Chapter 4: The Ex-Boyfriend
The air crackled with tension as Collette and Lowell sat together in the school courtyard, their conversation interrupted by the sudden appearance of a familiar figure—a tall, handsome boy with a cocky grin and a swagger in his step.
Lowell's heart sank at the sight of him, a flicker of unease creeping into his mind as he watched Collette's ex-boyfriend, Peyton, approach their table with a self-assured stride.
"Hey, Collette," Peyton said with a smirk, his eyes lingering on her for a moment before turning to Lowell with a dismissive glance. "Mind if I join you guys?"
Collette's jaw clenched at the sight of him, her hands balling into fists at her sides as she struggled to contain her anger. She had hoped she would never have to see Peyton again after their messy breakup, but now here he was, intruding on her happiness with Lowell.
"I think we're good, Peyton," she replied coolly, her voice laced with barely concealed disdain. "We were in the middle of something."
But Peyton ignored her protest, taking a seat beside Collette as if he owned the place. "Come on, Collette," he said with a smirk. "Don't be like that. We used to be so good together, remember?"
Collette's eyes flashed with anger at his words, her patience wearing thin as she shot him a withering glare. "That was a long time ago, Peyton," she snapped, her voice dripping with contempt. "And it's over. I suggest you move on."
Peyton's smirk faltered slightly at her words, his arrogance giving way to a flicker of insecurity as he glanced between Collette and Lowell. "Come on, Collette," he said, his voice tinged with desperation. "You can't tell me you're happy with this... this loser."
Lowell bristled at the insult, his fists clenching at his sides as he fought to control his temper. He knew he should stay calm, not give Peyton the satisfaction of seeing him riled up, but it was difficult to remain composed in the face of such blatant disrespect.
"He's not a loser, Peyton," Collette shot back, her voice cold and cutting. "He's my boyfriend. And he treats me with respect, something you clearly know nothing about."
Peyton's face darkened at her words, his eyes flashing with anger as he leaned in closer to Collette. "You'll regret this, Collette," he muttered, his voice low and menacing. "You'll come crawling back to me, begging for another chance."
But Collette refused to back down, her chin held high as she met his gaze with steely determination. "Not in this lifetime, Peyton," she replied firmly, her voice unwavering. "I'm with Lowell now, and I'm never going back to you."
With that, she stood up from the table, grabbing Lowell's hand as she pulled him to his feet. "Come on, Lowell," she said, her voice soft but resolute. "Let's get out of here."
And as they walked away from Peyton, leaving him fuming and alone at the table, Lowell felt a surge of pride and admiration for Collette coursing through him. She was strong, confident, and fiercely loyal, and he knew that with her by his side, he could face anything that came their way.
As they walked hand in hand through the school courtyard, the sun shining down on them with a warmth that mirrored the love in their hearts, Lowell knew that their bond was unbreakable—that no matter what challenges they faced, they would always have each other to lean on, to support, and to love with all their hearts.
The sun was setting low on the horizon as Lowell pedaled his bike through the quiet streets of the town, the cool breeze whipping through his hair as he enjoyed the freedom of the open road. But his peaceful ride was soon interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice calling out to him from behind.
"Hey, Lowell!" came the cocky shout, causing Lowell to glance over his shoulder to see Peyton, his former bully and Collette's ex-boyfriend, approaching in his sleek convertible.
Lowell's jaw clenched at the sight of him, his grip tightening on the handlebars of his bike as he braced himself for whatever trouble Peyton had in store for him.
"What do you want, Peyton?" he called back, his voice laced with irritation as he glared at the arrogant boy.
Peyton smirked, his eyes gleaming with malice as he revved the engine of his car, the roar of the powerful motor echoing through the quiet streets.
"I just thought we could have a little race, that's all," he said with a taunting grin. "You know, to see who's faster—me in my convertible, or you on your dinky little bike."
Lowell's eyes narrowed at the challenge, a flicker of defiance sparking in his chest as he stared down his rival.
"You're on, Peyton," he replied, his voice filled with determination. "But don't say I didn't warn you when you eat my dust."
With that, the two boys race and took off down the street, the sound of Peyton's engines roaring in a cacophony of noise as they raced through the quiet neighborhood.
For a moment, it seemed like Peyton had the upper hand, his convertible speeding ahead with reckless abandon as Lowell struggled to keep up on his bike. But as they rounded a corner, Peyton's cocky grin turned to horror as he realized too late that he had taken the turn too fast.
With a sickening crunch, Peyton's car collided with a huge pile of dumpsters, sending them flying in all directions as he skidded to a halt in a cloud of dust and debris.
Lowell slammed on the brakes of his bike just in time to avoid the collision, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched in disbelief as Peyton's car became enveloped in a cloud of smelly, rotten garbage.
For a moment, there was stunned silence as Peyton sat there in shock, his eyes wide with horror as he took in the sight of his once pristine convertible now covered in filth and debris.
And then, as the reality of what had happened sunk in, Lowell burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the empty streets as he doubled over in hysterics.
"Peyton, you idiot!" he gasped between fits of laughter. "Looks like you got yourself into a real mess this time!"
Peyton's face turned red with embarrassment and anger as he struggled to extricate himself from the wreckage of his car, his hands covered in stinky garbage as he glared at Lowell with undisguised hatred.
"This isn't over, Lowell," he growled, his voice dripping with venom. "You'll pay for this, I swear it."
But Lowell just shook his head, his laughter unabated as he watched Peyton struggle to free himself from the pile of garbage.
"Whatever you say, Peyton," he replied with a smirk. "But for now, I think I'll enjoy the view."
And with that, he pedaled away into the sunset, leaving Peyton fuming and defeated in his wake. As he rode off into the distance, Lowell couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over him. He may have won the race, but more importantly, he had stood up to his bully and come out on top. And as he rode off into the sunset, he knew that nothing could stand in the way of his happiness—not even the likes of Peyton.