurt my gut.
I’m storming through the halls, my boots heavy on the slick floor, my jaw clenched so tight it aches. Alison’s audacity—flirting, touching, shouting “I’ll have you!” after I told her to fuck off—makes my blood boil. She’s a ghost from my past, her betrayal with Javier still raw, her ass up as he fucked her during her birthday, a sight that shattered me. Now she’s trying to claw her way back, and Lily, my Lily, thinks I’m slipping, her trust fraying under Alison’s shadow. I’m pissed, not just at Alison, but at myself—for letting her close, for not shoving her away harder, for the doubt in Lily’s eyes, her fear I’d choose over rather than cheap hoe.
Lily’s all I want—her moans in Vermont, her virginity mine, her body trembling under my fingers, my cock claiming her, her heart a fire I’ll protect. Her father’s rage—his iCloud invasion, his “You’re a whore” threats—has her breaking, and now this, Alison’s kiss, a betrayal she didn’t deserve. I need to find her, explain, but she’s gone, her hurried steps echoing in my mind, her pain a weight I can’t shake. The necklace—her heirloom—burns against my chest, a vow I’m hers, not Alison’s, never hers, and I curse myself for letting this happen, for letting Lily think she’s not enough.
I’m near the quad when Luke and Marcus catch up, their voices cutting through my haze. “Yo, Crew, you look ready to kill,” Luke says, his grin fading as he clocks my face, his hand on my shoulder, grounding but useless against my storm.
“What’s up, man?” Marcus asks, tossing a football, his eyes sharp, sensing trouble. “Alison pulled some shit?”
“She kissed me,” I growl, my voice low, raw, my fists clenched. “Lily saw. Now she’s fucking gone, thinking I’m with that bitch.” I rake a hand through my hair, my anger spilling. “Alison’s been on me, flirting, ignoring that I’m with Lil. I told her to back off, but she won’t fucking quit.”
“Damn, she’s bold,” Luke says, whistling low, his eyes glinting with amusement that pisses me off more. “You shut her down, though, right?”
“Yeah, but not fast enough,” I snapped, my chest tight, Lily’s hurt face flashing—her tears, her “What are we?” echoing.
“She thinks I’m playing her, and I’m not—I fucking love her.”
Marcus raises a brow, serious now. “You gotta fix it, man. Alison’s a snake, always chasing what she can’t have. Lily’s real. Don’t let her slip.”
I nod, my resolve hardening, when a sharp voice suddenly cuts through. “Mr. Manchester, Headmaster Andrews needs you. Now.” It’s Andrews’ PA, her face stern, and my stomach drops, surprise and dread spiking.
“What the hell for?” I ask, my voice sharp, Luke and Marcus exchanging looks, their curiosity on the edge.
“Office,” she says, turning, expecting me to follow. I hesitate, my mind racing—Lily? Her dad? Trouble?—but I go, my friends encourage me before peeling off, their “Good luck, bro” fading. The halls blur, my anger at Alison simmering, my worry for Lily spiking up. What does Andrews want? I’m braced for anything, my heart pounding, the necklace heavy, a reminder of my claim, my fight for her.
The headmaster’s office door looms, and I step inside, my breath catching—Alison’s there, seated, her golden hair gleaming, her skirt riding high, her smirk a taunt. “Hey, Crew,” she purrs, her voice low, her eyes daring, and my fury flares, my skin crawling where she kissed me, Lily’s pain a fresh wound.
I ignore her, my gaze hard, my body rigid as I stand by Andrews’ desk, his presence unreadable. “Sit,” he says, gesturing, but I stay put, my eyes on him, avoiding her, her perfume—jasmine and musk—a suffocating trap. She’s here, scheming, and I hate her for it, for the chaos she’s sowing, for the hurt in Lily’s eyes.
Andrews clears his throat, his voice calm but firm. “Crew, you’re one of our top students, and Miss Blake needs help with her grades. You’ll tutor her, starting this week, twice weekly after classes.” His words hit like a punch, shock coursing through me, my jaw dropping, my anger spiking.
“What?” I snap, my voice low, incredulous, my eyes flicking to Alison, her smirk widening, her legs crossing, a deliberate tease. “No way. I’m not doing it.” My heart races, the idea of being near her, alone, a betrayal to Lily, a trap I won’t fall into. Her kiss, her flirtations, her fucking Javier—it’s all too much, and now this?
“It’s not optional,” Andrews says, his tone final, his eyes narrowing. “Your academic record makes you ideal, and Miss Blake requested you specifically. It’s arranged.”
Alison leans forward, her blazer parting, cleavage teasing, her voice soft, manipulative. “It’ll be fun, Crew. We’ll… learn a lot.” Her eyes gleam, promising more than studying, and my cock twitches, a betrayal I loathe, my body reacting despite my rage, my loyalty to Lily.
“Fuck this,” I mutter, my voice audible, my hands clenching, fighting the urge to storm out. I glare at Alison, her smirk a challenge, her presence a reminder of her power, her danger. “I’m with Lily,” I say, loud, clear, for her, for Andrews, for myself. “This changes nothing.”
Andrews raises a brow, unmoved. “Your personal life isn’t my concern. You’ll tutor her, as your father had agreed to this already.” His words are a cage, and I’m trapped, my anger a storm, my love for Lily a fire I won’t let die.
Alison’s eyes lock on mine, triumphant, and I want to wipe that smirk off, to tell her she’ll never have me, that Lily’s my everything—her moans, her trust, her love. But I’m silent, my mind racing, plotting—tutor her, keep it cold, protect Lily, fix this. I nod, curt, my jaw tight, and turn to leave, ignoring Alison’s “See you soon” her voice, a taunt I’ll crush.
The door shuts behind me, my heart pounding, my anger at Alison, at Andrews, at myself a blaze. Lily’s hurt, her trust shaken, and now this—tutoring the girl who betrayed me, who’s hunting me. I need to find Lily, explain, fuck her until she knows she’s mine, no matter Alison’s games, her father’s threats, or this fucked-up trap. I’m Crew Manchester, and I’ll fight for her, love her, keep her, no matter the cost.