Ours

NADIA
Jack had asked me to come watch him play in the inter school rugby championship game between our school and the neighboring college, and I hesitated at first. To say I was reluctant would be an understatement. The specter of Alex and Sandro loomed large, and I really didn’t want to get into any more trouble with them. They had a way of making my life miserable, and the last thing I needed was to attract their attention at a sporting event. But Jack had a knack for making me eat my words sometimes.
“You’ll like it, I promise,” he said, flashing that charming smile of his, which always made my heart race a little faster, even though I knew there was nothing in it. He seemed so genuinely enthusiastic about the game and the chances of our school doing well.
“Okay, I guess I’m bought over,” I relented, feigning a resigned smile. With a deep breath, I pushed aside my concerns and decided to go. After all, whether I stayed put or didn’t, I will never be able to escape their bullying, which was becoming relentless.
When I arrived at the field, the energy in the air was palpable. Students from both schools gathered, painting the scene with their colorful jerseys and spirited cheers. The sun shone brightly overhead, making the moment feel almost electric. It wasn’t until the game started, and the whistle blew, that I realized just how important Jack was to the team. He was the captain and clearly the star of the show.
As the gameplay unfolded, I watched in awe. Jack moved like a dancer on the field, his athleticism evident in his every stride. He dodged, tackled, and passed the ball with such skill. But the opposing team seemed determined to stifle his influence, sending rough tackles his way. I gasped as they went after him, my heart racing every time he was knocked down, but to my surprise, he always found a way to escape their grasp, like a fish slipping through a fisherman’s net.
I found myself absorbed, cheering and gasping along with the crowd. In my excitement, I didn’t notice when Alex and Sandro slipped into the seats beside me, their presence dripping with that familiar tension that always signaled trouble.
It wasn’t long before I realized that everyone seated near me had vacated their spots, casting frightened glances in our direction. A knot of anxiety twisted in my stomach. I tried to get up and leave, but Alex was quicker. He grabbed my arm, his grip firm.
“You know better than to move an inch,” he said, his tone serious, almost threatening.
“I see you’ve been avoiding us lately,” he added, running a finger through my hair without my consent. I recoiled reflexively, but I knew better than any that asking him to stop was useless; he would only take pleasure in trying to get a rise out of me. A silent prayer slipped from my lips, wishing desperately that Jack would glance our way and see I was in trouble.
But Jack was fully focused on the game, dodging opponents, and scoring points.
I glanced at Mark, who momentarily caught sight of me in distress. His eyes widened in concern, but before he could intervene, he quickly turned away, clearly afraid of Alex and Sandro’s influence. I felt a wave of frustration wash over me.
“I see your Jack is the superstar,” Sandro sneered, his mocking smile making my blood boil. “Well, I hope he is man enough to save you from us like he saves his team.”
“How many times do I need to warn you that trying to avoid us is a very serious crime? How many times!?” Alex shouted, the menace in his voice coming out like thunder.
I watched as his eyes flickered with an unsettling change, and a part of me feared he was about to let his wolf side take over. For a moment, the air was thick with tension, but he seemed to wrestle for control as he continued. “Now, we are going to punish you for disobeying us,” he said, his words like icy daggers.
“Come with us,” Sandro commanded, trying to yank me up, his hands rough and forceful.
“Leave me alone!” I pleaded, wrestling against his grip. But I was no match for his strength. My heart pounded loudly in my chest, panic flooding my veins.
“Jack!” I cried out again, my voice desperate and raw as I hoped against hope that he would notice.
He paused for a fleeting moment, glancing in my direction. My heart leaped with the smallest shred of optimism. But I watched in dismay as he turned away, attention diverted back to the game. I cursed under my breath, bitterness rising within me. How could he let this happen? How could he abandon me like this?
“I told you, he is no match for us, and he knows it,” Alex whispered mockingly into my ear, a familiar laugh echoing through his words.
“No one is coming to save you. Hahahahaha!” Sandro chortled, his laughter ringing sharp and cruel.
That laughter cut me deeper than anything else. Anger mixed with despair and disappointment, swirling inside me as I felt my small joys so easily succumb to the darkness they represented. I was being dragged away against my will, trapped in a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from.
Before I knew it, they pulled me away from the bleachers, and I stumbled, trying to keep my footing. The game continued to unfold behind us, Jack’s voice mingling with the cheers, a stark contrast to my growing fear. “Please, let me go! You don’t have to do this!” I tried to reason with them, but my words fell on deaf ears.
“Too bad, we aren’t done with you yet,” Alex snapped, and I felt a chill run down my spine. Their laughter echoed through the field as they dragged me further away from the game, further away from Jack, making me feel utterly helpless.
They led me towards a dark corner near the edge of the school yard, an area secluded from the buzz of the crowd. The atmosphere shifted, becoming thick and suffocating. “You think you can just ignore us, that you can walk away?” Sandro leaned in close, the scent of cheap cologne mixing with the scent of sweat from his exertions on the field.
I felt anger boil over. How dare they treat me like this? “I didn’t do anything wrong!” I yelled, trying to summon the bravery to stand ground, though my heart raced in fear.
“Exactly. That’s the point,” Alex went on, his voice a chilling whisper. “You have done nothing, but as long as we live, we shall continue to deal with you as we deem fit. You are nothing more than a puppet in our hands. Nothing more!”
At that moment, I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but I wouldn’t let them fall. With each tug of their hands, they pulled me further away from the lively energy of the tournament. I wanted to scream, to draw attention, but fear held me back. Thoughts of Jack flooded my mind. How could he just stand by? Didn’t he care at all?
“Stop crying,” Sandro snapped, clearly unfeeling. “You brought this on yourself.”
I bit my lip, trying to swallow the feeling of impending doom. Knowing that this wasn’t how it was supposed to end filled me with a fierce audience of self-loathing. I felt stupid for believing that I could navigate this dangerous path without facing consequences.
As we neared a secluded area behind the bleachers, where shadows stretched longer, I braced myself for whatever they had planned. I fumbled for the courage to fight back, the anger boiling within me, yet fear kept me paralyzed.
Suddenly, I could hear the cheers beginning to fade, and I knew the game was almost over. “Can we at least go back?” I asked, desperation leaking into my voice.
“No,” Alex said firmly, shaking his head. “You’re ours now.”
Just then, the sound of a whistle blew in the distance, signaling the end of the game. The crowd erupted into cheers, but all I felt was suffocated. I was further removed from the energy that was Jack and the spirit of competition. Instead, I was trapped with two boys who thrived on intimidation and fear.
And with doubts swirling in my head, I couldn’t shake off the sting of betrayal by Jack. His choice to ignore me, his choice not to intervene, struck deeper than their cruel laughter. My heart felt heavy with disappointment-had he really abandoned me in my time of need?
The next day, I walked into class with a tight knot in my stomach. Word had gotten around about the rugby game and my unexpected drama. I could see the whispers and glances as I made my way to my seat, the tension palpable in the air. But what gnawed at me the most was the sight of Jack waiting for me.
He had walked towards me, concern etched on his face, as if he wanted to say something, anything. I felt a surge of anger rush through me. How dare he approach me after what happened? As he opened his mouth to speak, I cut him off.
“Stop talking to me, Jack,” I declared loud enough for those nearby to hear. The classroom fell silent, shocked gasps echoing around us.
“I just wanted to check if you’re okay,” he said, hurt flashing in his eyes.
“I’m fine! Just stay away from me,” I shot back, my voice firm but my heart trembling at the look of disbelief on his face. I steeled myself against the weight of his disappointment, refusing to let regret dampen my resolve.
He looked taken aback, as if I had slapped him. But I didn’t care. He had hurt me first, and I refused to become vulnerable again. My eyes darted around, landing on Alex and Sandro, who sat a few rows back, grinning like they had just won a prize. Their smiles only deepened my fury and embarrassment.
I felt small under their mocking gazes, the knowledge that they were enjoying my pain made it all the worse. I wanted to disappear, to vanish from this place that had turned into a battleground where I was the target, and for a moment, doubt flickered in my mind.
But I couldn’t let them win. Later in class, I focused on my notes, trying to drown out the whispers around me. My chest tightened, a weight sitting heavy inside as I turned my back on the resentment and heartbreak swirling in my mind, knowing I had to find a way to reclaim my power, and the first step was standing my ground.
With a final glance at Jack, I forced myself to turn away, pushing the idea that I could ever need him out of my mind. The game had changed, and now it was my turn to fight back, no matter the cost.