With loud music playing on the radio, we arrived at the parking lot in front of the school, which seemed empty that morning due to the pouring rain. But there were still a few students romping about under the canopy at the top of the stairs, including Viola and Trevis, who immediately set their sights on me again.
What was their fucking problem? Just because I didn't want to get stuck yesterday? They couldn't care less.
"You okay?" my brother asked, taking my hand to give me an encouraging smile. He probably thought I was still scared about the situation with Guiselle, but I was more bothered by the almost angry looks of the upper two.
"Yeah, I'm okay," I replied with a forced smile, pulling my hand away to open the door and step out into the rain. Of course, as always, he did the same to me.
"Devin," I said annoyed and then looked up briefly. "You don't always have to get off with me, when will you get that?"
He laughed and came running around the car. "And when will you realize that it's for your own good?"
When he came to a stop right in front of me, he took my hand again and gave me a tender kiss on my forehead, which was already covered with raindrops. "See you later," he pinched my cheek lightly and when he wanted to give me a kiss, I only heard quick footsteps next to me and before I knew it, Trevis had grabbed my brother by the collar and pushed him against his car.
"Are you crazy!?" I yelled at him in shock and wanted to pull him away from my brother with bated breath, but he didn't move a bit.
"What were you planning to do with her?!" the black-haired man yelled at my brother and I thought I would have another heart attack for fear for him, because I stood there soaking wet and didn't know what to do.
But Devin was not a child of sadness, on the contrary.
In a matter of seconds, my brother had headbutted the superior, causing him to immediately hold his hands to his bleeding nose in pain.
My heart was in my throat and the crowd of students milling at the top of the stairs was increasing by the minute. They all watched curiously, whispering angrily.
"What I plan to do with my girlfriend is entirely my business!" Devin growled menacingly and then took a step towards me. "Jady, go into your class," he ordered, and just as I was about to start trembling, the black-haired man lunged at my brother again.
This time he didn't grab him, but punched him several times in the stomach, so that I immediately wanted between the two with wide eyes, but it was Viola who held me back.
"Don't interfere," she said, holding me by the sleeve of my soaked sweater, but I didn't even think about watching this idiot beat my brother unconscious for no reason.
I broke free of her grip, walked towards the two fighting and grabbed Trevis by the sleeve of his red jacket. "Leave him in peace!"
Trevis tried to get rid of my hand and spun angrily, hitting me in the face with full force with his elbow, sending me falling backwards onto the wet asphalt from the impact.
"Jady!", I heard my brother's worried but also trembling voice, but my gaze went rigidly up to the dark sky, from which the rain was still pattering down on us.
I lay there like that. Wet, scared and with a heart beating way too fast.
"What's your fucking problem?!" my brother yelled at him.
"That you think she's yours!" Trevis yelled back and suddenly Viola leaned over me and I looked closely into her dark eyes, which captured me again.
"Take my hand," she demanded quietly, in a calm voice, and then helped me back to my feet.
The two boys were still yelling at each other, but I was glad they at least stopped fighting.
My brother's worried look met me and when he started to come towards me, Trevis immediately blocked his way. "What's that about?" I asked with a trembling voice and looked at Viola while the first warm tears ran down my cheeks.
Her indifferent gaze softened, almost pityingly, and suddenly she turned away from me to put her hand on Trevis' shoulder.
"We're going," she said, but the black-haired man was shaking with anger and was still standing between Devin and me, his back to my side.
"But-" "No buts," Viola whispered, tossing her wet, black curls over her shoulder. "I said we're going, so move!"
Panting, the big one turned around and threw me an ice-cold, warning look while my eyes once again clung to his scar.
Without saying anything else, the two of them disappeared up the stairs to the classmates who were still staring at us, while my brother clutched his stomach and a few drops of blood ran from his nose.
"Oh god, Devin," I breathed, stepping so close to him that he immediately put his head on my shoulder. He trembled and trembled, as if fear and anger took hold of him in equal measure, which brought even more tears to my eyes.
"Get in," he whispered softly, stepping aside so he could open the door for me.
I did as he asked and immediately dropped into the seat, relieved to find that everyone in the building had disappeared. My breathing slowly calmed down and my heart was pounding evenly in my chest again.
"Is he your mate?" my brother asked as he got in and gave a short groan of pain.
"No, I don't think so," I answered in a low voice and at the same time wondered about his question. He knew I wouldn't find out until I was 18, so why was he asking?
He just nodded and then pulled out his key to start the engine. "You stay at home until your birthday," he then ordered and for the first time in my life, I understood and accepted his concern for me, because I had never felt more afraid than these nerve-wracking last 10 minutes.
Unfortunately, that was only the beginning.