Accidentally on Purpose

Chapter Forty-Three

But I wasn't gonna do it.

I leaned close so he could hear me words clearly, "You can bother me all you want, Daniel, but I'm not going to 'accidentally' out you to the world. You're the one who should do it. For yourself." I patted his jaw, and smiled sweetly as he hissed in pain. "Have a good life, Daniel, and please stay as far away as you can from mine."

I waved goodbye at him before turning around and leaving the crowd that had started to form around us.

Before I could leave, though, I saw Jonah taking a step closer to Daniel with a dark look on his face, so I immediately put my hand on his chest to stop him and grabbed his arm, dragging him along with me.

"Is he the one who printed out those pictures, Hannah?" he growled as we speed-walked away from Daniel. "Did he take those pictures of you? When was it? We need to report this to the—"

"It's photoshopped," I said flatly.

"Okay, wait. Stop," he ordered and so we stopped in our tracks. "Explain everything to me."

I sighed and closed my eyes, groaning out loud. I pulled his arm and dragged him to the nearest janitor's closet, slamming the door shut and trying to fit both of our bodies inside the small space. I reached out to feel the walls around until I finally found the light switch.

Once the lights were on, I found Jonah's face less than an inch away from mine, and I held myself back from leaning up to kiss him.

"Where do I even start?" I sighed to myself.

"Explain. Please. Everything that just happened today." He sighed exasperatedly. "Starting from that guy."

"His name is Daniel and yes, he's the one who printed out all of these pictures."

His eyes flashed in anger.

"He's just a loser who wants attention, so you shouldn't give it to him."

"Why would he do that?"

I shrugged. "He's a loser."

And for the first time today, his eyes were flashing angrily at me. "Can't you answer a bit more seriously?"

"I don't even fucking know, Jonah. Okay? I've never done anything to me. He's just a stupid asshole."

His breath was heavy and rapid and so hot on my face. "Is he—is it because of me? Is he angry because we're dating? Is he jealous?"

I snorted.

He pleaded, "Hannah. Please."

"I don't—" I sighed. "It's not my place to tell. I promised him."

"Tell what?" he growled in confusion. "And you're keeping whatever promise this is, after the shit he's done to you?"

I looked away and bit my lips. I didn't want to be an asshole, which was exactly what Daniel expected from me. But Jonah deserved an explanation.

Jonah gently put a hand over my jaw. "I won't tell anyone. I promise."

"He's jealous of me for dating you, alright?" I finally blurted out.

At first, his brows scrunched in confusion, and then his eyes widened in surprise. He seemed to be at loss of words, mouth opening and closing without words.

I continued, "Maybe he's just angry because out of all people, I'm the only one who knows about it, and he wants to punish me for it. I don't even know. This is not the first time it happened. He printed out the same fucking pictures two years ago right after I broke up with him. I was a social pariah because of the whole 'scandal' for the rest of the year, Jonah, and I didn't have anyone else but Gina. People eventually forgot about it as other gossips came and went, obviously, until today."