Chapter 4

I clapped a hand over my mouth and rushed out of the private room, then hunched over a toilet and threw up until there was nothing left.

I had no idea how much time had passed before I finally got up, my head pounding, and tried to leave.

When I stepped out of the restroom, Lincoln was leaning against the doorway, watching me with a smug look.

"You're Shane, right? I'm the one who told Natasha to bring you tonight. Getting you wasted was something I set up with my friends ahead of time.

"I just want you to know something. Don't think being Natasha's boyfriend in name only means you get to keep her all to yourself.

"We grew up together. Nobody can ever replace me in her heart, so you'd better back off while you still can."

As he spoke, he jabbed his finger against my forehead.

I knocked his hand away and said coldly, "If that's the case, why aren't you two together yet? Her family won't allow it?"

That one line hit him right where it hurt. Lincoln raised his fist to punch me, but I caught his arm.

"Hey, big shot, instead of wasting your time on me, you should figure out how to lock Natasha down sooner. After all, she might be the only lifeline you've got in your miserable little life!"

I turned to leave, but Lincoln charged after me, red in the face, and kicked me hard in the back. I went sprawling across the floor and scraped my arm bloody.

Gritting my teeth through the pain, I got up and punched Lincoln as hard as I could.

The sound of the impact rang out at the same moment as Natasha's shrill, furious voice.

"Shane, what are you doing?"

Natasha stormed over, and Lincoln immediately dropped his attitude. He covered his face and put on a pitiful look.

"Tash, I only came out to check on him, and he got mad. He said I'm always hogging you just because we grew up together, and then he hit me!

"Forget it. It's all my fault. I thought our friendship wouldn't change whether you had a boyfriend or not. I guess I didn't respect your boundaries. I'll just go."

He played the part of someone reluctantly backing away to perfection and, just as expected, Natasha grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Shane, I told you Linc is my best friend. Why do you keep going after him?"

Natasha's voice was tight with anger. "Apologize to Linc!"

I held up my bloody arm in front of her. "Natasha, if I told you Lincoln kicked me first, would you believe me?"

Maybe my wound really did look bad, because her eyes darted between Lincoln and me, and for a moment, she hesitated.

Marty squeezed out of the crowd from somewhere and said quietly, "Um, that's not what happened. I saw Shane trip and fall on his own. Lincoln only went to help him up, but Shane got mad that Lincoln and Natasha are so close, so he hit him.

"I'm sorry, Shane. You're my best friend, but I can't just stand by and let you blame Lincoln for something he didn't do."

My eyes went wide with shock.

I had known Marty was never entirely genuine with me, yet I never expected him to side with Lincoln right in front of my face.

Before I could argue, Natasha's friends had already surrounded me.

She stood in front of me and said through clenched teeth, "Shane, you're still trying to make excuses after all this?

"I'm giving you one more chance. Apologize to Linc!"

The moment she finished speaking, someone behind me kicked the back of my knee, and I dropped straight to the floor.

Another hand grabbed my head and slammed it against the floor three times.

My vision spun, and I could barely hold myself up. With great effort, I forced out the words "I'm sorry."

Lincoln draped an arm around Natasha's shoulders and said gently, "Forget it, Tash. He's not worth it."

The group turned to leave. On her way out, Natasha bent down and took my phone.

"Shane, you can walk back to campus tonight. Consider it your punishment."

I struggled to grab it back, but someone shoved me to the floor again.

They walked off laughing and chatting, with Marty and Natasha on either side of Lincoln. None of them spared me another glance.