Chapter 4: Zane Confronts the Bullies to Protect Lily
The next morning, Zane's anger simmered beneath the surface, barely contained. He had spent the entire night replaying Jess's betrayal in his mind, unable to shake the feeling of being utterly alone. And now, as he navigated the crowded hallways of school, the sight of Greg's gang only fueled the fire burning inside him.
They strutted through the corridors as if they owned the place, loud and obnoxious, their mocking laughter ringing in Zane's ears. But what hurt more was seeing Lily by Greg's side. She walked with her head slightly lowered, her arm loosely wrapped around Greg's, as if she were forcing herself to be there. Zane's heart clenched at the sight—Lily was better than this, better than Greg and his goons. She didn't belong in their twisted world.
Something inside him snapped.
Zane clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he watched them saunter down the hallway, completely oblivious to the storm brewing inside him. He had spent too long being passive, too long hiding in the shadows and letting people like Greg, Jess, and even Lily walk all over him. He couldn't stand by any longer, not when they had taken everything from him.
If he didn't stand up now, he would always be the victim.
After school, when the final bell rang and students began flooding out of the building, Zane made his move. He followed the familiar path to the back of the school where Greg and his crew usually hung out. His heart pounded with each step, the weight of the impending confrontation making his pulse race. He knew what he was about to do was reckless, maybe even stupid, but he couldn't back down.
When he arrived, there they were, lounging by the old brick wall, laughing about something that Zane was certain involved him. Greg, ever the ringleader, stood in the center, his smirk as smug as ever. His friends, a group of thugs who fed off Greg's cruelty, flanked him like loyal lapdogs. And then there was Lily, standing a little apart from the group, her arms crossed over her chest. She looked uncomfortable, out of place. For a moment, Zane thought she might leave, but she stayed, biting her lip as Greg continued his loud, obnoxious rant.
Zane took a deep breath, his heart pounding, and stepped forward. "Greg!" His voice came out stronger than he expected, carrying across the lot.
The group fell silent, turning to face him. Greg's smirk widened, his eyes narrowing as he took in Zane's approach. "Well, well, well, look who decided to grow a backbone," Greg sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Zane ignored the taunt. "We need to talk." His tone was firm, but inside, his stomach twisted with nerves. He forced himself to hold Greg's gaze, refusing to let the fear show on his face.
Greg raised an eyebrow, amused. "Talk?" he echoed, taking a step toward Zane. "What could you possibly have to say to me?"
Zane's fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles turning white. "This has to stop," he said through gritted teeth, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. "Leave Lily out of this. She doesn't deserve to be dragged into your mess."
Greg's smile widened, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes. "Oh, I see." He glanced back at Lily, who shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. "You're still hung up on her, aren't you? How pathetic."
Zane's chest tightened, but he didn't back down. "This isn't about me. This is about you ruining people's lives for fun. It's about her," he said, nodding toward Lily, "being forced to hang around you because she's scared."
At that, Greg laughed, a harsh, grating sound that made Zane's skin crawl. "Scared? Lily's not scared. She's smart enough to know who's in charge around here." He took another step closer, towering over Zane now. "And you? You're nothing. Always have been. You think you can tell me what to do?"
Zane's heart raced, but he forced himself to stand his ground. "I'm not afraid of you anymore, Greg."
Greg's eyes darkened, and his smile faded. "You should be."
Without warning, Greg lashed out, grabbing Zane by the collar and yanking him forward. Zane stumbled but quickly regained his balance, jerking free from Greg's grip. "This ends now," Zane hissed, stepping back, but Greg's crew was already closing in, forming a circle around him.
The tension in the air was thick, the smell of sweat and fear almost palpable. Zane's muscles tensed, his body readying itself for what was about to come, but even as Greg's friends crowded in, blocking any chance of escape, he refused to back down.
Greg's smirk returned, his fists curling at his sides. "You're about to learn why people don't mess with me," he said, his voice cold.
Before Zane could react, Greg's fist shot out, connecting with his ribs in a brutal punch. Zane gasped, doubling over from the impact, but he quickly straightened, adrenaline rushing through him. He barely had time to react before the next punch landed, this one catching him square in the jaw, snapping his head to the side.
The world blurred as pain exploded in his face, but Zane stayed on his feet. He heard Greg's friends laughing, their voices blending together in a cruel symphony of taunts. But Zane wasn't going to fall—not yet.
"Leave her alone," Zane growled, his voice strained but defiant. His words were barely audible over the roaring in his ears, but he meant them. He wasn't going to stop fighting, no matter how many punches Greg threw.
Greg's smile faltered for a second, and Zane saw the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. "You really are pathetic," Greg spat, his voice laced with venom. He kicked Zane in the ribs, sending him crashing to the ground.
Zane groaned, his vision swimming as he struggled to breathe. Every inch of his body screamed in pain, but he wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing him broken. He would not cry out.
"You think you can protect her?" Greg mocked, looming over him. "You're nothing, Zane. Nothing."
Zane lay there, the world spinning around him, but even as the pain threatened to consume him, he realized something important: He couldn't win this fight, not here, not now. But that didn't mean he was done.