Hawk followed the boy out of the library, barely realizing what he was doing. His ears were ringing, he felt like he couldn't breathe, these walls were collapsing on him, and the only thing he could think about was—

This can't be happening! This can't be happening! I won't fucking let it!

But he had heard the soft tone of Sky's voice, the smile in it, and those things weren't for him anymore, she was giving them to someone else, to some other boy, to that arrogant prick Cody Bishop—

Hawk knew him, of course. Hell, everyone knew him. He was the star pupil of the senior class, the golden boy who could do no wrong. Always getting straight A's, smashing in the debate club, writing articles in the school paper, the bright star of all the school plays. He was one of the rich kids but hung out with the intellectual and the bohemian ones, the artists and the actors, those who wanted to change the world, who would one day be writers, journalists, movie makers. Half of the girls in the school pined after Cody Bishop, but still, never in a million years had Hawk thought he would be the one to steal Sky from him.

It was tearing him apart, he couldn't take the pain that thought caused, it was a red hot iron burning his heart, turning everything in him wrong, twisted, bitter.

It was one thing to lose Sky. But to see her with someone else—

And what had that asshole meant with his apologies and stupid cards? What had he done to her that needed to be apologized for?

If he had laid one finger on Sky—

Hawk couldn't even finish that thought. It was like boiling lava in his chest, burning away all reason, leaving behind nothing but rage.

"Hey–!" he called after Cody, and the boy turned to look, frowned as if he recognized Hawk, and didn't like what he saw.

"What do you want?"

Hawk didn't reply. Instead, he slammed the book from the other boy's hands, grabbed the front of his shirt, and shoved him hard against the wall.

"What did you do to her?" he growled, shoving the boy again so that the backpack he'd held on one shoulder, fell to the floor.

"To whom?"

"To Sky!" Hawk was shouting now. "What the fuck did you do to her?"

Something cold flashed in Cody's eyes, and his lips turned into a sneer.

"That's actually none of your fucking business. Let me go, asshole before you come to regret this."

But Hawk had no intention of letting go. His fingers were grabbing the front of Cody's shirt with an iron grip, his breathing came in sharp, fast exhales, the adrenaline making his heart slam against his ribs. That boy had hurt Sky, he was sure of it, and he wasn't going to let him get away with it - nor was he going to let that asshole take Sky out for milkshakes. The school had ended already, the hallway was almost empty, just a couple of kids were in sight and they - wisely enough - were pretending they didn't see what was happening. He could kick Cody's ass right here and now, and no one would find out about it.

"You stay the fuck away from Sky—" he snarled on Cody's face, rage twisting his voice. "Keep your hands off her or I'll rip your spine out—"

Cody didn't fight him, didn't try to release himself from Hawk's iron grip, but the look on his face told he couldn't have cared less about the threats. Instead of the fear, Hawk was already used to seeing in people's eyes in situations like this, Cody looked at him like he was a mere annoyance, like a kid throwing a tantrum, and nothing more.

"You were spying on us in the library?" he laughed. "Dude, that's low."

Hawk could taste his rage. He shoved Cody again making the boy hit his back against the wall with force - which cut his laughter short.

"I don't care what you think," Hawk groaned. "You're not taking her out. I'll kill you first."

"Fuck off. It's her decision, not yours."

"How the fuck do you even know her?" Hawk's voice was trembling with anger, his face was just inches from Cody's. "Why did you have her things?"

"Jesus—" the boy rolled his eyes as if Hawk was boring the crap out of him. "I heard you have this problem that you can't keep your mouth shut about the things you do with your girlfriend, but I don't. I'm not gonna tell you anything."

What the fuck did that even mean? If he wasn't going to tell Hawk anything, then there definitely was something to tell, something he was keeping a secret. Sky's hoodie that she had forgotten to Cody's place, the unfinished cup of coffee—

It made Hawk sick with rage and jealousy. Had Sky spent a night with this asshole? Less than two weeks after their breakup? Hawk couldn't bear that thought, it was a sword through his heart. He wanted to cry, he wanted to shout, he wanted to punch his fist into a brick wall to make this pain go away.

He wanted to kill that arrogant boy, wanted to break those perfect features, to make them bleed.

"Don't talk about her like that!" he shouted, pushing him against the wall again, this time harder. "She's not your girlfriend!"

"No, not yet," Cody scoffed. "But she's not yours either—"

That's when Hawk punched him. His fist connected with Cody's cheek, making the other boy's head slam against the brick wall.

Hawk's chest was heaving, he pulled his fist back, ready to punch again, waiting if the other boy would retaliate, but—

Cody let out a pained groan, and straightened slowly, bringing a hand up to wipe his mouth. There was a narrow stream of blood on the back of his hand. He glanced at it, and then tilted up his chin, staring Hawk down even if he was half a head shorter than Hawk was.

"You don't want to start this with me," Cody stated, his voice cold and dark, void of all emotion. "I guarantee it'll end badly for you."

"What you gonna do, you fucking pussy? You think you can take me?" Hawk laughed, taking a step back to give the other boy a chance to fight back if he wanted to. Hell, Hawk wished he would. This was no fucking debate club - that scrawny nerd didn't stand a chance, but it would be fun to see him try before Hawk would make him eat his own intestines.

"Fine," Cody replied and brought up his fists. "But you started this, not me—"

"What is going on here?" An annoyed, high-pitched voice echoed in the hallway. "Stop this right now—!"

Fucking counselor Blatt–!

Hawk swallowed and let his fists fall, as he turned to look, desperately trying to figure out a way out of this mess. Counselor Blatt was walking towards them with an angry frown, shouting something about the guidelines and the rules, but Hawk wasn't listening. He let out a silent curse realizing the amount of trouble he was in. He couldn't get suspended again, not again, Mom would fucking lose her shit, and Dad—

Well, Hawk didn't even want to think about what Dad would say.

But Cody was laughing, carefree, happy laughter and when Hawk turned to look at him with a confused frown, the other boy threw an arm over his shoulders, pulling him close as if they were best buds.

Hawk resisted the instinct to shove him away.

"It's alright Counselor Blatt," Cody said with a charming smile. "We're both in the drama club. Just rehearsing the new play, that's all."

Counselor Blatt frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. "Is that so, Cody? And what play might that be?"

"Why, Othello, of course! I am Cassio and he's Roderigo," the boy lied smoothly. "Did it look alright, Counselor? Did it have the feeling that I was about to stab him?"

"Othello?" Blatt didn't seem convinced and kept glancing from Cody to Hawk with a frown.

"A modern approach," Cody flashed her another wide, charming smile. His voice was smooth as honey. "We're still working on the script. But I hope you'll come and see the play, Miss Blatt. I'll save a front-row seat for you."

Hawk could only stare in disbelief as Blatt blushed faintly and ran her fingers through her hair. Was that boy flirting with Counselor Blatt? And was it working?

"Alright," Blatt replied, her frown melting into a soft smile. "That sounds... interesting. But from now on, keep the rehearsals out of the hallways, will you?"

"Sure thing, counselor," Cody replied, and stepped away from Hawk, releasing him from the fake brotherly grip. "We're sorry for the disturbance. Aren't we, Eli?"

Hawk cleared his throat. "Yeah, sorry Counselor Blatt. Won't happen again."

"Now, go home. Both of you," Blatt stated sternly, and Hawk realized he had no choice but to do as he was told. He sucked in his anger, and the adrenaline, slowly relaxed his fists that had been clenched tight this whole time.

He glanced at Cody as the boy picked up his backpack from the floor and threw it over his shoulder in one, smooth move. When he met Hawk's eyes, he let out a dry laugh and tilted up his chin, staring Hawk down. There was an arrogant smile playing on Cody's lips, but his eyes were dark, they were cold, they were like ice over the black water, and Hawk knew—

This fight had only just begun.

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