I step into a popular club that I frequent and nod at Cole, the bartender. "Sup, Cole?"

"Max! How's it going, man?" Cole asked, shaking my hand.

"Eh...same ole, same ole. Just coming to chill, maybe hit it up with some babes."

Cole smiled. "Sounds fun, man. Usual today?"

"Yes, please," I replied as Zack came up and stood next to me.

"Yeah, Bud Light for me, too, please," Zach requested. He turned to me. "Dude, there's a lot of hot girls here tonight, but there's this one chick, damn is she fine. I think I'm gonna go try and dance with her. See what happens."

I scan the dancefloor. "Oh, yeah? Which one is she?"

Zack points off to the right. "Over there, dancing with the blonde."

I look to where he's pointing, noticing that it's at Grace and her friend, Alicia. I've had a crush on Grace since high school, but she was always my friend, Dex's girl. She was untouchable, even when they were broken up. Then, last night, I saw him with another girl and it sent me off the deep end. He didn't realize how good of a girl he had. So, now, it's on and I'm gonna win her heart, show her what a real man is like.

"Alright, man. Let's go say hi." I grabbed my beer and chugged it down, setting it back on the bar top. Then, headed their way with Zack in tow.

I approached Grace from behind and wrapped my arms around her, moving my body in rhythm with hers. I looked over and saw that Zack was doing the same thing with Alicia, who seemed pleased by it. Grace on the other hand, not so much.

Grace whipped around and when she noticed it was me, started yelling. "You have a lot of nerve, you know that?!"

I smirked at her. "I can't help it, you looked so sexy dancing over here with your friend. I just had to come over here and dance with you myself."

She took a step back. "Why did you tell Dex that you and I were having sex?!"

I rolled my eyes. She needs to know the truth. "Cuz Dex was wrapped up with another chick and talked about how stupid you were cuz you didn't have a clue what he was up to. So, I put him in his place. I told him just how desirable you are and yeah, I lied that we had sex, but he deserved it." Plus, the look on his face was priceless. He probably won't ever talk to me again, but I really don't care.

Tears started spilling down her cheeks. "You shouldn't have lied to him like that."

I looked Grace over, reaching up to wipe away tears on her cheek. This girl has no clue about the kind of effect she has over me. "He doesn't deserve you. You're better off without him. Why do you cry over him?"

Grace pushed me away from her. "I don't cry over him. I'm crying because you lied and caused me trouble."

I don't understand why she cares about Dex so much. "So, what? He broke up with you or something? Good riddance! I mean, what's the big deal?!" I scoffed.

"He whipped me with a belt and forced me to have sex with him because of your lies!" she spat out.

I felt like someone had just slapped me. "He beat and raped you?" I suddenly felt extremely horrible. What have I done? "Grace, I..."

She held her hand up. "Just don't, Max. You've done enough."

She started to walk away, but I grabbed her arm, which made her jump. "He'll pay for what he's done. I'll make sure of that." I could kill him for this.

"Just leave it alone," she insisted as she pulled her arm free from me.

"Grace..." I started, but she cut me off.

"I said no! Just leave me alone, Max!" she wailed and made a break for the exit.

I could've gone after her, but it was clear that she didn't want anything to do with me. So, instead, I went up to the bar and got another drink.

I could see Zack and Alicia hitting it off on the other side of the bar. Good for him. They'd be great for each other.

I pulled out my phone and opened up the message box for Dex. I just stared at it for a while. I wasn't sure how to approach this. Dex had been my best friend for a long time, but if he was doing this to any girl let alone Grace, I couldn't be friends with him anymore. However, was Grace just saying that to make me drop it? I don't see why she would lie, but who knows really?

A few drinks later and I was feeling quite buzzed. It was time to go before I decide to do something stupid to Dex that I'd regret. I paid my tab and went over to where Zack and Alicia were dancing....well, currently making out was more accurate.

"Zack...." I called out.

Their mouths broke apart. "Max?" Alicia asked, breathlessly. She looked stunned to see me standing there.

"Hey, Alicia," I nodded toward her. "Look, Zack, I'm gonna get going. Do you want a ride?"

Zack looked at Alicia like he was contemplating something. "Do you wanna come with us, babe?"

A smile spread across her face. "I'd love to, but I came here with my friend...." Then, she turned to me with a confused expression. "Wait. Where is Grace?"

I clenched my jaw for a moment before I spoke, thinking about what Grace had said to me. "We had an argument and she took off."

"Argument? What did you fight about?" she asked, still looking confused.

I swallowed hard. Maybe Grace didn't tell her. "Did you know he beat her?"

Alicia looked astounded. "She showed me today, yeah."

Anger boiled up inside me. "She showed you? So, it's true?"

Alicia's eyes started to well up with tears. "Yes, unfortunately..."

Now, I'm furious. Now, I'm gonna do something about this. All of a sudden, I was no longer drunk. "He can't get away with this. I won't allow it." I looked at Zack. "I need to go. Are you coming?"

Alicia looked up at Zack as he embraced her. "Go. I need to find Grace. Give me your phone." She held out her hand and Zack placed his phone in it. "This is my number. Call me later and maybe we can get together again." She typed in her number, saved it and handed Zack back his phone.

He smiled at her and started typing. "Now you have my number as well." He leaned in and gave her a peck on the lips. "Talk to you soon." Then, he left with me, leaving Alicia standing there smiling.

We got into my car and immediately I started hitting the steering wheel with the palm of my hand.

"Whoa, man! What's going on?!" Zack asked, concerned.

"He fucking beat her! He fucking beat her and raped her and it's all my goddamn fault!"

"Who beat and raped who?"

"Grace.....Dex did it to Grace...."

There was silence for a moment as my words sank in. "That girl you were dancing with, that's Dex's girl?" Zack asked.

"Yeah," I replied, sadly.

"Oh, shit! You have a thing for Dex's girl? That's not good, man."

"Yeah, I know, but he doesn't deserve her. She's too good for him."

"What are you going to do?"

Anger surged through me again as I pictured Dex hitting Grace. "I'm gonna teach him a lesson," I said through gritted teeth.

"Ok....how's that?" Zack asked warily.

"I'm gonna give him a taste of his own medicine." I started the car and drove off, steering toward Dex's house.

When we arrived, Dex was there with that bitch from the night before. He opened the door with her draped all over him. It was disgusting. She wasn't even pretty. She was a nasty little blonde who was as skinny as a twig with no curves whatsoever. She had absolutely no couth, coming to the door topless in only her pink-lace panties. She looked coked out of her mind and if you looked up trailer trash in the dictionary, you'd see a picture of her. I have no clue what he sees in her.

"What are you doing here?" Dex asked, glaring at me. "Grace isn't here if you were looking at getting some more."

A twinge of guilt stabbed at my heart. "I'm not here for Grace. I'm here for you."

"I've got nothing to say to you after what you've done," he snarled.

I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I didn't have sex with Grace. I lied to you because I thought you deserved it after hanging out with this gutter slut." I gestured to the chick hanging on him.

"Fuck you!" she hissed at me.

"Shut up!" Dex shouted at her. Then, he turned to me. "So, you're telling me that you didn't fuck my girlfriend?"

"I thought I was your girlfriend, Dex?" the bitch, whined.

"Shut up and go back in the house and take a seat," he commanded her. "Come in, man."

I looked over my shoulder at Zack, who shook his head, no. I nodded once and went inside. Dex lead me into the living room. There was a pizza box open on the table with a few slices missing. An eight ball of coke sat next to it with a razor blade to create lines and a short straw to snort it.

"Sit," Dex said, gesturing to an armchair. "Want a bump?"

"No, thanks," I said, looking at his stash while remaining standing. "I need to talk to you about Grace."

Dex laughed. "I gotta say, I was surprised to think you would fuck her. Glad to know I was right."

That threw me for a loop and I had to know what he was talking about. "What do you mean 'surprised'?"

Dex smirked. "She's not your type, Max. She's not like the hot girls you go for. She doesn't like to party all the time and she doesn't put out much and when she does, it's lacking enthusiasm. Trust me. I have learned to just take what I want," he laughed.

Rage was boiling over inside me. "Did you beat and rape Grace, Dex?!"

Dex turned to look at me, narrowing his eyes. "I put her in her place."

I balled my hands into fists but kept them at my sides. "What the fuck does that mean?"

His eyes flashed and he smirked. "What's it to you anyway?" Dex stood up and crossed over to me. "I'll tell you what....if you're that hard up for someone, I'll rent her to you for a couple hours."

I looked at him with disgust.

"What do you suppose she's worth?" He tapped his finger on his chin. "Oh, I got it! Got a joint you wanna give up? Seems like a fair trade to me cuz she really ain't worth a limp dick."

I couldn't take it anymore. I was at my breaking point. I hauled off and punched Dex square on his nose, knocking him back a few steps. He reeled back to hit me, but I was ready for it and dodged his punch, knocking him down to the ground as he went past me. All of those years of boxing were finally paying off.

"What the fuck is your problem, Max?!" Dex shouted.

The trailer trash bitch was passed out on the couch unaware of what was unfolding around her.

"You beat and raped Grace! You're not gonna get away with it, Dex!"

He laughed. "She's my girlfriend. Which means I own her and can do whatever I want with her. I didn't beat her, I taught her a lesson in manners and I didn't rape her, I took what she owed me, being my girlfriend and all."

I shook my head and gritted my teeth. "She doesn't owe you anything and the only one who needs to learn a lesson around here is you." I pointed at him.

"And I suppose you're the one who's gonna teach me this lesson, eh?" He growled.

"You bet your sorry ass I am. You don't hit girls, Dex."

"Technically I didn't....my belt did."

Horrified and pissed, I charged Dex, launching myself on top of him, hitting him repeatedly. He spit blood back in my face as it gushed out of his mouth. He was laughing like a maniac.

Before I knew it, a pair of arms were wrapped around me, pulling me off of Dex.

"Max! Stop! Come on!" Zack pleaded.

"He needs to pay for what he did!" I yelled, fighting against Zack's grip.

"Max! Look at him! You've beaten him to a bloody pulp! I think he's been punished enough!"

I stopped trying to pull away from Zack and looked down at Dex. He was laying there, bleeding profusely with one eye swollen shut already. I yanked myself out of Zack's hold, snatched Dex by the front of his shirt and got within an inch away from his face.

"If you ever touch Grace against her will or inappropriately again, I'll fucking kill you." I stood up and made my way to the door. "Let's go, Zack."