Lucas's Pov
The final bell rang, and I was just about to leave when I saw him.
Josh.
Waiting near the parking lot, arms crossed, jaw clenched, storm in his eyes.
I knew this was coming. I just didn't expect it today.
He didn't waste time.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" he barked, closing the space between us fast. "Sneaking around with my girl?"
I rolled my eyes. "We're just doing a project, man. Maybe if you weren't always breathing down her neck, she'd be able to—"
He shoved me. Hard.
And I lost it.
I shoved him back, and suddenly fists were flying. His. Mine. I couldn't even remember who landed the first real punch, maybe it was me, maybe him. It didn't matter. We were in it.
I hit him in the jaw. He nailed me in the ribs. The crowd was growing. Voices shouting. Phones out.
Then —
"I said STOP!"
Ivey.
She pushed through the circle and stepped between us, eyes blazing. Then, before anyone could stop her—
She slapped Josh. And then, without hesitation, she punched him. Right in the face.
The crowd gasped.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" she shouted. "This is how you deal with jealousy? You fight people? You try to hurt them?"
Josh staggered back, more shocked than injured. His pride took the real hit.
She stepped forward, ready to swing again.
I reached out and caught her wrist. "Ivey, stop—don't. It's not worth it."
She yanked her arm back. "Lucas, get out of the way. He deserves it. After everything he's done—"
She moved toward Josh again.
"Ivey," I said more firmly, stepping in front of her. "This isn't you. You're not like this."
She was shaking, fists clenched so tight her knuckles were white. Her eyes were glassy. Furious. Breaking.
And when words didn't work—I did the only thing I could.
I pulled her into me, arms wrapped around her from behind, holding her back.
"Let me go!" she thrashed. "He's not getting away with this!"
"Ivey," I said firmly, "enough. You've done enough."
She fought me, kicking, twisting, but I didn't let go. I didn't tighten my grip to control her, just held her steady, trying to absorb the storm inside her.
Finally, she stopped struggling. Her whole body collapsed against mine, trembling, the rage spilling out through quiet, quick breaths.
She was crying. Angry, heartbroken tears that said more than words ever could.
I guided her away, step by step, away from the crowd, away from Josh.
She didn't look back.
Ivey's Pov
Lucas's hand stayed around mine the entire walk to his car. Solid. Quiet. Steady.
I still don't know what came over me.
One second, I saw Josh hurting him, hurting Lucas, who's done nothing but care, and something inside me just… snapped.
I'd never hit anyone before. Never wanted to. But with Josh? I didn't feel guilty at the moment.
Now… I don't know what I feel.
Lucas quietly led me away, his touch gentle. No words. Just the two of us walking back to his car.
Lucas drove in silence. I stared out the window, heart still racing but crashing fast.
"What if I made it worse?" I whispered. "What if I just ruined everything?"
Lucas glanced over. "You didn't ruin anything. You stood up for yourself."
I shook my head. "That wasn't for me. That was for you. But Josh, he's not just this angry guy. He's… broken. And maybe I pushed him."
Lucas's voice was low, but steady. "Ivey. You don't need to keep making excuses for someone who tries to hurt people."
I looked down at my hands, still trembling. "You don't get it. I've been with him so long, maybe I was the only one keeping him together. Maybe I owed him—"
He cut in gently. "And what if you hadn't stepped in? What if he'd hurt me worse? Would you still be defending him?"
I didn't say anything.
Lucas kept driving, one hand still brushing against mine.
And for the first time in a long time… I felt safe.