Loving the Campus Monster

Chapter 17 (Broken)

Laura

I scrambled around the fire pit to Ross and Jared fighting on the ground. When I get over there, Ross lifts Jared's head with his hands still wrapped around his neck and slams him down into the grass. For a second, I wonder if Ross would have done the same if he were on concrete, then a picture of him slamming that guy's head into the brick wall that first night he saved me from being raped came to mind.

Yes... yes, he would.

As to agree with me, Ross lifts his fist up and punches Jared in the jaw.

"Ross!" I scream to try to get him to stop as everyone else stares on. Shane seems very amused as he watches in delight.

Why do I have a feeling he's watched Ross fight like this, many times before?

"Stop him!" I beg Shane but he shakes his head as Ross's fist connects to Jared's already bloody face again.

"Why would I do that? This is too entertaining to watch. Do you want a drink? It might loosen you up some." He smirks at me.

"What? No, I don't want a drink! What the hell is wrong with you!" I yell. A crowd has now gathered around them, cheering them on. I have yet to see Jared hit Ross and I am glad, but I want Ross to stop hurting Jared before something worse happens to one or both of them.

What if Ross hurts Jared so bad he doesn't get up? What if the cops get called? Ross might go to jail for this!

I am too afraid to try to stop Ross myself so when Ross's big friend appears in the yard, I yell for him, hoping he will help. His eyes find me.

"Stop him! Please!" I beg. Everyone seems to calm except me. If Ross keeps hitting Jared like that, he will kill him. I just know it.

Edie seems to debate to stop the fight or not as he watches it. I don't think he's going to help until he sees Ross lift Jared's head to slam it down again, hard. Edie decides to help then. Finally.

Thank God.

He takes a few steps over to Ross and wraps his fits into Ross shirt and pulls him backwards, off of Jared. Ross is caught off guard, so he is easily removed from Jared's body. Ross tries to swing a fist at Edie, but Edie dodges his fist and puts his hands on Ross's shoulders. He says something to Ross that I can't make out and then nods his head towards me. Ross's eyes are blazing, his knuckles are bloody, and his shirt is ripped from Edie's grip. His chest is moving up and down rapidly. I don't make a move to walk towards him. I know how angry he is right now, and I don't want him to take his anger out on me. I am not afraid of Ross the way I should be, even though I just witnessed him losing his temper, I still know that he would never physically hurt me.

With the excitement winding down almost everyone begins to move back inside the house. Jared's crumbled body lays on the ground and Shane leans down and holds his hand out to Jared to help him up. He stumbles to his feet and lifts his shirt up to wipe his bloody face off. He spits out a mixture of blood and saliva and I look away.

Ross's head turns to look where Jared is and he tries to take a step towards him, but Edie grabs Ross again, stopping him.

"Fuck you, Ross!" Jared spits. Shane steps between them. Now he wants to do something.

"Just wait until you're little..." Jared shouts.

"Shut the fuck up!" Ross yells as he tries to get around Edie, but he holds him back again.

Jared looks at me and I take a step back. I wonder what Jared meant to say. I don't really understand what is going on between him and Jared. I thought Ross and Jared were friends but now they're glaring at each other like their enemy's.