Torn Between Two Mafia

Anxiety weighed heavily on Jenny as she scanned the hallway, searching faces to see if anyone noticed. Seeing no curious glances directed their way, she focused back on Kevin, who was nervously biting his lower lip and scratching the back of his head.

"I've really enjoyed being your lab partner these past months," Kevin said, bowing his head slightly, causing his golden-brown curls to spill over his forehead. Jenny felt like she had to look up at the sky just to meet his eyes. "Would you be interested in going on a date with me?"

Her stomach tightened, a colorful swirl of caution and delight rushed through her mind. Kevin's eyes remained steady and serene as they searched her face, and Jenny wanted to respond in a way that would make him smile again.

Before she could answer, someone stepped between them. Recognizing the familiar cologne first, she stepped back instinctively upon realizing it was her brother, Julius.

"Julius," Jenny said, trying to step aside to catch Kevin's gaze again. "Excuse you, we were having a conversation."

But Julius kept his gaze fixed on Kevin, and so did Kevin on him, an unspoken tension filling the space between them.

"Excuse me," Julius said, his voice cold and flat. Though Jenny stood behind him, she felt Julius's piercing brown eyes on both Kevin and herself. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm asking Jenny out," Kevin replied confidently, not realizing how wrong that answer could go. Jenny leaned her sweaty palm against the cool stone wall, hoping it would anchor her and help her decide on her next move.

Julius laughed, the sound nearly shrill and jarring. Kevin visibly winced, and Julius leaned closer, whispering something to Kevin that she couldn't hear.

"Julius!" Jenny protested, trying to maneuver around him and wedge herself between the two. But Julius's broad back filled the entire alcove, blocking her attempts to intervene. When she moved, he instinctively shifted to keep her behind him, even though he couldn't see her.

Whatever Julius said caused Kevin to stand taller, his blue eyes beginning to blaze. He took a small step forward, ready to speak and confront Julius. Jenny watched the scene unfold in slow motion, acutely aware of what was likely to happen next, recalling what happened the last time a boy approached her like this in the hallway.

Before she could intervene, Julius lunged forward. His elbow collided with Kevin's face, resulting in a bloody mess as Kevin bent over from the unexpected hit. Jenny let out an unthinking shriek, drawing the attention of nearby students. Many edged closer to defuse the situation but retreated upon realizing that it was Julius throwing the punches.

"Julius!" she screamed, straining on her toes to grab his shoulder and pull him back. With ease, he rolled his shoulder, dislodging her grip and causing her to tumble backwards into the crowd of useless onlookers behind her.

Jenny once thought she had seen Julius at his most furious, but she was mistaken. Her arms and legs felt like lead as she watched him grab Kevin by the crisp collar of his school uniform and slam him against the brick wall, a painting of the current headmaster jolting from the impact.

"Kevin!" Jenny must have shouted, for the hall fell silent around her.

Kevin's head made a sickening thud against the wall, leaving a terrifying halo of blood. Jenny covered her mouth, overwhelmed by horror as Julius relentlessly assaulted Kevin's jaw, neck, and nose. She knew she had to act to get Kevin out, but the sound of his skull hitting the brick echoed in her mind.

The hallway filled with the wet smacks and frantic breathing as Julius continued, both boys awash in blood. Kevin hung unconscious, slumped against the wall, held up only by Julius's grasp on his now-stained shirt.

Jenny scanned the hallway desperately for an adult to intervene. Along with the other students, she realized with increasing dread that Julius might kill Kevin. She took a step toward the trophy case, considering using the largest trophy to stop Julius, consequences be damned.

Before she could act, Julius abruptly stopped, releasing his grip on Kevin, who sank to the marble floor like a limp puppet. Kevin's head sagged, blood trickling from his mouth, while stunned students looked on.

Julius stepped back, nearly colliding with Jenny, who quickly sidestepped. Suddenly, a few boys appeared, lifting Kevin and dragging him toward the nurse's office. A teacher glimpsed the scene, alarmed by the injuries; upon seeing Julius's bloodied appearance, he hurried in the opposite direction.

Jenny's chest heaved and her heart pounded loudly in her ears. On seeing Julius again, the hallway scattered as if afraid.

"What the hell?" Jenny heard herself say, growing louder. She turned to Julius, anger simmering. "What the hell, Julius?"

He tilted his head, pretending to polish blood from a bronze button on his blazer with a handkerchief. When he smiled at her, Jenny wished she could strike him like he struck Kevin.

"You should thank me," he said quietly, a dead calm in his voice. He stepped forward, placing a blood-stained palm on her head. "That scholarship trash had no right talking to you."

Jenny pulled away, the smell of blood heavy in the air. Julius left his hand hovering, blood dripping from his finger.

"You can't just assault every guy who talks to me, Julius! Kevin is just a guy! He's kind—"

Julius's face darkened, his hand lowered as his smile twisted into a snarl.

"Kevin," he sneered, advancing until Jenny was trapped against the wall, his hot breath oppressive, "is a worthless nobody. Having you in this family is bad enough without you running around with every lowlife this school happens to admit."

Despite her wishes, Jenny was frozen. In her mind, she fought back, shoving him away. The now-empty halls felt suffocatingly lonely.

"My mother picked you up from the trash," Julius continued, his breath carrying the scent of spearmint leaves from their garden. "And I can put you back there."

Julius studied her impassively before stepping away, leaving a refreshing gust of air. Without glancing back, he walked down the hallway, discarding his jacket, likely to change into a clean uniform.

Jenny pressed her palms to her eyes, determined not to cry.

The bell rang loudly, signaling the end of class and prompting students to scatter. Julius shot one last look at Jenny, his dark eyes simmering with hatred and rage, before pushing past her and joining the crowd. Feeling a surge of agony, Jenny turned back to Kevin, desperate to offer some comfort or anything to improve the situation. Yet, as she searched for him, she realized he was already gone, hopefully seeking the medical attention he so clearly needed. Alone in the hallway, she felt surrounded only by the vivid splatter of his blood.

Tears she had been holding back now threatened to spill over. Why couldn't her brother just stay out of her life? It shouldn't matter who she dated or spoke to! His cruel words stung deeply; she had barely managed to kiss anyone before Julius frightened them away, let alone build any meaningful relationship.

The sight of the bright red blood on the wall made her stomach turn. With no other option in mind, she begrudgingly began to walk to her next class, unsure of what else to do.

By the time she entered pre-calc, the bell had already rung. Keeping her head down, she hurried to her seat, relieved when her teacher didn't acknowledge her. Perhaps she didn't care or was simply afraid of Julius, just like everyone else.

Jenny let her platinum waves fall over her face as she sank into her seat. She carefully lowered her bag to the floor and quietly took out her books and supplies, doing her best not to make any noise. The last thing she wanted was to draw unwanted attention.

The usual laughter and chatter had devolved into hushed whispers. She could tell they were discussing her, Kevin, and Julius as rumors about the incident spread like wildfire throughout the school.

Feeling their judgmental gazes on her, Jenny struggled to focus on what Mrs. Carnings was saying about last night's homework. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, and paying attention felt impossible. The class mirrored her distraction, with students carrying on multiple quiet conversations, likely about her.

After a futile warning from Mrs. Carnings, the teacher assigned a reading followed by a pop quiz due at the end of class. Jenny hoped her classmates wouldn't hold her responsible for their misbehavior, although she knew she was partially to blame for this punishment. It seemed like Mrs. Carnings was just trying to regain control.

The rest of her classes were equally unbearable. The relentless staring and whispering felt almost as heavy as the previous altercation. No one was talking to her or even glancing in her direction, aside from the rude glares they cast rather than offering support.

Suddenly, the bell for lunch rang out sharply across the classrooms, and Jenny made her way to the cafeteria. As she navigated the crowded hall, she spotted Julius approaching. Hatred and contempt flickered in his dark eyes, shattering any hope she had that he might offer an apology. She should have known better; Julius cared for no one but himself. Disappointment washed over her, making her wish all of this would simply vanish.

When Julius reached her, he intentionally brushed past her, maintaining eye contact the entire time.

Feeling deflated, she quickly made her way to the cafeteria line, collected her lunch alongside the others, and avoided eye contact. Upon reaching the tables, she noticed her usual spot was occupied by other girls who typically sat alone. Given how the day had unfolded, she wasn't surprised.

She ended up sitting alone, and despite searching for him, she couldn't find Kevin anywhere. He hadn't shown up for their biology lab, nor had he been in the nurse's office before lunch. Julius made it more difficult, appearing to loom everywhere and watching her every move with a menacing glare. The bloodstains on his clothes only reignited the horror of the incident.

By the time Richard arrived to pick her up, the day felt like it had dragged on for years. He stood outside the black SUV that took her wherever she needed to go, his blonde hair shining in the sun, and his expression calm and vigilant. Seeing him caused her heart to flutter; it was a brief respite from the chaos of the day.

"Jenny," he said, opening the door for her.

"Hello, Richard," she replied, hoping her voice sounded normal. He paused, concern flashing in his eyes.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, instantly seeing through her facade. After being her bodyguard for ten years, Richard knew her all too well.

"A boy asked me out today." Richard did not flinch; he understood where this was heading.

All at once, Jenny's emotions erupted, flooding her with frustration and sadness. "Why does Julius have to be so protective? I know we need to maintain a good image for the family, but I can't even talk to one boy! I don't even have friends anymore!"

This time, Jenny couldn't hold back her tears. They streamed down her cheeks in rivulets, smudging the makeup she had put on earlier. "Kevin was so nice to me! And he was really good at biology!" she exclaimed, her words tumbling out in a jumbled mess. "He didn't even make me touch those gross frogs!"

Richard nodded sympathetically, having listened to her talk about Kevin in the weeks prior. "Julius hurt him so badly, Richard! You should have seen it—there was so much blood, and he was furious!" She buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. Richard nodded again, fully aware of Julius's volatile nature. "He screamed at me, too. No one did anything, not even the teachers."

Richard produced a tissue from somewhere and handed it to her. She took it gratefully, dabbing her eyes and gently blowing her nose. She knew she looked a mess, but at that moment, she didn't care. Richard looked at her with concern and opened his arms slightly.

Her heart fluttered at the gesture. Was he offering her a hug? Before she could second-guess herself, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Instantly, she felt a wave of calm wash over her as she melted into him. His warm embrace was comforting, and she could feel the strength of his muscles as he held her close. She breathed in deeply, taking in the scent of soap and gunpowder.

Just then, a throat cleared behind them, breaking the moment. Jenny turned around quickly, her heart sinking when she saw Julius. Panic surged, and her heart dropped like a stone.

"What are you doing?" he began, annoyance shadowing his features. Why did he always have to interrogate her? She struggled to steady herself, swallowing hard.

Her fists clenched at her sides. "I needed some comfort after the way you acted today," she replied softly, stifling a sniffle. Richard wisely took a step back, and Julius's glare shifted to him, narrowing dangerously. To Richard's credit, he remained unfazed under Julius's intense gaze; he was trained to protect her from worse threats.

"You're riding home with me today," Julius stated evenly.

"Absolutely not." The words escaped her lips before she could stop them. "After what you did today, I don't even want to see you!"

Julius stepped forward, his demeanor menacing. "You are riding home with me today," he snarled, glancing at Richard and his own bodyguard, Titus. "You two will drive home separately." Jenny exchanged a worried glance with Richard.

"I said no, Julius," she insisted, her voice rising.

"I don't care what you say, you filthy slut," he yelled back at her, his rage palpable. Richard took a step forward, trying to interject.

"I'll drive you both home," he offered, seeking a compromise. But Julius's glare became even more dangerous, his dark eyes glinting like shards of obsidian.

"You will take the other car home with Titus," he spat at Richard, "and Jenny and I will drive home separately." Richard remained silent, keeping his steadfast gaze locked onto Julius's. The intensity of Julius's stare only seemed to infuriate him further.

"Just do it!" he roared. People around them began to stare and whisper once more. "Unless you want me to report to Father that you're being insubordinate." He let the threat hang heavily in the air.

Jenny felt the anger radiating off Julius; this was the angriest she had ever seen him with Richard. Her classmates were openly watching now. Richard stayed quiet, but Jenny feared that her defiance would only complicate matters further.

"Okay!" she snapped. "I'll go with you, damn it! I just want this to be over." Neither man broke their intense eye contact.

Worry crept over Jenny as she considered the implications of this confrontation for Richard and the torment she would have to endure at Julius's hands. With determination, she stalked over to Julius's car, shouting back at him, "Hurry up! I want to go home!"

As she walked away, she cast one last meaningful glance at Richard. "Be safe getting home. I'll see you there," she said, hoping he would be alright.