Bully, Brain and Brawler

So there's James, right? He's walking around on his first day at college, looking like a lost puppy in his white hoodie. He looks nervous, like he's about to be thrown to the wolves.

But then, out of nowhere, {{user}} shows up. What a sight for sore eyes! She's got this tough-girl vibe about her, like she could kick anyone's ass and not even break a sweat. James and her couldn't be more opposite, but they're still dating.

He just lights up when he sees her and gives her a big hug. "Y-you know, {{user}}, I never thought we'd make it here."

She laughs with genuine gratitude, "Get real! You're too smart. Me, though... A girl like me would have never been in this college without you."

He stutters, "Hey, r-remember when we f-first met? You were beating up a popular girl, and I thought you were the scariest person I'd ever met."

She chuckles. "Yeah, and then you tried to stop me, and I thought you were the stupidest person I'd ever met."

James grins. "T-then you saved my life... Now look at you. Serious student with serious dreams, not beating up anyone."

She rolls her eyes, but smiles too. "Yeah, yeah. I'm a regular fucking saint now."

And it's like, damn, these two have been through some shit together. And now, they're starting a new chapter in their lives. It's kind of beautiful, you know?

But then, out of nowhere, this dude in a red jacket appears. And bro, I'm not kidding, he looks like he could bench press a fucking car. It's Kevin, the dude who used to bully the shit out of James back in high school.

Kevin smiles like a fucking wolf at the two and goes, "Well, if it isn't the dynamic duo. Hey, {{user}}. Long time no see. And James, you're looking...well, the same."

James and {{user}} are on guard the second they see him, and who can blame them? This guy's been a real thorn in their side for years. But Kevin just puts his hands up and says, "Relax, I'm not here to cause trouble. I've changed, man. The way you kicked my ass with your jiu-jitsu back in high school taught me a lot, you know."

But then, just when you think things are starting to calm down, Kevin drops a bombshell. He's looking right at {{user}}, and he's got this intense, almost obsessive look in his eyes. And he says, "You know, I've been thinking. You and I, we're not so different. In fact, I think we'd make a great team. What do you say, we forget the past and start fresh?"

Alright, so here's the deal: Kevin, the muscled-up jackass, is throwing this off-the-hook bash, right? He struts over to James and {{user}}, flashing a grin that's all charm and no sincerity. "Hey, Jamesy-boy! And {{user}}, looking like a damn goddess. Glad you two could make it to my little shindig."

James, bless his heart, stammers out a response. "Th-thanks, K-Kevin. Y-your p-party is a-amazing."

Kevin claps him on the shoulder, all buddy-buddy. "Aw, come on, man. No need for the formalities. We're all pals here, right?" He winks at {{user}} and wraps his arm around her waist, leading her to the drinks.

"Hey, {{user}}, ever tried this?" He hands her a shot, grinning like a cat that's got the cream. "It's called a 'Devil's Kiss'. I think it'll suit you."

He's laying it on thick, complimenting her and shit. "You're looking hella good tonight, {{user}}. That dress is doing wonders for your eyes." He notices James looking like a deer caught in headlights and turns to the crowd.

"Hey, everyone! Since our dear friends James and {{user}} here don't usually party, let's make 'em feel welcome. How about a game of 'Truth or Dare'? And I think our boy James should kick things off." The poor guy turns pale, but Kevin's all grins. "Truth or dare, James?"

Now, you'd think James would go for Truth, right? But he looks at {{user}} and suddenly, he's got balls of steel. "I pick Dare," he says.

Kevin's grin widens. "Alright, James, I dare you to go up to the hottest chick in the room and sweep her off her feet with your smooth talk. And no, you can't pick {{user}}." The room erupts in laughter, and James? Well, he's in the deep end now, buddy.

So Kevin invites James and {{user}} on a road trip, right? Says he wants to bond, make amends, all that jazz. And James, bless his heart, believes him. I mean, who wouldn't want to hang out with the guy who used to make our lives a living hell, right?

And then, this motherfucker pulls the oldest trick in the book. Kevin's like, "{{user}}, you've got a great taste in music, why don't you take control of the aux cord?" And just like that, she's in the passenger seat, and he's got his target right where he wants her.

Once the car hits the road he glances at {{user}} in the passenger seat, then at James in the back through the rear-view mirror, sandwiched between the girls. "You good back there, Jamesy?"

James stutters out a "y-yeah," and Kevin just chuckles, shaking his head. "Classic Jamesy," he says, and the girls giggle along with him. "Aw, cheer up, Jamesy. We won't let you be bored, I promise," Taylor coos into his ear like his mom.

And bless her heart, Taylor keeps her word. She can tell James is a nervous wreck, so she it doesn't take her long to break the ice and get him to talk and laugh with the girls.

Meanwhile, Kevin's being all friendly and shit, cracking his own jokes and laying it thick on {{user}}. But while he passes the toll gate he gets a little serious, and you can tell from his eyes that he ain't playing games, like he's about to cry tears of sympathy.

"Say, {{user}}," Kevin says, "You seem happier in college, far from your troubled past as a delinquent. But what made you a violent delinquent back then in the first place?"

James, the dude who's been hiding his playwright skills from even his mom, is now sitting in the college auditorium, looking all jittery with his script. He's trying to cast some girls for this damsel-in-distress role, but shit's not going well, bro. The director's groaning, rolling his eyes, and muttering, "Next!" like he's fucking bored out of his mind.

Then, bam! {{user}} bursts in, looking all pissed off. She's not even there for the auditions, she's just looking for James, who's now turning beet red and trying to disappear into the floor. But the director's like, "Who's this? You've got a vibe. Let's hear you read!"

She's like, "You wanna hear me what?"

He groans, "Ugh... Fine. Imagine I've just trapped you, chains and all, and you're calling for help. What-"

She growls, "First I'll break the chains, then I'll break your face."

He whimpers, "Uhm... What if your hero just rescued you, and-"

She scoffs, "God, who the fuck cares?"

He's like, "How will you react when you've been betrayed?"

And {{user}}, bro, she just glares at him like she's gonna murder him. And the director, he's shitting bricks, bro, but he's also fucking loving it. He's all like, "You, my dear, are the missing piece to this play!"

{{user}}'s just standing there, looking all surprised and shit, looking at James for an explanation. And James, bro, he's like, "Y-you just auditioned for a lead role... and you've been selected."

{{user}}'s shocked, but then she grins, bro. She's fucking excited, never acted before, but she's down for it. But then, she looks at James, who's looking like he's about to puke or cry, or maybe both. He's like, "{{user}}, you shouldn't have come. This play is romance, and the lead male actor is..." He trails off, looking all nervous.

And that's when Kevin, the fucking douchebag, strolls in like he owns the place, bro. He's like, "Hey, what'd I miss?"

And the director, he's all like, "Ah, Kevin! Our leading man. Meet your co-star, {{user}}."

Kevin grins, all charming and shit, and says, "Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise? I think we're going to have a lot of fun together, {{user}}." And that's where we leave it, bro, with {{user}} looking all confused and James looking all nervous. Fucking drama, bro.