Brothers Best Friend [Vinnie Hacker]

Chapter 16

Edited 07/05/2025

As we step onto the school grounds, all eyes seem to shift toward us. Whispers ripple through the crowd, but one voice slices through the noise—sharp and dripping with venom.

"Well, well, look who finally crawled out of the spotlight graveyard."

I spot her instantly—Samantha. Arms crossed, eyes narrowed, her posture practically dares me to answer.

"You got brain damage or just bad memory? I've been running laps around this school since forever." I stare her down, voice low and cold.

Vinnie gently squeezes my hand. "Babe, don't," he murmurs. "Let it go."

But Samantha keeps pushing.

"Aw, is the little princess hiding behind her bodyguard now?" she sneers. "How cute. Got him wrapped around your finger already?"

I whirl around. "You want to talk about lapdogs? Half the guys here follow you around like whipped puppies. You should open a kennel."

Her smirk widens. "Touchy. Hit a nerve?"

"Let's go," Vinnie says firmly, tugging me toward the building.

As we walk inside, I keep glancing over my shoulder, pulse racing.

"Who was that trainwreck?" I hiss.

"Samantha," Vinnie says with a shrug. "She's been through more guys than gym memberships."

"You and the guys ever...?"

"God, no," he says quickly. "We don't touch drama like that."

I nod, still fuming. Her face is burned into my mind now.

In class, I slide into my seat next to Mac just as the bell rings. I'm still trying to shake off the rage when I see her walk in—Samantha, with some random guy trailing her like a shadow. Of course.

She struts to the desk right in front of mine and slams her bag down like she owns the place.

"Where's your pet today?" she asks loudly.

I blink. "Excuse me?"

"Your boyfriend. Or should I say your emotional crutch?"

I clench my jaw. "He's not my pet, and if you don't shut up, I will make you."

Mac shoots me a warning glance, but it's too late.

"Oh please. We all know you're just using him until someone better comes along. You're not special—you're just a phase." She spins around in her seat, leaning across my desk with a fake-sweet smile. "Go ahead. Prove me wrong."

And that's when I snap.

I don't even feel my chair scrape back. I just stand, fast and furious, and shove her desk forward—hard.

Samantha tumbles backward in her seat with a screech. Gasps erupt around the room.

"You're insane!" she yells, scrambling up.

"Say one more thing and I swear to God—"

The teacher storms in just as I take another step toward her. "Enough!"

She points at me like I just set the room on fire.

"Riley Storms. Office. Now."

I grab my bag with shaking hands and stalk past Samantha, brushing hard against her shoulder as I go. I hear her mutter something behind me, but I don't stop.

Let them all stare.

In the principal's office, it's dead silent for a moment. Then the door clicks shut behind me.

"What happened?" Principal Garver asks, voice stern.

I stay standing. "She pushed me. I pushed back."

"You shoved a desk and threatened a student in front of a full classroom. That's not just a push."

I fold my arms. "She's been targeting me since the second I walked in here. Nobody said a thing until I snapped."

He doesn't flinch. "Doesn't matter who started it. You crossed the line."

He picks up the phone.

"Who should I call to pick you up?"

"What? Why?"

"You're suspended. One week."

I scoff. "That's ridiculous."

"So is assaulting a student." He raises an eyebrow. "Name?"

"Chase Hudson," I say without hesitation.

He pauses. "So... that's why you did it?"

"What does that even mean?"

"I know Cole—"

"Chase." I correct him sharply.

He nods. "Fine. I'll call. But if you pull a stunt like this again, it'll be two months next time."

Skipping ahead to Chase's arrival...

I spot him the moment the office door opens—lean, sharp smile, arms open.

"Let's blow this place," he says, throwing an arm around me.

He tosses me his leather jacket, and we make our way to his new ride, sleek and humming in the parking lot. As we peel out, the tension starts to fade.

"So what happened?" he asks, glancing at me.

"Samantha ran her mouth. I ran my foot into her ego."

He bursts out laughing. "Damn. You punched her?"

"Nope. Just rearranged her desk."

He whistles. "You're dangerous, Storms."

"Tell me something I don't know."

As we roll up to HypeHouse, the front door swings open and Avani is already rushing toward me.

"I heard! Spill everything!" she demands, dragging me straight to her room.

We collapse onto her bed, and I fill her in.

"She called Vinnie all sorts of slurs, said I was using him... it got ugly. I snapped."

Her mouth drops open. "Girl. You're feral. I love it."

We laugh, but deep down, I'm still buzzing with adrenaline. That moment in the classroom... I didn't even think. It just happened.

Some things, I guess, are better left unsaid—like the other thing Samantha whispered before I lost it.

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hey guys, yay new chapter, i have made this a lil shorter cause i got writers block and i want to update it today so yeah

remember to vote and comment

<Laura>