Page 89 of Steel & Jenna
“The ticket I bought states otherwise.”
“You mean yourgirlfriendbought?” Tommy sneered, his eyes flickering to Jenna behind Jack. “What sort of man lets agirlbuy him things?”
“What sort of man lets his parents buy him everything?” Jackthrew back at him. “I do not owe you or anyone else an explanation. Neither does Jenna. We came to have a nice, fun night. That is all.”
Tommy pushed on Asher’s shoulder. “Search him. He can’t get in without his precious ticket.”
“Tommy!” Jenna scolded from behind Jack. Leaning around Jack’s shoulder, she looked directly at Asher. “Really, Asher? Are you going to let Tommy push you around your entire life? This isn’t fucking middle school! You’re an adult, act like it!”
At least Asher had the decency to blush.
The ballroom doors opened to their right. As others started to enter, Tommy’s audience diminished. Seeming to realize this, Tommy started forward. He was in the middle of saying, “Fucking ridiculous! I’ll do it myself!” when suddenly he was on his knees facing away from them.
Jenna jumped at his sudden cry of pain. She barely saw Jack’s back move, but her eyes had also been on Asher. Looking around Jack’s body, she saw Tommy had his arm outstretched as if he’d been reaching for Jack’s jacket. But his hand was twisted backwards between Jack’s two hands. His arm was still straight and he was hunching over as if to take pressure off of his shoulder.
“The fuck, man! Let me go!”
Others were pointing and laughing now, Tommy’s need for an audience now working against him.
As more teens filed into the ballroom, Jenna spotted Mrs. Percy, one of her professors, by the left door. Her eyes fell on Jenna, Jack, and Tommy through the others still hanging around. Tommy’s friends were too shocked to see their illustrious leader on his knees to be doing anything but stare in shock.
“Jack,” Jenna said in warning. She did not want him getting into trouble for defending himself.
Seeing Mrs. Percy coming towards them, Jack released his hold on Tommy’s arm. He held his hands up shoulder height as he stepped back to stand at Jenna’s side rather than in front of her.
“Mr. Fitzgerald.” Mrs. Percy’s shrill voice caught Tommy’s attention where he was on the floor.
Clutching his wrist to his chest, Tommy shot to his feet. “Mrs. Percy! I wasn’t doing anything. This…verminwas trying to sneak into our prom! I was stopping him?—”
“And the fact that Ms. Scanlon is holding his hand suggested this fact to you?”
The back of Tommy’s neck reddened. “He doesn’tbelonghere, Mrs. Percy.”
The professor did not seem impressed with Tommy’s explanation. “And you took it upon yourself to forcibly remove him from the premises?” Tommy didn’t seem to have an answer for that. Mrs. Percy’s eyes narrowed. She nodded sternly. “Mr. Fitzgerald, why don’t you take your friends into the ballroom?”
“Yes, Mrs. Percy.”
“And Mr. Fitzgerald?” Mrs. Percy called after him. “Why don’t you watch your own behavior instead of concerning yourself with who is and is not allowed at this event?”
Tommy and the others continued on into the ballroom. Jenna saw his shoulders stiffen, though, and knew that this wasn’t the end of it. Tommy did not take being humiliated well.
Mrs. Percy turned her attention back to Jack. “I trust you will also be watching yourself, Mr. …?”
“Duncan.” Jack held his hand out to Mrs. Percy. “Jack Duncan. I appreciate your help in defusing the situation.”
Mrs. Percy seemed pleasantly surprised by Jack’s gratitude. “My pleasure.” She eyed Jenna and then Jack again. “I hope the two of you have a good night.”
The professor walked off.
Others were still around but thankfully Jack and Jenna were not the center of attention anymore.
“You okay?” Jack asked her.
Jenna nodded. “I’ve always hated that kid. He’s so immature. Are you okay?”
Jack turned, running the back of his fingers down her cheek. “I’m perfectly fine. But I do have a question for you.”
“Yeah?”
