Chapter 326


    Chapter 326


    “Got everything?” The two stood waiting for their friends to emerge.


    The waitress brought over some candies, and Leanne grabbed a couple, handing one to Jeremy.


    As Jeremy took it, he could feel a chilling gaze on him. Without looking in that direction, he blurted out,


    “Do you remember when Curtis got into a fight with Johnny back in high school?”


    Despite the years, the name Johnny still rang a bell for Leanne.


    Johnny was notorious at school-a big guy, parents divorced, living with his dad who had remarried and


    left him mostly with his frail grandfather. Probably grew up without much guidance, hanging out with the


    wrong crowd.


    He was two grades above Leanne, so they didn’t really cross paths. Leanne would always steer clear


    of him.


    One day after gym ss, it was Leanne’s turn to put away the equipment, which made herte. She


    changed out of her gym clothes into the summer uniform and was heading out when she noticed


    Johnny and his troublesome friends horsing around in a deserted hallway.


    As she passed by, the noise noticeably stopped.


    She felt their eyes on her and quickened her pace, but halfway through, Johnny suddenly grabbed her


    arm and dragged her into the boys bathroom at the end of the hall.


    His menacing face and the maliciousughter from outside made Leanne’s skin c


    “Why cover up such a nice body?” he taunted, spraying water on her from a tap. In of panic-induced


    strength, Leanne managed to break free and run out.


    Not many saw what happened, but rumors slowly spread that Johnny had dragged h into the boys’


    bathroom. What they spected had happened there left much to the imagination.


    Leanne didn’t understand why Jeremy was bringing this up now.


    “I remember him,” she said.


    “Do you know why it happened?”


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    Leanne was puzzled. “Wasn’t it because Johnny messed with Curtis?”


    Jeremy popped the peppermint in his mouth, the cool minty vor hitting the back of his throat and


    calming his nerves slightly.


    “Curtis, despite his rebellious ways back then, always had a sense of decency about him,”


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    Jeremy exined.


    “He might have looked rough, but he never hung out with shady types. And he wasn’t the type to throw


    punches unless absolutely necessary.”


    Leanne was still confused. “Then why did he…


    She paused, a realization dawning on her.


    Jeremy knew she had figured it out and smiled. “I think it was because of you.”


    During a lunch break, some ssmates were cramming for homework while others whispered gossip.


    The talk of Johnny pulling sophomore Leanne into the boys’ bathroom and hering out drenched


    spread quickly.


    The sun was shining brightly that day, and Curtis was sprawled on a desk, covered with his jacket,


    sound asleep.


    Without warning, the screeching sound of a chair dragging across the floor echoed in the quiet


    ssroom as Curtis stood up. His youthful face had a rebel’s sharpness, and his sleepy eyes carried a


    weary coldness.


    He left his jacket on the floor and walked out without a word. He didn’t return that afternoon. Soon after,


    word spread that he had beaten Johnny so badly that the guy had to be hospitalized.


    After that day, Johnny disappeared from the school, the troublesome student who had vexed teachers


    and students alike was gone.


    At the time, Jeremy wasn’t close to Curtis, and many at school didn’t know about connection to


    Leanne.


    Everyone assumed it was just Johnny crossing the untouchable Curtis that had ea him a beating.


    It was only recently that Jeremy realized that maybe Curtis had cared about Leanne e more, and


    perhaps even longer, than anyone knew.


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