Renegade Hearts (Rebels of Sandland 1)

I carried on raining down blow after blow on Brandon’s face, but he kept laughing like a maniac. Then I felt the force of being tugged backwards. Zak and Finn were dragging me off of him, telling me he wasn’t worth it and to let it go.

“Let it go? Let it fucking go? He kissed my girlfriend.”

“Your fake girlfriend.” Brandon spat blood out onto the floor and sat up, glaring over at me.

“Nothing about our relationship was fake. You know fuck all.”

“I know she’s still a virgin. If you’d let me take care of her like I’d suggested at the start, I’d have tapped that ass within days. Probably wrapped the shit up with her father sooner too. You’re a fucking pussy, Ry.”

I launched myself towards him again, but Zak and Finn were faster this time and held me back.

“You kissed her. Why did you do that? You knew how I felt about her. It wasn’t about her father. It hasn’t been about him for a long time. Why the fuck would you do that to me?”

The smirk on his face disappeared and he leant forward, rubbing his hands over his face. He’d shelved the bravado and he was trying to look sincere.

Too little too late, you back-stabbing bastard.

“I love her too,” he said quietly as he dropped his head down in shame.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Was he for real?

“What the fuck did you just say?”

“You heard me. I love her too. I figured I’d take my chances.” He shrugged, then I watched as his expression changed, falling right back into the old Brandon. The one who didn’t give a fuck about anyone but himself. “Maybe she’d only been dating you to try to get to me all along.” I laughed. The man was delusional.

“She fucking hates you, dude. She can’t even stand to be in the same room as you.” Zak and Finn held onto me as I tensed against them, trying to break free. The fact he’d told my girlfriend he loved her made me want to cave his face in. I wanted to beat him until they’d have to use dental records to identify his shitty carcass. The thought of him near her made me crazy. The idea of her in his arms made me murderous. The fact that he’d probably spent every moment in her presence thinking of her in that way made me unhinged and homicidal. She wasn’t his. She was my girl. She always had been, and she always would be.

“I should be laughing at you.” I eased up in Zak and Finn’s hold and smiled, knowing I had the power to hurt Brandon way more than any punch could. “Did you really think she’d tell you she loved you back? Why would she love a screw-up like you? What would you have to offer to a girl like Emily? You’re nothing. Even your own mother didn’t want you.”

It was a low blow, but I was already in the gutter. It was all I had left to fight with.

“Fuck you, Ryan. Don’t think you’ll be taking home any boyfriend of the year trophies just yet. She knows you used her. I might have a shitty family, but at least I own it. I know who I am. You? You don’t know who you are from one day to the next.”

“Oh, I know exactly who I am. I’m the guy who’s gonna be by her side every damn day. I’m not the one that’s lying to himself, getting lost in nameless, faceless one-night-stands to try and drown out the rejection he’s felt every day since he was born. Using fists to dull the pain of being such a loser and a fuck-up.” I had more I wanted to say, but Finn butted in.

“That’s enough, Ry.”

I turned to face Zak and Finn, but they couldn’t even look me in the eye.

“Enough? He put his hands on my girl then broke her heart. He stabbed me in the back with that big fucking grin on his face. Enough? It’ll never be enough. Not for me.”

I walked over to where Brandon sat hunched on the floor. He glared back at me with defiance in his eyes and I searched inside of myself to try and find an ounce of pity for the guy, but I had none. I hated him. No, I loathed him.

“I’m done,” I said with zero emotion. “I’m done with you, with this gym, the lies, the little digs. I’m done with all of you. The Renaissance bullshit, the parties, the money. I am done.”

Zak stepped forward and grabbed my arm, trying to force me to turn around and look at him. “You don’t mean that, mate. Come on. Brandon fucked up like he always does, but let’s sleep on it. Talk about it in the morning.”

“You’re not listening to me.” I wrenched my arm away from Zak but kept my eyes on Brandon. “I don’t want to talk to any of you. She’s the one I want to talk to and I can’t fucking find her ‘cos you’ve driven her away. She is all that matters. She comes before any of you. So count me out. It’s over for me. Emily comes first. I’ve got no time for the rest of you. You can all go to hell.”

I didn’t want to be there anymore. Brandon had pissed all over my life. I couldn’t even stand to breathe the same air as him. I turned and headed for the door.

“Please, Ry. Don’t say that. Everything’s heated right now. Don’t say things you’ll regret tomorrow.” Finn was delusional if he thought we could sort this out over a coffee and a few games of Call of Duty. Brandon had severed any hope of a friendship with me tonight. What he’d done was unforgiveable. I didn’t want to be anywhere that he was.

“The only thing I’ll regret is ever listening to you and not telling Emily about her dad. Everything else means nothing.”

Brandon jumped up from his pity spot on the floor. “You want out, then fuck off. We don’t need you anyway. Me, Zak, and Finn, we’ll manage just fine. And when she finally dumps your ass, don’t come running back to us.”

I glanced over my shoulder and gave Brandon my parting shot. “I don’t want to see you ever again. Stay out of my way if you know what’s good for you. Our friendship is over.”