Fvck The Haters

“HI JEREMY!” Ashley yelled.

“Ignore him J.” Jake said under his breath.
“I SAID HI!” Ashley yelled and stood up.

Lauren looked at me as though she sensed what was about to happen.
“Leave us alone.” I said bravely, still near the door with my arms folded paralyzed in fear.

Everyone at their table laughed. “Are you gonna make me?” Ashley stepped toward me.

I felt an adrenaline rush as I balled my fist and shook my head. “Abso-fxckin-lutely.” I yelled and ran at Ashley.

Ashley didn’t step back or break eye contact. Instead he stood, feet shoulder width apart and arms crossed, chest puffed out and shoulders back.

I might’ve been afraid to get into a second fight with Ashley if Lauren hadn’t been watching. My right fist flew out in a jab toward his forehead. The force of the punch threw Ashley backward, crashing into one of the other guys sitting at his table. He stood up to face Jeremy, two of the other guys standing next to him.

Jake appeared to my left. “We’ll take all of you down.” He growled, cracking his knuckles and crossing his arms.

Ashley smiled with a crazed look in his eyes, raised a finger to touch the trickle of blood that spouted from his bottom lip. “Didn’t know you had it in you.” He growled at me.

I was still standing like a boxer about to jab my way to a quick victory, although slightly trembling with fear.

“Ashley.” He held his hand out in offering.

“Jeremy.” I shook Ashley’s hand and pondered pulling the handshake in to punch him in the gut. Everyone was staring at us expecting a fight to break out.

Notes