Page 48 of Corrupt Obsession

He shifted restlessly in his seat, yesterday’s aggression permeating the air.

“No.”

So, the events that unfolded yesterday wasn’t because of her, as she thought. Jesse was already angry enough with Tucker to leave practice. Catching Tucker fingering her set off Jesse’s temper, which was the driving force behind his behavior. If she hadn’t been in that compromising position when Jesse found them, she would still be a virgin today.

Feeling suddenly ill, she looked out the window and was relieved to see they had reached school. She scanned the parking lot, but there was no sign of Tucker’s Bronco.

When she pushed open her door, Jesse said, “I’ll come with you to lost and found.”

Apparently, he didn’t see her backpack either. As they made their way toward the cluster of buildings, she eyed the other students. No one pointed or came running up to them to confirm any juicy gossip. When their friends called out to them, she and Jesse raised their hands in acknowledgment, but they didn’t stop to chat. Again, everything seemed normal. Freakishly so.

She didn’t have high hopes that her backpack had been turned in, but to her immense relief, some angel had done the right thing. She immediately plunged her hand into the front pocket and said a silent prayer of thanks when she found her phone. As they walked out of the office, she scrolled through her messages and was relieved not to see anything out of the ordinary. By some miracle, the atomic bomb that went off in her life yesterday had gone unnoticed by anyone else.

“Vi.”

She looked up with a frown. Jesse was looking down at her with a strange look on his face. “What?”

“Any word from Tucker?”

“No.”

Jesse nodded. “That’s good.”

When the bell rang, he squeezed her arm.

“I’ll see you later.”

She watched him walk away. Faithful Marissa materialized at his side. Jesse hadn’t dated after he broke up with Madyson four months ago. He’d been single for some time, which had caused quite a lot of speculation and gossip. Girls fawned over him, desperate to win his favor, but he seemed immune to their charm.

She turned in the opposite direction to go to her first class. She wasn’t sure why her chest was tight or why her eyes began to water. She dabbed at the corner of her eye and fixed a smile on her face. All was well. Yesterday happened. She couldn’t take it back and if she could, would she? She crossed the threshold into womanhood. Today, she was wiser and more mature.

So why did she feel so lost and lonely?

Want to get lunch somewhere?

She didn’t respond to Jesse’s text for two periods. She wasn’t sure whether she should keep her distance from him or not. He had taken everything in stride, but that feeling of calm acceptance she woke with was beginning to wane.

Her friends were talking and laughing around her, but she felt disconnected, like her normal frequency was off. It was clear that they hadn’t heard anything about what happened between Jesse and Tucker. They would have bombarded her otherwise.Georgia asked about Tucker during recess. She said they’d had a fight and were on a break. Her friends rubbed her back and gave her sympathetic hugs. The urge to confide in them was so strong, she had to excuse herself from their huddle.

In her next class, she noticed she was still getting odd looks like she had the day before. She kept her attention on her assignment and tried to ignore the paranoia that everyone could see right through her. If anyone knew that she, Violet Carr, had lost her virginity yesterday,no onewould be giving her intense stares. They would be gawking. And if they knew who she’d lost it to…

“Are you sure?” someone whispered. “No.Violet?”

Her back stiffened as someone a row back gossiped about her. She reached for her phone and accepted Jesse’s invitation to get lunch off campus. She had to get out of here.

The moment the bell rang, she dashed out the door and jogged to the parking lot. Jesse was already behind the wheel. She wasn’t hungry, but the strain of appearing normal when she felt anything but was taking its toll. She was terrified she would accidentally blurt out something to her friends and once that happened, there was no taking it back. Better to be with Jesse. At least she didn’t have to pretend with him.

“Hey,” he said as she tossed her backpack on the floor and hopped into the passenger seat.

“Hey,” she replied and rolled down the window for some fresh air.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Anything.”

“Mexican?”

“Sure,” she sighed.

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