Broken Hill Hurt (Broken Hill High 3)

I grab my bag off the passenger’s seat as Brooke pulls her car in on the other side. I get out of my car as she does and our eyes lock over the top. “What’s going on?” she calls over the sound of the crowd.

Hurrying, I shrug my shoulders and barge my way into the throng of people. I don’t have a good feeling about this. Especially as Nate was with Jesse this morning.

People push and shove as they try to get a look at what’s happening in the middle. Though, when someone cheers for a fight, it becomes pretty damn clear. My stomach drops and I shoulder my way past a few more people.

I break into the middle to find Nate and Jackson, face to face, with a circle of footballers around them. I scan the faces and find Jesse barricaded behind them as he desperately tries to break through their circle. Jackson hasn’t been back to school since Nate blew up his car two weeks ago, and what I also found out by accident last week, he also knocked him out too. I thought he’d just beat him up a little, turns out it was a bit more than that.

Today must be his first day back and he’s not happy about everything that went down. But like Nate said; an eye for an eye. Jackson caused the accident which destroyed Nate’s Camaro that he worked his ass off on, so Nate simply repaid the favor. This shit should be over, but from the look in Jackson’s eye, it’s only just begun.

Anger fires up within me. How dare they do this to him? Jesse is screaming as Nate’s fists begin to clench. I know he’s only moments away from throwing a punch, the only problem is that Nate is on his last warning and Jackson knows it. It won’t take much for Nate be expelled for violence and I’m guessing that’s Jackson’s game here.

I desperately look around. I have to do something to help him. Max, Ty, and Puck aren’t here so it’s up to me, but how the hell am I going to break through this circle of football players? They’re three times the size of me. I’d have a better chance of convincing Jesse to shove a pole up his ass than break through this wall.

An idea strikes and I roll with it without thinking. I grab the bottom of the shorts of the footballer in front of me and with one quick tug, I rip them down his legs and expose his white ass. He shrieks and instantly dives for them as people around us begin to laugh at his expense.

I’d love nothing more than to stay and laugh with them, but I have another ass to save.

As the footballer bends to grab his shorts, I make a break for it.

I run and half jump/half squish through the bodies of packed muscle and tear my way into the circle. Someone reaches for me, but I don’t let him get his fingers around my arm.

Nate and Jackson are too caught up with their desperate need to kick the other’s ass that they don’t even notice me until I race forward two steps and push myself between them. I bring my hands up and slam them into Jackson’s big chest, forcing him back a step. “What the fuck is this?” I demand as I scowl at the hothead.

I expect Nate to wind an arm around my waist and haul me out of the way but when he doesn’t, I realize he needs me here to diffuse the situation, otherwise, he’ll be walking out of here with an expulsion that he can’t possibly worm his way out of.

Jackson scoffs as a pleased smirk sets itself across his face. “Are you fighting your boyfriend’s fights now? What’s wrong? You don’t think he can take me?”

I scoff right back at him. “You and I both know that’s not my problem,” I remind him. “Nate can kick your ass with his eyes closed. In fact, isn’t that what he did only two weeks ago?” I grin, airing his little secret that has somehow managed to stay quiet. “I wonder, is that why you haven’t been around for the last two weeks?”

Murmurs start to rise through the crowd as a deep anger sets itself in Jackson’s eyes. Nate hooks his finger through a belt loop on the back of my jeans and pulls me back into him. Jackson’s eyes narrow on me before he somehow manages to get closer without taking an actual step. “Watch it,” he warns.

Nate yanks me back even harder. “You threatening Tora now?” he demands, a clear challenge in his voice.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he says. “But remember, whatever shit she wants to start is going to come down on you.”