Chapter 4

Shawn felt like he couldn't breathe from the pain in his chest.

So in Jenna's eyes, he was nothing more than a man obsessed with money and status.

"Now that we've broken up, do you really expect me to keep these gifts?" he said. "I'm not going to that college, and I won't take the scholarship.

"These clothes were a gift from my mom."

Before he could say more, Jenna cut him off.

She grabbed him roughly. "I don't want to hear your excuses. You're coming to the auditorium and apologizing to Leonard in front of the entire school!"

Her voice was firm and left no room for argument.

She pressed her fingers into Shawn's wound, hard enough to tear it open. Blood immediately began to seep out.

Jenna knew Shawn had a bleeding disorder, but she didn't care.

She half-dragged him to the auditorium, where all the students were already seated.

Jenna shoved the microphone toward Shawn and commanded, "Apologize. Now."

Shawn braced himself with both hands as dizziness and chills swept through him from the blood loss.

His gaze swept over the whispering students before settling on Jenna and Leonard standing side by side.

He let out a hollow laugh that sounded more like a cry. "I'd like to apologize to Leonard."

The crowd below the stage erupted in whispers.

"He isn't the other man, because Jenna and I never dated," he said. "We weren't dating before. We aren't dating now, and we never will."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's eyes shifted between the three of them.

The smile slowly faded from Jenna's face, and her mood turned increasingly hostile.

Shawn looked at Jenna and Leonard with a sincere expression, his tone calm and serious. "I would also like to apologize to Jenna.

"I'm sorry for the trouble my assumptions and one-sided feelings have caused you. Don't worry. It won't happen again.

"I wish you and Leonard all the best. I hope your relationship lasts from high school all the way to marriage."

With that, Shawn ignored the uproar below the stage. He straightened his back and walked out of the auditorium.

Jenna stared after him, momentarily stunned.

Leonard put an arm around her shoulder. "Jenna, are you worried about Shawn?"

Jenna came back to her senses and shook her head. "Of course not! I'm glad he finally knows when to back off."

Shawn stumbled out of the school gates, his blood loss leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

Without thinking, he took the shortcut he had always used to go home.

A hand landed on his shoulder. When he turned and saw the familiar face of the delinquent, Bruce, it was already too late to run.

Bruce raised an eyebrow and grinned viciously. "Well, well. Long time no see, Shawn! Where's your girlfriend?

"She really took great care of us the last time. She gave me a concussion and then had the nerve to call the cops. I've been dying to return the favor!"

Shawn's mind cleared a little, then he forced himself to remain calm. "What do you want? Aren't you afraid I'll call the cops again?"

Bruce tried to act tough. "Go ahead! I'll be right here. Let's see you make that call."

With that, he raised a baseball bat and slowly backed Shawn into a corner, leaving him no chance to reach for his phone.

Just then, another delinquent shouted, "Bruce, Jenna's here!"

Shawn looked toward the entrance and saw Jenna standing there with her arm around Leonard.

He clung to her like she was his last hope. "Jenna, call the cops!"

Jenna stopped in her tracks. Her expression darkened, and she instinctively started toward Shawn.

Leonard grabbed her arm. "Jenna, I think my leg is cramping."

Jenna immediately forgot about Shawn. She supported Leonard and started walking in the opposite direction.

Bruce, who had been about to run away, burst out laughing when he saw this. "Shawn, looks like your girlfriend found someone new and doesn't want you anymore!"

He clamped a hand around Shawn's jaw, his face twisted with rage. "It's time to let you know what it feels like to have your bones broken!"

Shawn watched Jenna walk away, his heart sinking into despair.

The young woman who had once fearlessly stepped in front of a knife for him was gone.

Suddenly, Bruce let out a scream.

Shawn had punched him square in the nose.

"Damn it!" Bruce roared and slammed a fist into Shawn's face.

Shawn went flying and slammed into the wall.

The impact made him cough up a mouthful of blood, and his vision began to fade.

Through his darkening, blood-red vision, he could only see Bruce approaching him.

"Bruce, there's something wrong with him!"

The other delinquents panicked as they watched Shawn lose more and more blood.

"Shit, we're in trouble. Let's get out of here!"

Shawn's last memory was the sound of their hurried footsteps fading into the distance.