3.

Olivia was taking a book out of her locker when she heard the last voice she wanted to hear.

“Well, well, well. Who do we have here? If it isn't my brother's little girlfriend.”

Her fingers froze around the book.

The sound of Jordan's voice sent a familiar wave of tension through her body. For a brief moment, she wished she had imagined it. Maybe if she stayed still, he would walk away and leave her alone.

But she knew better.

“How many times do I have to tell you to look at me when I'm talking to you?”

Olivia's knees suddenly felt weak.

She slowly closed her locker and turned around, her heart pounding in her chest.

Jordan.

Her worst nightmare stood right in front of her.

At first glance, it was almost unsettling how much he resembled Joseph. They were both six feet tall, with blonde hair, striking green eyes, and the same broad, athletic build. They were even on the same football team.

Yet, despite their identical features, Olivia had never looked at the twins the same way.

Joseph's presence made her feel safe.

Jordan's made her feel like she needed to run.

She couldn't understand how two brothers who looked so much alike could make her feel such completely different emotions. Sometimes, she wondered if she was the only person who found Jordan intimidating.

Jordan had never become friends with Olivia.

Instead, over the years, he had taken every opportunity to make her life miserable whenever Joseph wasn't around. He knew exactly how far he could go without getting caught, and Olivia had learned to dread every moment she found herself alone with him.

Joseph had tried several times to make his brother see Olivia differently, hoping that the two of them could eventually get along. But every attempt had failed.

After all these years, Olivia still couldn't understand why Jordan hated her so much. She couldn't understand how he could take pleasure in seeing her frightened or hurt.

Had she said something to him all those years ago?

Had she done something without realizing it?

She had gone over the questions countless times in her mind, searching for an explanation, but she could never find one.

All she knew was that she had done nothing to deserve the way he treated her.

Yet, despite everything, Olivia continued to keep the truth to herself.

Joseph had no idea that his own brother was the mastermind behind the bullying she endured at school. Olivia had deliberately kept it from him because she was afraid that telling him would create a permanent rift between the brothers.

She couldn't bear the thought of being the reason Joseph and Jordan turned against each other.

So she suffered in silence, hoping that somehow, someday, it would all end.

“What do you want?” Olivia asked quietly.

“Oh, come on, Olivia. You shouldn't have to ask that. We've already been through this.”

Jordan stepped closer.

Olivia instinctively took a step backward, but her back soon met the cold metal of her locker.

She could feel people watching.

Whispers drifted through the hallway as students slowed down to see what was happening. Olivia wanted to disappear. She wished she could simply walk away, but Jordan planted both hands against the locker on either side of her, trapping her between him and the metal door.

Her heart pounded.

“Jordan, please don't hurt me,” she begged.

A small smirk appeared on his face.

He seemed almost pleased by the fear in her voice.

“I told you to stay away from my brother,” he said, leaning closer until his face was only inches from hers.

Olivia swallowed hard.

“I've tried, b-but he w-wouldn't listen.”

“Then try harder.”

Jordan's voice remained low and threatening.

“He listens to everything you say. So tell him you're no longer interested in him.”

Olivia stared at him in disbelief.

How could he expect her to simply stop loving Joseph?

“P-please, Jordan. You know I c-can't do that. I love him.”

“So, you think you love my brother more than I do, huh?!”

Jordan slammed his hand against the locker.

Olivia flinched violently, startled by his sudden outburst. Her heart raced as she stared at him, too frightened to say another word.

“You better do as I say, Olivia. This will be the last time I have to warn you,” he said coldly.

Before she could respond, Jordan shoved her against the locker and walked away.

Olivia stood frozen for a moment, trying to catch her breath.

Then she grabbed her books and hurried down the hallway.

She didn't care who saw her.

She just needed to get away.

She eventually found an abandoned classroom and slipped inside, closing the door behind her. The moment she was alone, the tears she'd been holding back finally came.

Olivia sank into one of the chairs and cried.

She didn't care that she was missing her first period. At that moment, all she wanted was to go home.

Why couldn't anyone help me?

Why couldn't someone stand up to him at least once?

She thought about all the students who had watched, whispered, and stared without doing anything. Maybe they were afraid of Jordan too. Maybe they simply didn't want to get involved.

Either way, Olivia felt completely alone.

She wiped her tears and tried to calm herself down, but the pain in her chest wouldn't go away.

How much longer could she keep living like this?

Eventually, Olivia managed to attend the rest of her classes, but she skipped lunch. She didn't want to risk another confrontation or give Jordan another opportunity to humiliate her.

Jordan wasn't the kind of person who made empty threats, and Olivia knew it.

___

“Olivia!”

Joseph's voice reached her through the crowd after the final bell rang.

She turned and saw him making his way toward her.

“Wait up!”

Joseph hurried after her, trying to catch his breath when he finally reached her.

“WTF, Olivia? I've been calling you like a million times, but you weren't picking up any of my calls.”

Olivia forced herself to meet his eyes.

She wasn't ready to face him.

She was afraid that if he looked at her for too long, he'd notice something was wrong. Maybe he'd see the fear in her eyes or the sadness she had been trying so hard to hide all day.

“I'm sorry. I put my phone on silent. I guess that's why I didn't know you called,” she lied.

Joseph studied her face for a moment.

“And lunch?” he asked. “Why weren't you at the cafeteria?”

Joseph could tell something was wrong with Olivia.

He watched her closely as she avoided his gaze, giving him short answers whenever he asked her anything. He wondered if her sudden change in mood had anything to do with the conversation they'd had that morning about his plans after high school.

“I wasn't hungry,” Olivia replied, hoping he would stop asking questions.

“Can we leave now?” she asked quietly.

“Sure. I'll drop you off and come back in time for practice.”

“Okay.”

The drive to Olivia's house was quiet.

Joseph kept stealing quick glances at her, but she spent most of the ride looking out the window. He wanted to ask her what was wrong, but something told him she wasn't ready to talk.

When they arrived, Olivia thanked him and got out of the car.

“See you tomorrow,” she said before closing the door.

“See you.”

Joseph waited until she disappeared inside before driving back to school for football practice.

He still couldn't shake the feeling that she was hiding something from him.

And he had no idea what it was.

As he drove, he sighed and tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

“Olivia, can you just open up to me for once?” he murmured to himself.