The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Chapter 72

ZANE

I left her there against the wall, lips swollen from my mouth, my jersey still hanging off her like a fucking brand.

Every step away felt like ripping my own skin off.

The monster inside me, the one that had wrapped around her like a snake for months, patient, coiled, starving- had finall snapped. It wasn’t waiting anymore. It wanted to swallow her whole.

And some weak little prey thought he could put his mouth on what was mine.

I was going to kill him.

My fists were clenched so tight my knuckles ached as I stormed through the hallway. Students scattered like roaches/when they saw my face. I didn’t see them. I only saw red.

I heard his laugh before I saw him – fake, charming, surrounded by a little group of girls near the senior lockers. Two of them were leaning in, twirling their hair, giggling at whatever bullshit he was saying.

He looked so fucking pleased with himself.

My lip curled.

I walked straight up. The girls noticed me first. Their smiles died instantly. They scurried away a few feet, whispering frantically.

Jason turned. His polished expression faltered when he saw me, then settled into cold wariness.

“What do you want, Ashton?”

I stepped right into his space, towering over him.

“You kissed her.”

He didn’t flinch. The idiot actually smirked.

“Hawthorne isn’t your property,” he shot back. “She’s a person. And yeah… I kissed her. She kissed me back. Seemed to like it too.”

The words hit like gasoline on an open flame.

She kissed him back.

My fist flew before I could think.

It connected with his jaw with a sickening crack. His head snapped to the side, blood spraying from his split lip

Gasps erupted from the growing crowd.

Jason staggered, then laughed through the blood. “That all you got, you psychotic fuck? She deserves better than a controlling piece of shit like you. Someone who actually sees her and not just a toy to-”

I didn’t let him finish.

I punched him again, harder and we crashed to the floor.

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11:5 Fri

Chapter 72

He got on top for a second, raining punches down. I barely felt them. Then I twisted, using my size and strength to flip us

Now I was on top.

I pummeled him.

Left. Right. Left.

People were screaming.

“Zane! Stop!”

“Someone get help!”

I kept punching.

Then I felt soft hands grabbing the back of my shirt, pulling desperately.

“Zane! Zane, stop! Leave him alone!”

Her voice.

Her scent, sweet strawberry and her sweet flooded my nose and slammed straight into my brain.

“Astra.”

She was pressed against my back, her soft body trying to drag me off him. She was crying.

“Zane… please,” she sobbed. “Stop.”

Several strong hands of male students finally grabbed me, yanking me off Jason.

I let them.

My eyes locked on Astra.

She looked terrified. Tears streaming down her beautiful face.

And then she looked away from me…

And rushed to Jason instead.

She dropped to her knees beside him, hands hovering over his bloody face, voice shaking as she called his name

Something inside my chest cracked open and turned black.

I stood there, breathing like a wild animal, blood on my hands, watching the girl I was obsessed with comfort the boy I wanted to kill.

And the monster inside me whispered one thing, over and over:

*She’s still mine.”

*Even if I have to burn everything down to prove it.”

I got sent to Principal Mollins’ office. He was already standing behind his desk, looking exhausted and disappointed, the same expression he’d worn every time I ended up here since freshman year.

“Zane,” he sighed, gesturing to the chair. “Sit.”

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11:59 Fri, Jul 3 D

Chapter 72

I dropped into it, legs spread wide, still buzzing.

Mollins rubbed his temples.

“Another fight. Care to explain yourself before I call your father?”

I stared unblinkingly at him and answered honestly. I saw no point in lying.

“He touched what’s mine.”

Mollins looked at me like I was a lost cause.

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“Zane… you can’t keep doing this. You’re the face of this school’s athletics program. Scouts are watching you. One more incident and even your last name might not save you from suspension.”

I shrugged.

“Do what you want.”

He sighed heavily.

“Three-day suspension, starting tomorrow. And mandatory community service after school for the rest of the month. Your father will be informed immediately.”

I didn’t even blink.

Landon and the school could go fuck themselves. I didn’t care.

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