“Get off.” She’s trying to pull away, but he’s not letting her. “Tyler, please, I?—”
“I’m not going to hurt you, I just need you to understand?—”
“Let go of me.” Her voice is rising, panic bleeding through every word. “Please, just?—”
He leans in closer, his other hand coming up to her other arm, and that’s when I see her face.
Pure terror.
Her eyes are wide, unfocused, like she’s not even seeing Tyler anymore. She’s somewhere else entirely, and wherever that is, it’s bad. Her whole body is rigid against the wall,trapped, and Tyler’s too close, way too fucking close, and he’s still talking like he doesn’t see what he’s doing to her.
Everything goes red.
I’m moving before my brain catches up, crossing the sidewalk in three strides. I grab Tyler by the shoulder and yank him back from Maya, putting space between them. The second he’s clear of her, my fist connects with his jaw.
He stumbles backward, hand flying to his face, and I’m ready to hit him again, but Donny’s suddenly there, grabbing my arm.
“Jackson, stop!”
Tyler’s on the ground now, blood trickling from his split lip, staring up at me with wide eyes. I shake Donny off but don’t move closer. My knuckles are throbbing, the rage still burning through my chest.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I’m yelling now, barely recognizing my own voice.
“I was just—” Tyler starts, but I cut him off.
“You should have listened to her!”
Donny looks between us, trying to piece it together. “Everyone needs to calm down.”
I’m not calm. I’m the opposite of calm. But I step back, giving Tyler space to pick himself up off the sidewalk, and turn to check on Maya.
Maya.
She’s slumped against the restaurant wall, hyperventilating so hard her whole body is shaking. Her eyes are wide, unfocused, tears streaming down her face.
“Maya.” I move toward her slowly, carefully, hands visible. “Hey.”
She flinches when I get close, pressing herself harder against the wall.
“Don’t—” Her voice cracks. “Don’t touch me. Please.”
I stop immediately, dropping my hands and taking a step back. “Okay. I won’t. Just breathe, okay?”
She’s not breathing. She’s gasping, chest heaving, hands pressed to her chest like she’s trying to hold herself together physically.
“What the fuck just happened?” Donny stares at Tyler, who’s still on the ground holding his jaw, then at me. “I looked away for two seconds, and you were on him.”
“He had her pinned against the wall,” I say without looking away from Maya. “She was begging him to let go, and he wouldn’t.”
Donny’s expression shifts, understanding clicking into place. He reaches down to help Tyler up, and Tyler immediately starts talking.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbles, wincing. “Maya, I’m sorry?—”
“Get him the fuck away from her,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “Now.”
Donny pulls him down the sidewalk. They disappear around the corner, and I turn back to Maya.
She’s sliding down the wall, her knees giving out. I want to catch her, but she said not to touch, so I just crouch a few feet away, giving her space.
