Filed to story: Katy and Brayden Cooper Novel
His nostrils flare. “You think I won’t do it?” he barks, earning glances from a few students walking past. “I’ve been patient with you, Katy, but you keep pushing me. First, you break up with me. Then you start messing around with Braydon, acting like you’re some prize.” He steps closer, closing the gap between us. “I’ll give you three days to make up your mind,” he says, lowering his tone. “Either you come back to me, or I’ll ruin you and your perfect little life here in Cadston.”
I lift my chin “I don’t need three days. I’ve already made my decision.” I pause, my eyes locked on his. “I’d rather die than ever be your girlfriend again.”
His expression twists, a crooked grin fighting through the rage. He tilts his head, looking almost unhinged. “Don’t fucking beg me when everyone sees those photos,” he sneers. “Not even your stupid brother will be able to save you.”
The air grows cold. My heart stutters, then-
“Are you talking about me?” A familiar voice cuts in.
I look over Bryan’s shoulder and freeze. Justin’s standing a few feet behind him, fists clenched, and eyes burning.
Bryan turns, and I see the way his shoulders tense when he realizes who it is. Justin takes a step forward, jaw locked, and nostrils flaring. “Did you just call me stupid?”
“You can think whatever you want,” Bryan says flatly, adjusting his bag. “Anyway, I was leaving. See ya, Katy.”
Justin shoves him back before he can take another step.
“Why the hell do you have a bloody nose and my sister looks like that?” Justin asks. “Did she hit you? And why?”
I swallow hard, blinking fast to keep my tears down. I don’t know why it happens every time, why my emotions feel like they belong to Justin the moment he steps in. It’s like he holds the key to my dam, and the moment he shows up, everything threatens to spill out.
“Why don’t you get out of my way?” Bryan snaps. “I have a class.”
“No one’s leaving,” Justin growls, stepping closer, his broad shoulders blocking his path. “Not until I get my answers.”
My brain scrambles for what to say, how to stop this before it explodes. Because I know Justin. Once he pieces it together, Bryan won’t leave here without broken bones and we’re in the middle of campus. Justin won’t care about consequences. He never does when he’s angry, especially when it’s about me. I can tell Braydon what Bryan said and he’ll help me fix this quietly. But Justin? No.
He’ll make sure Bryan never walks straight again.
“It’s nothing,” I blurt out, stepping closer. “Nothing happened between us.”
Justin lets out a cold, humorless chuckle and when I meet his eyes, they don’t look like his anymore. “I knew you were going to say that,” he mutters, his voice barely controlled.
Before I can move, his hand shoots out, grabbing Bryan by the collar. Bryan stumbles, trying to pull free, but Justin’s grip is strong. “I heard something about photos,” Justin growls. “Were you blackmailing my sister?”
My hands fall uselessly to my sides and my throat closes up. He heard. He knows.
“Let go of ” Bryan starts, but the words cut off when Justin’s fist slams into his face.
Bryan staggers, but another punch follows, then another, each one harder than the last.
“Justin! Stop-please!” I scream, shoving at him, and pulling at his arm, but he doesn’t stop. Bryan hits the ground, trying to shield his face, but Justin’s boot connects with his ribs.
KATY’S POV
My screams echo across the hall, cutting through the chaos of fists and shouts. Heads turn and within seconds, a small crowd gathers with their phones already out. No one steps in to help. They just watch, whispering and recording, hungry for drama.
“Justin! Stop!” I cry, trying to push through, but he shoves me back so hard I stumble. My knees scrape the pavement, and my breath catches. Bryan’s still on the ground, his face a mess of blood and dirt, groaning as Justin’s fist connects again.
“Justin, please!” I yell, my voice breaking. “You’re going to…”
“Back away!”
The command cuts through the noise. Two campus security officers rush in, forcing their way through the crowd. They grab Justin by both arms, dragging him off Bryan but he resists, still trying to swing, and still shouting.
“He threatened her!” he roars, his voice raw with fury. “He said he’d-‘
“Enough!” one of the officers snaps, pinning him against the wall. “Hands where I can see them!”
Two guys from the baseball team crouch beside Bryan, helping him sit up. His nose is bleeding heavily, staining his shirt and the ground beneath him. He spits red, glaring weakly at Justin.
My chest tightens and I rush forward before I can stop myself. “Please, sir… he-“
“Miss, we’ll need you to step aside,” one of the campus security officers cuts in, holding out his arm. “You can explain everything at the office.”
The second officer signals to the two players helping Bryan. “Bring him along. We’ll get him checked out.”
Justin’s still fighting against the grip of the guards, his chest heaving. His hair’s a mess, his knuckles split, eyes wild with anger and adrenaline. Even as they drag him off, he twists around to shout…
“If you come near my sister again, I’ll finish what I started!”
My heart’s racing, and my palms won’t stop sweating as I stand outside the campus security office. Justin’s inside with them, and even though I can’t hear a word, I know it’s bad because his coach has already been called.
I press my hands against my face, trying to breathe. Don’t cry, Katy. Don’t.
But that’s easier said than done when it feels like Justin’s whole life is about to crash.
On our way here, one of the officers mentioned Bryan’s injuries were too severe and I don’t even know what that means. Are they going to press charges? Every possibility makes my stomach twist harder.
I run my fingers through my hair, pacing. My legs feel shaky, my mind running circles. What if Justin gets suspended?
“Katy!”
I turn, and there’s Braydon approaching. He reaches me and before I can say anything, he pulls me into a hug. The second his arms go around me, I break. Tears spill out fast, and I clutch his hoodie like it’s the only thing keeping me steady.
“I’m here,” he whispers, rubbing my back. “Let it all out.”
We stay like that for a few minutes with me crying and clutching to him. When I finally pull back, I wipe at my face, embarrassed by how hard I’m shaking. Braydon studies me quietly, concern written all over his face.
“Are you okay?” He asks, his hands still resting on my arms. “Are you hurt anywhere? Look at me.”
I shake my head quickly. “I’m not hurt. But Justin…” My voice cracks on his name.
“It’s okay,” he says gently. “He had reasons for what he did, and it’s not the worst case we’ve seen.”
I sniff, swiping at my cheeks. “Are you saying he’s not getting kicked off the team?”
Braydon gives a small nod. “Coach is already on his way. He’ll handle it. Come on, let’s go in there.”
He laces his fingers around my wrist and leads me inside the office. Inside, Justin and Bryan sit across from each other, both looking wrecked in different ways.