One

Jeremiah froze. The unmistakable sound of skin slapping against skin and breathy moans echoed through his girlfriend's room. His heart dropped as he stood, paralysed, unable to turn away. They were so into the pleasure that they didn't even notice his presence. 

“Becca…,” Jeremiah choked out and silence fell instantly.

“Who the fuck is that?” the man beneath Becca growled, his gaze locking onto Jeremiah first.

Becca whipped her head around, eyes wide with horror. "Oh my God, Jeremiah," she scrambled off the man’s lap, grabbing a blanket to shield her body. “Why are you here? I thought you said you would be going to the library first!” she gasped

“So this is why you refused to come with me?”Jeremiah didn’t move. His voice cracked through a sob. "How could you do this to me?"

“Oh, is that the boyfriend?” the stranger scoffed, rising from the bed, completely naked. He reached for Becca, pulling her possessively against him. "It's nice to finally meet you, Becca has told me a lot about you."

“Franco, don't,” Becca protested, struggling in his hold. “Jerry, please I…I can explain.”

“Explain?” Franco sneered. “What else is left to explain?”

Jeremiah watched in despair as Franco kissed Becca’s lips like nothing was wrong.

“How could you do this to me, Becca? How long has this been going on?” Jeremiah whispered, voice trembling. “Did the last two years mean nothing?”

Becca’s eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t want it to end like this… but you wouldn't touch me and I_,”

“So you cheated?” Jeremiah laughed bitterly. “You should’ve just broken up with me.”

“No!” Becca gasped, “I loved you. I still love you, Jerry.”

“Great way of showing it,” Jeremiah spat, shaking his head. 

With one last look at his girlfriend_ no ex-girlfriend, he turned to walk away.

“Wait, Jeremiah! Don't go,” Becca cried, lunging for his arm. “Please, I’m sorry. Let's talk.”

“What the hell, Becca? What do you think you're doing?” Franco snapped, storming forward. “Didn’t you promise to break up with him?”

“Stay out of it, Franco!” Becca shouted.

Jeremiah paused when he heard her scream. He turned sharply, eyes widening at the sight of Franco with his hand in Becca's hair, yanking her backwards.

“You’re hurting her,” Jeremiah gasped shockingly.

“You think you can play games with me, Rebecca?” Franco growled. “Didn’t you say you loved me?”

Becca sobbed, clawing at his hand. “Let me go! You’re hurting me!”

Jeremiah’s body trembled. His breath hitched painfully. “What are you doing? You're going to hurt her, let her go Stop hurting her.”

Franco sneered at him. “This is the wimp you want to be with? Bet he doesn’t even know how to work his dick.”

Becca’s sobs grew louder as Jeremiah’s breath turned into shallow gasps.

“Jeremiah, breathe!” she pleaded. “Sweetheart, I’m fine. Just breathe.”

The fact that Becca was ignoring him only enraged Franco more. He released her with a shove and stormed toward Jeremiah, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him into the wooden door.

Jeremiah yelped in pain, tears falling down his face instantly. “D…don’t touch me!”

“Pathetic. You’re nothing,” Franco spat in his face. “She’s only with you out of pity. No one could ever want someone like you.”

Jeremiah shuddered as Frank's stinky breath fanned over his face. He wanted to disappear. To curl into himself and vanish. He didn't like how close Frank was or the feel of his body against his. 

It made him remember. 

Many memories… ones he had desperately tried so hard to bury were surfacing. 

“Get your filthy hands off him!” Becca screamed, shoving Franco away. Jeremiah collapsed, trembling. She caught him, cradling him gently. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”

“Yo…you said it would be us against the world,” Jeremiah sobbed, pulling away from her, “How could you do this to me?”

Becca brushed his curls from his face, “I’m an idiot... I never wanted to hurt you, but you never touch me, and I thought_,” she trailed off, "Please forgive me."

Forgive? 

The word rang uselessly in his ears. How could he possibly forgive this?

“I love you, Jerry,” she whispered. “He took advantage of my confusion. Please believe me, I never meant to.”

Franco moved again this time picking a gun from the stand with an irritated look.

“Franco, don’t.” Becca gasped, blood draining from her face.

“Then come to me,” Franco said with a smirk. “Maybe I’ll forget the whole mess.”

Becca glanced between Jeremiah and the weapon pointed their way. “Promise me you won't hurt him.”

“I really don’t like repeating myself,” Franco warned.

Jeremiah gulped, eyes darting to the exit. He needed to run but his body wouldn’t move. He needed to help Becca somehow. 

Becca stepped toward Franco, trembling. “Please. I will do whatever you want just leave him alone.”

“Good,” Franco said smugly, pulling her close. “Now be a good girl and kiss me.”

With eyes full of terror, Becca pressed her lips against his, whimpering into his mouth.

Franco grinned, his hand tightening around her waist. “You should never have messed with me,” he whispered into her mouth.

What happened next felt like a dream. Everything except the pain. 

Jeremiah clutched his chest. Something burned. He looked down, confused, then horrified, seeing something warm soak through his shirt.

Blood.

“Jeremiah!” Becca screamed, trying to break free. “No! Please, let me go!”

Franco laughed darkly, holding her in place. “Consider it a lesson.”

Without warning, he kicked Jeremiah’s body through the open doorway and slammed the door behind him.

Jeremiah crashed against the wall, clenching his chest. He was going to die. He never thought things were going to end like this for him.

Everything blurred out. His ears were stinging. Was this really the end for him? Jeremiah thought sadly and then darkness.