**Chapter 12: Behind Closed Doors**

As Jake's lips still lingered on mine, I struggled to catch my breath, my mind racing with the sudden change in his behavior. The possessiveness and intensity that had been building up in his eyes now seemed to be suffocating me, making my skin crawl. I tried to push him back, but he only tightened his grip, his hands roaming over my body like he was trying to claim me as his own. "Jake, stop," I said, trying to sound firmer than I felt, but my voice came out barely above a whisper. To my surprise, he paused, his eyes narrowing as he searched mine. For a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of recognition, a spark of sanity that seemed to flicker back to life. But then, his expression hardened, and he pulled me closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Don't lie to me, Emily," he growled, his breath hot against my ear. "I saw the way you were smiling at him. I saw the way he was looking at you. You were flirting with him, and I won't let that happen." I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that Jake was not just possessive, but also jealous and controlling. I tried to think of a way to calm him down, to make him see reason, but my mind was a blank. Suddenly, the bathroom door creaked open, and a group of students walked in, laughing and chatting. Jake's eyes flicked towards them, and for a moment, his grip on me relaxed. I took advantage of the distraction to push him back, gasping for air. "I need some space, Jake," I said, trying to sound calm, but my voice shaking. Jake's eyes flashed with anger, but then, he seemed to rein himself in, his expression smoothing out into a mask of calm. "Okay," he said, his voice low and even. "I'll give you space. But don't think for a second that I'm not watching you, Emily. I'll always be watching you." With that, he turned and walked out of the bathroom, leaving me shaken and confused. I took a few deep breaths, trying to process what had just happened. Was Jake really capable of this kind of behavior? And what did it mean for our relationship? As I stood there, trying to gather my thoughts, I heard a soft knock on the bathroom door. "Emily, are you okay?" a voice asked. I recognized the voice as Sarah's, one of my friends from school. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should let her in, but then, I decided that I needed someone to talk to. "Yeah, I'm okay," I said, trying to sound calm. "Just give me a minute." The door creaked open, and Sarah slipped inside, her eyes scanning the bathroom as if searching for something. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice low and concerned. I took a deep breath and told her everything, from Jake's possessiveness to his outburst in the bathroom. Sarah listened, her expression growing more and more worried. "Emily, I think you need to be careful around him," she said, her voice firm. "He's not acting normal. You need to protect yourself." I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Sarah. She was right. I needed to be careful, to watch my back. But as I looked in the mirror, I saw a girl who was scared and unsure of what to do next. And I knew that I had to make a decision, to choose between my feelings for Jake and my own safety.