LOVING MY BROTHER'S RIVAL

Subtle Doubt

Chapter 2

I couldn't bring myself to go back inside and face Jonathan. I knew he wouldn't stop me if I returned, but I wasn't ready to deal with his disappointment.

Instead, I walked across campus to the room I shared with Betty. By the time I reached our floor, the hallway lights had dimmed for quiet hours. My hands were still shaking when I tried to unlock the door.

Betty sat cross-legged on her bed, wearing an oversized university hoodie. Her laptop was open, and half a protein bar lay forgotten on her desk.

She looked up when I entered, but her smile disappeared when she saw my face.

“What's up, girlfriend?”

I dropped my bag beside the door and stood there without answering. Shane's leather jacket was still on my shoulders.

“Nerissa, talk to me.”

I sat on the edge of my bed and told her everything that had happened at home. I explained how Jonathan had found out about Shane, the argument that followed, and the ultimatum he had given me.

Betty listened without interrupting.

When I finished, she stared at me for a moment.

“So, you're dating your brother's enemy?”

“Your way of putting it makes everything sound worse.”

“Worse? Nerissa, the Spikes and the Loud Rangers are rivals. Your brother and Shane have a personal history, too. How is that not bad?”

I rubbed my forehead.

“Does Shane know?” she asked.

“No. He doesn't even recognize me from back then.”

Betty's mouth fell open.

“Holy s**t. You're playing with fire.”

“I know.”

“Then what are you going to do about it?”

“Maybe I could figure that out if you stopped stating the obvious.”

She raised both hands.

“Fine. Don't take your frustration out on me. You're the one who has been sneaking around with the president of the Spikes while wearing his jacket.”

I stared at her.

“Betty, you're unbelievable.”

I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to calm myself down.

She shook her head.

“Don't panic yet. Let me call your brother first.”

“Excuse me?”

“I need to know what we're dealing with.”

“I thought you were my best friend.”

“I am. But you never told me the man you've been seeing was Shane Rowland."

I bent forward and rested my forehead on my knees.

“Help.”

Betty's mattress creaked as she moved closer. She rubbed my back, then wrapped an arm around my shoulders when I leaned against her.

We stayed that way for a while. Eventually, I stopped worrying long enough to fall asleep.

---

By late morning, the main quad was crowded with students heading to classes and those taking advantage of the warm weather.

Betty and I were crossing the courtyard when we heard the sound of several motorcycle engines.

A crowd had gathered near the molded statue.

Six bikes stood parked in a loose line, and the men around them were easy to identify. The Spikes had arrived on campus.

Shane stood among them, wearing his black jacket. His dark hair was pushed back, and he was talking to one of his club members.

Several girls stood nearby, taking pictures and trying to get his attention. A few were bold enough to approach him for selfies, but his friends kept them at a distance without making a scene.

I recognized the man standing closest to Shane. He wore a white singlet and had tattoos covering both arms. He was Shane's closest friend and the club's vice president.

I should have turned around as soon as I recognized the bikes.

Instead, I stood there for a second too long.

Shane looked up.

His eyes found mine almost immediately.

My stomach tightened.

He got off his bike and started walking toward us.

The students between us moved aside, and several phones turned in our direction. One girl who had been standing in front of me looked so disappointed when Shane passed her that her friend had to steady her.

I would have laughed if I hadn't been the reason he was walking through the crowd.

Shane stopped in front of me.

“I didn't get a reply from you last night.”

Someone behind me whispered, “She's dating the president of the Spikes? She's so lucky.”

I wanted the ground to swallow me.

Jonathan's ultimatum from the previous night was still fresh in my mind. Now I had Shane standing in front of me, drawing everyone's attention.

I grabbed Betty's wrist.

“Come on.”

“Wait, what—”

I pulled her through the crowd before she could finish. We hurried toward the nearest building, ignoring the students who turned to watch us leave.

Behind us, someone shouted, “Did she just ditch him?”

The laughter that followed made me walk faster.

We didn't stop until the glass doors closed behind us.

Betty turned to me.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“I'm trying to avoid making things worse.”

“By running away from Shane in front of everyone?”

I gave her a tired look.

“What would you have done?”

She opened her mouth, then closed it again.

“Fair enough.”

We continued down the corridor.

---

By lunchtime, I had just bought a sandwich when an email arrived from the university administration.

The subject line read: Request to Appear Before the Dean.

I opened it, expecting some routine academic matter.

Instead, I was instructed to report to the Dean's office regarding an alleged violation of university conduct regulations.

I found the administrative wing and checked in with the secretary. She directed me to the Dean's office without saying much.

Dean George sat behind his desk with a folder open in front of him.

“Miss Simeon? Please, sit down.”

I took the chair opposite him.

He turned the folder toward me. Inside was an incident report, along with a photograph taken from one of the campus security cameras. It showed several motorcycles parked near the fountain.

My name had been highlighted on the report.

“Someone reported you concerning the motorcycle club that arrived on campus this morning,” he explained. “The Spikes have a reputation that this institution is not comfortable with. According to the report, your presence was connected to their arrival.”

“I didn't invite them.”

“Can you explain why the president of the club approached you in front of so many students?”

I hesitated.

“Miss Simeon, this university takes its reputation seriously. We cannot ignore a report of this nature, particularly when an outside group with a history of trouble is involved.”

“But I didn't do anything.”

“I'm not accusing you of a crime. However, we have procedures that must be followed.”

He closed the folder.

“Your academic record is good, and your clinical evaluations have been excellent. That works in your favor. Nevertheless, the university has grounds to review your enrollment if the committee determines that you violated its conduct policies.”

My hands tightened around the straps of my bag.

“What happens now?”

“You have twenty-four hours to submit a written statement explaining your involvement and why your enrollment should not be terminated. The disciplinary committee will review your statement before making a decision.”

My professional examinations were only two weeks away. After five years of studying, I was finally close to finishing my degree.

Jonathan had worked overtime, skipped meals, and sacrificed his own plans to help me get this far.

Now, I could lose everything because of a situation I hadn't even known how to handle.

“Do you understand?” Dean George asked.

I nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. You may go.”

I stood and left the office before he could see how badly the news had shaken me.

Betty was waiting near the water fountain. She took one look at my face and followed me toward the stairwell.

“What happened?”

“They might terminate my enrollment.”

She stopped walking.

“What?”

“Someone reported the Spikes. The Dean says I have twenty-four hours to submit a statement explaining my involvement.”

“This is ridiculous. You didn't invite them.”

“I know, but apparently knowing someone who belongs to a motorcycle club is enough to get me into trouble.”

“Then tell them the truth.”

I leaned against the wall.

“And what exactly is the truth, Betty? That I'm secretly dating Shane Rowland? That I knew he belonged to the Spikes? That I never told Jonathan because I knew how he'd react?”

She fell silent.

I looked down at my hands.

“Even if I explain everything, I can't guarantee they'll believe me.”

Betty moved closer.

“Then we'll figure out what to write. You haven't been expelled yet, Nerissa. Don't act like everything is over.”

I nodded, but her words did little to calm me.

I kept thinking about the night before.

Jonathan had given me a choice, and I had walked away without answering him. This morning, Shane had approached me in front of half the university, and now I was facing a disciplinary investigation.

Maybe Jonathan had been right about one thing. Getting involved with Shane could cost me more than I was prepared to lose.

I thought about the jacket hanging in my closet and the message I still hadn't answered.

I hadn't replied because I didn't know what to say.

Part of me wanted to call him. Another part wanted to end everything before things got worse.

But I couldn't make a decision simply because I was afraid of what might happen.

I pushed away from the wall.

“I need to write that statement.”

Betty nodded.

“Let's go

back to the room.”

I started toward the stairs, already trying to work out what I could say to the Dean.

I had twenty-four hours to explain myself to the university.