Chapter 3

Elliot spotted her from halfway down the hallway, and his stomach flipped the way it always did when Lily Harper came into view. She was leaning against her locker, one hip cocked, talking to some girl from their English class. The usual baggy hoodie and jeans were gone today. In their place was a thin pink halter top that tied behind her neck and left her shoulders and upper back completely bare. The fabric clung to her full, perky tits like it had been painted on, the neckline dipping low enough to show the soft inner curves of her cleavage and the faint shadow between them. Every time she shifted her weight the material stretched and pulled, outlining the shape of her nipples against the cotton. Below that, a tight blue denim skirt hugged her hips and ass, the hem riding high on her smooth thighs. When she turned slightly, the skirt pulled tight across her round cheeks, and Elliot’s cock gave a hard, involuntary twitch in his jeans.

Her hair was brushed out for once, falling in soft, shiny waves past her shoulders instead of being yanked back into the usual ponytail. It framed her face and made her look older, more confident, even though she still carried that shy little smile when she laughed at something her friend said. Elliot’s mouth went dry. He had been working up the nerve for weeks. She had been dropping hints, sitting closer in class, laughing at his stupid jokes, brushing her hand against his arm when they passed in the halls. Today felt like the day. If he didn’t do it now he might never find the balls again.

He adjusted his backpack, wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans, and started walking toward her. His heart was pounding so hard he was sure people could hear it. When he got close, the other girl drifted away with a knowing smirk. Lily turned, and her eyes lit up a little when she saw him.

“Hey, Lily,” Elliot managed, his voice cracking on the second syllable. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Um ... you look really nice today. Your hair’s down and ... that top looks good on you. The skirt too.”

She blinked, surprised for a second, then smiled and glanced down at herself. A faint blush crept up her neck and into her cheeks. “Thanks, Elliot. I just felt like changing it up. You really think so?”

“Yeah,” he said, forcing his eyes back up from the way the halter top cradled her tits. “You look ... great.”

There was a short, charged silence. Elliot swallowed hard and pushed the words out before he could chicken out. “So I was wondering ... if maybe you wanted to get coffee sometime? There’s that new place on Main Street. We could go after school one day this week, or Saturday if you’re free. Just hang out. Talk. Whatever.”

Lily’s eyes widened. For a moment she just stared at him, mouth slightly open, and Elliot’s stomach dropped straight through the floor. He had read it all wrong. She was going to let him down easy and he would have to walk away knowing he had killed whatever tiny chance he ever had.

Then her whole face brightened and she nodded, quick and eager. “Coffee? Yes, of course I would! That sounds awesome, Elliot. I’ve kind of been hoping you’d ask me out for real. When were you thinking?”

Relief hit him so hard he almost laughed. “Really? Cool. How about Friday after school? We could meet by the front doors and walk over. Or I can drive if you want.”

“Friday works,” she said, stepping closer so her bare arm brushed his. The movement made her breasts shift under the thin pink fabric, and Elliot’s gaze dropped again before he could stop it. He could see the faint outline of her nipples, tight little points pressing against the cotton. His cock throbbed, trapped against his zipper. “I’m done at three. We could grab a table in the back, talk about that stupid history project we both have due. Or just ... talk.”

They kept going like that for a while, the conversation flowing easier than Elliot had dared to hope. Lily laughed at his dumb jokes about Mr. Keller’s terrible ties, told him about the new book she was reading, asked what kind of coffee he liked. Every time she moved, the denim skirt rode a little higher on her thighs or the halter top pulled tighter across her chest. Elliot kept stealing glances, his mind flooding with filthy images: sliding his hands under that top, feeling the warm weight of her tits, pushing the skirt up around her waist, bending her over the locker and finding out what color her panties were. Or if she was wearing any at all. His cock was rock hard now, leaking steadily into his boxers. He shifted his weight to hide the bulge, praying she didn’t notice.

She seemed genuinely excited, leaning in when she talked, playing with a strand of her loose hair, her body language open and warm. For the first time in months Elliot felt like something good might actually be happening to him. Jax and the constant bullying felt far away.

Then the good feeling died.

Footsteps echoed behind him, heavy and confident. Before Elliot could turn, a big hand clamped onto his shoulder and shoved. Hard. His back slammed into the metal locker with a loud metallic clang that bounced down the hallway. Pain shot through his spine and left shoulder. His books hit the floor in a scattered mess. “Fuck,” he gasped, looking up into Jax Harlan’s cold, amused face.

Jax Harlan stood over him like he owned the entire school, which in a lot of ways he did. Six-two, broad shoulders stretching his tight gray t-shirt, arms thick with muscle from years of fighting and lifting. His dark hair was short on the sides, longer on top, and he had that permanent arrogant smirk that made most people look away. Right now the smirk was aimed straight at Elliot.

“Move it, you little pussy,” Jax said, loud enough for a few people nearby to hear and snicker. “Or should I say Elliot the bitch boy. I need a minute with this hot piece of ass you’re talking to. Run along unless you want me to remind you how things work around here.”

Elliot’s face burned. His shoulder throbbed where it had hit the locker. He glanced at Lily. She was watching with wide eyes, one hand half-raised like she wasn’t sure what to do. Elliot wanted to say something, anything, to push back, but the words wouldn’t come. Jax had beaten the shit out of him more than once. Everyone knew it. Standing up now would just get him hurt worse in front of the girl he liked.

Jax turned to Lily and the cruelty in his expression melted into something smoother, warmer, almost charming. His eyes dragged slowly down her body, lingering openly on her chest and the way the pink halter hugged her tits, then lower to the short denim skirt and the bare length of her legs. When he spoke again his voice was low and easy, like they were old friends.

“Damn, Lily,” he said, stepping in close enough that she had to tilt her head back a little to meet his eyes. “You look fucking incredible today. Seriously. That pink top is doing all kinds of things for your body. Your tits look perfect in it, all perky and full. And this little blue skirt? Fuck, your ass and legs are insane. You been hiding this hot little body under those baggy clothes all year? Because shit, girl, you’re a straight-up knockout. Elliot here must be the luckiest guy in school just to be standing next to you ... but I gotta say, you deserve way better than this dweeb.”

Lily’s cheeks went bright red. She glanced down at herself, then back up at Jax, a shy little smile tugging at her mouth even though she looked flustered. “Oh ... thanks, Jax. That’s really sweet. I just wanted to try something different today.”

“Different looks good on you,” Jax said, leaning one shoulder against the locker beside her so his body blocked Elliot from easy view. He was so close now that Elliot could smell his cologne mixed with the faint scent of sweat and something heavier, more masculine. “That hair down like that frames your face perfectly. Makes your eyes pop. And don’t even get me started on how that top hugs you ... makes a guy want to see what’s underneath, you know?”

Lily giggled, nervous and breathy, and shifted her weight. The movement made the denim skirt pull tighter across her ass and ride up another inch on her thigh. Elliot watched, stomach twisting with jealousy and something darker, as Jax’s gaze followed the motion like he was already picturing his hands there.

Jax kept going, smooth as anything. “Hey, speaking of needing help ... I still need that English tutoring we talked about the other day. That last essay is still kicking my ass, and the library’s always packed with losers trying to look smart. Way too many distractions. How about we meet up somewhere more private this afternoon? Like your house, if your parents aren’t gonna be home. We could sit in the living room or your room, wherever you study, no one else around to interrupt. Just you and me. Really focus. What do you say? Help a guy out?”

Lily’s eyes flicked to Elliot again, nervous, almost guilty. She bit her lower lip, the same habit she had when she was thinking hard. “I ... um, this afternoon? At my house? I don’t know, Jax. Elliot and I were just making plans, and my mom’s usually at work until five or so, but sometimes she comes home early. And the library is fine, but if you really think we need somewhere quiet...”

She hemmed and hawed, voice soft and stammering, looking between the two of them like she was torn. Elliot’s chest felt tight. She was actually considering it. After how excited she had been about coffee with him two minutes ago.

Jax’s grin turned wolfish but stayed charming. He reached out and brushed a strand of her loose hair behind her ear, fingers lingering against the bare skin of her shoulder near the halter strap. “Come on, Lily. It’ll be fine. Your mom won’t care if we’re just studying, right? I promise I’ll be on my best behavior. Mostly.” He winked, and Lily laughed again, softer this time. “Three o’clock? Gives us a couple solid hours before anyone gets home. You’d be saving my grade. And honestly, getting to hang out with you looking like that? Total bonus.”

Lily’s resistance visibly crumbled. She nodded, still blushing, still playing with her hair. “Okay ... yeah, I guess that works. Three o’clock at my house. I’ll text you the address. Just ... don’t be late, alright?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Jax said. His hand dropped from her shoulder but not before giving her upper arm a light squeeze, thumb brushing the side of her breast through the thin pink fabric. Lily’s breath caught. Her nipples tightened visibly against the halter, two hard little points. “Thanks, beautiful. You’re a lifesaver. And that outfit ... keep dressing like this and every guy in school’s gonna be after you. Including me.”

He turned back to Elliot for half a second, the charm gone like it had never existed. “Later, loser. Try not to cry about it.” Then he strutted off down the hallway, broad back and confident swagger drawing eyes from every direction. People moved out of his way without being asked.

The silence that followed felt thick and ugly. Lily turned to Elliot, arms crossing under her breasts so they pushed up and together in the halter top. Her expression had shifted from flustered to annoyed, eyes narrowed. “What the hell, Elliot?” she said, voice low but sharp. “You just stood there while he shoved you into a locker and then invited himself over to my house? You didn’t even try to say anything.”

Elliot rubbed his sore shoulder, wincing at the bruise already forming. His face was still hot with shame. “What was I supposed to do, Lily? It’s Jax Harlan. He does whatever the fuck he wants. If I had pushed back or told him to leave you alone he would’ve just beaten the shit out of me right here in front of everyone. You saw what he did. Everyone knows what he does to me.”

Lily rolled her eyes and let out a frustrated breath. She shrugged, the motion making her tits bounce slightly under the pink fabric. “Yeah, well ... whatever. I guess I’ll see you around.” She turned and walked away without another word, the blue denim skirt swishing around her thighs, her ass moving in that tight, deliberate way that made Elliot’s cock twitch even through the humiliation. She didn’t look back. The coffee plans, the excited smiles, the easy conversation, all of it might as well have never happened.

Elliot stood there alone, books scattered at his feet, shoulder throbbing, cock still half-hard and aching from the mix of seeing Lily’s body on display and the raw, public humiliation. His mind replayed every second: the way Jax had looked at her like she was already his, the bold compliments that made her blush and shift and giggle, the casual way he touched her arm, the way her nipples had tightened when his fingers brushed close. She had said yes to going to her house. Alone. In the afternoon when her mom might not even be there.

Why had she agreed so fast? Was she into Jax? The same guy who bullied her sometimes, who ruled the school with fear and fists? Elliot felt sick with jealousy and something worse, something that twisted low in his gut and made his cock throb harder. He bent to gather his books, face burning, trying to ignore the few people still watching him with pity or amusement.

By the time he straightened up, his thoughts had already started drifting toward home. Toward his mom. Lauren would be there when he got back, probably in the kitchen or folding laundry, asking how his day was with that warm, concerned look she got when she knew he was upset. She would hug him if he let her, pull him against her soft, mature body, stroke his hair and tell him everything would be okay. At forty she was still stunning, more beautiful than half the girls at school, with curves that sometimes caught his eye even when he tried not to look. The thought of her comforting him right now made his chest ache and, shamefully, sent another pulse of blood to his already aching cock.

He hated himself for it. She was his mother. It was wrong. But after today, after watching Jax take the girl he liked and knowing he couldn’t do a damn thing about it, the idea of going home to her felt like the only safe place left. Even if part of him, the dark, confused part he never let himself examine too closely, wondered what it would feel like if she hugged him a little too long, if her body pressed against his in a way that wasn’t entirely motherly.

Elliot shoved the thought down hard and started walking to his next class, books clutched to his chest, shoulder still smarting. The rest of the day was going to be hell. And somewhere across town, at four o’clock, Jax Harlan was going to be alone with Lily in her house, probably still flirting, probably still looking at her like he wanted to peel that pink halter and blue skirt right off her body.

Lily stood in front of the full-length mirror in her bedroom, turning slightly side to side as she studied her reflection. The pink halter top still clung to her body exactly the way it had at school, the thin fabric stretched tight over her full breasts, making her cleavage look deeper than usual. She reached up and adjusted the tie behind her neck, tugging the material a little higher, then immediately let it settle back down lower. Her nipples were already faintly visible through the cotton, two soft peaks that had stayed tight ever since she got home. She told herself it was just the air conditioning, but she knew better.