Love doesn't have to be hard

Chapter 14: Trouble for Hardin

Zed was in the science building with the plants. He had learned last week that he could take his finals sooner and move to Seattle a few weeks earlier than planned.

He is happy and plans to show her some apartments and go with the one she chooses. He will rent it in both their names and surprise her.

He was walking around checking the plants when Hardin came in. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"What are you doing here, Hardin, and what are you talking about?"

"I just talked to Christian, and he told me you and Tessa are engaged. What the fuck, man?" 

"Yes, Hardin, we are engaged. I asked her last week while we were on vacation. What is it to you?"

"You know I love her."

"Okay, so do I. I am the one she is with; we are moving in together, and now we are engaged."

"You only went after her because you knew I liked her. You are a fucking prick."

"No, Hardin, you only went after her because you knew I liked her, and you just wanted to take her virginity and win. You didn't, I did, and we are in love. So, find someone new to play games with because Tessa isn't playing anymore."

"She is supposed to be with me. I don't know why I can't stop thinking about her. When I fucked Molly and Sarah, all I saw was Tessa."

"Those are your issues, dude. No, she is supposed to be with me. If you truly loved her, all you would want was for her to be happy. Well, she is happy with me; we are happy together."

"I may have lost Tessa, but at least I will be able to kick your ass and feel better about losing."  

Hardin stepped up to him and hit him right in the jaw. Zed punched him back, and he fell into the plants, breaking several of the pots they were in. He jumped back up and charged at Zed, taking them both down on the ground.  

Just as the teacher, Mr. Brown came running in there and pulled Hardin off of Zed. Hardin shoved the teacher. 

The campus police were called, and Hardin was arrested. They got him on three charges: destroying school property for over five thousand dollars, assault on Zed, and assault on Mr. Brown.   

Zed ended up with a broken nose and a busted lip. Mr. Brown was just shoved down, but he destroyed so many plants.

Zed didn't want to tell Tessa about the fight but knew he had to because she would see his face when he went to visit her this weekend. 

Once he had finished writing all the reports and giving his statement, he went to his apartment. He called Tessa for their normal evening talk.

"Hey baby, how was your day?" She answered.

"Hey, babe, it was eventful. How was your day?"

"It was exciting. I had a great discussion in literature, and I read a great manuscript. So, what made your day eventful?"

"Well, I had a run-in with Hardin."

"What kind of run-in, baby?"

"We fought. He came into the science building and was pissed because he heard we were engaged. He said you were his, and I only got with you to take you away from him. I told him I got with you to keep him from hurting you and that if he really loved you, all he should want is for you to be happy and that you were happy with me. He then said well, I may have lost Tessa, but at least I can be happy when I kick your ass. He hit me, we fought, he destroyed a lot of school property in the plant room, and even shoved Mr. Brown."