Page 61 of Jolt's Vengeance

He leans in, his breath hot on my face. "Really? You didn't mind getting manhandled by that slimy fucker the other week."

The words hit me like a slap.

I feel the blood drain from my face, replaced by a cold fury that settles in my bones.

My hands clench into fists at my sides, nails biting into my palms.

I snap, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and something else I don't want to examine too closely. "Yeah, well, you're not him!"

The words burst out of me before I can stop them, raw and honest in a way I hadn't intended.

Trevor recoils as if I've struck him, his face a mask of shock and hurt that quickly morphs into disgust.

The party around us seems to fade away, the pounding music nothing more than a dull throb in the background.

For a moment, we're frozen.

I can feel the eyes of his frat brothers on us through the window, their earlier amusement turning to something darker, more predatory.

My skin crawls under their scrutiny, and I fight the urge to wrap my arms around myself.

I won't show weakness, not here, not now.

Trevor shakes his head slowly, his lips curling into a sneer. "I honestly expected better of you, Aggie," he says, his voice dripping with disappointment and judgment.

Something else inside me snaps.

All the pent-up emotions from earlier—the memories of my childhood, the weight of horrible childhood memories as we approach Christmas—they all come rushing to the surface.

I let out a harsh, bitter laugh that sounds foreign even to my own ears.

"I'm surprised you did, honestly," I retort, my words sharp enough to cut. "Leave me the fuck alone, and don't you ever fuckin’ even look in my damn direction again."

The venom in my voice surprises even me, but I can't bring myself to regret it.

I stand here, chest heaving, emerald eyes blazing with defiance.

I spin on my heel, my heart pounding in my chest as I stride away from Trevor.

The bass from the party thrums through the air, but it feels distant now, like I'm moving through water.

My boots crunch on the gravel driveway as I make my way to the street.

Trevor's voice calls out behind me, but I don't turn back. "Aggie! Wait!"

Keep walking, Aggie. Don't give him the satisfaction.

The cool night air hits my face, and I take a deep breath, trying to calm the trembling in my hands.

As I reach the sidewalk, I hear footsteps approaching rapidly.

Trevor says, grabbing my arm. "Come on, don't be like that."

I whirl around, yanking my arm from his grip. "What part of 'leave me alone' did you not understand?" I snarl.

Trevor holds up his hands, eyes wide. "I just wanted to apologize. I shouldn't have said that about... you know."

I laugh bitterly. "Oh, you mean about me getting 'manhandled' by that 'slimy fucker'? Yeah, real classy, Trevor."

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