It all started with Joy.

Chapter 17: He did what?

Jesse.

"Can we go, please?" Lily hurries me, clearly wishing to leave this place. Her soft blue eyes look different; they sparkle, but it's not the happy shimmering I am familiar with. She curls on the seat, hiding her sapphire from me.

"What happened?" I start the car, and I drive slowly around the carpark trying to find the exit.

"Nothing. I don't want to talk about it, Jay."

"What happened, Lilith."

I am done asking questions; she is upset, and I must know why. Has he done something to her? Has he touched her against her will? Has he forced himself on her? Has he hurt her? I am going to fucking unscrew his fucking head if anything happened.

"I said I don't want to talk about it."

"Fine," I hit the breaks, abruptly stopping the car in the middle of the road, "I am going to ask him, then."

"What?" she shoots up, widening her eyes in fear as her hands wrap around my wrists.

"Either you tell me right now, or I go find him."

"What if I don't want to tell you?"

"I'll go find him."

"What if he doesn't want to tell you?"

Good question, but that's not even a possibility. I am not asking.

"When I'll start knocking his teeth out, he will."

She gasps in shock, one hand covering her open mouth now, "fine."

"Good girl. Now, start talking."

I press down on the gas pedal, the car silently leaving the car park and turning on the main road as I glance at my best friend, waiting for her to tell me what happened. When she called me, I didn't hesitate to jump in my car and come to her rescue, I was actually waiting for a chance to be her hero, but I wanted, no, actually, needed, to know what I was saving her from.

"He was upset," I place my hand on her thigh, encouraging her to continue, "because of you."

Me? What have I done now? Sure, I am trying to win Lily over, but I was absolutely innocent today. I only caught a glimpse of him when he came to pick her up, and we did not even interact.

"Me?"

"You," she sighs.

"What have I done?"

"He thinks there is more going on between you and..." she lets the word hang for a few seconds before finding the courage to complete the sentence, "...I."

I wet my dry lips sucking the bottom part between my teeth and I nod, "what's his issue, exactly?"

"You are everywhere,"

"And?"

"He doesn't like that. He feels played...or threatened, I guess."

"It sounds like a him problem," I squeeze the soft skin just above her knee, and she eyes me, hiding the tiniest smirk, "I don't understand how you ended up calling me, though,"

I can see Lily choosing the words carefully, trying to avoid triggering me, "he got...upset,"

My free hand tightens around the steering wheel, "what do you mean, Lily?"

"He may have raised his voice,"

"He did what?" I screech as her head falls forward in embarrassment. Lily has nothing to be ashamed of, but that dickhead will pay for even thinking of raising his voice at my girl.