Chapter 2: Burnt Bridges and Broken Noses

"Of course, Hudson. Why would you even ask me that? I'll be your girlfriend, I'm already your girlfriend, silly." Mia answered, her pearly white teeth shining as she giggled. 

Jason stood and watched as Hudson leaned in and kissed Mia. His blood was boiling and the rage engulfed him, making him really consider doing something he was sure he'd regret. 

Hudson released Mia and turned to look at Jason with a sly grin on his face.

"What are you still doing here, you loser?" Hudson asked Jason, as he pulled Mia closer to him, his left arm hanging possessively around Mia's slim waist. 

Jason eyed the arm, gritting his jaw to the point of pain. 

"Baby, don't mind him. He's just some really slow guy, in one of my classes, that has this stupid crush on me. I've already told him several times that I wasn't interested but he doesn't listen. He just keeps following me, and I didn't want to hurt his feelings." Mia whined to Hudson, and then placed her palm on his chest. 

"Why are you doing this, Mia? How on earth could you say that about me?" Jason gritted through clenched teeth.

Mia pulled away from Hudson and turned halfway towards him. "Isn't it obvious, Jason?" She said his name with a voice dripping with scorn and disregard.

"Nothing can ever happen between us, not now and not ever. Why won't you stop following me around like a creep? I don't even like you!" She yelled at him, looking him up and down like an irritating, buzzing fly that wouldn't go away. 

"I knew it. He's that guy that sits behind her in class. God, he's such a creep" A voice said from behind Jason.

"He's a stalker, that's what he is."

"Isn't he ashamed? How can he be doing this to such an innocent girl? God, some people really don't deserve to live and breathe." Another voice muttered behind him.

"He could never be on the same level as Mia. Talk about a classless and foolish act."

Jason could feel the blood rushing to his face but he wouldn't succumb to such words. 

"I bet you, the fucker's here on scholarship. He doesn't look like he can afford to go to this school." A different voice murmured.

"I can never be with someone like you, Jason. The sooner you get that into your thick skull, probably hardened by poverty, then the easier it'll be for you to forget this silly crush you have on me."

"Your stupid fantasy of us being together can never come through, Jason." Mia taunted, her short skirt swaying in the wind.

Jason could barely control his rage and stepped forward.

"Let her go, Hudson. There are many girls in this school. Why must it be my girlfriend?" Jason addressed the other guy, seething with rage.

Hudson pulled away from Mia and walked towards him with deliberate steps.

"Are you even listening to yourself? Mia is not your damn girlfriend. She just told you she doesn't want you." He poked Jason in the face. 

"She never was your girlfriend and she never will be. So take your sorry ass, and get the hell out of my face, asshole." Hudson shouted in his face, his chest rising and falling as he took deep breaths, face fully flushed with anger.

Mia quickly rushed to Hudson and tried to pull him back, away from Jason. Which was good because Jason had this enticing image of Hudson lying unconscious on the tarred road after he'd beat him senseless. 

"Baby, don't get yourself worked up over someone like Jason. He's so not worth it. He's just a poor loser that thinks he has a shot with me. He hasn't even paid his tuition fees." She laughed, and the sound Jason previously thought was light and sweet sounded sour in his ears.

"It's probably why he's harassing us. Maybe he's hoping to get some money out of this." 

Gasps were heard all around them.

"God! That explains why he's here fighting for a girl that wasn't even his girlfriend in the first place." A voice echoed.

"He is such a pathetic idiot." Another said.

"Mia should definitely sue his stalker ass, I wonder how he sleeps at night. Such a creep."

"Loser!"

The murmurs swept through the crowd as the crowd surged around them, sounding like they'd enjoy lynching poor Jason. 

"Is it money you want? If it's money, then you can have it, you impoverished bastard." Hudson barely finished his sentence before Jason punched him square in the face. 

A scream rent the air as Mia's hands flew to her mouth in shock.

"You asshole! How dare you?!' Hudson screamed as he lunged at Jason, returning the blow. 

"Ughh!" Jason groaned, as he stumbled a few feet back and the crowd moved back, as if he had a rabid infection, to give him space.

Jason quickly regained his footing and rushed for Hudson.

"Hudson!!!" Mia screamed as blood spurted from Hudson's nose.

Jason landed on Hudson and they stumbled back, falling to the floor in a tangle of swinging and kicking male limbs. 

Jason swung his hand back preparing to hit Hudson again, but he was hauled off of Hudson. 

His hands were bent and jerked behind him in a painful twist. 

He turned his head to find two of Hudson's bodyguards holding his arms. 

"Let go of me, you goons!" Jason growled.

"Hudson, baby are you okay?" Mia said gingerly as she went to help Hudson up to his feet.

"Let go of me!" Hudson screamed as he shrugged out of Mia's hands, pushing her away. 

He swiped at his broken lips.

"Hold him up." Hudson instructed the bodyguards.

They twisted his arms farther up against his back and Jason groaned in pain. 

Hudson balled up his hand and swung his fist at Jason.

The punch landed against Jason's side and he winced , his face tightening in pain. 

Jason's head dropped as more punches landed on his face, his jaw and chest and kicks landed on his thighs.

Jason's face was battered and his nose was visibly broken. 

Jason groaned and spit out a mouthfull of blood.

Hudson moved back a few steps and prepared to hit him again when Jason suddenly freed himself from his bodyguards and tackled Hudson to the floor.

He pulled back his hand and punched Hudson in the face, returning every punch Hudson gave him tenfold.

His fist swung back, ready to give Hudson another punch when hands grabbed onto him. 

They hauled him off of Hudson, who lay on the tarred road, gasping for air and dear life, and threw him to the ground. 

Jason's eyes flew up to find his attackers, and his eyes met that of his school chancellor.