The Pharaoh's princess

What are we?

Axel – POV

My phone buzzed with an anonymous message.

Attached was a photo—Renee, in some guy’s arms. Kissing him.

Kissing him.

I stared, jaw clenched so tight it hurt. She hadn’t so much as glanced at another guy since we broke up. I’d convinced myself that meant something. That she was waiting. That maybe she still loved me. Me, the only guy she'd ever been with.

I was an i***t back then. I told Nick—the guy I called my best friend—that I’d “hit it and quit it.” I never meant it, but Nick? He told everyone. He destroyed us. I nearly broke his jaw for it. I haven’t spoken to him since graduation.

And Renee never forgave me. She blocked me everywhere. Cut me off completely.

That message wasn’t just information—it was a weapon. It was meant to provoke me. And it did.

I remembered seeing her in that barely-there bikini at the lake, remembered thinking, if she’s gonna dress like that, she must want attention. I said some horrible things. I didn’t mean them. I just… wanted her to remember who she belonged to.

But now? Now I knew she’d moved on. With him. She was letting someone else touch her. Kiss her.

I cracked open another beer. Then another. One more. My vision blurred, but that fire in my chest only grew. I grabbed my keys. I wasn’t thinking—I didn’t care. I drove to our old school.

She was mine. She just needed to remember.

Idris – POV

As soon as Renee walked away to the bathroom, my chest tightened. Had I messed up? Did I cross a line?

Before I could spiral, Jacob approached.

"Hey," he said. Calm voice. Not-so-calm eyes. "Renee’s like a sister to me. I watched what she went through. I’m just gonna ask this once: I don’t have to worry about you, right?"

I met his gaze without flinching. "No, man. I get it. She’s been hurt. I’m not here to repeat history. I’d never do anything to hurt her."

He studied me a moment longer… then smiled and offered a handshake. "Alright then. Good."

Renee came back just as he walked away. She looked nervous, but determined. "Can we talk?"

"Of course."

We stepped outside. The cool night air hit us like a breath of calm. She turned to face me.

"What are we, Idris?"

It was a fair question. My heart pounded. Tyrese’s words echoed in my mind—Be honest.

"I don’t know exactly what we are yet, Renee… but I know what I want us to be. I like you. A lot. And I want something real. But only if you want it, too."

I waited.

Renee – POV

His words eased something in me. I took a breath, steady and slow.

"I want that too… but I’m scared."

And so I told him. About Axel. About everything. The lies, the betrayal, the humiliation. His face changed as I spoke—eyes darkening with quiet fury, hands curling into fists.

When I finished, he reached for my hand.

"I would never hurt you, princess. Not now. Not ever. But if you’re not ready, I’ll wait. As long as it takes."

Tears stung the backs of my eyes, but I smiled.

"You won’t have to wait forever," I whispered, and before I could second-guess myself, I leaned in and kissed him.

His hands found my waist, steady and sure. He lifted me up as if I weighed nothing at all. We broke apart, breathless, smiling.

"Shall we go back inside, princess?" he asked.

I nodded, my hand in his. This time, I didn’t feel afraid.

Axel – POV

There she was.

In his arms.

Under the moonlight, her caramel skin glowed. Her lips were pink from kissing him. And she smiled… but not at me.

That should be me.

My blood boiled.

She was supposed to be mine.

She’d always been mine.

She just needed a reminder of her place—by my side.

I crept closer, staying in the shadows of the parking lot. The music from inside the gym thumped like a heartbeat. She was laughing.

With him.

I waited. Watched. Every fiber of my body burned with jealousy and rage.

I reached into my jacket and felt the small, cold weight of the object I had brought. Just in case.

No real plan—just need. Just rage. Just the burning urge to pull her away, to scream, to shake her and make her see.

But instead, I just stood there, breathing hard, teeth clenched, fists shaking.

Then something happened. She reached up and touched Idris’s face again. Kissed him again.

That’s when I lost it.

I turned, storming away from the gym entrance, i went towards where i could wait and ambush them further inside the gym- they'd have to come in eventually. I couldn’t be seen. Not yet. But I would be. Oh, they’d all see me.

And when they did… she’d understand.

She had to understand.

Renee – POV

We stepped back into the gym just as a slow song came on. Idris kept holding my hand, and I leaned into him as we walked.

My heart was so full. I hadn’t felt this light in years.

I spotted Annavi and Jacob off to the side, deep in conversation. Jacob brushed a curl behind her ear and she smiled up at him.

Everything felt perfect.

Then it happened.

A sharp hand yanked me backward by the arm.

I stumbled, nearly falling into a hard chest. My arm stung where fingers dug in.

"What the hell?!" I shouted.

I looked up—and my stomach dropped.

Axel.

His eyes were wild. Bloodshot. Reeking of alcohol and fury.

"Let go of me!"

"You think you can just walk around with that loser like you didn’t belong to me?! You w***e!"

I struggled, trying to tear my arm free. People were turning. Whispers. Gasps.

And then—

Idris – POV

I turned just in time to see Axel yanking Renee toward him, screaming in her face.

Before I could think, I charged.

I tackled him to the floor.

The two of us hit the ground hard and started swinging. He got a punch in, but I landed three. My fists burned. He grabbed at my collar and I shoved him off—only for him to lunge again.

Then arms pulled me back. Coach Nael.

"That’s enough! You did good, son. Don’t give him more reason to twist it."

Axel lay on the floor, lip split, breathing hard.

I turned to Renee—she was crying, her hands shaking.

I reached for her.

Behind me, another scream.

Axel tried to charge again, but this time—

Jacob stepped in. He gripped Axel’s arm with one hand and twisted.

"Big mistake, captain," Jacob growled.

Axel winced, frozen in place. Then Ms. Hogan appeared with campus security. The officer took one look at Axel’s state and snapped on the cuffs.

Unknown – POV

Perfect…

Renee – POV

Axel was still yelling as they dragged him out. He reeked of booze, spit flying as he cursed.

I felt numb.

Ms. Hogan pulled me, Jacob, and Idris aside.

"We’re calling your parents. The officer needs statements, but you’re minors. You won’t be in trouble—just hang tight."

I nodded.

My mom was the first to arrive. She hugged me so tight I thought I’d shatter. Then Idris’s mom. Then Jacob’s dad, Angus.

They listened. They comforted. They understood.

When the officer asked if we wanted a restraining order, my mom didn’t hesitate.

"Yes. Absolutely."

They hauled Axel out in cuffs, shoving him into the cruiser.

He turned to glare at me one last time.

I didn’t look away.

Idris – POV

When things calmed down, I asked my mom for a moment alone with Renee.

She nodded.

I turned and found Renee already walking toward me.

Her eyes were soft but tired. I noticed the bruising on her arm and cursed under my breath.

She threw herself into my arms.

"Thank you," she whispered.

I held her tight.

"I’ll always be there to save you, princess."

Annavi – POV

I rushed to Renee’s side, gasping at the bruise on her arm. She tried to brush it off, but I hugged her tight anyway.

"You’re going home with us tonight," I said.

Jacob hugged her goodbye. My mom thanked Angus. There was… warmth in the way they looked at each other.

Maybe even something more.

Zuri, Idris’s mom, said her goodbyes. We all left quietly, the night hanging heavy behind us.

But through it all, one thing was clear.

We had each other.

And that mattered most of all.