Chapter 9: Jealousy Fueled

The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the quiet suburban street as Emily sat on the steps of her front porch, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. The fading light did little to soothe the knots in her stomach, twisting tighter with every breath. Jake had always been possessive, his control over her a constant shadow, but ever since he’d seen her with Sam—the new neighbor kid who’d somehow ended up altering her grades to save her from suspension—things had escalated in terrifying ways.

It started with the texts: Who the fuck is that nerd? You think you can just flaunt yourself like that? Then came the unannounced visits, climbing through her window even rougher than before, his hands bruising her arms as he pinned her down, his voice a venomous whisper: You’re mine, Emily. Don’t forget that.

Last night had been the worst—his thrusts more forceful, his grip on her throat tighter, leaving faint marks she had to hide with makeup. He’d seen her with Sam, interpreted the innocent interaction as a threat, and now his jealousy fueled a volatility that scared her more than ever. He wasn’t just controlling; he was unraveling, and she feared what he’d do next—to her, or to Sam.

She stared at her phone, her thumb hovering over Sam’s name in her contacts list. She didn’t want to call him—she wasn’t even sure she wanted to talk to him. Sam gave her an odd vibe sometimes, like he was always watching, always knowing more than he let on. But he’d been unexpectedly kind, risking his own trouble to hack the school’s system and fix her grades, saving her from suspension and her mom’s inevitable wrath. That act of quiet rebellion had stuck with her. Now, with Jake spiraling, she needed to do something to divert his attention, to protect Sam from becoming a target. An idea had been forming: introduce Sam to someone else, someone who could distract him, make Jake think Sam wasn’t a threat to his hold on her.