The cicadas were loud tonight, vibrating through the thick summer air like a distant, relentless buzz saw. Francis wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, his fingers brushing against Olivia’s as they walked side by side along the cracked pavement of the park path. She smelled like strawberry shampoo and something faintly citrusy, maybe her sunscreen. Her denim shorts hugged her thighs just right, and the hem of her white singlet had ridden up slightly, revealing a sliver of tanned skin above her hip.
Olivia laughed at something Francis said, something stupid, probably, and nudged him with her shoulder. He wasn’t tall, but he carried himself like he didn’t care, grinning as he reached over to tug playfully at her ponytail. The park was mostly empty tonight, just the occasional flicker of fireflies and the distant hum of traffic bleeding through the trees. Their sneakers scuffed against the pavement, leaving faint marks in the dusty heat.
Somewhere behind them, voices rose in laughter, sharp, uneven, the kind that came from too many drinks on a hot night. Olivia glanced back just once, catching glimpses of three figures under the flickering orange streetlight. Bottles clinked, and one of them stumbled forward, but she turned back to Francis, dismissing them. Just drunk Adults, Nothing to worry about.
Matt wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, grinning as Tony elbowed him hard enough to make him sway. "Look at that, " Mark slurred, pointing toward Olivia’s retreating figure. "That’s Francis. Kid’s got no business with a girl like that. How does an 18 year old looking that get an 18 year old beauty who looks like that. " Matt’s throat tightened. He’d never even touched a girl the way Francis was touching Olivia now, fingers brushing her waist like he owned her. The thought burned hotter than the whiskey in his gut.
Tony snorted. "Must have money or something. Ain’t no way she’d be with him otherwise." His words dripped with certainty, as if the logic was unassailable. Matt’s fingers twitched around his bottle. Olivia’s hair swayed as she laughed again, the sound carrying through the humid air like wind chimes. He could practically smell her from here, strawberries and summer sweat. His stomach twisted.
Mark leaned in, grinning. "Bet you wouldn’t even know what to do with her, huh, Matt?" He jabbed a finger into Matt’s ribs, hard enough to make him wince. "Still got that damn V-card." The others erupted into laughter, loud and jagged. Matt’s face burned. He took another swig, the liquor searing his throat like punishment.
Francis and Olivia had stopped by the old oak tree now, its gnarled branches casting crooked shadows over them. Olivia was leaning against the trunk, her white singlet catching the dim glow of the streetlight, her skin golden and smooth. Matt wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans. He could feel the acne on his cheeks prickling under the heat, his own bulk heavy and awkward compared to Francis’ wiry frame.
Tony nudged Matt again, breath sour with cheap beer. "Look at her, " he muttered, his grin all teeth. "Wouldn’t even know where to stick it, would you?" The words curled into Matt’s gut like a fist. No girl ever gave him a second glance, too big, too quiet, too much like a shadow lurking at the edges of parties. Olivia’s laughter drifted over again, light and careless, and something cracked inside him.
Mark cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders like he was gearing up for a fight. "Let’s make it interesting, " he said, low and rough. "Teach Francis a lesson." He didn’t wait for an answer, just started forward, his footsteps crunching over dry grass. Tony followed, tossing his bottle aside with a clatter. Matt hesitated, pulse hammering, but the weight of their expectation, the chance to finally be one of them, pushed him after.
Olivia noticed them first, her smile freezing as the three figures emerged from the shadows. Francis turned, his body instinctively shifting in front of her, but Mark was already there, shoving him hard against the oak trunk. "What’s the hurry?" Mark grinned, his breath thick with liquor and menace. Francis winced, his hands coming up in defense, but Tony grabbed his wrists, pinning them easily. "Relax, " Tony sneered. "We’re just here to help your boy out."
Olivia’s eyes darted between them, her pulse thudding in her throat. "Leave him alone, " she said, voice wavering. Matt stood a little behind the others, his fingers twitching at his sides. The air smelled like hot asphalt and spilled beer, but beneath it, he caught the sweet scent of her shampoo. Strawberries. His stomach lurched.
Tony tightened his grip on Francis’ wrists, grinning when the smaller guy hissed in pain. "See, Matt? This is how you handle things, " he said, nodding toward Olivia. "Go on. Teach him how it’s done." Mark shoved Francis harder against the tree, bark scraping his back. Olivia’s breath hitched as Matt stepped forward, his shadow swallowing hers.
Matt’s hands trembled at his sides, sweat beading along his hairline. Olivia’s hazel eyes flicked to his crotch, then away just as fast, her lips pressing tight. Mark barked a laugh. "Five inches and shaking like a fucking leaf!" He grinned, nudging Tony. "Kid’s gonna blow his load before he even gets close." Tony smirked, twisting Francis’ arm until the guy whimpered. Matt’s face burned hotter than the whiskey in his gut.
Olivia flinched when Matt stepped closer, her back hitting the oak’s rough bark. The hem of her singlet had ridden up further, exposing the dip of her navel. Matt’s throat dried. He could see the outline of her bra through the thin fabric, the way her chest rose and fell too fast. "Please, " she whispered, but the word tangled in the cicadas’ drone. Mark cackled. "Listen to that. Begging already." Tony dragged Francis to his knees, forcing him to watch.
Francis thrashed against Tony’s grip, his voice raw. "Don’t, don’t fucking touch her!" The words cracked halfway. Mark kicked him square in the ribs, sending him sprawling into the dirt. Olivia cried out, lurching forward, but Matt caught her wrist. Her skin was slick with sweat, her pulse fluttering like a trapped bird under his fingers. He’d never held a girl this way. His grip tightened.
Mark crouched beside Francis, grinning as the smaller guy gasped for air. "Look at him, " he jeered, grabbing a fistful of Francis’ hair to yank his head up. "Little man thinks he’s tough." Tony barked a laugh, planting his foot between Francis’ shoulder blades to keep him down. Francis’ face twisted, tears cutting through the dust on his cheeks. Olivia whimpered, her free hand clawing at Matt’s arm, but he barely felt it.
Tony dug into his jacket pocket, pulling out a thick plastic cable tie. The white strip gleamed under the streetlight as he knelt behind Francis. Olivia let out a choked sob when Tony wrenched Francis’ arms back, looping the cable tie around his wrists with a sharp, practiced jerk. The plastic bit into skin as Tony tightened it, Francis’ shoulders straining unnaturally. "There, " Tony muttered, securing the ends around the oak’s gnarled trunk. Francis bucked, hissing as bark scraped his back. "Now he gets a front-row seat."
Mark grabbed Olivia’s other wrist, yanking her forward so abruptly her sneakers scuffed against the dirt. She stumbled, colliding with Matt’s chest. The smell of strawberries flooded his nose, sweet, cloying, mixed with the sharp tang of her fear. Her breath hitched against his collarbone. "Stop, " she whispered, but Mark just laughed, twisting her arm behind her back. The denim of her shorts stretched taut over her thighs as she struggled, her singlet riding up further to expose the delicate ridge of her hipbone.
Tony leaned in, his breath hot and sour against Olivia’s ear. "Think you can handle her, Matt?" He dragged a finger down her bare arm, making her shudder. "She’s softer than she looks." Olivia flinched when Matt’s fingers brushed the hem of her singlet, his touch hesitant, clumsy. The fabric was damp with sweat, clinging to her skin. Mark jerked her arm higher, forcing her onto her toes. "C’mon, don’t tell me you don’t wanna know what’s under there, " he taunted, grinning when Olivia let out a choked gasp.
Matt’s pulse roared in his ears. Olivia’s breasts pressed against his chest, her nipples stiff under the thin white fabric. He could see the lace edge of her bra where her singlet had slipped, the dark contrast against her tan skin. "Bet you’ve jacked off to girls like this, " Tony sneered, shoving Matt’s shoulder. "All those times you watched her walk by, huh? Thought about pulling those shorts down?" Mark twisted Olivia’s wrist until she whimpered. "Now’s your chance, buddy. Show us what you’re made of."
Olivia twisted in Matt’s grip, her sneakers kicking up dirt. "Get off, !" Mark wrenched her arms higher behind her back, bending her forward with a brutal jerk. Her black hair tumbled over her face, muffling her next cry. Matt’s fingers shook as he fumbled with the button of her shorts. The denim was warm from her skin, the metal clasp
Tony grabbed Olivia’s wrists, twisting them together in one meaty hand while the other clamped over her mouth, cutting off her scream. "Shut up and take it, " he growled against her ear. Olivia thrashed, her elbows jabbing uselessly against Tony’s ribs. Her hazel eyes locked onto Francis, still tied to the tree. His face was slick with tears, his lips forming words Olivia couldn’t hear over the cicadas’ drone.
Mark sauntered over to Francis, kicking a clod of dirt at his knees. "Bet you thought you were hot shit, huh?" He crouched, grabbing a fistful of Francis’ hair to yank his head up. "Little man with his little girlfriend." Francis spat weakly, the saliva barely reaching Mark’s sneaker. Mark laughed, wiping the sole on Francis’ thigh. "Look at him, can’t even spit right." He smacked Francis’ cheek, the sound sharp against the humid air. "Watch real men handle your girl."