Filed to story: Katy and Brayden Cooper Novel
My lips tremble with anger. The nerve of them to badmouth me and then stand there acting like I’m imagining things.
“And the part about me acting like I’m perfect?” I ask, stepping closer. “Was that not about me either? If you’re going to badmouth someone, at least have the guts to own up to your crap.”
Their smiles vanish.
“You’re just a bunch of losers who have nothing better to do than gossip about people.”
Miley’s eyes flare. “Did you just call us losers?”
“A-“I start, but another voice cuts in.
“Yes, she did.”
I turn to see Bryan approaching, a backpack swung over one shoulder. He stops beside me, facing Miley with that easy, confident posture I once found charming.
“And I think she’s right,” he says smoothly. “If you were gossiping.”
My eyes widen. What the hell is he doing here? And more importantly, why is he interfering in my business?
Miley glances between us, her lips curling before she huffs. “Whatever,” she mutters, tossing her hair as she walks off, Sam trailing right behind her.
I exhale sharply, my jaw locking as I turn on Bryan. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
He blinks, unfazed by my tone. “Can we talk?”
I let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “What on earth would I possibly want to talk about with you?”
He steps closer, his voice dropping a notch. “About us.”
I bite my lip so hard it hurts, forcing myself to stay calm. “There’s no us, Bryan. So piss off.”
I spin around, ready to walk away, but his hand shoots out and grabs my wrist. The contact sends a jolt through me…anger, not electricity and I rip my hand free, glaring up at him.
“Are you really not gonna hear what I want to say?” he asks.
KATY’S POV
“You really think I care what you have to say?”
Bryan’s jaw tightens, his eyes dark like they always get when he’s angry. “I really think you should calm down before you escalate things more than you’d like.”
I let out a short laugh, the kind that’s more disbelief than humor. “Are you threatening me now, or just trying to sound important?”
He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Let’s get back together.”
Like ice, the air stills.
For a moment, I just blink at him, waiting for the punchline that never comes. Wait. He’s serious.
He’s actually serious.
My brows lift slowly, like my brain’s trying to process the level of delusion standing in front of me.
Then, against my will, a tiny laugh slips out and it’s one of those awkward, breathy ones.
And then it worsens. The disbelief, the irony, and the pure audacity of it all hits me at once. Before I know it, I’m laughing loudly, and uncontrollably, my head tilted back, hand clutching my stomach.
“You-“I manage between gasps, pointing at him. “You came all the way here to say that? What happened to everything you said when I dumped your ass?”
His jaw flexes. “Don’t you think giving us a second chance is better than being a slut?”
I tilt my head, lips twitching as the laughter dies abruptly from my lips. “What did you just say?”
He scoffs, his tone dripping with disgust. “You really don’t get it, do you? Everyone’s talking about you, Braydon’s new toy. You’re just another girl he’ll get bored of once he’s done having fun.” He steps closer, eyes raking over me. “Tell me, Katy, is that what you wanted? Attention? To play the slut for a guy?”
The words sting, but I hold his stare. “What I do is none of your business.” My voice comes out hoarse. “Maybe that’s what pisses you off… that I moved on and you didn’t.”
He drags a hand through his hair, frustration flashing across his face. “Katy, what do you want?”
I let out a dry laugh. “What do I want? Nothing from you.”
I turn to leave, but his hand shoots out, gripping my arm hard enough to hurt. He starts dragging me back toward him, ignoring my struggle.
“Bryan, let go!” I jerk, twisting against his hold. When he doesn’t, my voice rises. “Have you lost your mind? Let me go before I file a report against you!”
He freezes then, his eyes darting around as people start watching. I yank my arm free and take a step back, breathing hard.
“Touch me again,” I say quietly, “and I swear you’ll regret it.”
“And then what?” he fires back, veins pulsing at his temple. “We aren’t done, Katy. I decide when this is over.”
I inhale slowly. “We were done the moment you cheated. Stalk me again and I’ll file a report.”
I start to turn away, my shoulders already angling toward the path that will put space between us.
“If you leave, I’ll share those photos.”
The words hits me and everything inside me goes quiet. For a long second I’m only aware of my own breathing and the distant sound of students talking steps away. Photos. His voice loops: “I’ll share those photos.”
The idea blooms coldly in my stomach: screens, likes, laughing faces, the way people will point and my chest tightens until I can’t take a full breath.
I force myself to step back into the moment. My fingers, which were loose at my sides, curl into fists so hard my nails bite into my palms. Heat rises behind my eyes as I think of what those pictures might do, of doors closing, of my name turned into a joke.
He watches me with that calm, dangerous look, as if he’s already won and moves closer. “I can be kind, Katy. But you keep pushing me.”
The insult, the threat, the way he smiles…it all snaps me. My hand moves before my head finishes deciding what the right thing to do is and it swings out, connecting with his nose.
“What the fuck!” he yells, stumbling back and clutching his nose. Blood trickles between his fingers as he stares at his hand, then at me. “Have you lost your mind?”
“If you dare post those photos or show them to anyone, I’ll kill you.” My voice shakes. “What do you take me for? You think you can blackmail me with something I sent when I trusted you?” I inch closer. “Bryan…you’re a fucking loser and the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.”