It Started with a Dare

31-Ridge's POV

I watched Nathan take her out of the school, my heart shattering in a little pieces. I turned around and was met by a fist. I dropped to the ground. "Why would you do that?" Xavier stood over me, furious.

"I didn't me-"

He kicked me in the stomach. "You did mean to, you piece of crap! You broke her!" He jumped on top of me, landing another punch. "She's already been hurt, and you just wanted to do it again!"

"Xavier!" Emilee yelled.

"She doesn't deserve this!" Another punch. I just let him hit me. I deserved it. Another punch.

"Xavier, stop!"

"I love her! You don't! You never did! You are piece of crap!" Seven more punches. Then, his weight left my body, and I coughed. Blood poured from my nose, and my jaw hurt.

"Xavier Osmond!" a teacher called.

"No, let me go!" Xavier yelled.

"No, stop!" Marcus yelled.

"She didn't deserve that!" Xavier screamed. I looked at him. Tears fell from his eyes. "How could you do that, huh? How could you do that to her? Her out of all people."

"What's going on here?" The teacher was Mr. Galliano. I stood up. "Someone tell me what's going on?" he yelled.

Emilee began to tell him what happened, and I just walked-limped-away. I messed up. I messed up so bad. I just lost the girl I loved. I made my way out of the school. I started down the street, and a car pulled up beside me. The window rolled down, revealing Jared. "Get in."

"I can walk," I said.

"It wasn't a question," he said. I opened the door and got in. "Where do you live?"

"1534 Parkway Drive," I said.

Jared handed me a napkin. "Don't bleed all over my seat," he said.

I leaned my head back and pinched my nose with the napkin. "Are you going to hit me, too?" I asked.

"You know, I loved Braelyn. What I did that night was unforgivable, but when I asked her to, she did. She forgave me. I still beat myself up about that night. My reputation was on the line, and I did everything I could to save it. I wish I hadn't," Jared started.

I looked at him. "Where are you going with this?" I asked.

He looked at me for a moment then back at the road. "I believe you love her, Ridge. I really do, but your reputation was what killed it. True love is hard to find."

"Don't talk to me about love, Jared," I said.

"Wren is a terrible person, but I love her. She's not all bad once you get to know her. She's just saying and doing what she can for her reputation like you and I did," Jared said, turning onto my street. Then, he pulled into my driveway. "Braelyn's a good girl, Ridge. Don't loose her like I did."

I got out and made my way up to my door. When I opened it, Mom made her way to the door. "You're ea- Oh my God, what hapoened?" she exclaimed.

Tears brimmed my eyes. "I messed up, Ma. I messed up bad."
Mom took me into the kitchen and made me sit down on a stool. She grabbed a washrag and ran it under cold water then came over to me.

"What happened?" she asked, taking away my napkin. I took a deep breath and told her everything. When I finished, Mom shook her head. "High school was a terrible time. I hated it."

"I used to get made fun of all the time, and then, your father came along. He was popular. Good looks. Rich. He was everything I ever wanted, but I knew he broke many hearts," she said, running the rag under more water. "You know, he had humiliated a young girl in front of the whole school once."

"He did?" I asked.

She nodded and came over to me, wiping the dried blood from my face. "It was before we got together. Even with that knowledge, I still went out with him. Everyone makes mistakes, Ridgemond, but mistakes are what make us human."

"But this one is huge. I broke her heart."

"That you did, but all you can do is try. Try to be better. Try to apologize. Try to get her back. If it's meant to be, the chips will fall in place. Now, if she tells you to leave her alone, give her space. Let her sort things out."

"I love you, Mom," I said when she finished.

"I love you, too. Now, go take a shower, so I can doctor the rest of those wounds."