The Initiation (Darkness Within Duet 1)

Draven knew it was because of one of his many stepfathers. Jett had been used as punching bag, and some of the wounds on his back showcased how his stepfathers liked to beat him up, slash at his skin.

Since he, Axel, and Buck put a stop to it three years ago, Jett carried a knife with him. No one came at any of them.

They had each other’s backs. It was what made them different from the cliques within their school. All four of them had seen how shit the world was, and still, they kept bouncing back. They kept on fighting for one another.

“Let’s see how she handles it.”

“Are you auditioning her for our group?” Axel asked, all trace of laughter dying in his eyes.

“I’m curious about her. She came to the woods last night, got detention today. She hasn’t run to the cops, and not once did she burst into tears. She’s … entertaining to watch.”

“It was kind of funny watching all that dirt spill out of her locker.”

He looked at her books that were on the ground. Some of them had notes inside, while others were aged. Nothing before him had any personal value apart from the jacket.

“Why don’t we jerk off to it, cover her shit with our spunk?” Axel said, already reaching for his belt.

“You’re fucking disgusting.”

“I’m out of here,” Jett said. “Got a job to do.”

“You’re still working in that fucking DIY place?” Axel asked.

“Got to pay the bills.”

“Doesn’t your mother whore herself out?” Buck asked.

“She’s all dried out. No guy wants to fuck a dry cunt. Later, guys.”

Draven watched as Jett left the woods. It was still light out and one check on the time, and he saw it wouldn’t be long before detention was over.

“I’m heading out,” he said. “Catch you later.”

He didn’t wait to see what Axel and Buck were doing. They could amuse themselves for hours by playing catch or gambling on some chick.

Climbing into his car, he took off back toward the school.

When he arrived, only a couple of cars were parked in the lot. He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. None of those cars belonged to Harper. She hadn’t been able to afford a car or driving lessons.

He locked his car and headed inside to see what was taking her so long.

She wasn’t at her locker, and as he stood out of line of sight, he watched as detention came to an end. A couple of guys headed out, and Harper was the last one to leave, apart from the teacher.

She looked … lost.

He watched her, curious as to what she was doing. What was going on in that head of hers? She looked at the time, and instead of going straight to the parking lot, she didn’t. She went into the bathroom.

His curiosity was always a problem. He followed her inside.

The jacket he’d taken from her was inside his car.

Why was he testing her, pushing her?

Being a bully hadn’t been part of his MO. He never taunted anyone. The guys who got in his way, he made sure to take care of, and the chicks always knew only his dick was on offer, nothing else. He still didn’t understand why he was sticking around with Harper. She was nothing special. They’d been going to the same school since nursery school.

When it came to her, he wanted to push her, to see how far the good girl went.

Stepping into the girl’s bathroom, he saw her at the sink.

She turned her head, and the blue fire in her eyes should have struck him dead and cold.

“What are you doing here?”

He leaned against the wall, folding his hands over his chest. “I’m curious how detention was.”

“Wow, really? Have you ever been to detention?”

“No.”

“I bet you got a slip though, right? The teachers don’t give a shit what you do. You’ve got the right last name. The kind of name that even teachers don’t like to touch.”

He smirked. “You jealous of my last name, Miller?”

“Leave me alone.”

“Is that an order?”

“It’s a request.”

“I don’t take orders.”

“What do you want?” she asked.

“To see … something.”

“So I’m the target this year for your amusement, is that it?”

“You clench your hands often?” he asked, looking at her tight fists.

“You’re so weird.”

She went to pass him, but he put his hand out, stopping her from going.

“Seriously? What?” She folded her arms over her chest.

The glare she gave him turned him on. He’d never seen her look so ferocious. He blocked her exit, watching her.

“I want my stuff back.”

He smirked.

“Why did you take it, huh? Did it get you off to go inside a locker that’s not yours? You know what? I don’t care.”

She went to pass again, only this time, he caught her shoulders, pressing her up against the wall. At first, she struggled against him. He watched the fight in her gaze, how she tried to overpower him, but he wouldn’t let her go.