After school, Janie sauntered past Luke, purposefully brushing her arm against his as she left. With a glance over her shoulder she saw that he was watching her with a curious expression on his face. Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished. Janie stopped, searching the crowd for his gaze, but he was gone. A hand on her waist shook her out of her thoughts, and she turned around to find Braden's eyes also searching the crowd.
"Who were you lookin for?"
Janie pressed closer to him, and smirked at the jealousy in his tone.
"Just Chloe, babe."
Braden nodded, and then threw his arm around her and walked out of the school. Janie smelled a lingering hint of cigarette smoke on his jacket, mixed with the normal haze of Axe. Janie stopped short when she saw her mother's car in the parking lot, and she grabbed Braden's hand and pulled him into the tall bushes by the side of the building.
"What the-"
Janie slapped her hand over his mouth, and he glared at her.
"My mom is here."
With an angry growl Braden threw her to the ground. Janie yelped, and fear registered as he began to undo his thick belt.
"Well, I guess we better enjoy our time here in the bushes, then huh?"
A shudder raked Janie's body, and she immediately regretted coming behind the thick bushes. If she screamed or resisted, Braden would probably kill her.
Wait, why is this suddenly bothering me? Janie wondered.
They had slept together before, and she had never minded it then, but as Braden began to undo her skirt, she stopped him.
"Please, not today, Braden."
Braden's expression melted into cold fury, and he slapped her across the face.
"Why. the Hell. Not."
"I- I got called a whore today, Braden." Janie confessed as tears threatened to leak down her face.
"Ain't that the truth." Braden muttered.
Janie looked at him in disbelief before jerking out from under him.
"What's wrong, baby?"
"Whats wrong? What's wrong?! Whats wrong is people think I'm a freakin whore. Whats wrong is my boyfriend just tried to rape me. Whats wrong is I'm dating an idiotic, brainless, no-good, drop-out bastard."
Braden slowly stood up, keeping his eyes trained on Janie. Janie flinched slightly, seeing how much rage was building inside him.
"Don't. Ever. Talk to me like that again."
"Go to Hell." Janie whispered fiercely.
Suddenly, Braden's hand whipped across Janie's face, sending her flying backwards into the bushes. Tears streamed down Janie's face, and Braden grabbed her by the throat before throwing her back towards the school. Janie's frail form hit the rock wall, and Braden started towards her again. Just as he was about to hit her again, a strong hand caught his wrist. Braden wrenched his hand out of his grip and stumbled backwards.
"Don't touch me again."
Janie looked up to her savior, but her hope turned to anger when she saw Luke standing above her. Luke said nothing in response, but held Braden's intense gaze. When Braden tried to step towards Janie, Luke moved into his path.
"Get out of my way, you little twerp!" Braden yelled.
"I will not let you touch her again, Braden."
