Chapter 1: The Strip Mall Showdown

It was late afternoon, the sun spilling gold across the strip mall’s faded parking lot. Heat radiated off the cracked asphalt, and the tangy smell of fried chicken from the Popeyes next door clung to the air. I’d parked by the nail salon, texting Aubrey to double-check her usual—taro, less sweet—when I looked up and saw them: two guys, dressed like they’d just gotten off a Greyhound, hovering way too close to her.

The bigger one, heavyset with a loud Midwest drawl, reached out to touch her hair. His buddy, skinny and twitchy, held up his phone, recording like this was just some roadside attraction.

My pulse hammered in my ears. "Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing?" I yelled, storming over and shoving the big guy back. My hands shook with adrenaline. Inside the shop, people glanced up, some clutching their phones, maybe ready to catch the next viral moment.

The big guy just shrugged, acting like nothing was wrong. "C’mon, man, it’s just a TikTok thing—don’t get all bent outta shape." He didn’t even flinch. His buddy swung his phone, making sure to catch every angle of my reaction.

"That’s crap. I saw you getting handsy!"

He laughed, low and lazy, making it sound like I was the punchline. "Are all the guys around here this insecure? I just got a little close to your girlfriend and you lost your mind. For real, man, you’re giving off big insecurity vibes." He dragged out the last word, like he was daring me to explode.

His friend whooped, giving him a thumbs-up. Their laughter echoed off the storefronts, sharp and mocking. Two teenagers across the way whispered and pointed, loving every second of the drama.

My body ached from the humiliation, but the sting cut deeper. For a split second, I wondered, Was I overreacting? No—anyone would’ve done the same. But the way Aubrey looked at me, like I was some psycho...it twisted something inside me.

Aubrey yanked me back, her voice sharp and raw. "Oh, would you knock it off already?" Her glare made it clear: I was the problem here, not them.

She turned to them, slipping on a bright, fake smile. "Sorry, he’s just a little too intense. Don’t mind him." The words stung, like she’d switched teams just to keep things light—like I was the embarrassment.

Her betrayal felt like watching your own team root for the enemy when you’re down by thirty.

The big guy looked her up and down, then exchanged a grin with his friend. "Miss, you’re gorgeous. We picked you for our street challenge. Want to help us out?"

Aubrey actually perked up, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "What kind of challenge?" Her voice was suddenly playful, as if nothing weird had just happened. My stomach dropped—she was entertaining them.

"It’s a street kissing challenge. We’re trying to hit a hundred people for our channel. You down?"

"Huh?" Aubrey’s face flushed. She tugged her sleeve, glancing away, caught between laughing and bolting.

I lost it. "Are you out of your damn mind?"

Do you think I’m just going to stand here and watch?

The big guy kept his eyes on her, ignoring me. "Hey, I’m good-looking, you’re good-looking. Us kissing is just...normal, right?"

"Normal, my ass!"

I gave up on arguing with these clowns and grabbed Aubrey’s hand, trying to pull her away.

She jerked against my grip, her voice slicing the air. "Hey! Why are you pulling so hard? You’re hurting my hand!" Her eyes blazed, and the tension in her voice was sharp enough to draw blood.

I ignored her, but the two guys trailed after us, persistent as gnats. Their voices dogged us—the big guy slow and booming, the other high-pitched and mocking.

"Miss, your boyfriend’s kinda intense. Need us to step in?"

I glared at the big guy. "Back off. Keep harassing her and I’ll make you regret it. And you—stop filming!"

People were gathering now, whispering, phones out. The scene was turning into a full-on sideshow. Someone in the crowd shouted, "Worldstar!" while a teen yelled, "Yo, this is wild!" The viral drama vibe was electric, and I could feel all eyes on us.

Aubrey yanked her hand free, her cheeks burning with embarrassment and anger. "Jason, are you nuts? Why are you walking so fast?" She rubbed her wrist, shooting me a glare that could freeze lava.

She spat, "At least they weren’t making a scene. You’re the one freaking out in public—don’t you care how this looks? I’m mortified." Her posture was rigid, every muscle tense, eyes like daggers.

"I’m embarrassing? I’m trying to get you away from these idiots and that’s embarrassing? Or do you actually want to join their stupid challenge?" My voice cracked, too loud, bouncing off the glass storefronts. I felt everyone watching.

"When did I say that? Stop pretending you’re protecting me—you just want to control me!" She turned away, arms crossed, cheeks flushed with either anger or humiliation.

The slap of her words burned. My hands curled into fists, my face hot.

The two guys stood off to the side, eating up the drama, tossing out, "Man, even his own girlfriend can’t stand him," for the cameras. Their laughter was sharp and mean, made for the crowd.

Rage took over. I swung at one of them, but he dodged easily, stepping back.

He sneered, "Try that again and we’ll call the cops. Enjoy jail, tough guy." I wanted to swing again, but Aubrey’s cold voice stopped me in my tracks. "Jason, if you keep embarrassing me today, we’re done." Her voice was soft but icy, slicing through the noise and freezing me in place. Her hand clenched the strap of her purse, her voice trembling, eyes darting away before she forced herself to meet my gaze.

I stared, numb. My heart dropped like I’d been thrown off a cliff with no warning.

"Aubrey, do you know what you’re saying?"

We’d been together two years. Was she really breaking up with me—over two total strangers?

"You think you’re so manly? Please. You’re just rude, brainless, and impulsive!"

Each word landed like a punch. I could barely breathe, my throat tight.

The big guy swooped in, all fake concern. "Miss, he’s really too much. Back home, we treat women with respect. Why don’t we take you somewhere safer?" His voice was syrupy, and he made sure the crowd heard every word, even tossing a wink at the onlookers.

Aubrey half-turned to him. She hesitated, fingers tapping her phone screen. She ignored my incoming call, jaw set in a stubborn line. I saw something reckless in her eyes—a flash of defiance, like she wanted to prove something, even if it meant making a bad choice.

Out of spite and heartbreak, I said, "Aubrey, if you really leave with them, then we’re done."

She froze, her eyes flickering.

Maybe it was the first time I’d ever said it—breaking up, out loud.

Her face hardened. "Fine, so now you know how to threaten people, huh? Then we’re done. I’ll go with them today, and since we’ve broken up, it’s none of your business!"

Right in front of me, she left with them.

The big guy strutted ahead, looking back with a smirk that made my fists itch. I wanted to hit him, but the humiliation pinned me in place.

I started wondering: Had I been too good to Aubrey? No, I’d just been a doormat—letting her get away with anything, so much that she could walk off with strangers and humiliate me in public.

No matter the time or place, I was always there for her—money, emotional support, whatever she needed. I’d Venmo her gas money, buy groceries, talk her down after bad days. All of it seemed pointless now.

Every argument, she’d threaten to break up, and I’d be the one apologizing first. It became a pattern—she’d sulk, I’d chase after her, and I’d lose myself in the process.

In over two years, she never remembered my birthday. But for hers, I always had gifts and surprises ready, baking cookies at Christmas, hanging lights on her balcony, doing everything to make her happy.

When her family came to town, I paid for everything—Applebee’s dinners, hotel rooms, Ubers. I thought that’s what a good boyfriend did.

But all my loyalty just made me invisible. She took it for granted, maybe even saw it as weakness.

I watched her walk away, laughing and chatting with those guys under the neon glow. The big guy sidled closer. At first, she flinched, but when he put his hand on her shoulder, she didn’t move.

A bad feeling gnawed at me. My stomach twisted, breath shallow. I wanted to believe she’d push him off, but she didn’t.

Sure enough, the two of them kissed.

Right there, in broad daylight, they hugged and kissed while the other guy filmed, his phone’s red light blinking. The crowd cheered and whistled, turning my humiliation into a freak show.

My mind went blank. I just stood there, hands limp at my sides, mouth open.

When I chased Aubrey, it took months just to hold her hand. Our first kiss got me the cold shoulder for a week. I remembered walking home in the rain, texting apologies that never got a reply.

Now, she kissed a stranger she’d met ten minutes ago.

They kept kissing, time crawling by. Each second felt like another punch to the gut.

When I finally snapped out of it, I cursed, cut across the grass, and kicked the big guy as hard as I could. I didn’t care who saw. I just needed it to stop.

I only had one thought: knock this jerk flat.

He staggered, ready to fight, but his buddy muttered something and he held back. The skinny one smirked, eyes full of mean amusement.

But I wasn’t done. Aubrey stepped in front of him.

"Jason! Why are you still following us?"

I saw the red on her cheeks and couldn’t hold back. "Are you that desperate? What, you know this guy so well you’re making out in public? Do you have any shame?" My voice broke, echoing across the parking lot. Someone in Starbucks pressed their face to the glass, eyes wide.

She shot back, "Who are you calling shameless? We’re already broken up. I’m single! I’ll do whatever I want, with whoever I want. You don’t get a say!" Her jaw was set, her whole body squared off against me.

Anger, humiliation, frustration—they all burned through me. My breath came ragged, fists shaking.

My eyes must’ve been red. My face felt swollen, tears threatening to spill.

The two guys egged her on, loud enough for everyone: "Congrats on ditching a lousy boyfriend!"

The big guy grabbed her hand, showing off. "That kiss was something else. Feels like fate. Can I get to know you?"

She let him hold her hand, glanced at me, then said, "Let’s go. I don’t want to stay here. Lunch’s on me." Her voice was small, but she managed a brittle laugh, already moving on.

The big guy slung his arm around her, grinning at me like he’d won.

His friend wagged the phone, warning, "Try anything, and we’ll call the cops. You’ll be the one in cuffs." The camera never stopped rolling, ready for TikTok fame.

I knew he was right. I felt stripped bare, like I was standing in Times Square, naked under a million eyes.

If Aubrey were a normal girl and someone messed with her, I’d have fought for her, no matter the cost.

But today, she froze my heart.

I felt like a joke. I don’t even remember how I got home.