The school parking lot buzzed with the usual chaos of kids heading home, but Tadhg Lynch barely noticed. He was leaning against the hood of his car, one hand resting on his girlfriend’s shoulder as their friends gathered around. Shannon Lynch, Lizzie Young, Claire Biggs, Aoife Molloy, Katie Wilmot, Joey Lynch, Johnny Kavanagh, Gerard “Gibsie” Gibson, Hughie Biggs, and Patrick Feely were all lingering nearby, chatting and joking as the sun sank low in the sky.

Then Bella showed up.

She walked toward them with that arrogant strut, her smirk aimed like a blade. She stopped directly in front of Tadhg, her chin tilted up with practiced disdain.

“Scumbag,” Bella spat, the word dripping with venom.

The laughter and chatter died instantly. Tadhg’s jaw tightened, his green eyes narrowing, but before he could say a word, his girlfriend stepped in front of him like a shield.

“What did you just say?” Her voice was low, deadly calm.

Bella rolled her eyes. “You heard me. He’s a scumbag. Trash. Just like the rest of you.”

The entire group froze. No one dared speak. Even Gibsie’s usual jokes died on his tongue.

In a blur of motion, Tadhg’s girlfriend lunged forward and punched Bella square in the face.

The sound of the impact cracked through the parking lot like thunder. Bella stumbled back, clutching her cheek in shock.

“Who the hell are you?” Bella hissed, eyes wide.

“Oh, I’m your worst nightmare, bitch,” she snarled.

Before Bella could react, Tadhg’s girlfriend grabbed her by the shoulders, slammed her onto the pavement, and straddled her in one swift, fluid motion. The group collectively sucked in a breath but still said nothing, transfixed by the scene unfolding.

“You like terrorizing little girls?” she demanded, her face inches from Bella’s. “Try someone your own size.”

Bella struggled, but it was no use. She was pinned.

“Think you can call my boyfriend a scumbag?” she growled, her fist hovering like a loaded gun.

Then she punched Bella again.

The group flinched in unison. Shannon covered her mouth, but no one intervened—not Joey, not Johnny, not even Tadhg, who stood frozen, eyes wide, watching his girlfriend unleash a side of herself he had never seen before.

“Holy shite…” Gibsie whispered under his breath, his jaw hanging open.

Tadhg’s heart was pounding so hard he could feel it in his throat. Part of him wanted to stop her, but another part—the bigger, louder part—was in complete awe. She wasn’t just defending him. She was tearing down anyone who dared hurt the people she cared about.

And God, he’d never wanted to kiss her more.