A fuming Bianca had found her way to Josh’s house, that afternoon. She hadn’t been at the mansion in weeks. Now she’d come angrily, for answers.

They stood at the main front entrance, arguing loudly.

“I know it’s you, Josh. Don’t frickin lie!” Bianca screamed, pointing her accusing forefinger. Her face had turned red, her eyes watery as she demanded the truth.

“Me what? What are you on about?” Josh asked, faking sincerity, knowing exactly what he was being accused of.

“You beat Adrian or you got people to beat him, you coward! Own up,” she yelled, poking Josh in his chest. She had a blood red tracksuit on, which made her seem even more menacing.

Josh acted like the name rang a distant bell. “Adrian … Adrian … oh, Adrian your new friend, with the car? What, someone beat him up?”

“You’re a shitty actor Josh. I know you did it. What the hell is your problem?!”

Josh’s dad, Des Saunders, approached from his bedroom. He stood at the top of the grand, winding stairs, glaring down on them.

“What the hell is all the noise about, Joshua?” he asked in his husky baritone voice. He was a large, tall man with a neatly kept beard. He still had his work clothes on, but with house slippers.

Bianca stepped back, outside, to avoid Mr Saunders. She’d made it her mission to avoid any intimacy with Josh’s family.

“Sorry dad,” responded Josh, as he too stepped outside, closing the door behind him.

“Josh, you put Adrian in a coma, dude. What the hell? I know it’s you!” Bianca continued. “What if he had died? What if he dies?”

Relief hit Josh like a breath of fresh air. At least the bastard isn’t dead, Josh thought. Out loud he maintained his stance, “I had nothing to do with your friend’s little accident, Bianca. I swear.”

“You’re lying, and I’m reporting you to the police.”

Mr Saunders approached, opening the front door. “What’s going on here? Why are you both making a noise and talking about police?” He watched them both, waiting.

Bianca swallowed hard, and rolled a fist. “Sir, I think Josh assaulted someone.”

“Bianca stop it, man. Are you stupid or something? Stop spreading crap about me,” Joshua barked.

“Explain yourself, Josh,” his dad insisted.

Bianca jumped in before he could answer. “Sir, Josh is extremely jealous of any guy I’m with. He throws a fit if I get an SMS from a guy – even my cousins sometimes.”

“Blowing things out of proportion, as usual,” Josh accused, with a sickened expression.

“Let me finish. I’m speaking to your dad. Sir, this is, like, the fourth guy Josh has threatened to kill, for speaking to me. The last time Josh came to my house, he went berserk because I had a visitor. He told my friend to never come back, and threatened him. He came up and stood right up next to Adrian, like he wanted to fight. After Adrian left, Josh went crazy when I told him that Adrian gave me money for something I need.”

An abortion. You wanna kill our child, Josh thought to himself, fuming.

“Just because I didn’t like the dude, it doesn’t mean I’m gonna attack him, Bianca. Get a grip.”

“Be honest, Joshua,” his dad insisted. “Did you hurt this boy? Tell the truth so we can help you. I can’t help if you’re not upfront with all the details.”

“Dad, I swear on my life, I didn’t do anything to him. It wasn’t me.”

“Liar!” Bianca screamed.

“Calm down, Bianca,” Mr Saunders said, turning back to his son. “Josh, tell the truth.”

“Both hands on the bible, I swear it wasn’t me. Honestly.”

They stared at Josh with cynical eyes, shaking their heads.

***

Tell us: Have you ever got into serious trouble because of intense jealousy?