Chapter 4
4
JACKSON
Z ora whirls around so quickly, I don’t see her raised hand before it soundly connects with my cheek.
“You think you can just do anything you want don’t you? You bully me for the past four years and now you believe you can keep doing it? I don’t know what game you’re playing and why you decided what you did to me tonight was a good idea. But let me make one thing clear. This will never happen again. I hate your guts and I hope after tonight I never see you again.”
The vitriol in her words rock me to my foundation. I haven’t exactly been an angel where Zora Knight is concerned but hate is such a strong word. Especially when I’ve spent the better part of my high school years lusting after her. Wanting her.
Needing her.
She has no idea how many nights I’ve lain awake stroking my cock as I fantasize about her body beneath mine.
From the first moment I laid eyes on her at freshman orientation, I was fascinated. Zora isn’t what society deems as a typical beauty, but she caught my attention right away. She was wearing a bright yellow sundress, and a red bow pinned to the side of her giant afro. It was one of the most glorious heads of hair I’d ever seen.
I thought she had the prettiest skin, blemish free, dark brown silk. Huge brown eyes in a heart-shaped face. Her lips were big like the starlets who pumped theirs mouths with toxic fillers to ridiculous proportions but on Zora they were natural and inviting. They looked so soft and pillowy; I stared at her throughout the entire program.
After sitting through an impossibly long lecture, the upcoming freshman class was split up into groups to tour the high school. I was luckily in Zora’s group. I made an effort to get as close to her as possible. At 14 I was already 6 foot so I towered over her. She was curvy, chubby even, but I liked her curves. I thought she was super cute.
And then she smiled at me, showing off the deepest dimples. I was in total awe and in that moment, I knew she would be mine.
She was the brightest star in the universe.
As we got older, her ass got rounder and her breasts bigger. All I could think about exploring every inch of her. And my obsession for her grew. When I wasn’t consumed with school work and swim meets, I plotted ways to see her, talk to her, be with her.
But things didn’t go quite as planned. Too many factors got in the way. Too many people interfered. These things caused something dark to fester within me where this woman was concerned. Something that drove me to do things I’m ashamed of but will never admit out loud.
I know what I’ve done to her. But looking back, would I do them again?
I absolutely would.
That something dark rears its head as I stared down into her angry face. I want to slam her against the door and fuck the shit out of her, but she’s not quite ready. But when she is, I’ll be there.
A smile curves my lips. “You can hope all you like Zora, but we will see each other again. I’ll make sure of it.”
“I hate you.” She glared at me with her eyes shining with the suspicious sheen of unshed tears.
Part of me wanted to comfort her but I can’t. There’s so much I need to explain to her but I’m not able to. At least not yet.
Now that I’ve had a taste of her, it will have to tide me over until I can.
“Hate me if you’d like, but there’ll come a time when I collect what’s mine. Now go while you still have a chance.”
She raises her hand like she intends to hit me again, but she doesn’t. “Fuck you,” she hurls at me.
Zora fumbles with the lock with and finally gets the door open.
A red-faced Teagan is on the other side of the door.
“What the hell are you doing in Jackson’s room?” The blonde demands.
Zora pushes past Teagan without answering.
“Hey, I’m talking to you fat ass!” Teagan yells at Zora’s retreating back.
“Cut it out Teagan.” I rack my fingers through my hair in frustration. “What are you doing up here anyway?”
Teagan stares down the hallway with narrowed gaze. “What was that bitch doing up here? Did you catch her trying to steal?”
“Very classy Teagan.”
“Don’t pretend people like her aren’t predisposed to crime.”
I squeeze the bridge of my nose and release a heavy sigh. This isn’t the first time she’s said something like this. I’m guilty for letting it slide in the past but tonight I had absolutely no patience for this bullshit.
“That’s rich coming from you, considering everyone knows what a klepto you are. Weren’t you charged for shoplifting? You stole enough to be charged with a felony. You’d have a record if Daddy’s fancy lawyers didn’t negotiate it down to a misdemeanor and get it expunged. So, let’s not talk about who the real criminal is.”
Teagan’s mouth falls open. She shuts it and finally stutters, “I-it was just a prank.”
“A costly one apparently.” I mercifully don’t point out that things sometimes go missing whenever Teagan is around but no one has ever called her out on her thieving ways because they were either too scared of her, or didn’t have the proof.
Besides, she had the perfect cover of being from one of the wealthiest families in town. I figure she steals for the thrill of it, but ironically won’t see the hypocrisy of labeling someone some else a criminal.
She places her hands on her hips and raises her chin defiantly, with all the audacity of someone not used to being held accountable for anything. “You still haven’t told me what that loser was doing up here with you?”
“I didn’t tell you because it’s none of your damn business. In case you’ve forgotten, we’ve been over for a very long time. Just because I let you suck my dick a few times, doesn’t mean you have the right to meddle in my personal life.”
Her hand flies to her mouth and her eyes widen. “How can you say that to me? We’ve been working on getting back together.”
I was in no mood to put up with her theatrics. Honestly, I’ve been over Teagan’s shit for ages. I was over all this bullshit. I didn’t even want this stupid party but it was my mother’s way of flexing the Champion wealth and surface level benevolence.
Walking across the stage earlier today, gave me no particular joy. It didn’t matter that the cheers for me were the loudest when my name was called or that I was handed my diploma, a status of my accomplishments from the last four years. It was all meaningless because my life had been mapped out for me before I was pushed through my mother’s cold birth canal, without any consideration for my own wants and desires.
For as long as I could remember, I’ve been told how to dress, how to act, what clubs to join and who to socialize with. Never disgrace the Champion name has been drilled into my head until I was molded into the perfect son.
There was however a growing spark inside of me. I’d be going away to school at the end of the summer. Away from this town. Away from the watchful eye of my dictator.
I wasn’t stupid enough to think there still wouldn’t be eyes on me in college, but I’d have more freedom to do as I pleased and finally implement my plant to break away from the tight grip of my mother’s hold.
Once I have total autonomy of my life, I’ll be free to obtain what I most desire.
Zora Knight.
“Teagan, it’s already been established you’re not the brightest bulb in the box but I never thought I’d have to add delusional to your list of faults. You and I are no longer a thing nor will we ever be again. I’ve tolerated you longer than I can stand so I’ll politely ask you to leave my room.”
“But you let that fat bitch in here? What were you doing with her? What would your mother say about the kind of company you’re keeping? I bet she wouldn’t approve. Wonder what she’d do if she found out.”
There were various buttons Teagan could have pushed but she chose the very one that drove me to violence.
To further enrage me she smirks as if she had one over on me. I wanted to destroy that shit-eating grin. Before my body could fully connect with my brain, I grasped her by the neck with both hands and squeezed.
Her eyes nearly bulge out of her skull, and she claws at my hands but I don’t let go. The demon within me eggs me on, whispering into my ear to squeeze tighter and not let go.
The peachy tint of her face turns red then blue and finally purple. The only thing that saves me from not flat out committing murder is the image of Zora’s face that clearly enters my brain like a soothing balm.
Realizing the extent of my madness, I immediately release Teagan, partly regretful for what I’d done while the other half celebrates releasing the resentment I’ve felt for her for a very long time.
She collapses to the ground, clutching her throat, coughing and crying. She raises pleading eyes toward me, silently begging for my comfort but I have none for her.
I need to get away from her, this party…this house.
I head toward the door but before I cross the threshold, I turn to a still crying Teagan. “Try not to steal anything on your way out.”
I don’t need to go from room to room to know that Zora has already left. I no longer feel her presence.
For now, I don’t have the power or resources to reach my ultimate goal.
Zora.
But the day will come when I claim what’s mine. And nothing is going to stand in my way. Not even her.