It was supposed to be a normal day.
Michelle had arrived at school hand-in-hand with Steve, heads turning as they walked through the hallway. Some whispered. Some smiled. But for the first time, she didn't care.
Steve leaned in at her locker. "Lunch at our usual spot?"
Michelle nodded, smiling. "Don't forget."
"I never do." He kissed her temple, then left for class.
Michelle headed toward the restroom to fix her hair before the bell rang.
But the second she stepped inside, the door slammed behind her.
Click.
Locked.
She turned fast—but it wasn't just one girl.
It was Chloe. Tara. And another girl she didn't even know the name of.
"What are you doing?" Michelle asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Chloe smirked. "Relax. We're just having a little talk."
"Let me out," Michelle said, stepping back.
"No," Tara said, arms crossed. "We're tired of seeing you act like you belong next to him."
"Steve doesn't want a girl like you," Chloe added, stepping closer. "He just doesn't know it yet."
Michelle swallowed. "You think you can scare me? Trap me here while you go flirt with him?"
"Oh, we're not just going to flirt," Chloe said with a smile that made Michelle's stomach twist. "We're going to show him what he's missing."
Meanwhile, Steve was walking through the courtyard, scanning for Michelle.
She wasn't at the bench.
She wasn't near the lockers.
He checked their classroom.
Empty.
His brows furrowed.
He called her. No answer.
Something felt wrong.
Steve started walking faster—hallway by hallway—then froze in front of the girls' restroom.
He heard… a sound.
A knock. Then another.
Then silence.
He stepped closer.
"Michelle?" he called out.
Nothing.
He tried the handle. Locked.
"Michelle!" His voice was louder now.
Inside, Michelle's eyes widened. She rushed to the door and knocked hard. "Steve! I'm in here!"
"Michelle, are you okay?"
"No! They locked me in!"
From outside, Steve's voice grew cold. "Open the door. Now."
Chloe had just stepped out, grinning. "Oh, you're here! Didn't think you'd miss me that much—"
Steve turned to her, jaw clenched. "You locked her in the bathroom?"
Chloe blinked, pretending to be shocked. "What? No—"
"Key. Now."
Tara and the others froze.
Steve stepped closer, voice low and sharp. "You think this is a game? Keeping her from me?"
Chloe faltered. Finally, she pulled the key from her bag and dropped it in his hand.
Steve opened the door.
Michelle stood there—shaken, but strong.
The moment she saw him, her eyes filled with tears. He rushed to her, pulling her into his arms.
"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
She shook her head quickly, clutching his hoodie. "I just wanted to get out…"
"You're safe now. I've got you."
And in front of everyone—every whisper, every cruel eye—Steve kissed her.
Not soft. Not quick.
But real.
Deep and sure.
"I'm done playing nice," he said after. "If anyone touches you again—"
Michelle looked at him, heart thudding. "Let's just get out of here."
As they walked away together, people moved aside.
Steve's arm stayed around her shoulders the whole time.
And Michelle—though her hands still trembled—knew one thing for sure:
No matter what they tried to take from her…Steve would always come find her.