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I step to the side, trying to move around him. But he steps every time I do, continuing to block my way out. He’s grinning at me, his eyes dark. I turn around to get away from him and run into another broad chest, who’s boxing me in.
“Down here is a good time,” the boy says. “Isn’t that what you’re looking for?” His lip curls up into a sneer. I recognize him as Brody’s friend from earlier.
My heart is racing. I can feel heat creeping up my neck and my hair is standing on end. “I didn’t write that,” I whisper.
All the guys have dropped their pool sticks now and are surrounding me in a tight circle.
I look down at my soda can. “Please just let me go back upstairs,” I whisper.
Brody grabs my waist from behind. I drop the rest of my soda and it sprays everywhere. I try and twist out of his grip, but he just pulls me more tightly against his body. “Come on, vom queen, don’t you want to have a good time with us?”
Tears begin pricking the corners of my eyes. “Just leave me alone,” I choke out.
The circle moves in closer. I tuck my chin and pull my body in to the side. The boys are sneering and laughing.
“Hey! Let go of her!”
I look up and see Jaron coming down the stairs. Brody loosens his grip but doesn’t completely let go. “Come on, Jaron, we’re just having a little fun. We weren’t going to do anything.”
Jaron gets right in my captor’s face. “Does she look like she’s having fun to you?”
Brody laughs and let’s go of me. “Lighten up, man.”
I rush forward and Jaron wraps his strong arms around me.
Jaron is shaking his head, fire dancing in his eyes. “You guys are f-ing idiots!”
The circle around us stiffens.
“You really think coach is going to be okay with you messing with his daughter? I wouldn’t be surprised if he benches every last one of you. After he beats your brains in first.”
Brody steps forward. “You wouldn’t dare,” he says, through gritted teeth.
“Try me,” Jaron says, standing taller. I can feel his arms tighten around me; his hands are tense fists against my back.
Jaron gently grabs my upper arms and pulls me away from his body to look in my face. “Are you okay?” he asks. I can feel myself trembling all over. Jaron walks me up a few stairs and sits me down.
“You better not tell coach,” Brody hisses from behind us. “Or you will regret it.”
Jaron approaches him again. “You owe her an apology,” he says.
I slowly get to my feet. “No, let’s just go,” I say.
“Yeah, you better listen to your little girlfriend,” Brody sneers.
Jaron hovers over his head. He has a good six inches on him. “Apologize, now!” he says, his face getting redder by the minute. Honestly, it’s a little scary. I want to sneak up the stairsto get away from all of them, even Jaron. But my stupid legs are still frozen in place.
Brody laughs, but it sounds tense and forced. “Yeah right.” He looks around at his other teammates. Most of them have walked back over by the pool table. None of them will even look in my direction.
“This is your last chance,” Jaron says. Then he turns around to the others in the group. “That goes for all of you guys, too,” he says, pointing an accusing finger in their direction. “Apologize, now.”
“Sorry,” they mumble.
I wrap my arms around myself. I just want to go home.
“You’re all a bunch of pussies,” Brody spits out, glaring at the team who has now abandoned him. “I’m never going to apologize to that little—"
I’m not sure what he was going to call me because in that exact moment, Jaron swings hard and punches him in the nose. Brody falls to the ground, grabbing his face. Blood oozes onto the carpet from beneath his fingers. Jaron shakes his hand out. His knuckles are cracked and bleeding. I’m not sure if the blood belongs to him or Brody. Then he wraps a muscular arm around my shoulder and guides me up the stairs.
