Lucas's Pov
I was heading toward the front gate, earbuds in, backpack slung low, when I saw him, Josh, standing like he'd been waiting. Arms crossed. Jaw tight.
He stepped into my path. "We need to talk."
I pulled one earbud out. "Unless it's an apology, not interested."
Josh laughed once. It was bitter. "You think you won, don't you?"
I narrowed my eyes. "Ivey isn't something you win. She's someone you lost because you treated her like crap."
His expression darkened. "You turned her against me."
"She saw the truth. I just happened to be there when you couldn't lie your way out of it."
That struck a nerve. Josh's hands clenched into fists. "You're such a fake, Lucas. Acting like you're this good guy, swooping in to rescue her. But you're just waiting, just waiting for her to be weak enough to fall for you."
Something inside me snapped.
I dropped my bag to the ground. "Don't talk about her like that."
He shoved me. "Why not? You want to be her hero so bad? Let's see how well you hold up."
I barely saw the punch coming. His fist connected with my jaw, sharp and messy, but I didn't go down. I staggered back, then lunged forward, shoving him hard.
We struggled, clumsy, angry, neither of us really knowing how to fight, but too stubborn to back down. A teacher shouted in the distance. Someone screamed. Josh's elbow hit my ribs, and I gasped, the pain flaring sharp.
Then came the fall.
He shoved me again, hard this time, and my foot slipped on the slick pavement near the edge of the stairs.
My balance was gone.
Everything tilted.
I fell.
And somehow Josh fell after me landing right on top of me before…everything went black.
Later...
Ivey's Pov
My phone buzzed in my bag as I walked out of English. I didn't recognize the number, but for some reason I picked it up.
"Ivey?" It was Kayla, her voice shaking.
"What's wrong?"
"It's Lucas. There was a fight with Josh. He fell. He… he's at the hospital. I'm here now. He's unconscious."
The world around me blurred.
"What?"
"I'm so sorry. I thought you should know."
The call ended, but my heart didn't stop racing. I was already moving, not sure where I was going, just knowing I had to get to him.