That Popular Guy, Yeah, I Destroyed Him - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

She blinked sharply. "Why do you care?"
Fiona was practically royalty in our grade. Gorgeous face, killer body, life-of-the-party personality. She had connections everywhere—even outside school. Compared to clueless-new-girl me, Luke was worried I'd get steamrolled.
But I just brushed his hand off. "I've got this."
I stood up, chair scraping. "Let's take this outside."
"You've seen this before, right?"
It was that damn photo—Parker pinning me against the wall in the private room, forcing that kiss. When Fiona flashed it, I didn't even flinch. The whole school had gossiped about it before I transferred.
Then she blindsided me.
"Look at the angle." She zoomed in on where Parker's hands crushed my wrists against the wall. "You weren't willing, were you?"
Her voice dropped.
"He assaulted you."
Back in class, Luke leaned in so close his breath tickled my ear.
"Parker dumped Fiona."
Fiona sat rigid at her desk, spine straight as a ruler. No tears. No drama.
I shot Luke a look. "You sure he ended it?"
Because right before we returned, Fiona had asked me something insane:
"Zoe... want to make him pay?"
After final bell, I was dragging out packing my bag when Luke nudged me. "Check the back door."
Parker.
School jacket hanging open, one hand jammed in his pocket. He lounged against the doorframe, knuckles rapping a lazy rhythm as he stared me down. My fingers clenched around my backpack strap.
Then he swaggered in and slammed a soda can on my desk—BANG.
"Your mom's orders." His smirk flicked toward Luke. "I'm your new chauffeur. Avoid any... complications."
Luke shoved the can back. "She's good."
Parker's eyes iced over. "Not your call, Luke."
"Then hear this." Luke bit off each word. "We're boys, but cross Zoe again and we're done."
"You into her or something?"
"Enough!"
The water hit Parker square in the face. Glass clunked on the desk as I steadied my shaking hands.
"Get this through your skull—I don't want your help." My voice surprised me, steady. "Snitch to my mom, mess with me, whatever. But right now? Get. Out."
Luke pressed the cold soda can to my cheek. "Earth to Zoe. Still with me? Or was dumping water on His Majesty that satisfying?"
I snatched the can. "You enjoyed that way too much."
Water dripped from Luke's hair. When I'd splashed Parker, he'd instantly grabbed someone's water bottle and hurled it at Luke—who'd just stood there shielding me, taking the hit without a word.
Parker had wiped his face, smashed the bottle down, and snarled:
"Don't you dare come home, Zoe."
I cracked open the soda. "Aren't you gonna dry off?"
Luke tsked. "No 'thanks for taking a water bottle for you'? No tissue for your poor soaked hero?"
I dug through my pockets. "Hold on..."
The after-school playground stretched quiet, just the distant thump of basketballs. We sat shoulder-to-shoulder on a bench.
"Found one—"
I froze.
Luke had picked up my soda.
And taken a sip.
Right from where my lips had been.