Page 59 of Ravaged By Lust

And then he hangs up.

I pull over to the side of the highway and sit there in shock for a moment.

What has Bishop done?

But I heard what Mickey Miller said on the phone. This might be my last chance. And what did Mom just tell me? Fight for my dreams?

I’ve got ten minutes to get back to the office, so I better stop crying and move my sorry ass.

21

SEVEN YEARS AGO

CHLOE

Axel is the first person to find me. I’m sitting under a tree behind the gymnasium, away from the crowds. It’s a spot I like to come to sometimes to get away from the rest of the school. Axel knows that.

He finds me crying. Instead of trying to talk to me or reassure me about what’s just gone on inside that gym, he simply sits down next to me and wraps his arm around my shoulder. I lean against him for a moment.

A big brother and his little sister alone together.

“All my dreams are over,” I say to Axel in a whisper. “I can’t even sing in front of other people, and Bishop took my song. He’s broken my heart, Axel.”

My brother says nothing. He gently strokes the back of my shoulder.

I sigh. My sobbing decreases. It’s good to touch my brother again. I thought I had completely ruined things when I told him about Bishop and me the other day.

“I saw Bishop’s black eye,” I continue. “I know it was you.”

“Yeah,” my brother replies. “It was me.”

“At first, I didn’t want you to hurt him, but now I think it’s kinda good that you did. Is that fucked up? It sounds like it is.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything at all and keep hugging me.”

We sit there for a long time until Axel decides to stand up.

“I’ll get you something to dry your eyes,” he says. “I’ll be back.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

I watch him head towards the high school bathrooms. I lean back against the tree and close my eyes. My tears sting my cheeks.

“Chloe.”

Bishop’s voice startles me. I stand up and face the man. He’s approached silently and now stands not even five yards away.

“You have a lot of nerve showing your face after what you just did in there,” I say to the thief, barely able to contain my rage.

Bishop merely shrugs.

“I just wanted to let you know that I’ve just spoken to Drake. Axel was there as well. We’re going to form this band with another guy in our year named Caspian. We’re going to call ourselves Ravaged.”

“I don’t care,” I reply, crossing my arms. “You stole my song.”

“And you told Axel about us. He gave me this,” Bishop says as he points to the vicious bruise covering his eye. It’s even worse close up. “I told you not to tell him, but you went and did anyway, without any regard for my feelings. Stealing your song to get into Drake’s band is simply my revenge.”