Zacky’s PoV

“Get the fuck out of here!” I yelled as I threw Ticca out of the door. Ticca was so weak from Syn beating the shit out of him that he immediately fell flat on his face and skidded across the pavement. “If I see your scumbag face here ever again, you’re gonna end up worse than this! Got it?”

Ticca laughed weakly and spit on my shoe. Anger swelled up within me once again and it took every ounce of my strength to not snap his neck right then and there. Instead, I let out an enraged yell and kicked him in the stomach as hard as I could. He suppressed a scream and clutched his stomach. I was not finished with him yet. I kept kicking his side, leg, and anywhere else that wasn’t bleeding already. With every kick, he spasmed wildly and I felt the anger slowly ebbing away until I was calm enough to think straight.

I knelt down to where he could see me, smiled, and stuck out my middle finger. Ticca didn’t say anything and continued groaning. After a few minutes, he stopped moaning and blacked out.

“I think we’re done here.” I smirked. “Maybe if this fucker’s lucky, someone will see him and call the police.”

“Won’t they be suspicious that he’s right outside Syn’s house?” Johnny asked. “Maybe you should move him across the street or something.”

“Hmm... you’re right.” I said, grabbing Ticca’s arm and dragging him across the street away from the house. I gave him a final kick and he landed next to the dumpster. I spit on his face and wiped my hands on my jeans. Turning around, I walked back across the street and went inside with Johnny close behind me. “I don’t think he will be bothering us again anytime soon.” I said to Johnny.

“No shit, dude. I thought Gates roughed him pretty badly, but you beat him seven ways to Sunday.” Johnny said, grabbing two beers from the fridge and tossing one to me.

I caught it by the neck, opened it with the bottle opener I always keep on my keyring, and took a long much-needed drink. “Well, yeah. I’m not just gonna sit there and watch him rape Ashlynn. You would’ve done the same thing.”

“Yeah of course I would. It’s just... the way you were kicking him...” Johnny trailed off.

“It looked like revenge?” I finished his sentence. Johnny shook his head.

“No, I was gonna say that if it were someone you didn’t know, you would’ve have been that violent.”

“Ah. So you mean that because it was Ashlynn, I was more aggressive.”

“Yeah. It’s so obvious, dude.”

“What? That I like her? So what? You do too, I’m sure.” I mumbled defensively.

“Well, sure. She’s beautiful, sweet and funny. But that’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying that you love her, bro. I can tell.” Johnny smirked and took a big drink of his beer.

I looked away. It’s true. From the moment I saw Ashlynn, I fell in love with her. Her long, flowing blond hair; her beautiful blue eyes; her sexy curves; and not to mention, her adorable laugh. I closed my eyes and imagined myself kissing her soft lips passionately. I had never felt this way about any girl, not even Gena. I, Zachary Baker, was utterly and hopelessly in love with Ashlynn Gray.