Chapter 2 Over-protective

The sight of the bright red blood on the wall made her stomach turn. With no other option in mind, she begrudgingly began to walk to her next class, unsure of what else to do.

By the time she entered pre-calc, the bell had already rung. Keeping her head down, she hurried to her seat, relieved when her teacher didn't acknowledge her. Perhaps she didn't care or was simply afraid of Julius, just like everyone else.

Jenny let her platinum waves fall over her face as she sank into her seat. She carefully lowered her bag to the floor and quietly took out her books and supplies, doing her best not to make any noise. The last thing she wanted was to draw unwanted attention.

The usual laughter and chatter had devolved into hushed whispers. She could tell they were discussing her, Kevin, and Julius as rumors about the incident spread like wildfire throughout the school.

Feeling their judgmental gazes on her, Jenny struggled to focus on what Mrs. Carnings was saying about last night's homework. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, and paying attention felt impossible. The class mirrored her distraction, with students carrying on multiple quiet conversations, likely about her.

After a futile warning from Mrs. Carnings, the teacher assigned a reading followed by a pop quiz due at the end of class. Jenny hoped her classmates wouldn't hold her responsible for their misbehavior, although she knew she was partially to blame for this punishment. It seemed like Mrs. Carnings was just trying to regain control.

The rest of her classes were equally unbearable. The relentless staring and whispering felt almost as heavy as the previous altercation. No one was talking to her or even glancing in her direction, aside from the rude glares they cast rather than offering support.

Suddenly, the bell for lunch rang out sharply across the classrooms, and Jenny made her way to the cafeteria. As she navigated the crowded hall, she spotted Julius approaching. Hatred and contempt flickered in his dark eyes, shattering any hope she had that he might offer an apology. She should have known better; Julius cared for no one but himself. Disappointment washed over her, making her wish all of this would simply vanish.

When Julius reached her, he intentionally brushed past her, maintaining eye contact the entire time.

Feeling deflated, she quickly made her way to the cafeteria line, collected her lunch alongside the others, and avoided eye contact. Upon reaching the tables, she noticed her usual spot was occupied by other girls who typically sat alone. Given how the day had unfolded, she wasn't surprised.

She ended up sitting alone, and despite searching for him, she couldn't find Kevin anywhere. He hadn't shown up for their biology lab, nor had he been in the nurse's office before lunch. Julius made it more difficult, appearing to loom everywhere and watching her every move with a menacing glare. The bloodstains on his clothes only reignited the horror of the incident.

By the time Richard arrived to pick her up, the day felt like it had dragged on for years. He stood outside the black SUV that took her wherever she needed to go, his blonde hair shining in the sun, and his expression calm and vigilant. Seeing him caused her heart to flutter; it was a brief respite from the chaos of the day.

"Jenny," he said, opening the door for her.

"Hello, Richard," she replied, hoping her voice sounded normal. He paused, concern flashing in his eyes.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, instantly seeing through her facade. After being her bodyguard for ten years, Richard knew her all too well.

"A boy asked me out today." Richard did not flinch; he understood where this was heading.

All at once, Jenny's emotions erupted, flooding her with frustration and sadness. "Why does Julius have to be so protective? I know we need to maintain a good image for the family, but I can't even talk to one boy! I don't even have friends anymore!"

This time, Jenny couldn't hold back her tears. They streamed down her cheeks in rivulets, smudging the makeup she had put on earlier. "Kevin was so nice to me! And he was really good at biology!" she exclaimed, her words tumbling out in a jumbled mess. "He didn't even make me touch those gross frogs!"

Richard nodded sympathetically, having listened to her talk about Kevin in the weeks prior. "Julius hurt him so badly, Richard! You should have seen it—there was so much blood, and he was furious!" She buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. Richard nodded again, fully aware of Julius's volatile nature. "He screamed at me, too. No one did anything, not even the teachers."

Richard produced a tissue from somewhere and handed it to her. She took it gratefully, dabbing her eyes and gently blowing her nose. She knew she looked a mess, but at that moment, she didn't care. Richard looked at her with concern and opened his arms slightly.

Her heart fluttered at the gesture. Was he offering her a hug? Before she could second-guess herself, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Instantly, she felt a wave of calm wash over her as she melted into him. His warm embrace was comforting, and she could feel the strength of his muscles as he held her close. She breathed in deeply, taking in the scent of soap and gunpowder.

Just then, a throat cleared behind them, breaking the moment. Jenny turned around quickly, her heart sinking when she saw Julius. Panic surged, and her heart dropped like a stone.

"What are you doing?" he began, annoyance shadowing his features. Why did he always have to interrogate her? She struggled to steady herself, swallowing hard.

Her fists clenched at her sides. "I needed some comfort after the way you acted today," she replied softly, stifling a sniffle. Richard wisely took a step back, and Julius's glare shifted to him, narrowing dangerously. To Richard's credit, he remained unfazed under Julius's intense gaze; he was trained to protect her from worse threats.

"You're riding home with me today," Julius stated evenly.

"Absolutely not." The words escaped her lips before she could stop them. "After what you did today, I don't even want to see you!"

Julius stepped forward, his demeanor menacing. "You are riding home with me today," he snarled, glancing at Richard and his own bodyguard, Titus. "You two will drive home separately." Jenny exchanged a worried glance with Richard.

"I said no, Julius," she insisted, her voice rising.

"I don't care what you say, you filthy slut," he yelled back at her, his rage palpable. Richard took a step forward, trying to interject.

"I'll drive you both home," he offered, seeking a compromise. But Julius's glare became even more dangerous, his dark eyes glinting like shards of obsidian.

"You will take the other car home with Titus," he spat at Richard, "and Jenny and I will drive home separately." Richard remained silent, keeping his steadfast gaze locked onto Julius's. The intensity of Julius's stare only seemed to infuriate him further.

"Just do it!" he roared. People around them began to stare and whisper once more. "Unless you want me to report to Father that you're being insubordinate." He let the threat hang heavily in the air.

Jenny felt the anger radiating off Julius; this was the angriest she had ever seen him with Richard. Her classmates were openly watching now. Richard stayed quiet, but Jenny feared that her defiance would only complicate matters further.

"Okay!" she snapped. "I'll go with you, damn it! I just want this to be over." Neither man broke their intense eye contact.

Worry crept over Jenny as she considered the implications of this confrontation for Richard and the torment she would have to endure at Julius's hands. With determination, she stalked over to Julius's car, shouting back at him, "Hurry up! I want to go home!"

As she walked away, she cast one last meaningful glance at Richard. "Be safe getting home. I'll see you there," she said, hoping he would be alright.