RED

VII

Jared sat in the quiet study hall of the school, surrounded by the soft hum of students studying and the occasional rustle of papers. He was engrossed in his textbooks, his focus unwavering as he delved into his studies.

Suddenly, heavy footsteps caught his attention, and Jared looked up to see Marco striding confidently towards him. His heart skipped a beat at the sight, a flicker of apprehension stirring in his stomach.

"Hey, Nerd," Marco said, his tone sharp and angry as he sat opposite him, his posture tense and confrontational.

Jared's stomach churned with unease at Marco's hostile demeanor. He knew he was about to face the brunt of Marco's fury, and he braced himself for whatever was to come.

"Marco," Jared replied cautiously, his voice steady despite the nervous flutter in his chest.

Marco leaned forward, his expression dark with anger as he spoke. "I heard you were at a coffee shop at the center last Saturday," he said, his voice low and menacing.

Jared swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. He knew no point in denying it, not with Marco knowing the truth.

"Yeah, I was there," Jared admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Marco's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in frustration. "And who were you with?" he demanded, his voice laced with accusation.

Jared hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. He knew Marco wouldn't take kindly to the truth, but he also couldn't lie outright.

"Someone," Jared replied evasively, hoping to deflect Marco's anger.

Marco's expression darkened even further, his fists clenched at his sides. "Don't play dumb with me, nerd," he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "I know exactly who you were with."

Desperate to avoid further confrontation, Jared began to gather his belongings, hastily shoving his books and papers into his backpack. He hoped to make a quick escape, but Marco had other plans.

In a sudden, violent motion, Marco swiped his arm across the table, sending Jared's books and papers flying everywhere. "You're not going anywhere," Marco growled, his eyes blazing with fury.

Jared froze, his breath catching in his throat as he stared at the mess Marco had made. The entire study hall had gone silent, all eyes now focused on the unfolding scene. He felt a wave of humiliation wash over him, but more than that, a surge of anger at Marco's blatant aggression.

"Why are you doing this, Marco?" Jared asked, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and defiance.

Marco sneered, leaning in closer. "Because I don't like seeing you with Stephie," he hissed. "Stay away from her, or things will worsen for you."

Jared's heart pounded as he met Marco's fierce gaze. He knew he had to stand his ground, but the threat hanging in the air was all too real. Gathering his courage, he spoke as calmly as he could manage. "Stephanie already said the two of you broke up already."

"Oh, so you'll butt in and think you'll have a chance with her."

"I-"

Marco's expression twisted with rage, and for a moment, Jared thought he might lash out physically.

Suddenly, a voice rang out across the study hall. "Marco, stop!"

Both boys turned to see Stephanie running towards them, her face a mixture of anger and determination. She quickly positioned herself between them, pushing Marco away from Jared.

"That's enough, Marco," Stephanie said firmly, her eyes blazing with intensity. "You have no right to treat Jared like this."

Marco's grip on Jared's collar loosened, and he took a step back, his face contorted with surprise and frustration. "Stephanie, you don't understand—"

"No, you don't understand," Stephanie interrupted, her voice unwavering. "We broke up 6 months ago. Will you please! Just please leave me alone?"

Marco squared his shoulders and pointed at Jared. "Why are you defending this nerd, huh? You were never like that when we were together."

"Stop pointing at him like he was a thing." Stephanie slapped Marco's hand. "Why do you care if I care with someone else besides you?"

"Care for others? Why is this nerd your boyfriend now?" Marco sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm and hurt.

Stephanie paused, glancing at Jared. Her heart raced, and she felt the weight of both boys' stares on her. She gathered her resolve, took a deep breath, and said, "Yes. He is my boyfriend."

The words hung in the air, heavy with surprise and tension. Jared's eyes widened in shock, his heart pounding at Stephanie's declaration. Marco's face contorted with disbelief and fury.

"You've got to be kidding me," Marco spat, taking a step back. "This nerd? Really, Stephie?"

Stephanie stood her ground, her expression unwavering. "Yes, really. Stop calling me Stephie and leave us alone."

Marco looked between them, a mixture of anger and confusion in his eyes. "This isn't over," he muttered before turning and storming out of the study hall.