Chapter 20: Not Love, Just Fury

Chapter 20: Not Love, Just Fury


Adrian's POV

"I will miss you, brother," Michelle said as the car came to a halt in front of the airport.

I gave her a small nod. "Be a good girl, okay."

"Okay."

Then she pulled me in for a hug.

As I drove home, memories from Kade’s birthday flooded my mind—Elena kissing Zane in public. And I felt anger rise in my chest.

She had humiliated me and made me look like a fool.

I didn’t understand what she was trying to prove that day.

Then I dialed Lucy’s number. She picked up on the first ring.

"Adrian," she said, surprised. 

I rarely called anyone.

"Can you come over to the house?"

"Yes," she answered, almost too eagerly.

I ended the call and turned into our estate, pulling into the driveway.



"Adrian?" Lucy called as she entered. She looked around, her voice nervous.

I came down the stairs slowly.

"I thought something happened to you," she said, eyeing me suspiciously.

She wore a white short dress and tiny heels, looking flashy as always.

"Nothing happened. I just wanted to ask about something."

"Okay," she replied with a strained smile.

"I saw you push Elena at Kade's party."

Her face changed.

"Why did you do that?"

"Wait, are you defending her now? I thought you said you hated her."

"I never said you should hurt her."

She scoffed. "She pushed me last week, Adrian. My tab shattered."

"Still doesn’t justify your behavior. Don’t do that again, Lucy. It reflects badly on you."

She didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she walked over and sat beside me on the couch.

"I’m sorry, Adrian," she murmured, reaching for my face, her touch was soft. 

"Can I get a hug?" she asked as I gave in briefly, pulling her into a light hug.

Then her fingers began tracing up my chest.

"Stop that," I said firmly, pulling away.

She stiffened, grabbed her bag, and stormed out.

I exhaled deeply and sank back into the couch.

I was already used to Lucy’s tantrums anyway.



The next day in math class, I tried to focus. Math used to be my favorite subject—especially when Gloria was alive. We used to compete in every class, battling silently through equations. Now, there was no one to match me.

A girl from the scholarship group—small, quiet, and barely noticeable—extended a paper toward me.

I scoffed under my breath. "The audacity." 

"That’ll be all for today," Mr. Philip said, closing his tablet. "Prepare for your math test next week."

The entire class groaned.

"Adrian," he called.

I looked up.

"Can I see you in my office, please?"

I gave a nod.

As he left, Lucien and Kade came over.

"What’s up, man?" Lucien said.

"Strip party tonight," Kade added. "You in?"

I shook my head gently

"We’ve got a match with Lucas’ team at 2pm," Lucien said. "Let’s go get ready."



At my locker, I opened the door to take my sports wear. An envelope and folded letter slipped out.

Curious, I picked them up. The letter read:

I was trying to give you this in class, but maybe I’m just too small for that. I found this in Gloria’s locker the day after she died.

I quickly opened the envelope.

Hey Adrian,

I’m dying slowly. I can’t bring myself to tell you how I truly feel about you. The way you act so calm around me—like I only exist during competitions—breaks me every day.

Worse, I have a boyfriend who doesn’t even want me around you. But I love you. I always have.

—Gloria

My heart stopped.

"Wait, Gloria had a boyfriend?" I whispered.

Kade overheard. "What’s that?"

"Nothing," I muttered, tucking the note into my locker.

"Let’s move," Lucien called, adjusting his jersey.



The court was already buzzing. The gallery were already full. Our school’s home court stretched beneath the ceiling lights, well polished and echoing.

The referee blew the whistle.

We were in.

Lucas’ team came strong. Their passes were fast, their coordination tight. In the first ten minutes, they scored four straight baskets. We were down 0–8.

I was off. My mind drifted back to Gloria’s note and I kept thinking about how to get to know her boyfriend, taking my attention off the game.

Lucien jogged up during a break. "You good, man? You look spaced."

"I’m fine," I muttered.

Coach barked during timeout. "Focus! You boys are better than this. Clear your heads and play."

We returned to the court.

I got the ball. Lucien screened Lucas, giving me a clear shot. I jumped, released the ball—swish.

2–10.

The crowd started to wake up. Lucy screamed from the cheer team, flipping a pom-pom in the air.

We pushed. Another steal. Kade drove in with a layup—4–10.

Zane hit a three-pointer—7–10.

Ten minutes later I faked right, cut left, and made another basket—9–10. The crowd erupted.

Our energy had returned.

Final twenty minutes.

We passed like fire—tight and fast. Lucien to me. I drove. Jump shot twice. 13–10.

Lucas’ team scrambled. One of their shots bounced off the rim. Rebound—Kade. He dashed, passed to me again. I dunked.

15–10.

Cheers thundered through the court. Our coach raised a fist.

Timeout.

I walked to the edge, wiping sweat from my brow.

Then I saw Elena.

She was standing by the edge of the court. She was facing Zane, beaming.

"Congratulations, Zane," she said.

Zane grinned, tugged her close, and kissed her.

Right there. In front of the crowd again.

I stopped.

Then he placed a soft kiss on her forehead, and her whole face lit up.

I clenched my jaw.

Lucien and Kade called from behind. I didn’t answer.

She was making a mockery of me.

I didn’t want her. But I was still the one who had to wear the shame.

But that kiss? That public display? It wasn’t just some teenage game. It was a slap. 

She could do whatever she wanted, and the world would still clap for her—like she was innocent.This wasn’t jealousy. It was rage.

I turned to them. "You know what? I’m going to the strip party tonight."

They both blinked. Kade laughed, surprised. "For real?"

"Yeah," I said, emotionless.