Sebastian Ashford's POV
I didn't mean to follow him.
I didn't plan on it.
But when I saw Rain walk away with that little shy smile still tugging at the corners of her mouth—like she didn't even realize she was glowing—I snapped.
She smiled like nothing had ever hurt her.
Like the past year of hiding and flinching and skipping meals hadn't happened.
Like I hadn't happened.
Leo strolled into the locker corridor like he didn't have a single goddamn care in the world. Fourth-year golden boy. He was all easy shoulders and smug laughs. Probably thought he was doing her a favor, making Rain Wang—quiet little nobody Rain—feel seen for once.
My boots hit the tiles harder than they should have. Echoed like gunshots. I didn't even try to stay quiet.
"Yo, Ashford," Leo said, turning like we were fucking friends. "You good, man?"
I punched him.
Right in the face.
The sound his nose made was sharp and wet. It echoed. It was so goddamn satisfying.
He stumbled back, hand flying to his face. "What the—what the fuck?!"
"You think you're funny?" I growled, stepping forward. "Think you can just flirt with anyone now?"
He blinked, blood dripping down to his lip. "What the hell is your problem?"
I shoved him against the lockers. Hard. "Stay away from her."
"Who?" he spat, trying to push me off.
I slammed him again.
"Rain."
He stared at me like I'd lost my goddamn mind.
Maybe I had.
"Dude, I literally just talked to her—"
"You made her smile."
"So?"
"So she hasn't smiled in months." My voice cracked around the edges. "She hasn't smiled since I—"
Since I ruined her.
His eyes widened. "Oh my God. It's you. You're the guy."
I hit him again.
And again.
And again.
I don't know how long it lasted. I don't know when someone started yelling, or when the hallway filled with footsteps. All I remember is my knuckles going numb and Leo's blood on my shirt and the echo of her laugh—her laugh—ringing in my ears.
It wasn't mine.
It would never be mine again.
And I couldn't fucking stand it.
They pulled me off him. Security. Some third-years. I don't remember.
I didn't say a word.
Didn't fight.
Didn't explain.
Because how do you explain obsession?
How do you explain heartbreak when you're the one who broke it?Blood on My Hands
Sebastian Ashford's POV
I didn't mean to follow him.
I didn't plan on it.
But when I saw Rain walk away with that little shy smile still tugging at the corners of her mouth—like she didn't even realize she was glowing—I snapped.
She smiled like nothing had ever hurt her.
Like the past year of hiding and flinching and skipping meals hadn't happened.
Like I hadn't happened.
Leo strolled into the locker corridor like he didn't have a single goddamn care in the world. Fourth-year golden boy. He was all easy shoulders and smug laughs. Probably thought he was doing her a favor, making Rain Wang—quiet little nobody Rain—feel seen for once.
My boots hit the tiles harder than they should have. Echoed like gunshots. I didn't even try to stay quiet.
"Yo, Ashford," Leo said, turning like we were fucking friends. "You good, man?"
I punched him.
Right in the face.
The sound his nose made was sharp and wet. It echoed. It was so goddamn satisfying.
He stumbled back, hand flying to his face. "What the—what the fuck?!"
"You think you're funny?" I growled, stepping forward. "Think you can just flirt with anyone now?"
He blinked, blood dripping down to his lip. "What the hell is your problem?"
I shoved him against the lockers. Hard. "Stay away from her."
"Who?" he spat, trying to push me off.
I slammed him again.
"Rain."
He stared at me like I'd lost my goddamn mind.
Maybe I had.
"Dude, I literally just talked to her—"
"You made her smile."
"So?"
"So she hasn't smiled in months." My voice cracked around the edges. "She hasn't smiled since I—"
Since I ruined her.
His eyes widened. "Oh my God. It's you. You're the guy."
I hit him again.
And again.
And again.
I don't know how long it lasted. I don't know when someone started yelling, or when the hallway filled with footsteps. All I remember is my knuckles going numb and Leo's blood on my shirt and the echo of her laugh—her laugh—ringing in my ears.
It wasn't mine.
It would never be mine again.
And I couldn't fucking stand it.
They pulled me off him. Security. Some third-years. I don't remember.
I didn't say a word.
Didn't fight.
Didn't explain.
Because how do you explain obsession?
How do you explain heartbreak when you're the one who broke it?